vAcAmagOcaramE
Sahityam
Pallavi
varNimpa taramE rAma mahima
Anupallavi
reNDO vAni zikhikosagenE (vAcAM)
Charanam
cAmaramauTakastramunEya kani
mAnambukai meDa dAcagA
mAdhavuNDu kani karagi vEgamE
dInArti bhaJjanuDai prANa
dAnambosaga munu canina
bANambunaTu cedara jEya lEdA
gAna lOla tyAgarAja nutu mahima (vAcAM)
Understanding the mind of His Spouse to make a fan (of animal tail), when Lord Madhava discharged a missile to sever the tail of the animal, as the animal, having seen the missile, projected its neck (in front of the missile) in order to die and save its honour rather than losing its hair, having seen this, the Lord taking pity, by becoming the reliever of the distress of the humble animal, in order to grant its life back, did He not quickly scatter then and there the missile which was already on its way to the target? How is it possible to describe the greatness of Sri Rama – Enjoyer of music - praised by this Thyagaraja? It is beyond words.
(Understanding the mind of His Spouse to make a fan (of animal tail), Lord Madhava discharged a missile to sever the tail of animal; the animal, seeing the missile, projected its neck (in front of the missile) in order to die and save its honour rather than losing its hair; seeing this, the Lord taking pity, in order to grant its life back, quickly scattered the missile which was already on its way to the target.)
References
- 1 vAcAmagOcara – Please also refer to Lalita Sahasranamam (415) ‘manO vAcAmagOcarA ’.
- 2
mArIcuni
– In this regard, SrImad Valmiki Ramayana – Balakanda – Chapter 30, verses 18 and 22 are relevant –
- “Forcibly hit with that highly excellent missile presided over by Manu, the ogre (MarIca) was flung in mid ocean, a distance of a full one hundred Yojana (800 miles).
- Sri Rama quickly invoked the most excellent missile presided over by the god of fire and hurled it at the breast of Subahu and, pierced by it, the latter fell dead on the ground.”
- 4
bANambu cedara jEsina
– Sort of guided missible which could be controlled (including self-destructed) before hitting the target. There are other similar instances given below.
- In the case of Crow demon (Kakasura) also, Sri Rama redirected the Brahmastra from actually slaying the crow.
- In the episode of bridging a causeway over the sea, Sri Rama redirected the missile aimed at the Lord of Oceans. (SrImad Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, Chapter 22, verses 30 to 40 refer).
- Sinful marauders of terrible aspects and deeds dwelling the region of Drumakulya – aka – Marukantara (present day Marwar, Bikaner and Rajasthan) were slayed by the Brahmastra of Sri Rama which was discharged aimed at Lord of Oceans.
- The story of Arjuna withdrawing Brahmastra aimed at Asvattama is mentioned in Mahabharata – Book 10, Sauptika parva – Chapters 14 and 15 . For the complete story, please visit website – [[ http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m10/index.htm Mahabharata]]
Commentary
- 3 cAmara – This episode is not found in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.
- 3
cAmara
– used as a fan in temples and for kings . It is generally made from Yak’s tail, particularly the silver hued tail. This is also known as Chowrie – the Tamil equivalent of Savuri. In Tamil mythology, a deer by name ‘Kavariman’ is mentioned which would not live if it happens to lose even a single hair from its body. Yak is found in Himalaya or Tibet only (nearest to India); also there is no such myth about Yak losing its life to save its honour. Therefore, the reference must be to Kavariman.
- The verse 969 of Thirukkural (Tamil) is relevant – For complete verses, please visit the web site - [[http://www.penkatali.org/tirukkuRaL.html Thirukkural]]
- “The deer ‘kavari’ would not live even if one hair is shed from its body (considering it to be a matter of honour); such like people, would cease to live if their honour is at stake.”