SrI rAmAyaNa thani SlOkam -11 – ayOdhyA kANdam – 2.22 – ichchAmO – Part 1

_{SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:}

In the previous SlOkam, we learnt about bharathAzhwAn’s visit to his maternal uncle’s house and how SathrughnAzhwAn was taken along by bharathAzhwAn. It was SathrughnAzhwAn’s practice/routine to accompany wherever bharathAzhwAn went. This was because SathrughnAzhwAn was entirely dependent on bharathAzhwAn. He was always devoted to bharathAzhwAn’s kainkaryam; he had complete control of his senses so much so that he did not even engage in Sri rAma’s beauty.

King dhaSaratha wished to crown SrI rAma after ruling the kingdom for a very long time. Being an impartial and righteous emperor, he wanted to make such a decision only after consultation with his royal assembly and the subjects of ayOdhyA. Therefore, king dhaSaratha invited everyone to communicate his intentions. He explained to them that it was the custom in ikshvAku dynasty for the kings in their old age to retire to the forest after crowning a befitting successor. He also asked for their opinion after expressing his desire. In response to king dhaSaratha’s request, this SlOkam was uttered by the people of ayOdhyA.

avathArikai (introduction)

King dhaSaratha ruled ayOdhyA for many years, but now he wanted to entrust his responsibilities as a king to his son SrI rAma. This tradition was followed by all the kings in ikshvAku dynasty. This has also been mentioned in raghuvamSam 3-70 “gaLithavayasAm ikshvAkUNAm idham hi kulavratham” (upon reaching a ripe old age, the kings in ikshvAku dynasty pass their kingdom to their descendants and retire to the forest).
Hence king dhaSaratha says, “I have spent all my time engaging in defending the kingdom and gathering wealth for the welfare of the people”.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-7 “pANdarasyAthapathrasya chAyAyAm jaritham mayA” (I have become old after spending many years under the big white royal umbrella).
But after protecting the people for 60,000 years, king dhaSaratha did not want the people of ayOdhyA to think that he had abandoned them by passing on the responsibility to a young prince. So, he wanted to hear their opinion to understand their acknowledgement and approval.
King dhaSaratha says, “Because of my old age I do not have much strength to protect the people of this kingdom. I am planning to hand over the responsibilities to my son and relax in life”.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-14 “gathaklESO bhavishyAmi puthrEsmin sannivESya vai” (I can relieve my hardships by passing on the responsibilities to my son).
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-10 “sOham viSramamichchAmi puthram kruthvA prajAhithE” (I would like to take a rest after entrusting the responsibility of protecting the people of this kingdom to my son).

King dhaSaratha says, “My son will rule the kingdom and there will not be any difference between my reign and my son’s reign”.
- manthrapraSnam 2-11-33 “AthmA vai puthranAmAsi” (I shall continue to live in the name of my son).

King dhaSaratha asks the people of ayOdhyA to give their acceptance to his decision.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-15 “bhavanthO mE’numanyanthAm” (You all have to give me your consent).

On hearing the decision, the people of ayOdhyA became very happy. Their affirmative response was heard like a loud roar, as though tearing the structure of the palace apart.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-18 “vimAnam kampayanniva” (An explosion of sound was heard as though there was a jolt on the rooftop of the palace).
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-21 “anEkavarshasAhasthrO vrudhdhasthvamasi pArthiva l sa rAmam yuvarAjAnamabhishinchasva pArthivam ll” (Oh king! You have ruled for many thousand years and have become an old man; make prince SrI rAma as the king).

The people of ayOdhyA enthusiastically uttered, “You have protected us well for many years but now you have become old, you may crown SrI rAma as the king. This is our wish too”. They convey to king dhaSaratha, SrI rAma’s qualities and abilities which make him eligible to rule the kingdom.
They assure king dhaSaratha that they are neither submitting nor yielding to his decision but it is their desire too. They speak in great detail about perumAL’s greatness and say,

ichchAmO hi mahAbAhum raghuvIram mahAbalam l
gajEna mahathAyAntham rAmam chathrAvruthAnanam ll

Word-by-Word meaning

mahAbAhum – one who has long divine arms

raghuvIram – one who is eminent in the lineage of raghu

mahAbalam – one who is mighty

rAmam – SrI rAma

mahathA gajEna – on a big elephant

(A) yAntham – one who is mercifully seated

chathrAvruthAnanam – one whose face is not visible ( but desirable to be seen) since it is covered by an umbrella (protected from the sun)

ichchAmO hi – don’t we desire!

Simple Meaning

The people of ayOdhyA reply to king dhaSaratha and utter the following, “Don’t we also desire the same! We want to see SrI rAma (the one with long arms) seated on a big elephant with his divine body protected from the sun by a white umbrella ( veNkoRRak kudai, one that is apt for an emperor)”.

