Speech of HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji on day 2 of 5-day Discourse on Shatashloki Ramayana – May 19, 2020 – Mysore
Compiled by Jaya Akka Akkanapragada
Śri rama rama raghu punga varāma rama
Śri rama rama bharatāgraja rama rama
Śri rama rama rańakarkaśa rama rama
Śri rama rama śarańam bhava rama rama
Śri rama rameti rame rāme manōramé
Sahasra nāma tastulyam rāma nāma varānané
On day 1, we did parayana of Balakanda and discussed some incidents. Today, we shall focus on Ayodhya kanda which is the turning point and the heart of Ramayana. Balakanda ends with the wedding of Rama and Sita. After getting Rama and Sita married, King Daśaratha sends Bharata to kaikeyi’s brother Yudhajit’s kingdom. Kaikeyas kingdom is said to be near Russia. Daśaratha wanted to coronate Rama as the King while Bharata was away, and before he returned. This was not right. Bharata and Shatrughna were both away. Some scriptures say that only Bharata was away, while others say that both were away. Just as Rama and Lakshmana were always together, Bharata and Shatrughna were also always together. No one knows where Manthara came from at this time. She was the one who poisoned Kaikeyi’s mind And gave her the idea to send Rama into exile. Just to keep up his father’s promise, Rama decided to go to the forest. Lakshmana said he would also go along and Sita also insisted one going with her husband. When Rama was leaving Ayodhya and going into the forest, why is this called Ayodhya kanda instead of Aranyakanda? It is because this kanda describes how Ayodhya used to be, and how it became when Rama went into exile.
As Appaji mentioned while discussing the sūktīs, the people of Ayodhya practiced very severe austerities for fourteen years till Rama returned. They ate only one meal a day, slept on the bare floor and observed celibacy. They performed these austerities with great devotion to Rama. All the scriptures and all the great sages have said that chanting the name of Rama removes all difficulties. This is why Appaji has given us the Shatashloki Ramayana, and makes us chant the Hanuman Chalisa. We must all develop devotion towards Rama understanding that He is Parabrahman Himself. It is with the utmost bhakti towards Rama that we will be able to win over this Corona. May the grace of Sri Rama and the compassion of Pujya Swamiji be upon us all. Let us offer this parayana at the Lotus feet of Sri Rama and Pujya Sri Swamiji.
Yesterday we had a debate like discussion. There were so many questions and so many answers. Devotion with debate is good. There is nothing wrong with a debate, but never let devotion go from your heart. With devotion, we need to understand Sri Rama and Sita Mata, and Rama Sita and Sita Rama together. If we don’t have devotion, then we cannot understand. I can quote so many slokas from different scriptures, Puranas and poems, but your heart will not be satisfied. If you have devotion Then you will understand why Rama did like that. Try to understand why Rama sacrificed Sita. That is why it is called Sītāparityāgaha. Ramayana is full of sacrifice or tyaga. Rama sacrificed so many things in his life to show us the right path. He was an avatara purusha. He need not do anything. He had everything. Both Sita Mata and Sri Rama knew what they were doing and what they would have to face. They show us the right path and were doing their duty. They never tried to escape from their duties and were ready to face any kind of sorrow. Rama took that path to protect us and to show us the path.
To understand why Rama sacrifice Sita, we have to go through all the 24,000 slokas of the Ramayana as well as the Uttarakanda. Not just reading, we have to thoroughly study and understand the Uttarakanda. Only then will we be able to understand Sita and Rama. Otherwise it is very difficult to understand Sita-Rama. Sita said “I am pregnant, and I want to go stay with sages and Rishis. I want to spend at least one night in the jungle.” It was her wish and Sri Rama said “okay I will arrange. Maybe tomorrow you can stay in the jungle. ” This is mentioned in the Uttarakanda.
They both returned to Ayodhya and were happy. One informer named Bhadra came there. Rama named him Bhadra thinking he was going to bring some good news. But he never gave any good news. We also subscribe to many channels thinking they will give us good news but they only give us breaking news. We see only bad news. When Bhadra came, Rama went to see him. Bhadra said “Rama, everyone is talking bad things about you.” Rama was very upset and fell down. He began crying and could not understand why this should happen to Sita. He thought from the time she came to Ayodhya, Sita was not happy. She was crying. When was she happy? She is always crying when she is with me. Why should this happened to Sita? When Rama enquired as to what was the gossip, Bhadra told him and said “you know what to do” and left. Rama was crying and in a state of confusion. “What should I do? What is my duty? Should I protect my wife? Should I protect my people? Should I protect Dharma? What should I do?” Rama made a decision to protect the people. He decided to sacrifice Sita because he wondered what will happen once she delivers the children. The people will criticise the children. He knew twins were there in Sita Mata’s womb. If people criticised those children, what would happen to them? They may criticise that these are not Rama’s children and that Sita is not of good character. How will they bear all this? My Sita will cry then. She may commit suicide. This is the time I have to make my heart strong. I have to leave her.
