205 Where are Vindhya Hills? Where is South Sea? How Sampati can be ranked higher than Shri Rama, in fraternal love?

How Sampati can be ranked higher than Shri Rama in fraternal love?

It is common for Priests and Preachers to present Lord Shri Rama as the ultimate perfect rolemodel of fraternal love . Listeners and viewers also believe without applying their minds . Where in Valmiki Ramayana we can see Shri Rama showing such love of Superlative degree , towards brothers ? If we see how Shri Rama used his younger brother Lakshmana during the 14 years of their Forest Exile, if we think fairly, we can find that Lakshmana was treated like a slave. Lakshmana was denied 'family life' and 'sex life' for 14 years. Shri Rama, if he is an embodiment of fraternal love, I expected him to tell Lakshmana : "As I am going to forest with my wife, you can also come to the forest with Urmila (your wife), so that both of our two families can enjoy the beauties and bounties of Nature and Forests'. Even if Lakshmana was reluctant to bring Urmila (unless of course Urmila is unwilling to live in a forest), Shri Rama ought to have pressed Lakshmana to come with family. This didn't happen. On the other hand, when Shri Rama and Sita were enjoying their family life, Lakshmana was made to do all the physical labor, and also probably spend his nights sleeplessly guarding their cottage.

We shall see the love of Forest Dweller (depicted as Eagle in Valmiki Ramayana. Eagle may be a symbol of the Tribe in which Sampati and Jatayu lived) Sampathi towards his younger brother Jatayu.

When Sampati and Jatayu were flying high in skies in an attempt to reach the Sun-World, Sun's rays were scorching Jatayu and Jatayu's life appeared to be in peril. Then Sampati spread both of his wings over Jatayu to give shade and protection from hot Sun. Consequently, Sun's rays burnt Sampati's wings, and he fell down from the sky with burnt wings. He fell on Vindhya Hills.

Book 4 , Chapter 60 , Verse 4
अस्य विन्ध्यस्य शिखरे asya vindhyasya sikharE
पतितो अस्मि पुरा अनघ patitO asmi purA andha
सूर्य ताप परीत अंगो sUrya tAp parIt angO
निर्दग्धः सूर्य रश्मिभिः nidagdhaha sUrya rasmibhi:

Approx. English gist : Oh sinless Angada! When sun's rays scorched my wings [which were spread on my young brother JatAyu], they burnt my wings, and I fell on Vindhya Hills, with burnt wings.

Book 4 , Chapter 61 , verse 15.
पक्षभ्याम् च मया pakshyAm ca mayA गुप्तो जटायुः न प्रदह्यत guptO jatAyuhu na pradahyat प्रमादात् तत्र निर्दग्धः pramAdAt tatra nirdagdhaha पतन् वायु पथात् अहम् patan vAyu pathAt aham.

I have hidden Jatayu's wings from Sun's rays. Hence, they were not burnt. But I am completely burn.

Thus it can be seen that Sampati to save his younger brother Jatayu, sacrificed his wings and became immobile. Can we see this type of sacrificing nature in Shri Rama?

In Book 7 , Uttara Kanda (Story of Post-coronation Rule of Shri Rama) , just before the incarnation of Lord Shri Rama came to an end, first God of Death came to Rama's Ante Room inform him about the need to come back to Original Abode of Lord Vishnu from where Shri Rama came down to earth. When God of Death "Yama" came Lakshmana was guarding Rama's Ante Room. God of Death , with Lakshmana's consent went into Shri Rama's Ante room and sought Private Interview from him. Then Shri Rama called Lakshmana and informed him that nobody should overhear his conversation with God of Death, and asked Lakshmana to be meticulous in his Guard duty.

As per Rama's Order, Lakshmana was guarding the Ante-Room. When the interview was in progress, a Sage by name Durvasa came and wanted to go in. Lakshmana objected. Then the Sage threatened that he will curse Shri Rama, Lakshmana, and the Ayodhya City. Lakshmana was in a predicament. If he allows Durvasa inside, God of Death and Rama will punish him. If he denies entry to Durvasa, then Durvasa will curse Shri Rama and Ayodhya. Then, Lakshmana felt that he should save Shri Rama and Ayodhya, even if he (Lakshmana) is going to lose his own life. Lakshmana went inside and informed Shri Rama that Sage Durvasa was waiting outside for an urgent interview.

