MANTHARA'S EVIL COUNSEL

RAMAYANA

Early the following morning, they were roused from slumber by music and held themselves in readiness to proceed to the palace and in expectation of the auspicious call. 

But the summons that came was an entirely opposite nature.

In accordance with the practice in royal households,Queen Kaikeyi had a woman companion  and confidential servant. She was a hunch-back named  Manthara . Being a distant relation of the queen., she claimed great intimacy with her.

Manthara is one of the best known characters in the Ramayana. Every man, woman and child in our land knows and detests her, as the cause of Rama's exile, Dasaradha's death and all the sorrows which befell the royal family.

On the day on which Dasaradha summoned the Assembly and decided to anoint Rama as yuvaraaja, Manthara happened to climb up to  the terrace of the woman's apartments and stood surveying the town below. She saw the streets were sprinkled with water and gaily decorated. Flags and flew from the house- tops. Wearing new clothes and bright jewels, smeared with sandal paste and decked in flowers, people moved about in crowds, engrossed in happy talk . Musical instruments played in the temples.

Manthara could not understand the reason for all this, for she did not know what the King had decided. Some, celebration was on she guessed. 

Manthara turned to a servant and asked her "why  are you wearing this silk dress? What is on in the City? Kausalya seems to be distributing gifts to Brahmanas. She is a thrifty lady and would not be doing for nothing. There are festive sights and sounds everywhere. Do you know what all this is about? 

Contd..next.

BHAGAVAD-GITA

5-5

One who knows that the position reached by means of analytical study can also be attained by devotional service., and who therefore sees analytical study and devotional service, to be on the same level, sees things as they are.

5-6

Merely renouncing all activities yet not engaging in the devotional service of the Lord cannot make one happy. But a thoughtful person engaged in devotional service can achieve the Supreme without delay.   

5-7

One who works in devotion, who is pure soul, and who controls his mind and senses is dear to every one , and every one is dear to him.  Though always working,such a man is never entangled.

5-8,9

A person in the divine consciousness, although engaged in seeing, hearing, touching, smiling, eating, moving about, sleeping and breathing, always knows within himself that he actually does nothing at all. Because while speaking, evacuating, receiving or opening or closing his eyes, he always knows that only the material senses are engaged with their objects and that he is aloof from them.

Contd..next.

పోతనభాగవతము

1-57

నరనారాయణులకు  నమస్కారం చేసి,  పలుకుల తల్లి భారతీ దేవికి మ్రొక్కి , వ్యాసులవారి పాదపద్మాలకు ప్రణామం గావించి , జనన మరణ బంధాలను పటాపంచలు చేసే పవిత్ర గ్రంథాన్ని , భాగవతాన్ని పలుకుతున్నాను.

మిగతాది..తర్వాత

జై శ్రీరామ్

రామో

*శ్రీకృష్ణార్పణమస్తు*

.