Show of strength alone works often

Show of strength alone works often

The glorious Hanuman had through his exemplary act of heroism, located Mother Sita under the captivity of Ravana..

Rama, Lakshmana aided by Sugriva the king of monkeys are anxious to reach Lanka, to was a war against Ravana and retrieved the captive queen Sita with honour..

The princes, the monkey king and his huge army, reach the southern trip of the Indian peninsula, and the wide expanse of the sea stare at them.

The learned and straightforward person that Rama is, thinks that the sea would provide some way for the army to reach Lanka..

After all Rama’s ancestors had dug the oceans (Sagaras).

Notwithstanding the fact that He was strong enough to make anything happen, Rama decided to do a penace by way of prayer to the sea requesting it to allow them to cross over to Lanka ..

He lied down on the seashore in a bed of Darbha grass and prayed, observing fast in reverence to the sea.

Even after reasonable time had elapsed, there was hardly any responsefr om the deities who controlled the seas..

This enraged even the normally placid Rama.. His eyes became red with anger..He gave vent to his wrath through words spoken to his illustrious brother Lakshmana.. His ire against people going after showy persons while ignoring noble people assuming their benevolence as a weakness.

The following quote from Valmiki Ramayanam arises on that occasion.

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आत्मप्रशंसिनं दुष्टं धृष्टं विपरिधावकं।

सर्वत्रोत्सृष्टदण्डं च लोके सत्कुरुते नरं॥ २१-१९॥ अन्यत्र २१।१५-१६

॥श्रीमद्वाल्मीकीये रामायणे युद्धकाण्डे॥

ātmapraśaṁsinaṁ duṣṭaṁ dhṛṣṭaṁ viparidhāvakaṁ|

sarvatrotsṛṣṭadaṇḍaṁ ca loke satkurute naraṁ|| 21-19|| anyatra 21 |15-16

||śrīmadvālmīkīye rāmāyaṇe yuddhakāṇḍe||

Meaning

People usually treat with respect 

and are solicitous with those

Who brag about their own glory and valour

Who are evil minded,

who are vainglorious and arrogant,

Who run around everywhere advertising their own superioriy (which is simply absent) and

who are always eager to resort to punishment and retributions in respect of people who are not favorably disposed to them..

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With angry words Rama asked Lakshmana to bring his bow and arrows, and declared that with his arrows he would inundate the sea with all its contents.. At this point the terrified seagod appeared craving mercy and protection ..

Of course later on, it is revealed that even though Rama, in his sweet innocence thought of making a humble request to the sea, the sea was just awaiting His order, and could not think of giving the impression that it was granting a request to the master, who was to take the service by ordering.. 

The sea god appeared to Rama in utter subjugation, and a bridge across the sea was built, the army reached Lanka and vanquished Ravana and retrieved Mother Sita in great honour.. That is history..

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Note.. The numbering of the Couplet is different in two Editions of Valmikiramayanam.. Maybe the number is something else in some other version..

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