Then Shri Rama sent God of Death away; and invited Durvasa inside. The purpose of Sage Durvasa's visit: he has made some penance; on completion of the penance, he wants to dine with Shri Rama. Rama accepted the invitation.

After Durvasa left, lkmana with a bent head, wanted Shri Rama to punish him, for the guilt of disturbing Rama's interview with the God of Death. Then, Shri Rama consulted his Courtiers, who could not reply and remained silent. Then , Sage VasishTha said that Death is the punishment.

When Vasishta gave his advice, Shri Rama without further thinking awarded Death Sentence to Lakshmana; but converted the punishment into banishment from Ayodhya, as banishment is treated as a punishment equal to death .

Next, bowing his head, Lakshmana went to Sarayu River on the outskirts of Ayodhya. There, demy-gods showered flowers on him and took him to heaven.

अस्मिन् क्षणे मां सौमित्रे asmin kshaNE mAm saumitrE
रामाय प्रतिवेदय rAmAya prativEdaya
अस्मिन् क्षणे मां सौमित्रे asmin kshaNE mAm saumitrE
न निवेदयसे यदि na nivEdayasE yadi. ॥ 7.105.6 ॥

विषयं त्वां पुरं चैव vishayam tvAm puram cai va
शपिष्ये राघवं तथा SapishyE rAghavam tathA
भरतं चैव सौमित्रे bharatam caiva saumitrE
युष्माकं या च सन्ततिः yushmAkam yA ca santatihi ॥ 7.105.7 ॥

न हि शक्ष्याम्यहं na hi SakshayAmi aham
भूयो मन्युं धारयितुं हृदि bhUyO manyum dhArayitum hridi
तच्छ्रुत्वा घोरसङ्काशं tat sritvA ghOra samkASam
वाक्यं तस्य महात्मनः vAkyam tasya mahAtmanaha
चिन्तयामास मनसा cintayA mAsa manasA
तस्य वाक्यस्य निश्चयम् tasya vAkyasya nischayam ॥ 7.105.8 ॥

एकस्य मरणं मे अस्तु EkasyA maraNam mE astu
मा भूत् सर्वविनाशनम् mA bhUt sarva vinASanam
इति बुद्ध्या विनिश्चित्य iti buddhayA vinischitva
राघवाय न्यवेदयत् rAghavAya nyavEdayat ॥ 7.105.9 ॥

वाल्मीकि रामायण - उत्तरकाण्ड ॥ ॥ सर्ग 106 ॥

अवाङ् मुखमथो दीनं avAgnm mukham athO dInam
दृष्ट्वा सोमम इव अप्लुतम् drishTvA sOmam iva aplutam
राघवं लक्ष्मणो वाक्यं rAghavam lakshmaNO vAkyam
हृष्टो मधुरम अब्रवीत् hrishTO madhuram abravIt. ॥ 7.106.1 ॥

न संतापं महाबाहो na santApam mahA bAhO
मदर्थं कर्तुमर्हसि madartham kartum arhasi
पूर्व निर्माणबद्धा हि purva nirmaNa baddhA hi
कालस्य गतिर ईदृशी kAlasya gatir IdruSI. ॥ 7.106.2 ॥

जहि मां सौम्य विस्रब्धं jahi mAm saumya visrubdham
प्रतिज्ञां परिपालय pratignAm pari pAlaya
हीन प्रतिज्ञाः काकुत्स्थ hIna pratignAha kAkut stha
प्रयान्ति नरकं नराः prAyAnti narakam narAha ॥ 7.106.3 ॥

यदि प्रीतिर् महाराज yadi prItir mahArAj
यद् यनुग्राह्यता मयि yad anugrAhyatA mayi
जहि मां निर्विशङ्कस्त्वं jahi mAm nirviSankstvam
धर्मं वर्धय राघव dharma vardhaya rAghava ॥ 7.106.4 ॥