Rama struggled. He cried a lot. You have to read Uttarakanda to understand. He asked to invite his brothers Bharata Lakshmana and Shatrughna. When they came, he said “Obey my order. Take your sister-in-law to the jungle and leave her at Valmiki Maharshi’s ashram. He will take care of her. I’m not able to leave her. I love her a lot. But this is the time to leave her. Lōka apavāda – this bad name should go. She should not live with this bad name. So my request O Lakshmana is please take her to the forest and come back after leaving her there.” Lakshmana had to obey rama’s order. He left with Sumantara the charioteer. Sita asked “let me see Srirama once. Let me ask his permission before I go.” Lakshmana said “No you have to leave right away because you have asked Rama that you want to stay in the jungle for at least one day. Rama is sending you so Sita Mata please come with me.”
She took many clothes and ornaments thinking she would distribute them to the sages. Lakshmana crossed the Ganga River with Sita Mata and dropped her at Valmiki Maharshi’s ashram, and returned. Sumantara said to him “Lakshmana, you must not cry. I know what has happened. Once when King Dasaratha went to visit Vasishta during chaturmasya, Durvasa Maharshi was there. When he went and asked about the future of his Kingdom, Durvasa said “Do not worry. You will have 4 children. They will all get married. Rama will have 2 children, but not in Ayodhya. Sita – Janaka putri will deliver those children In some other place, not Ayodhya. We have to be prepared for this future. Rama will have bhāryā viyōga – separation from his wife.”
Dasharatha asked “Why does this happen? Does my son love his wife?” Durvasa replied “he loves her a lot. He respects her a lot but he has to leave her.” There are so many curses. Yoga Vasishta mentions four curses. You all agree that Rama Is the incarnation Of Maha Vishnu? If you agree, only then can I explain. If you are ready to agree that yes curses work, then you will get answers. One curse was from Sanat kumara. When Maha Vishnu went to Brahmaloka, there were many Saints and deities there. He offered his respects to everyone there except Sanat kumara. He was very upset because he was a Brahmagnyāni – knower of Brahman. He became very angry and cursed Maha Vishnu “you forgot me. I do not like this. You will take birth as a human being. This is my curse to you. So many bad things will happen to you and you will forget that you are Maha Vishnu.” At that time Maha Vishnu also became angry and cursed Sanat kumara saying “you will be born as Subrahmanya. You must leave this body and take that birth.” Since Sanat kumara took the form of Subrahmanya, we call him Kumaraswamy. This is one curse.
The second curse was from Devadatta. During the Narasimha avatara, he was not able to control his anger and was roaming here and there, and reached a river. Devadatta’s wife was performing some rituals there. When she saw Narasimha Swami, she became very scared and fell into the river and left her body. When Devadatta came to know about this, he cursed Narasimha “You will take birth as a human and experience separation from your wife.”
The third curse was from Bhrigu Maharshi. When some demons came and took refuge in her, she promised to protect them. When Maha Vishnu came there, he requested Khyati “please leave them. They want to fight with me and I want to fight with them.”
Khyati: “I will not leave them. I have given them refuge. They are with me.”
Maha Vishnu: “I can give you a boon.”
Khyati: “I want to merge in You, O Paramatma. Can you grant me this boon?”
Maha Vishnu: “Yes, but you have to be killed by me. Only then You can merge in me. Are you ready for that?”
Khyati: “Yes, I am ready.”
Then Maha Vishnu with his sudarshana chakra killed her. That is Maha Vishnu. We cannot question him. He is the one who gives us birth and he is the one who takes it away. He is everything. When he killed her with His sudarshana chakra, Khyati’s soul merged in Him. When Bhrigu Maharshi came to know about what happened, he became very angry and cursed Maha Vishnu “you will be born as a human being and you will experience separation from your wife.” This was the third curse. When Bhrigu Maharshi went to Vaikuntha, and saw Mahalakshmi with Maha Vishnu, he became very angry and hit the heart of Maha Vishnu. Upset with that, Mahalakshmi left Vaikuntha and came to bhooloka. She was cursed by the Maharshi that because she left Vaikuntha without asking Maha Vishnu’s permission, one day He would also leave her as Srirama. She said “Yes to wash out the karma from my bad deed, I will take this curse.”
