Anyone who reads/listens to Ramayana, may understand the purpose of composing Ramayana, according to
One's own way of approach
- as a first-time reader, the birth, marriage, moving to Forest alongwith wife, abduction of his wife, his friendship with Sugriva, the adventures of Sri Hanuman, war with Ravana and finally bringing back his wife Sita by Sri Rama enthralls the reader
- as a story teller/writer, One will be bewildered by the lucid and beautiful narrations of scenery, human feelings, bravey, fights between warriors, etc, be it in Ayodhya Kanda, Aranya Kanda, or Yuddha Kanda.
- as a devotee, One will be moved thoroughly with the devotion of Jatayu, Sabiri, Sita, Lakshmana, etc, towards Sri Rama.
- as a person interested in political intricacies, one will be astounded with the subtle of thinking of Sri Rama or Sri Hanuman or fearless attitude of various warriors in different situations, be it dealing with inviting a person from opposite camp or providing advice to opponent fearlessly in the midst of their followers, etc
- as a neutral person, one will be attracted towards the unshaken devotion towards to duty, against all odds shown by Sri Hanuman, Lakshmana, Sugriva, Bharata, etc
- to project Shri Rama and Sita as ideal couple for the mankind?
- to project Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrigna, as the ideal brothers?
- to project Shri Hanuman as a adherent to Vedic Dharma (dakshinAchAra - please remember that Shri Hanuman alone was called as dakshinO - दक्षिणो by Sage Valmiki), and superiority of dakshinAchAra over vAmAchAra?
- to project the moral values to the mankind?
- to project the consequences of excessive sexual impulse, through Ravana?
- to project the importance of adherence to Satya - righteousness and Dharma, in physical as well as spiritual realms?
"Rama knows all righteousness. He is true to his word and has good character. He has no envy. He has patience. He consoles those who are in troubles. He speaks good words. He has gratitude. He keeps senses under control."
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Whoever reads Ramayana carefully will understand that Shri Rama adhered to Dharma and kept his word - सत्यसन्धश्च - be it in (i) abdicating his right to get himself coronated, following a word given to his step-mother Kakeyi, (ii) eliminating demons, following an assurance given to rishies, (iii) helping Sugriva in eliminating Vali, etc.
Even mAricha, a follower of Ravana, acknowledges the virtues of Shri Rama - adherence to Dharma - धर्मज्ञः and Satya, in the following sloka.
रामो विग्रहवान् धर्मः साधुः सत्य पराक्रमः |
राजा सर्वस्य लोकस्य देवानाम् इव वासवः || ३-३७-१३
"Rama is the embodiment of righteousness, he is an equable person with truthfulness as his valour, and as with Indra to all gods he is the king of entire world."
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Now, further questions arise, as to
- the outcome of being adherent to Dharma and Satya, other than being renowned so?
- does any ascetic power resulted while being so?
The answer is, YES, Shri Rama did acquire an ascetic power, by being adherent to Dharma and Satya. However, he never used that power, but Lakshmana used it to eliminate Indrajit.
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In a terrific fight that ensued, Lakshmana and Indrajit, who were engaged in releasing several streams of arrows, fought like two lions. Lakshmana the foremost among humans and Indrajit the foremost among demons fought with rejoice.
That fierce battle went on for a longer period due to exchange of many ASTRAs presided by various deities like Varuna, Agni, Maheswara, etc.
Finally fitting a missile presided over by Indra to his bow and drawing it, Lakshmana discharged it at Indrajit, after making the following prayer:
धर्मात्मा सत्यसन्धश्च रामो दाशरथिर्यदि ||
पौरुषे चाप्रतिद्वन्द्वस्तदेनं जहि रावणिम् |
(Yuddha Kanda - Sarga 90 - Sloka 71)
“O my dear arrow! If Rama the son of Dasaratha has set his mind on virtue (Dharma), keeps up his promise and is second to none in his prowess, destroy this Indrajit.”
That large head of Indrajit, separated from his trunk and moistened with blood, was seen on the ground, shining like gold.
We have to understand that the knowledge of Lakshmana in divine weapons did not kill the great warrior Indrajit.
It was the ascetic power of Sri Rama consisting of virtue (Dharma - धर्मात्मा), keeps up his promise (सत्यसन्धश्च) and is second to none in his prowess (or) not to be vanquished- अप्रतिद्वन्द्व: पौरुषे) that eliminated the Indrajit.
Lakshmana was only instrumental.
Rig veda 1.77.1 (In praise of AGNI)
क॒था दा॑शेमा॒ग्नये॒ कास्मै॑ दे॒वजु॑ष्टोच्यते भा॒मिने॒ गीः ।
यो मर्त्ये॑ष्व॒मृत॑ ऋ॒तावा॒ होता॒ यजि॑ष्ठ॒ इत्कृ॒णोति॑ दे॒वान् ॥
He who in the sacrifices is the priest of the offering, full of
peace, full of the Truth, him verily form in you by your surrenderings;
when Agni manifests1 for the mortals the gods, he also has
perception of them and by the mind offers to them the sacrifice.
Rig veda 4.50.3 (In praise of Brihaspati)
बृह॑स्पते॒ या प॑र॒मा प॑रा॒वदत॒ आ त॑ ऋत॒स्पृशो॒ नि षे॑दुः ।
तुभ्यं॑ खा॒ता अ॑व॒ता अद्रि॑दुग्धा॒ मध्व॑: श्चोतन्त्य॒भितो॑ विर॒प्शम् ॥
O Brihaspati, that which is the highest supreme of existence,
thither from this world they attain and take their seat who touch the Truth.
For thee are dug the wells of honey which drain this hill and their sweetnesses
stream out on every side and break into overflowing.
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