Celebrating Vijayadashmi (Dussehra)!
When the battle was over, Ravana was killed by Rama. Mandodari, Ravana’s queen saw his dead body and she grieved and said many things. An entire chapter is dedicated to her in Ramayana.
The meaning goes like this, “In the past, by performing a great penance, you conquered the senses and conquered the three worlds. Now, as if revenging that enmity, those very senses conquered you.”
And it is a great reminder to all of us that no matter what we possess. Indulging in worldly things like anger and revenge can take it away and cost us dearly. So while it may be difficult to achieve a victory it is equally or rather more difficult to maintain it. That’s our takeaway from this Vijayadashmi.
Vijayadashmi is the tenth day that comes after nine nights or Navratri. Do read our post that explains Navratri in details.
These are words of Lakshmana addressed to Rama when the latter says that neither Kaikeyee nor his father was responsible for his banishment to the forests. It was all the play of destiny (daivam).
हासो मोहकरी माया सृष्टिस्तेऽपाङ्गमोक्षणम्।
धर्मः पुरस्तेऽधर्मश्च पृष्ठभाग उदीरितः॥
Transliteration:
hāso mohakarī māyā sṛṣṭiste'pāṅgamokṣaṇam।
dharmaḥ puraste'dharmaśca pṛṣṭhabhāga udīritaḥ॥
Hindi Translation:
आपका हास्य माया के समान मोहक है, संसार आपका सुन्दर कटाक्ष है,
धर्म आपका अग्रभाग है और अधर्म पृष्ठभाग है।
English translation:
Your smile is as enchanting as Māyā, the world is your beautiful glance,
Dharma is your front part and Adharma is left behind.
Source:
अध्यात्मरामायण, अरण्यकाण्ड 9.43
धर्मो जयति नाधर्मः सत्यं जयति नानृतम् |
Transliteration:
dharmo jayati nādharmaḥ satyaṃ jayati
nānṛtam।
Hindi Translation:
धर्म जीतता है, अधर्म नहीं। सत्य जीतता
है, असत्य नहीं।
English translation:
Dharma wins, not Adharma. Truth
wins, not lies.
Source:
mahābhārata - aśvamedhikaparva - 104.115
धर्मादर्थः प्रभवति धर्मात्प्रभवते सुखम्।
धर्मेण लभते सर्वं
धर्मसारमिदं जगत्॥
Transliteration:
dharmādarthaḥ prabhavati
dharmātprabhavate sukham।
dharmeṇa labhate sarvaṃ dharmasāramidaṃ jagat॥
Hindi translation:
धर्म धन लाता है। धर्म सुख
लाता है। धर्म सब लाता है। वास्तव में संसार का सार धर्म ही है।
धर्म धन का कारण है। धर्म सुख का कारण
है। धर्म सब का कारण है। वास्तव में संसार का सार धर्म ही है।
English translation:
Righteousness brings
wealth. Righteousness brings happiness.
Righteousness brings everything. In fact, the essence of
the world is righteousness.
Source: वाल्मीकिरामायणम्
3.9.31 (vālmīkirāmāyaṇam 3.9.31)
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रामो विग्रहवान्धर्मः साधुः सत्यपराक्रमः।
Transliteration:
rāmo
vigrahavāndharmaḥ sādhuḥ satyaparākramaḥ।
Hindi
translation:
सज्जन एवं पराक्रमी, राम धर्म का मूर्तरूप है।
English translation:
Honorable and truly brave
- Rāma is the embodiment of Dharma!
Source: वाल्मीकिरामायणम्
३.३७.१३ (vālmīkirāmāyaṇam 3.37.13)
यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः।
Transliteration:
yato
dharmastato jayaḥ ।
Hindi translation:
जहाँ
धर्म (अपने कर्तव्यों का पालन) है, वहाँ विजय है।
English
translation:
Where there is Dharma (performance of one's duties), there is
victory.
Source: Mahabharata
Bhagavad Gita Parva
विक्लवो वीर्यहीनो यः स दैवमनुवर्तते।
वीराः संभावितात्मानो न
दैवं पर्युपासते॥
Transliteration:
viklavo
vīryahīno yaḥ sa daivamanuvartate।
vīrāḥ saṃbhāvitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate॥ ।
Hindi translation:
जो कायर और संकोची है, वही
भाग्य में मानते हैं।
वीर एवं आत्मविश्वासी लोग भाग्य के भरोसे नहीं रहते।
English translation:
Only the timid and the
weak leave things to destiny (Daivam)
but the strong and the self-confident never rely on destiny or
luck (Bhagya).
Source: Ramayana
2.23.16
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इन्द्रियाणि पुरा जित्वा जितन् त्रिभुवनं
त्वया।
स्मरद्भिरिव तद्वैरमिन्द्रियैरेव निर्जितः॥
Transliteration:
indriyāṇi purā jitvā jitan
tribhuvanaṃ tvayā।
smaradbhiriva tadvairamindriyaireva nirjitaḥ॥
Hindi translation:
मंदोदरी रावण के मृत्यु
पश्चात – अतीत में, कठिन तपस्या करके, आपने इंद्रियों पर विजय प्राप्त की, तीनों दुनिया पराजित
की।
अब, शत्रुता की प्रतिशोध में, उन ही इंद्रियों ने आपको पराजित किया।
English translation:
(Mandodari comment on
Ravana post his death) – In the past, by performing a great penance, you
conquered the
senses and conquered the three worlds.
Now, as if revenging that enmity, those very senses
conquered you.
Source: Valmiki’s
Ramayana, Yudh Khanda 6.111.18
These are words of Lakshmana addressed to Rama when the latter says that neither Kaikeyee nor his father was responsible for his banishment to the forests. It was all the play of destiny (daivam).
विक्लवो वीर्यहीनो यः स दैवमनुवर्तते।
वीराः संभावितात्मानो न दैवं
पर्युपासते॥
Transliteration:viklavo vīryahīno yaḥ sa daivamanuvartate।
vīrāḥ saṃbhāvitātmāno na daivaṃ paryupāsate॥
Hindi translation:
जो कायर और संकोची है, वही भाग्य में मानते हैं।
वीर एवं आत्मविश्वासी लोग भाग्य के भरोसे नहीं रहते।
English translation:
Only the timid and the weak leave things to destiny (Daivam) but the strong and the self-confident
never rely on destiny or luck (Bhagya).
Source: Valmiki’s Ramayana 2.23.16
It is an ancient saying that one should live like Rama and not like
Ravana:
Rama and Ravana are two men of contrasting characters in
the Ramayana. Both had knowledge, wealth and power. Ravana had studied the Vedas but did not have
any modesty. He tried to rule the three worlds himself and used his power to harm the noble and the
pious. In contrast, Rama used his power and wealth to serve the people.
The defeat of evil by the good means something for us. Both the evil and the good are within us, and it is an eternal fight. We’ve made a handy post to help us burn the evils and strengthen the good within us.
Source – Kavyaprakash, written by Mammat. [Ullas 1, Shlok 2]
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13 Comments
Wonderful poster with 10 bad qualities of Ravana and 10 good qualities of Rama that we should follow. Great learning Sir! Thank you for your good work !!! I am going to share with many many of my students now on this auspicious Dassera occasion !!! May Lord bless you for your good work !!!
Thrilled to see your posts. Well researched and formatted. Keep it up👍🏻