BG 12.18

In Srimad Ramayana, Valmiki has praised Sri Rama in 24,000 slokas. He wrote the story of Sri Rama, as though it happened just before his eyes. Srimad Ramayanam is like a life nerve in our country. From Kashmir in the North to Kanyakumari in South, Srimad Ramayana story is a common link. From Ayodya to Thiruppullani, in so many places Sri Rama, Sri Sita and Lakshmana strode and made impressions on the ground. When the name Sri Rama is mentioned, one remembers the difficult terrain He walked about. They walked with Sri Rama in the lead, followed by Sri Sita and Lakshmana at the end. When Sri Rama walked, His devotees used to wonder whether a dark cloud or a blue mountain or an ocean was walking! He would walk like a lion, like an elephant, like a tiger and like a bull! Such was His majesty! In Sri Vishnu sahasranamam, sage Vyasa describes Sri Rama as chaturgati or four types of walking. Lakshmana used to admire Sri Rama's walk from behind. His mother Sumitra warned Lakshmana, that while on duty to serve Sri Rama, never to look at Sri Rama walking! Because, he would lose himself in admiration of that walk, and his purpose would be lost! It is our experience also, that if we start admiring the work we are doing, then that work would not be completed. So Sumitra gave a word of caution to Lakshmana! But Lakshmana set aside that warning and admired Sri Rama's walking majesty. Today's [5th January 2009] lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Rama in Sriperumbudur. Here, during festivals, one can admire the beauty of the procession of Swami Ramanuja. In those times, it was Lakshmana [Rama anuja = Rama's younger brother], who admired the walk. At present it is the other way! Ramanuja's walk is being admired by Sri Rama here! Sri Rama is gracing with Sri Sita and Lakshmana. Normally the bow carried by the Lord would be smooth and uniform; but, here the bow has many joints [as in a sugarcane]. Similarly, Swami Ramanuja's Tridanda also has many bands of thread to bind together. Sri Rama got served by Lakshmana, in those times. Now, Sri Rama is served by Swami Ramanuja, an incarnation of Adisesha. It is said ' padi konda keerti ramayanam ennum bhakti vellam kudi konda koil, ramanujan [படிகொண்ட கீர்த்தி ராமாயணம் என்னும் பக்தி வெள்ளம் குடி கொண்ட கோயில், ராமானுசன்]'. Swami Ramanuja made his heart as the temple for Srimad Ramayanam. If one can deeply probe into Swami Ramanuja's mind, one could discover the lamp of Srimad Ramayanam glowing! Why that is so? Sri Rama is famous for straight-forwardness, Honesty, mild speaking and always speaking truth. He never hurt anyone by His speech. Swami Ramanuja also never hurt anyone in all his Nine literary works. Therefore, we can say that Swami Ramanuja learnt everything from Sri Rama. Anubody visiting the Utsavam can not, but appreciate the 'walking' or nadai [நடை] of Swami Ramanuja in the festival. Nadai [walking] means we talk about nadatthai [நடத்தை] or conduct! One has to appreciate Swami Ramanuja's conduct. He was a repository of good habits. We should long to raise to his level. That is the reason we have to visit this place. Swami Ramanuja had a special place for Sri Rama in his heart. Once in his vast assembly of 700 sanyasis, 12,000 Acharyas and a number of women devotees, he conducted a lecture. After the lecture, one person offered an idol of Sri Rama to Swami Ramanuja. Recieving the idol Swami Ramanuja asked his assistant to place it in his pooja room, with the words 'thevai idadharai kondu poi ulle ezhundarulap pannungal [தேவை இடாதாரைக் கொண்டுபோய் உள்ளே எழுந்தருளப் பண்ணுங்கள்!]'. He gave Sri Rama a new name 'thevai idadhar [தேவை இடாதார்]'. It means that Sri Krishna expected something in return from those who surrendered to Him; while Sri Rama never expected anything from those surrendering! So, 'thevai idadhar' means Sri Rama never wanted [தேவை = need] anything! Sri Krishna in the sloka 'sarva dharman paridyccha' says that He would offer asylum, if all other dharma were abandoned and if clung to His feet. Some conditions are stipulated; or, some actions are expected from the devotee. Whereas Sri Rama tells Sugriva that He would accept even if the enemy came in the disguise of a friend! He would never let down any. Sri Krishna expects an effort from the devotee, of holding to His feet; but Sri Rama says that He would never let down anyone. Naturally, one is more confident to seek Sri Rama, as no effort on one's part is expected. Our mind changes rapidly and so is it not advantage to seek Sri Rama? He is also famous for keeping up promise [satyasanda सत्यसंदा]. That is a reason why Swami Ramanuja had a special love for Sri Rama. Now we will see what the Lord Sri Krishna tells in the sloka 20, the last sloka of Chapter 12:

