RAAMA SLAYS THE MONSTERS

RAMAYANA

     Having crossed the Ganga, Viswaamitra and the princes made their difficult way through a dense forest made dreadful by the reverberating roar of wild beasts.

     "This," Viswaamitra said, "is the Dandaka forest. What is now a terrible forest was once a well-peopled country. Once upon a time , Indra was contaminated by sin, having killed Vritra, and had therefore to exile himself from the world of the Devas. The Devas set to themselves the task of cleansing Indra. They brought waters from the sacred rivers and bathed him to the accompaniment of mantras. The waters which cleansed Indra flowed into the ground and enriched Indra flowed into the ground and enriched the earth and the land became tremendously fertile."

     All dead things--rotting corpse or stinking garbage--when returned to the earth are transformed into things of beauty such as fruits and flowers and the wholesome things that nourish life. Such is the alchemy of Mother Earth. 

     Viswaamitra continued: "For long people lived here happily till Taataka (wife of Sunda, a yaksha) and her son Maareecha wrought havoc and changed this into the dreadful wilderness it now is. They are still in this forest.  And none dare enter it for fear of Taataka . She is equal in strength to a score of elephants. I have brought you here to rid the forest of this great enemy.  There is no doubt that this monster, who is a source of trouble to the rishis, will be destroyed by you." 

     Raama, who listened to this , asked the sage: "you say she is a yaksha.  I have never heard that yakshas are particularly strong. What is more , how does a women happen to possess so much strength.?"

BHAGAVAD-GITA

2-29

     Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot understand him at all. 

2-30

     O  descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain. Therefore you need not grieve for any living being. 

2-31

     Considering your specific duty as aksatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles, and so there is no need for hesitation.

2-32

     O Partha, happy are the ksatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets.

పోతన భాగవతము

1-21

ఇంతకుముందు నన్నయ భట్టారకుడూ, తిక్కన సోమయాజీ మొదలైన కవులు సంస్కృతంలో ఉన్న పురాణ గ్రంథాలు తెనుగు చేసారు. అయితే నా పూర్వ పుణ్యపరిపాకం ఎటువంటిదో కాని ఆ మహామహులు భారతం రామాయణం తప్ప భాగవతంజోలికి రాలేదు. బహుశః నాకోసమే ఈ భాగవతాన్ని వదిలి పెట్టారేమో!  ఇంకేంకావాలి! ఈ మహాగ్రంథాన్ని తెనుగుచేసి మళ్ళీ జన్మంటూ లేకుండా ఈ నా జన్మను సార్థకం చేసుకొంటాను.

రామో

శ్రీ కృష్ణార్పణ మస్తు.