RamarpaNam-298-299

Jai Sri Ram.

DandakarNaya pravEsam and VirAta vadam:

All along Rama has been wandering in the plains and hilly terrines north of Vidharba and for the first time is stepping into the thick and trecherous forest area encompassed between Chitrakuta, Ramtek (Nagpur) and Panchavadi (Nasik) appearing in a triangle.

This forest area serves as a divide between the then prevailing organised and civilised society of the North from the ethnic and barbaric society of the south so to say a great divide between the Aryavarta and Janastana communes.

The native inhabitants behaved as cruel man-eaters often disrupting the peace of the divergent race. Rama needing to establish a single civil order had to eliminate the demonly  both as protector of the suppressed and the peace loving as well as ruler of both these lands. He thus established Himself as a deena-Jana and mitra-Jana rakshaka. With this mission in mind He entered the Dandaka forest right in.

The forest reverberating the sounds of Vedic chants by holy sages seated besides the tri-Agni, the birds chirping along the roaring of animals at a distance, all greeted them. The august sages who gathered to receive the three, blessed them with Vedic chants to ward off the evil eyes especially their own as the ascetic attire  in which Rama, LakshmaNa appeared were more fitting to them than to the sages themselves. They offering fruits and flowers worshipped them and showing their eaten and mutilated limbs pleaded to Rama to protect them as a mother would do to her child in the womb. Rama rather felt ashamed of His failure to protect their person and belongings, He instead of being the first to reach for their safety have left them suffer and plead for help too.

The Lord feels His appetite satisfied  essentially by surrendering to His protective arms instead of making food offerings and slipping away from His fold, as believers of " sva-rakshNe-svanvayam ".

Next day after bidding farewell to the sages, Rama entered the deep forest and while Seetha and LakshmaNa followed Him, there appeared a huge eyed demon with large belly and dreadful look. He came running and catching hold of Seetha asked why they need a wife for a warrior in ascetic garb. Claiming himself to be Viradha asked Rama, LakshmaNa, who they are? With Seetha panicking and Rama disheartening, enraged LakshmaNa calming Rama said he would with the same anger as he ravaged against Bharata, a ruinous arrow would be released to finish Viradha.

The demon admonishing Rama, LakshmaNa for flouting sainthood grabbed them both to kill and make Seetha his wife. From here on necessitating Rama eradicate the demonic forces all around and provide a safe home to the sages who surrendered to Him in right earnest.