लक्ष्मणेन तथोक्तस्तु lakshmaNEna tathOktastu
रामः प्रचलित इन्द्रियः rAma pracalita indriyaha ।
मन्त्रिणः समुपानीय mantriNaha samupAnIya
तथैव च पुरोधसम् tathaiva ca purOdhasam ॥ 7.106.5 ॥

अब्रवीच्च तदा वृत्तं ambara vIcca tadA vrittam
तेषां मध्ये स राघवः tEshAm madhyE sa rAghavaha
दुर्वासोभिगमं चैव durvAsO abhigamam caiva
प्रतिज्ञां तापसस्य च pratignAm tApasasya ca. 7.106.6 ॥
तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणः सर्वे tat SritvA mantriNaha sarvE
सोपाध्यायाः समासत sa upAdhyAyaha
वसिष्ठस्तु महातेजा vasishThastu mahA tEjA
वाक्यमेतद उवाच ह vAkyamEtad uvAca ha. ॥ 7.106.7 ॥

दृष्टमेतन् महाबाहो drishTamEtan mahA bAhO
क्षयं ते रोमहर्षणम् kshayam tO rOma harshaNam
लक्ष्मणेन वियोगश्च lakshmaNEna viyOgas ca
तव राम महायशः tava rAma mahA yaSaha. ॥ 7.106.8 ॥

त्यजैनं बलवान् कालो tyajainam balavAn kAlO
मा प्रतिज्ञां वृथा कृताः mA pratignAx vrithA kritAha
विनष्टायां प्रतिज्ञायां vinashTAyAm pratignAyAm
धर्मो अपि च लयं व्रजेत् dharmOm api ca layam vrajEt.॥ 7.106.9 ॥

ततो धर्मे विनष्टे तु tatO dharmaih vinashTE tu
त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम् turai lOkyam sa carA acaram
सदेवर्षिगणं सर्वं sadeVarshi gaNam sarvam
विनश्येत्तु न संशयः vinaSyEt na samSayaha ॥ 7.106.10 ॥

स त्वं पुरुषशार्दूल त्रै sa tvam purusha SArdUl turai
लोक्यस्या अभिपालनात् lOkyasya abhipAlanAt
लक्ष्मणेन विना चाद्य lakshmaNEna vinA cAdya
जगत्स्वस्थं कुरुष्व ह jagat svastham kurushva ha ॥ 7.106.11 ॥

तेषां तत्समवेतानां tEshAm tat sama vEtAnAm
वाक्यं धर्मार्थ संहितम् vAkyam dharmArtha samhitam
श्रुत्वा परिषदो मध्ये SritvA parishadO madhyE
रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् rAmO lakshmaNAm abravIt ॥ 7.106.12 ॥

विसर्जये त्वां सौमित्रे visarjayE tvAm saumitrE
मा भूद्धर इम विपर्ययः mA bhu dhar im viparyaha
त्यागो वधो वा विहितः tyAgO vadhO vA vihitaha
साधूनां तूभयं समम् sAdhUnAm tu ubhayam samam. ॥ 7.106.13 ॥

रामेण भाषिते वाक्ये rAmENa bhAshitE vAkyE
बाष्प व्याकुलित इन्द्रियः bAshya vyAkulita indriyaha
लक्ष्मणस् त्वरितं प्रायात् lakshmaNas tvaritam prAyat
स्वगृहं न विवेश ह svagriham na vivESa ha॥ 7.106.14 ॥

स गत्वा सरयूतीरमु sa gatvA sarayU tIram
उप स्पृश्य कृताञ्जलिः upa spriSya kritAnjalihi
निगृह्य सर्वस्रोतांसि nigrihya sarva surOtAmsi
निःश्वासं न मुमोच ह niSvAsam na mumOca ha. ॥ 7.106.15 ॥

Translation is by Shri Ved Prasad Shastri, 1894 year.

