#Ramayana #LecturesOnTheRamayana

Today, I will share a very touching, quite surprising unconventional thought process from Ramayana.

When Lakshmana erected the hut in Panchavati, Rama said something which is quite strange & unexpected. Thread on this incident below:

1/
We all know about Lakshmana's unflinching devotion and respect for Rama. We will visit this theme quite often in this series.

In the context where Lakshmana has just built the hut, Rama gave a glowing tribute as below

Section: Aranyaa Kanda, Sarga 15

2/
Verse 27

सुसंहृष्टः परिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां लक्ष्मणं तदा।
अतिस्निग्धं च गाढं च वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्।।

Deeply pleased with Lakshmana, he hugged him tightly and said those loving words :

3/
Verse 28

प्रीतोऽस्मि ते महत्कर्म त्वया कृतमिदं प्रभो।
प्रदेयो यन्निमित्तं ते परिष्वङ्गो मया कृतः।।

O my master, you have done a great task for which I have given you what I could give at the moment a hug.

4/
Verse 29

भावज्ञेन कृतज्ञेन धर्मज्ञेन च लक्ष्मण।
त्वया पुत्रेण धर्मात्मा न संवृत्तः पिता मम।।

O Lakshmana with a son like you who can understand others' feelings, who has a sense of gratitude and a sense of duty my father is not dead yet.

5/
What an extraordinary statement.. A sense of duty my father is not dead yet.

In other words, Valmiki in his poetic flair describes Rama considering what Lakshmana did as something similar to what a father does his progeny..

6/
What a beautiful parallel and quite unusual for an elder brother to say about his younger brother.

This essential captures the overwhelming love Rama had for Lakshmana and how he expressed his gratitude speaks volumes of the great person he was

7/
Sita gives an equal testimony later to Hanuman in this verse from Sundarakanda

यं दृष्ट्वा राघवो नैव वृत्तमार्यमनुस्मरेत्।।

"He is Lakshmana for whose care and support Rama did not miss the noble king Dasaratha (during exile).

8/
Sita maa is also confirming that with Lakshmana is Dasaratha's proxy with her husband. This is another amazing aspect as how well she has understood her husband and his brother.

No wonder we worship them even today & continue to do so for time immemorial

🙏🕉️🙏
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