There is one more curse from Brunda Jalandhara. Brunda is Tulsi Mata. In goloka, when Brunda and Jalandhar were playing, Radha Mata was disturbed, and she cursed them to be born as human beings. Jalandhara was born as a demon. Since Maha Vishnu’s duty is to remove bad from the creation, he came And thought it is very easy to kill Jalandhara. He sought the help of Shiva and asked “Are you ready to kill Jalandhara?” Shiva replied “it is very difficult. Brunda is a very strong woman. She is following pāti vratya dharma and she loves her husband a lot as her god. That is why I cannot kill him easily.” Then Maha Vishnu took the form of Jalandhara and went to Brunda. That happens. That is Maya. We cannot say anything. That is Hari Maya. Brunda saw Vishnu as Jalandhara. She thought “oh my husband looks very handsome today.” This is what happened. They did not meet or make any love. she just thought that her husband was looking more handsome today. with that, her pāti vratya dharma was gone. That caused Jalandhara’s death. Brunda became very upset and said “Maha Vishnu you separated me from my husband, so you will also experience separation from your wife. This is my curse to you.” This is Brunda’s curse. Brunda became Tulsi, Jalandhara became the shankha or conch and Maha Vishnu became the saligrama. You cannot separate the saligrama from tulsi or the shankha. These 3 are always together.
We have to remember this. Maha Vishnu took birth as Sri Rama to fulfil the curses of these sages. Brunda was a very powerful woman who loved her husband. I have to show the world the power of the Saints and dharma. He takes birth as Sri Rama keeping all this in mind. He acts as if he doesn’t know anything but something goes inside and makes us act. We cannot help it. We’re not just born like that. we have some samskaras – history from our previous births which keeps us moving. This happens in Uttarakanda and Yoga Vasishta. There are so many stories about why Sri Rama had to sacrifice Sita Mata. He never left her. Sita-Rama are always together in Hanuman’s heart. You cannot separate them. sītāyāf patayé namaha – you cannot use a word like this. It is a grammatical mistake. We can say sītāyā pataye namaha, But that is separated. It is not one word. If we want to say them together, we have to say sītāyāh patye namaha. Valmiki knew this but he still said sītāyāf because no grammar and nothing can separate Sita from Rama. They are always together – mahālakshmi nityam anapāhini. So please keep this in mind and never think Rama did something bad to Sita.
He cried when Sita Mata left, and again when she went into her mother – Mother earth’s womb. vivaram dātu marhasi – ‘O Mother Earth, I want to sit in your lap and I want to merge into You Because I took birth from you, I want to come back into You.’ When Rama was there in Naimishārańya, a big earthquake happened, and sita Mata went inside. Rama became very angry and upset and said “I will kill everyone. I will kill Surya. I will kill Bhudevi.” He wanted sita Mata. He said “let these people know the greatness of Sita Mata.” But Sita Mata’s sankalpa was different. They were preparing for their next avatara, so Sita Mata went into the earth. And you know the rest.
That is why debate is good, but doubting is not good. Some people love their mother. Some people love their father. Some people love both parents, isn’t it? We should love our parents. Never say I love my mother more. Okay, there is always more love to mother, because we share our blood with her and we live in her womb for 7-9 months. That relation, that bond is always there with the mother. Mātru devo bhava pitru devo bhava – mother is always great. But loving only the mother and loving only Sita is not good. Whoever is asking these questions, I don’t think they hate or doubt Rama. They love Sita Mata. we can love mother but not hate. That is is Rama’s sankalpa – karma is a bad word to use in this context. It is his sankalpa – vow. Rama took birth as a human being to obey the word of Saints. What is Ramayana – Rama ayana. Rama is joy or bliss. Ayana is journey. Do not turn the journey into doubt. This is a journey of bliss. Try to understand. We have to see what happened previously. We have to understand what is going to happen in the future. Only then we can understand the situation. it is very difficult to understand the situation. We have to travel to treta yuga. we have to see Sri Rama, we have to see Sita Mata and we have to experience. Only then we can understand. You will have some doubts. When I ask you to ask some questions, you will always have doubts. it is Valmiki’s sankalpa to raise questions in our minds. We always remember Rama and Sita. That is his sankalpa. He is a Veda Rishi. He never lied and he said whatever was seen. Otherwise, he’s a poet. He can change anything.
