FF LAKSHMAN URMILA :THE EPITOME OF SACRIFICE(index UPDT PG5 POST 6 )

No sooner than Rama stepped out of the threshold of Keikeyi's room, He saw a fireball making its way to burn everyone and everything on its path. Fists clenched, teeth gritting and eyes flashing intense hate, Lakshmana was pacing furiously neither able to enter the room because of respect toward the king, nor able to resist entering to express solidarity with his beloved and wronged brother. Understanding Lakshmana's predicament, Rama chose not to speak to him at all and just walked past him. Lakshmana felt as if a cool ocean had swept past him. When a burning log of wood falls into the cool ocean, it is swept away by the ocean currents without causing any harm. Soon realizing that Rama was no longer around, Lakshmana rushed toward Him with the umbrella and whisk.

Sita was beaming as She stood by Rama to proceed to the forest. Rama turned toward Lakshmana who had been watching everything quietly. Rama opened His arms to embrace him indicating that

this was the final embrace before departing. Lakshmana was aghast. This meant that Rama wasn't planning on taking him along. A torrent of tears rushed down Lakshmana's cheeks and he fell at Rama's feet. "Why did You change Your mind? You had initially agreed to take me along. I cannot live without You, Rama."

Lakshmana's claim left Rama curious: "And when did I promise to take you along with Me?" Lakshmana realized that this was his only chance to convince Rama, and he decided to give it his best shot. He spoke with extreme self-confidence: "You may not have promised me directly, but Your words had subtly indicated just that. When You were coaxing mother Kaushalya to permit You to go to the forest, You used the plural pronoun to state that You would go to the forest. Since You were speaking to a superior person like Your mother, Your humility would not have permitted You to say We' when implying Yourself alone. In fact, my Lord, You did not use the dvi-vachanam, which implies two people, instead You used bahu-vachanam, which implies more than two people. You definitely suggested that Sita and I would accompany You. Besides that, when You were conversing with mother Sita just now, You explained to Her about how to treat all Our family members in Your absence. You went to the extent of explaining how She should treat Bharata and Shatrughna, but You did not even utter my name. Does that not mean that You took for granted that I would be with You in the forest?"

A smile threatened to appear on Rama's lips, but He suppressed it and spoke to Lakshmana. "More than a brother (bhrataa), a companion (sakhaa) and a friend (snigdah), Lakshmana, I have known you as an ardent follower of dharma who is ever attentive of His actions (dharmatmah), a valiant hero who never gives up in any circumstance (virah) and an obedient nobleman who is ever willing to serve (vashyah). Without your presence, how do you expect Our father to survive?

More importantly, how can our lonely mother Kaushalya handle so much sorrow? In following the instructions of superiors, there is great merit. Understand the predicament, Lakshmana, and stay here. Ayodhya needs you!" "As far as need is concerned, there is a far greater need for me in the forest than in Ayodhya now. Both You and Sita have packed Your bags, but who will carry them? Who will help You procure the roots and fruits? Who will guard You in the forest while You are asleep at night, and when both of You are immersed in loving conversations during the day? My dear Lord, You and Sita are not trained to do this.

Let me accompany You both as a menial servant," Lakshmana said. "Bharata is inspired by Your principles of morality and righteousness. He will ensure that equal treatment is given to all the mothers. There is no need to worry at all. And as far as protecting and taking care of mother Kaushalya is concerned, a thousand villages have been granted to her and she can maintain not only herself but hundreds of Lakshmanas like me. She does not need me, Rama. Ayodhya does not need me. Nor do You need me. As soon as water leaves the tank, the fish and blue lotus meet a waterless grave. You are the life-sustaining water for us, Rama. I am like a fish swimming in the ambrosial water of Your mercy. And Sita is like the blue lotus blooming happily in Your loving embrace. If the water has decided to leave the tank of Ayodhya, please let the fish swim along its currents. I humbly fall at Your lotus feet! Please, Rama, don't be cruel to me.

Take me along!" Lakshmana fell at His feet gripping Them like a creeper clings to a tree for sustenance. As Lakshmana lay sobbing at Rama's feet, he looked up at Sita with teary-red eyes. His eyes were pleading and She was his only hope. Slowly, Rama released His clenched fist and extended His arms to gently and softly place His beautiful pinkish palms on Lakshmana's shoulders. Pulling him up in a welcoming embrace, Rama said, "Come with Me!"

Rama had lain two subtle traps to test Lakshmana .

It was The Test of Ego and the Test of Dedication :

You are irreplaceable The world needs you Lakshmana clearly saw through these two traps and responded with clarity. The first trap was the test of ego and the second was the test of dedication. To think one is unique is an act of recognizing the greatness of God's creation; it leads to gratitude. But to think one is irreplaceable is an act of instituting one's own greatness; it leads to arrogance. In the overwhelming pressure of trying to address the needs of the world, we often forget to address our priorities. Rama was pointing out to the needs of the world, but Lakshmana was focusing on his own priorities. A living entity has to overcome two feelings to be accepted by God. The Lord tests us to see if we have any other priorities besides Him. Lakshmana clearly prioritized his relationship and service to Rama over everything else. The role of the mother is to ease a father's sternness and accommodate a child's lapses; therefore, Lakshmana turned helplessly to the divine mother, Sita. Only She could mitigate Rama's sternness and accommodate Lakshmana's lapses. Her presence was his hope. Taking God's shelter through the divine mother is the formula Lakshmana is teaching us to gain favor with the Lord.