“I shall go with you today to the forest. There is no doubt about it. I cannot be prevented, O greatly fortunate one. I am ready to go.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 27.15)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

सह त्वया गमिश्यामि वनमद्य न सम्शयः
नाहम् शक्या महाभाग निवर्तयितुम् उद्यता

saha tvayā gamiśyāmi vanamadya na samśayaḥ
nāham śakyā mahābhāga nivartayitum udyatā

“Alright, this might just be me. Perhaps I am the only one who feels this way, but since I am a person, I believe that my opinion counts. The viewpoint should be entered into the discussion, placed within the arena of ideas analyzing, criticizing, and hopefully glorifying the character and conduct, charitra, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this case we are discussing Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, focusing on the early period of the Ramayana historical narrative. Rama is at home, in the kingdom. He is still a prince. Not yet a king, but almost, but then not.

“Let me share my feeling. I have noticed that I generally like to work alone. This does not mean I want to be isolated or live forever like a hermit. I am referring specifically to work. The more important the work, the more strict the requirement. The greater the pressure, the less I want people watching me. I cannot tolerate the added stress of someone looking over my shoulder. Allow me to learn on my own. I will make the mistakes and then correct them. If I need your help, I will ask.

“I guess this is why I have always admired people who perform in the public space. It is their job, if you think about it. The athletes have to succeed or fail in front of thousands of paying customers, who are the spectators. Musicians perform both in front of their collaborators and the seated audience. The slightest mistake will be noticed. You must have to really trick yourself, in artificially inflating your ego, in order to stand up there and not get nervous. I am not sure I could do it. If ever I was successful, it would be due to practice, in getting accustomed to the situation.

“Back to Ayodhya. Rama is about to leave. He figuratively caught some stray bullets, from family infighting. He is the victim of a rivalry no one knew about before and which never existed after. He had to leave home for fourteen years, turned into a wandering beggar, all because of what one of the queens wanted. Rama had no issue. He was always polite. He never uttered a negative word. He was ready to go without an argument.

“The more amazing part, at least to me, is the response of the people surrounding Rama. His own wife insisted on accompanying Him. Sita Devi did not worry about a new necklace, throwing a lavish party, or how she would look in a fancy dress. She made such a compelling case for following Rama that there was nothing He could do. The same applied for Lakshmana, who is one of the devoted younger brothers. The people of the town themselves insisted on following. They only stopped after Rama created a diversion. The people were thrown off the trail, so to speak.

“Of course, we appreciate such devotion. We praise the parties involved. We can barely imagine doing the same. The thing is, weren’t these people being a burden? It was bad enough that Rama had to leave. Weren’t these people making it worse, by forcing themselves into the situation? Wouldn’t Rama prefer to live in the forest in peace, to go about His daily life without worrying about others?”

The key distinction is that none of the people were going to interfere. They were not going to ask anything in return. They were not going to change their behavior based on reception. Whether Rama acknowledged them, ignored them, praised them, or chastised them made no difference. They had pure love for Him. As Lakshmana later attested, the gravitational pull, if you will, was based on the qualities in Rama, who is known to be grateful.

अहमस्यावरो भ्राता गुणैर्दास्यमुपागतः
कृतज्ञस्य बहुज्ञस्य लक्ष्मणो नाम नामतः

ahamasyāvaro bhrātā guṇairdāsyamupāgataḥ
kṛtajñasya bahujñasya lakṣmaṇo nāma nāmataḥ

“I am His younger brother, Lakshmana by name. Due to His transcendental qualities, I have taken up service to Him, as He is grateful and very knowledgeable.” (Lakshmana speaking to Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 4.12)

Admittedly, the affinity is difficult to comprehend, given the landscape of the world at present. It appears that every person has to become a businessman in order to succeed. Even the servants are only there based on what they will receive in return. I get upset if someone does not acknowledge my service to them. I get annoyed when people keep asking me for things, when they are ungrateful, petty, vindictive, and mean. That has been my entire experience, thus far. Is it even possible to find people resembling the devotees of the eldest son of King Dasharatha?

“The material world is so made that unless one becomes a clever diplomat, his life will be a failure. Not to speak of human society, even the society of lower animals, the birds and bees, cleverly manages its bodily demands of eating, sleeping and mating. Human society competes nationally or individually, and in the attempt to be successful the entire human society becomes full of diplomacy. We should always remember that in spite of all diplomacy and all intelligence in the struggle for our existence, everything will end in a second by the supreme will. Therefore, all our attempts to become happy in this material world are simply a delusion offered by maya.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 3.30.9 Purport)

This is one way to know for certain that you have found Divinity. If there is a God, He must be someone so special that others are willing to follow Him. He must be so amazing that He is not able to convince others out of that service. He must be so merciful that He leaves behind a way to stay connected with Him, no matter the varying levels of proximity. He must be so kind that the sound of His name carries the potency to immediately bring His association: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

When equivalent potency in sound,
Know that God has been found.

Where despite separation true,
Connected consciousness through.

To follow without a thought,
Like people with nothing brought.

But to the forest prepared and brave,
For spirits of Rama to save.

Categories: questions

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, ramayana, sita