Lakshmana says “ it is a very difficult task you have taken. Now you have two difficult situations in front of you. You have to face two problems. if you don’t leave Sita Mata, people will criticise you. you will suffer and you cannot make people walk on the righteous path. That is your problem. You will cry without Sita. I know about you. when people see you crying, they will call you a kāmuka – a lustful fellow. People are going to criticise you anyway. You are in a very tough situation. How are you going to face this? If you leave Sita, you have a problem. If you don’t leave Sita also, you have a problem.” Sri Rama and Sita Mata have to take all this. Sri Rama keeping his children in mind did this. you have to read Uttrakanda. Sita Mata said “Okay, I’m ready” In her final words, she was angry because she was not able to live with Rama. She was very upset. Rama did agni pariksha because even after Sita Mata went into the fire and came out pure, people said “Who knew? Who was there? Vibheeshana was there but he will naturally support Rama Because he got Kingdom because of Sri Rama. These people are vanaras – they are monkeys. If we ask Lakshmana, he will naturally support his brother. Who was there? We were not there. if He really wants to prove his wife is pure, then he should do the agnipariksha here. Rama was scared. He could not ask her to take agnipariksha once again. He was very much worried. So Rama struggled a lot. Because of this he was forced to sacrifice sita Mata for our sake. You cannot change people’s minds. But Rama never criticised the people. Rama always felt “my job is to protect the people. that is why I am King.” That is why He is purńa-purusha. sita Mata is Mahalakshmi and Sri Rama is Śrimannarayana. I am not asking you to support Sri Rama. Do as you want. I have kept all the history in front of you. Now you decide. You have brains, and the analysing capacity. You can decide for yourself. Jaya Guru Datta. May Sri Rama bless you all.
When one thinks of Ramayana, this question naturally arises. I have taken great pains to explain about Rama’s pain. When he lived among the people, he had to accept both the flowers which were offered as well as the stones which were hurled. I have to mention one more thing. When Lakshmana drops Sita in the forest, she says “Lakshmana, you stay here till you are sure that I am pregnant and then only go back.” Those words fell like a nuclear bomb. Lakshmana says “Mother, when we were in the forest, I only looked at your feet. how can I ascertain If you are pregnant. Rama knows. It is okay.”
Sita said “I do not know if Rama knows. Tomorrow, people are quite capable of saying that you just left her at Valmiki Maharshi’s ashram. who knows whose children they are!” these things really happened, which is why Appaji always says “Sri Rama said that people will never change.” This is why in the Uttarakanda Sri Rama himself said “You are pregnant. My children are in your womb.” He did not need any scans or anything else to confirm.
This is why Sita Mata said “I want to go to the forest.” She did not say let both of us go. Rama had promised her that he would make arrangements for her to go to the forest. When the messenger appeared, he had to send her to the forest. This is a fault in Sri Rama which is why he came back as a poorna avatara – complete avatara – as Sri Krishna. does anyone have the guts to call out any of Sri Krishna’s actions? He will use his Maya to make your trishna (thirst) go away. Sri Rama tolerates everything. He does not do any of this because he is born as a man and he lives as a man. Who is more difficult to understand – Sri Rama or Sri Krishna? it’s tough to answer that question. We must all pray for Sri Guru’s Grace to be able to contemplate on them. These are great poems and epics – the Puranas, Bhagavatam, Bharatam. Doubting and asking questions to clear your doubts are two entirely different things. We must always understand the subject in its entirety before arriving at conclusions. All the people who are asking questions must read the complete Ramayana. Otherwise, if Rama bhakthi leaves your hearts, it will become very difficult.
Dhyana slokas followed by parayana of Ayodhya Kanda.
Ayodhya is the name given to the Kingdom by the gods. It is the place of gods and it is also a Kingdom that cannot be won by waging war. We are very happy that the temple in Ayodhya is going to come up. This has been very peacefully settled by the courts. It is a landmark event in the history of India Because we’ve never waged war on any country. We have always welcomed others and treated them well as our guests. The greatness of India lies in its diversity. We must always be united.