Notes from periyavAchchAn piLLai’s vyAkhyAnam

Let us now see the vyAkhyAnam which provides many latent/in-depth meanings to the above SlOkam.

ichchAma:

The people of ayOdhyA say to king dhaSaratha, “We are desirous (ichchAma:) of seeing SrI rAma adorned with fine garlands and with a crown on his divine head”.

ichchAma:

They continue, “We can only desire (ichchAma:), but only you can make it happen. These desires are due to our love for SrI rAma. It is commonly said, “SrEyAmsi bahuvighnAni” (when trying to execute or accomplish good deeds even the wise ones will face hindrances). So, will this longing of ours be fulfilled now?”.

ichchAma:

They also say, “We must desire (ichchAma:) for good things, whether it is possible or not”.

ichchAma:

The whole of ayOdhyA continued, “We have had this desire (ichchAma:) for a long time. It was not communicated to you until now because you have always stood by our side and protected us. Hence, we felt it may not be appropriate to disclose what’s on our minds. But now since you have revealed your intentions, we have shared our thoughts with you”.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-19 “bhAvam vigyAya sarvaSa:” ( After fully knowing the intentions of king dhaSaratha, the people of ayOdhyA conveyed).

ichchAma:

Now assuming that the king asks the question – “Is this the desire of a few people or a majority of the people?”, the people say, “All of us, who dwell in your kingdom, collectively, unanimously desire (ichchAma:). We hope you will be able to make this happen, we implore you”.

ichchAmO hi

hi – this syllable is used to emphasise that something is evident or obvious (In order to indicate that no further explanation is needed since it is very obvious).

Assuming king dhaSaratha asks the people, “How is it possible for me to know the desires of your heart?” The people of ayOdhyA say, “It is not necessary for someone to explicitly say this, since it is evident from the loud sound of people’s reaction”. “janaghOshO mahAnabhUth” (the sound of people’s voices was loud).
The loud sound of their response that shattered the walls and roofs of the palace is sufficient to understand their desire.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-18 “vimAnam kampayanniva” (the intensity of sound appeared as though it would shake the roof).

It is apparent that everyone preferred/desired SrI rAma because bhUmippirAtti, and all the people of the earth were in love with SrI rAma even though it was dhaSaratha who was the king. The people of ayOdhyA ask king dhaSaratha, “Are you not aware that while you were still the king, sIthAp pirAtti chose SrI rAma in the svayamvaram and garlanded him?
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-48 “akAmayatha mEdhinI” (earth / people of the land/ sIthAp pirAtti all fell in love with SrI rAma). akAmayatha – sIthAp pirAtti had her heart for SrI rAma even at a very young age – when SrI rAma was still guided by king dhaSaratha holding his hands. If one were to question, whether such conduct at a young age is appropriate, it is because people who are in love do not follow etiquettes.
- SrI rAmAyaNam ayOdhyA kANdam 2-48 “lOkapAlOpamam nAthamakAmayatha mEdhinI” (being the protector of the land, bhUmippirAtti falls in love with SrI rAma). SrI rAma is loved by everyone in this world because of his auspicious qualities and prowess – this is a common and rather broad meaning for this is pramANam. But periyavAchchAn piLLai, provides a special meaning. vishNu being the protector and maintainer of the earth, he says that not just the people of the land but bhUmippirAtti (the earth) herself is in love with SrI rAma because he is the one who protects her. SrI rAmAyaNam bAla kANdam 1-18 “vishNunA sadhruSa:” (His prowess is that of vishNu). Because he is the supreme lord, she desired him and was utterly head-over-heels in love with him.

mEdhinI

Now, why did she (bhUmippirAtti) have the utmost and profound love for him?
The flesh and meat of the asuras – madhu and kaitabha had caused land to become toxic. This is also mentioned in anargarAghavam 1-14 “madhukaitabhadhAnavEndhramEdha: plavavisrA vishamaiva mEdhinIyam l adhivAsya yadhi” (because of the sea of flesh and meat of the asuras – madhu and kaitabha, the earth was grasped by a malodour). The earth which had become unpleasant, wanted to become fragrantful with lord’s aroma since he is the possessor/source of all the aromas. chAndhogya upanishath 3-14-2 “sarvagandha:” (one who possesses all the aroma/odour).
- Only with SrI rAma’s aroma/with his greatness and glories the damages/blemishes of the land could be removed and made aromatic, so that the land (bhUmippirAtti) can be enjoyed by the kings (SrI rAma).

So, does this mean that SrI rAma made his avathAram to just add fragrance to the earth – just like how a camphor or sandalpaste adds aroma? The answer can be understood by interpretation of the word ‘nAthan’ in “lOkapAlOpamam nAthamakAmayatha mEdhinI”. ‘nAthan’ means lord/protector. This implies that he came to protect bhUmippirAtti as he was her lord. Also, since he is the master, he is the enjoyer of both good and bad. And because of this natural relationship, he is the only one who deserves to relish both – the aroma and the malodour.

So the people of ayOdhyA say: we desire (ichchAmO hi), the entire word desires SrI rAma, including bhUmippirAtti.

AzhwAr emperumAnAr jIyar thiruvadigalE SaraNam

periyavAchchAn piLLai thiruvadigalE SaraNam

vyAkhyAnam for the remainder of the SlOkam will be continued in the next article.

Source – SrI rAmAyaNa thani SlOkam – 11 – ayOdhyA kANdam – 2.22 – ichchAmO – Part 1 Audio Video

adiyEn chithrA rAmAnuja dhAsi

Proofreading/Curating done by – kOsalEndhra rAmAnuja dhAsan, krishNan rAmAnuja dhAsan

Leave a Comment Cancel reply