RAMA'S VIRTUES
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Sri Rama was an embodiment of all the virtues. He was the ideal man.
Maharishi Valmiki wrote Srimad Ramayana after listening to Sri Rama?s story narrated by Sage Narada. Before Narada could start on Rama?s story, Valmiki had helped him along, prompted him, so to say, by asking a leading question. Summarizing the essential virtues into sixteen, he asked Narada whether he was aware of any person who possessed those virtues. What were those virtues that Valmiki had identified and isolated?
These were:
(1) Being the repository of the virtue of being friendly to one and all and being approachable by all (GuNa)
(2) Prowess (Veera)
(3) Righteousness (Dharma)
(4) Being ever grateful (Kritajnata)
(5) Truthfulness (Satya)
(6) Firm Resolve (DhriDa dhriti)
(7) Blemish less Conduct (Chaaritra)
(8) Compassion (Hita)
(9) Being learned (Vidvatva)
(10) Supremely able (Samartha)
(11) Lovable appearance (Priyadarsana)
(12) Self awareness (Aatmavaan)
(13) Free from anger (JitakrOda)
(14) Full of splendor (Dhyuti)
(15) Free from fault finding (anasooyaka)
(16) Dreadful in battlefield-instills fear even to the Gods
(Bibhyati Devaascha)
One of these sixteen virtues is compassion. Being compassionate is being without rancor, ill will, wickedness or cruelty. A finer definition is that a compassionate person will be full of consideration even to his enemy.
Sri Rama was full of compassion (Daya), which is the same thing as anrusamsyam. He showed this quality on two occasions - Once to the Raakshasas in general and on the second occasion to RavaNa himself.
RavaNa had caused no end of troubles to Sri Rama. Sri Sita had been abducted. In order to locate her, the monkey army of Sugriva had to be sent in all the four directions. Ultimately, she was located by Hanuman who before he succeeded, had to summon his enormous courage, physical strength, mental resources and intellect. The ocean had to be crossed in order to besiege Lanka. For that, Sri Rama had to take steps to build a bridge across the ocean, a feat never before attempted. Yet, when Sri Rama gazed at the ramparts of the Lanka fortress and how the city shone like a jewel nestling along the mountainside, he could not help heaving a sigh of concern for the Raakshasa clan as a whole, all of who faced dire peril because of the heinous crime committed by one man.
Seized by destiny, one person commits a sin and becomes a sinner. However, as a result of that, not only he but his entire clan also gets destroyed.
Similarly, when the battle commenced and RavaNa eventually came face to face with Sri Rama, the latter was quickly worsted. Sri Rama spared his life but smashed his jeweled crown. Instead of taking his life, he asked RavaNa to go back and come refreshed the next day.
These two instances show Sri Rama?s deep sense of compassion even to his enemy.
Thus, it may be understood that YudishTira is echoing what Sri Rama had practiced as a way of life
________________
Sri Rama was an embodiment of all the virtues. He was the ideal man.
Maharishi Valmiki wrote Srimad Ramayana after listening to Sri Rama?s story narrated by Sage Narada. Before Narada could start on Rama?s story, Valmiki had helped him along, prompted him, so to say, by asking a leading question. Summarizing the essential virtues into sixteen, he asked Narada whether he was aware of any person who possessed those virtues. What were those virtues that Valmiki had identified and isolated?
These were:
(1) Being the repository of the virtue of being friendly to one and all and being approachable by all (GuNa)
(2) Prowess (Veera)
(3) Righteousness (Dharma)
(4) Being ever grateful (Kritajnata)
(5) Truthfulness (Satya)
(6) Firm Resolve (DhriDa dhriti)
(7) Blemish less Conduct (Chaaritra)
(8) Compassion (Hita)
(9) Being learned (Vidvatva)
(10) Supremely able (Samartha)
(11) Lovable appearance (Priyadarsana)
(12) Self awareness (Aatmavaan)
(13) Free from anger (JitakrOda)
(14) Full of splendor (Dhyuti)
(15) Free from fault finding (anasooyaka)
(16) Dreadful in battlefield-instills fear even to the Gods
(Bibhyati Devaascha)
One of these sixteen virtues is compassion. Being compassionate is being without rancor, ill will, wickedness or cruelty. A finer definition is that a compassionate person will be full of consideration even to his enemy.
Sri Rama was full of compassion (Daya), which is the same thing as anrusamsyam. He showed this quality on two occasions - Once to the Raakshasas in general and on the second occasion to RavaNa himself.
RavaNa had caused no end of troubles to Sri Rama. Sri Sita had been abducted. In order to locate her, the monkey army of Sugriva had to be sent in all the four directions. Ultimately, she was located by Hanuman who before he succeeded, had to summon his enormous courage, physical strength, mental resources and intellect. The ocean had to be crossed in order to besiege Lanka. For that, Sri Rama had to take steps to build a bridge across the ocean, a feat never before attempted. Yet, when Sri Rama gazed at the ramparts of the Lanka fortress and how the city shone like a jewel nestling along the mountainside, he could not help heaving a sigh of concern for the Raakshasa clan as a whole, all of who faced dire peril because of the heinous crime committed by one man.
YEkO hi kurutE paapam kaala paasa vasam gata: / NeechEna aatma papa charENa kulam tEna vinasyati //
Seized by destiny, one person commits a sin and becomes a sinner. However, as a result of that, not only he but his entire clan also gets destroyed.
Similarly, when the battle commenced and RavaNa eventually came face to face with Sri Rama, the latter was quickly worsted. Sri Rama spared his life but smashed his jeweled crown. Instead of taking his life, he asked RavaNa to go back and come refreshed the next day.
These two instances show Sri Rama?s deep sense of compassion even to his enemy.
Thus, it may be understood that YudishTira is echoing what Sri Rama had practiced as a way of life
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