Everyone has bhakti – just the names and religion may be different, but bhakti is what we are all looking for. But if someone insults our Vedas or our gods, we will not stand for it. Our Muslim brethren Have also agreed their temple should be built there and the Court has also ordered it. It is Appaji’s sankalpa that an ashrama come up soon in Ayodhya just like in Kashi. It seems as if Appaji’s sankalpa is to have an ashrama in each of the 7 moksha dvārās.
There is an experience in Ayodhya that many of you are aware of. After the completion of Shatashloki Ramayana parayana, we went to the Sarayu river. Appaji asked me to stay back because if I also came along, then too many people would get on the boat. I agreed to stay on the shore, When Appaji suddenly insisted that I also get on the boat. Including Prasad ji and the boatman, there were four of us on the boat. As the boatman kept rowing, he leaned back further and further, and fell into the river. We were in the middle of the river, and did not know what to do. The people who were on the banks thought the boatman jumped into the river to allow for photos to be taken.
When a person of about 70-80 kgs suddenly jumps off a boat, the boat starts rocking. Only we knew how unstable the both became. When Appaji picked up the paddle, everyone on the banks started clapping thinking Swamiji was rowing the boat. Appaji then said “this situation with just the 3 of us in the boat in the middle of the Sarayu river is like I am Sri Rama, You are Sita and he is Lakshmana.” I felt so elated on being thought of as Sita. Just to be a speck of dust on Her feet is enough. Suddenly the boatman appeared. Until then, we did not know whether to paddle or swim to the shore. The boatman came up and said the river was very deep and filled with mud up to 100-200 meters making it very difficult to swim.
Ayodhya is a kshetra which is very dear to Appaji and to Datta Peetham. Just the way you all contributed to the construction of the ashrama in Kashi, you must all participate and support the construction of the Ayodhya ashrama as well. Rama in Ayodhya is Shanta Rama, therefore to enter such a place, we must be very peaceful. It is only with sadhana that we can enter His city.
As we read Ramayana, we experience tears of joy and sorrow and so many emotions. We don’t know whether to be thrilled at Anjaneya Swami’s feats or to grieve with Sita Mata for her sorrows. When we read Life History also many questions arise. By contemplating, we will find answers.
Questions and answer session
Q : The lives that a jeevi has to take up are already predetermined. The karmas and the fruits of those karmas are also predetermined. When nothing is in their control, how can one perform good karmas and attain moksha?
A : It is wrong to think that a jeevi’s lives are predetermined. The life we get, depends on our actions or karmas. It is only to develop bhakti that it is said that lives are predetermined. By following the path of gñāna, we can alter our fate and the course of subsequent lives. Every jeevi has that śakti or power. We must believe in this power. When they say ‘not having a plan is the best plan,’ it is to signify that we must empty ourselves completely of desires (sankalpa-s). if there are no desires left, how will further lives arise? We have so many unending desires, that one lifetime is not enough to fulfil them. The Puranas mention fate and unending lifetimes to help us understand this concept. Brahmarāta means that Brahma or Paramātma is the Ultimate. We can only understand the Ultimate through bhakti.
Bhagavad Gita refers to Bhakti yoga as something else altogether – filling oneself with good samskārās so that desires automatically fall away. A gñāni stands out as indifferent and unaffected by what happens around him. I hope this answers your question. It is very wrong to think that a jeevi has no control. Jeevi can do everything and has all the power to achieve whatever he wants to. This is why Guru says
Manuśyāńām sahasréśu kaścid yatati siddhayé
Yatatāmapi siddhānām kaścin mām vetti tattvataha – Bhagavad Gita 7.3
We must make effort to achieve perfection. We must not give up like the fox who says the grapes are sour because they are out of reach. We must keep striving, and try to jump until we reach. When a dog is very small, it keeps practicing and practicing, until one day it is able to jump over the wall. Abhyāsa or practice is very important. Until we reach that state of purńa gñāna or perfection, we have to keep striving. Until then we are mired in agñāna and māya. When we reach that state of perfection, we ourselves will know we have reached. With practice and effort (prayatna), there is nothing which we cannot achieve.
Gñānāgnih sarva karmāńi bhasma sāt kuruté ‘rjuna – Bhagavad Gita 4.37
Knowledge burns all actions which have been performed and which are yet to be performed – and turns them to ash. When this happens, we merge in Paramātma.
Q : How could Goddess Sri Lakshmi have karma?