SEEING Rama, his head bowed, afflicted and like unto the moon in eclipse, Lakshmana spoke to him in cheerful and affectionate tones, saying :-
Thou shouldst not grieve on mine account, 0 Long-armed Warrior; thus was it already ordained and has its roots in a past cause! Slay me without hesitation, be faithful to thy vow! Those who do not honour their promise, go to hell! If thou hast any affection for me, 0 Great King, and dost find any merit in me, then slay me and fulfil the law, 0 Raghava !
Thus spoke Lakshmana, and Rama, his mind troubled, called his ministers and priests together and told them what had taken place, of the arrival of Durvasa and the vow he had made to the Ascetic. When they had heard these things, the ministers and brahmins became silent, nevertheless the illustrious Vasishtha spoke thus :-
Oh Long-armed Prince, I perceive that the separation from Lakshmana is for thee a calamity, causing thy hair to stand on end. 0 Illustrious Rama, do thou abandon him; death is powerful, let not thy words prove false. When a promise is not honoured and virtue is destroyed, undoubtedly the Three Worlds with all animate and inanimate beings, with the hosts of the Gods and Rishis, perish! Therefore, 0 Lion among Men, in order to save the Three Worlds and assure the continuance of the universe, banish Lakshmana !
Hearing these words, which were in accord with duty and righteousness, approved by all, Rama, in the midst of the assembly, said to Lakshmana:-
Lest righteousness should perish, I banish thee, 0 Saumitri, a sentence of banishment or death is the same to men of honour !' At this decree of Rama's, Lakshmana, weeping, his mind distracted, departed in all haste without returning to his home. Having reached the banks of the Sarayu River, he performed his ablutions and, with joined palms, closing the doors of the senses, he began to meditate. As he was thus restraining his senses, he did not release his breath while given up to contemplation, and the Gods with their leaders, the troops of Apsaras and companies of Rishis covered him with a rain of flowers. Becoming invisible to men, the mighty Lakshmana was borne away in the body by Shakra, who carried him to the Celestial Region. Beholding the fourth part of Vishnu entering heaven, the foremost of the Gods, delighted, joyfully and unitedly offered homage to that descendant of Raghu.

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views with no hatred towards anybody

Lakshmana's mistake was a minor mistake. It cannot really be called guilt. Besides he did it under duress and threats from Sage Durvasa. He did it to save Rama and the Ayodhya City. Shri Rama believes that it was his duty as King , not to go back from his wrd. But, it can be seen from Valmiki Ramayana itself that Rama did not keep up his promise to live like a Muni (Hermit) eating fruits and roots, avoiding flesh.

Natural justice requires that punishments must be judicious and proportionate to the crimes. While awarding punishments, a king / judge should also take into account the past record of the Accused . I believe that had it not been Lakshmana's unflinched service of physical labor in the Forest, Rama and Sita could not have spent 13 years in forest comfortably with Rama feeding pieces of steak into Sita's mouth saying "idam mEdham, idam svAdu".

Sampati did not expect type of unflinching devotion from his younger brother Jatayu. But, why do Preachers and Priests ignore Sampati's fraternal love?

Back to Southern Sea

When Sampati fell on Vindhya hills, beside the Hills was the southern Sea. Sampathi was trying to identify the place .

Book 4 , Chapter 60 , Verse 7 .
Book of Kishkindha, sarga 60, Sloka 7.
हृष्ट पक्षि गण आकीर्णः hrishTa pakshi gaNa AkIrnaha:
कन्दर उदर कूटवान् kandara udara kUTavAn
दक्षिणस्य उदधेः तीरे dakshiNasya udadHE tIrE
विन्ध्यो अयम् इति निश्चितः vindhyO ayam iti nischitaha:

English gist : Full of delightful birds songs. Caves in its mid-body. The shore is the Southern Sea. These are definitely Vindhya Hills.

ybrao-a-donkey's personal views with no malice, and not intended to be imposed on others :

From the above verses, it is clear that Eagle Tribe Sampati, and monkey tribe Angada and his team are under an erroneous impression that what they saw was Sea / Ocean. Besides Vindhyas how can there be Sea/Ocean beside Vindhyas? Such possibility we may probably see only at Mahendra Giri , on Odisha, Andhra Border.