ye tu dharmamritam idam
yathoktam paryupasate
sraddadhana mat-parama
bhaktas te ’tiva me priyah

"Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the supreme goal, are very, very dear to Me."

Te bhakta = those devotees, ativa priya = excessively or ver dear, me = to Me [Sri Krishna]. He praises the glory of His devotees. This sloka reveals His love for His devotees. Upto sloka 12, Sri Krishna mentioned Four stages of devotion or Bhakti. In fact in sloka 2 itself He told Arjuna that one should concentrate in Him and devote. When Arjuna expressed difficulties to follow, the Lord suggested an easier way of meditating on His auspicious qualities. When this was also difficult for Arjuna, He suggested a simpler way of doing service to the Lord in temples, etc. When Arjuna found doing any service for others was difficult, the Lord advised to meditate on one's own atman and perform Karma yoga. Such a Karma yogi has to develop certain qualities and these were elaborated in slokas from 13 to 19. Thus simplifying the efforts of a devotee to, at least, do Karma yoga and in the last Seven slokas, the qualities to be nurtured were told by the Lord. Thus with sloka 19, that subject was over. But, in sloka 20, the Lord praises the glory of the devotee mentioned in sloka 2. Therefore, the subjects in sloka 19 and in sloka 20 are not the same and have no connection. Seven slokas upto sloka 19 deal with a person in Karma yoga. This sloka, 20, is about Bhakti yogi. Is there any confusion? No. Bhakti yoga results from Karma yoga. Without doing one's own duties how Bhakti can spring? In the Seven slokas upto sloka 19, the Lord explained the good qualities that were to be cultivated to get atman sakshatkaram by a Karma yogi. Now He describes the greatness of devotees mentioned in sloka 2. Ye tu = for such persons, idam = this [Bhakti marg], [which is] dharma = dharma, amritam = [and] amrut, yatoktam = as told [earlier in sloka 2], paryupasate = is amply followed, sraddadhana = well devoted, that is those who are enthusiastic about it as it was told by Sri Krishna. We can expect results in an action in which we are enthusiastic about it. Without such a liking, an action will never be completed. If we do actions just because others have told us to do and without enthusiasm, such actions will never be complete. Nothing should be done under compulsion. We should do with involvement. Going to temples or chanting His names should not be mechanical. We should have shradda or involvement and desire to do. Mat parama = desiring to be always with Me [Sri Krishna]. Such Bhaktas are very, very dear to the Lord. Two words are mentioned - dharma and amrutam. Amrutam is prapyam or purushartam or the objective. Dharma is upaya or means. We have thus means and destination. To be with the Lord in Vaikuntam is purushartam or prapyam. To obtain that we have to practice Bhakti yoga. Sadhana, upaya or prapagam all denote the means to achieve an objective. Bahkti yoga, the Lord says would be both means and objective. Swami Ramanuja says that performing Bhakti yoga is so pleasant that it is as pleasant as the objective. Bhakti is thus very sweet to practice and will give the same satisfaction as the result. Only a devotee can say about its pleasure. They are totally insulated from all others. They do not care about their health nor worry about disputes. It is as though they were dwelling in a separate world! Their only aim is to be with the Lord. Such devotees are very dear to the Lord.