A : This is a very good question. She has no karma, but they willingly took birth. She knew this is going to happen, and that is why she took birth as Sita Mata. Because she had no karma, she was able to live in the earth in a box. A baby which has karma can never live in a box. Who gives oxygen there? It is very difficult to breathe. They are mahāgñānīs – deities who know everything. They are born of their sankalpa and their form is full of knowledge. When knowledge takes birth, that form is Sita Mata. When dharma takes birth, that form is Sri Rama. To show us the power of saints’ words and to make their words come true, they obeyed the Saints’ curse and took birth.
Q : Rama showed several emotions in the Ramayana, but he had already learnt Yoga Vasishta as a child. Why did those emotions still affect him?
A : I should say that because of listening to Yoga Vasishtam, he could easily leave his kingdom and go to the jungle. He was a good student and listened to his Guru, that is why he could go like that. He digested Yoga Vasishta, that is why he loved to live in the jungle. That is the greatness of Guru vakya. If you follow your Guru’s words, your sorrows will be joyful and you will enjoy them. He started enjoying there, and was happy living in the jungle. He planned to stay there and send Lakshmana back after 14 years. But Sita didn’t listen to Yoga Vasishta. That is why she wanted the golden deer. She is also a great woman, but in this birth she did not listen to Yoga Vasishta. When she asked for the deer, the story turned. Even when Bharata came and asked Rama to return to Ayodhya, Rama did not leave because of the effect of Yoga Vasishtam. No matter how many people came and told him “You are Narayana”, He insisted “I am Daśaratha’s son.” He showed no ahamkara (ego). That is the power of Yoga Vasishta and Guru vakya.
There were people who said Rama left the kingdom because he did something bad and was sent away by Daśaratha. We don’t read such things, but there were people who spoke like that. He happily accepted the verdict and left for the jungle. This is clearly the effect of Yoga Vasishta. If we understand this emotion, we can understand all other emotions of Rama’s.
Q : Sita entered mother earth. How can this be interpreted? I read somewhere that there are many people who believe an advanced race of beings live deep in the earth. What is your feeling? Can you please comment on this?
A : Yes, I too believe that. She is the queen of the loka which resides deep in the earth. But that is in a subtle form. If we drill, we cannot go there or see them just the way we cannot see deities who are here, or see bacteria without a microscope. How can we see deities when we can’t even see creatures like bacteria? Ramayana mentions that Mother Goddess appeared seated on a throne and invited Sita Mata to sit in her lap, and Sita Mata went into the earth.
Q : Is Rama a socialist? What is your opinion on this?
A : You can see many instances where Sri Rama strived for the welfare of the society. That makes him a socialist. But he had many other facets too. Those who strive for the welfare of others and the society is a socialist, and Sri Rama displays this trait.
Q : I read somewhere that Sita Mata is the daughter of Ravana. Is this correct?
A : Yes, in Adhyatma Ramayana, Sita Mata is the daughter of Ravana. That is a different story. Some people have a good opinion of Ravana. They say Ravana could not live without his daughter, so he kidnapped Sita Mata. In Adhyatma Ramayana, Vedavati is Ravana’s daughter. Not Sita Mata, but in a previous birth ( I don’t remember her name now) she was his daughter. Ravana is a very old man. He is there from Kruta yuga, and did all this at the end of Treta yuga when Rama’s story happened. She was his daughter in Kruta yuga.
Q : Why did Bharata keep Rama’s padukas? What is the meaning for us to understand?
A : It signifies Bharata’s detachment. Some people say Bhārata deśa came from Bharata. We should remember him always – Rama’s brother, when we think of this country. When Bharata asked Rama to return, Rama said he had to keep their father’s word. There are two versions – one that Bharata took padukas from Ayodhya and asked Sri Rama to bless them. Another version says that Bharata asked Rama for the padukas which he was wearing. This shows the greatness of Guru’s words. Vasishta Maharshi can see what happens in future. That was the power of his penance – tapas śakti. He decided a muhurta (time) when Rama should become the prince of Ayodhya. At the same time, Bharata took Rama’s padukas and kept them in the simhāsana (throne) and he experienced that Rama’s padukas are King. He offered everything to Rama’s padukas – before he ate, before he enjoyed the kingdom. He never enjoyed anything. He was a detached king. That was the greatness of Vasishta vakya. His words made Rama Paduka the King. Bharata took the padukas to say that padukas are very powerful. Whoever is practicing spirituality, they should always respect Guru padukas and remember Guru’s padas. Bharata always felt Rama was the king, and he (Bharata) was His servant.
Jaya Guru Datta.
Ram Nam ki Madhur malāyi (Bhajanmala ID: 1972)