GS 13 : KUSIKASUTHA KATHITA VIDHITA NAVA VIVIDHA KATHA! jAYA! jAYA!
O Raghuveera who heard many a novel story told by Sage Viswamitra as you walked with him to protect his Yajna and also on your way to Mithilai! Hail to Thee!
Here Swami refers to the many stories that the Sage told to the brothers so that they did not feel the strain of the journey through the forest. You heard those novel stories with great intensity and desire. Sage told stories on the origin of Manmathan, history of Tatakaa, Sriman Narayana’s incarnation as Vamana to curb the pride and arrogance of Maha Bali and the history of Siddhaasrama, Siva Dhanus (Bow) in King Janaka’s possession, his( sage Viswamitra’s ) own lineage, the birth of Subramanya and the story of the sons of Sakara and the birth of Ganga.
14. MYTHILA NAGARA SULOCHANAA LOCHANA CHAKORA CHANDRA! JAYA! JAYA!
O Lord who is the life-giving moon to the beautiful eyes of the women of Mythila known for the beauty of their eyes! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
As Lord Ramachandra entered the city of Mithilai,the beautiful women feasted on your beauty just as the legendary chakora birds feast on the rays of moon,their only food. These women felt that the fruits of possessing eyes were realized that day.
Valmiki Ramayanam does not dwell on how the women of Mithilai feasted on the beauty of Sri Rama with their comely eyes. Poet Kamban however dwells on the scene that Rama and lakshmana saw on the streets of the city of Janaka. He describes the beautiful women and the youth of the city as seen by the brothers. Kamban describes at length the way in which the eyes of Sita and Rama met and how each were affected deeply by each other’s beauty.
AruNachala Kavirayar describes the wonder and bafflement of Sita seeing the divine beauty of Rama from the balcony of her palace (“YarO Ivar YarO” Yenna perO ariyneh “) in his Rama Naatakam. This is the famous piece tuned in Raga Bhairavi by Sangeetha Ratnaakaram Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar.
GS 15 : KANTA PARASU KOTHANDA PRAKAANTA KANTANA SOWNTA BHUJA DHANDA! JAYA! JAYA!
Here, Swami Desikan pays tribute to the mighty shoulders of Rama and their valor in breaking the powerful bow of Siva. Hail to Thee O Raghuveera, who effortlessly broke into two the mighty bow of Siva through your matchless strength and heroism!
It took five thousand men to draw the bow resting in its case to the court of King Janaka for the competition to string the bow. The winner in that competition was promised beautiful Sita’s hand in marriage by king Janaka. All the kings assembled for that Svayamvaram failed miserably in the contest. Sri Rama at the behest of Sage Viswamitra lifted the bow effortlessly and broke it into two, when he tried to string it. Such was the power of his mighty shoulders(SOWNDA BHUJADHANDA)!
GS 16 : CHANDAKARA KIRANA MANDALA BODHITHA PUNDARIKA VANA RUCHI LUNDAAKA LOCHANA! JAYA! JAYA!
The poetic skills of Swami Desikan are revealed here.He suggests that the Lord’s eyes stole the beauty of the fully blossomed lotuses that responded tothe welcoming rays of their friend, the Sun. This DINAAKARA KAMALA KULA DIVAAKARAN had a special relationship to the lotuses.
The Siva Dhanus was broken by now. Sri Rama was assured thus of recieving Sita Devi’s hands in marriage. Sri Rama’s joy knew no bounds. His eyes shone with a special beauty over the thought of being united with His Devi. On that occasion, the beauty of His eyes mirrored the joy of His “soul” as it were and defeated the beauty of the just blossomed forest of lotus flowers (PUNDARIKA VANA RUCHI).
GS 17 : MOCHITA JANAKA HRUDHAYA SANKAATANKA! JAYA! JAYA!
O Raghuveera who banished the worries that resided in the heart of King Janaka about your power to string the Siva Dhanus and win in the Svayamvaram and fulfill your avathara kaaryam! Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!
(To Be continued)…
