Shabari’s Berries

“O best among men, thus I was spoken to at that time by those greatly fortunate sages. O best among men, indeed for Your sake I have collected a variety of forest fruits which were growing on the banks of the Pampa Lake, O tiger among men.” (Shabari speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 74.17)

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मया तु विविधं वन्यं सञ्चितं पुरुषर्षभ।
तवार्थे पुरुषव्याघ्र पम्पायास्तीरसम्भवम्।।

mayā tu vividhaṃ vanyaṃ sañcitaṃ puruṣarṣabha।
tavārthe puruṣavyāghra pampāyāstīrasambhavam।।

There is someone you really care for. They mean a lot to you. They have done so much, even if they are unaware. Sometimes people can influence in the subtlest of ways. The teacher in school pushes you. They demand to the point that you hate them. Only until years have passed do you fully appreciate their influence.

Then there are those who set a good example. They are not directly teaching, but the impact is there just the same. You want to give something back. A gift. Make them happy. Show your appreciation. There are many options, especially if you have the means.

1. An expensive watch

One of those that you need an insurance policy on; just to guard against theft. Others will take notice as soon as they see. If the recipient should happen to not like the style, if they don’t want to flaunt an expensive gift, they can at least exchange for something else. In dire circumstances, they can sell and use the money however they wish.

2. A new house

Some charitable organizations operate this way. For instance, to help the families of fallen soldiers or police officers, there is a sizeable donation to the point of paying off a mortgage. Thus in the time of great difficulty the family left behind has one less thing to worry over. They can at least remain in their home. They don’t have to sell it in order to make ends meet.

To that person who means so much to you, offer an improved residence. They can then live in comfort and style. They will really appreciate such an uncommon gift. There will be no doubt as to the impact they made on you.

3. Berries from the forest

This was the offering made one time by a female ascetic known as Shabari. This was to the most important guest, who is also described as the best of men. The Sanskrit is purusha-rishabha. Rama is the greatest enjoyer. He is the original dominating force of this world. All others are prakriti, the enjoyed, in comparison.

Rama also had the greatest impact on Shabari. He was the reason for her turn towards asceticism. She followed the guidance of her spiritual mentors in order to please Rama, which is another name for God. Thus there was no accurate way to measure the positive influence of that single person.

He happened to appear as a guest. Shabari had the opportunity to welcome God in person to her home, but she did not have much to offer. This was renounced life. Residence in the forest, the preferred place for yogis and brahmanas wanting to focus on tapasya and yajna, austerity and sacrifice.

She offered Rama berries collected from the forest. A person might chuckle thinking of the harvesting effort. The berries were not really hidden. It was not like they were grown for such a purpose. Rama is the origin of the material world, so everything belongs to Him originally. What will a few wild berries do for Him?

In truth, the offering was accepted with great appreciation. This means that Rama is the greatest benefactor and also the kindest soul. He does not require an expensive gift in return. He requires nothing at all, but He appreciates any sincere gift made to Him. In explaining devotion to Arjuna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead does not list anything expensive or difficult to find in the example listing of offerings [Bg 9.26].

Not that I should be a miser when dealing with that great well-wisher of living entities. Not that I should skimp out in the bhakti process and spend lavishly in other areas. But the meaning is that even if I am not wealthy, if I don’t have much around, I am not restricted from connecting in the closest way to that husband of the goddess of fortune.

In Closing:

Berries from the forest collecting,
To welcomed guest directing.

Renounced so not available much,
But offered with a sincere touch.

Shabari to Shri Rama visiting,
Liberated before life quitting.

Hope then even this miser to take,
That smiling Lord to make.

Four Sacrifices We Should Make In Serving Krishna

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water, I will accept it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.26)

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पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं
यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तद् अहं भक्त्य्-उपहृतम्
अश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

All four would be ideal. That is the recommendation of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Make this existence successful. Lament not over the past. Everything has changed, regardless. That over which you are concerned today will not remain the same moving forward.

Yajna is the Sanskrit word for sacrifice, and it is synonymous with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. He is our intimate friend, since before anyone can remember. He has always been standing by, ready to guide us along the right path. A little sacrifice leads to success.

1. Our words

Spoken, written by hand, or typed – this is a way for the individual to express themselves. For some reason, others make a value judgment based on the output. For instance, a person can be very intelligent, but if they have a difficult time putting words together, someone might consider them to be unintelligent.

A person could be nervous when speaking in front of people. They may have everything correct in their head, but they are not accustomed to speaking for so long. The reverse could also be true. A person speaks very well, but when they are asked to write a book or a newspaper column, they struggle.

Sacrifice this all-important gift of nature for Shri Krishna. One of His many names is Uttamashloka. He is described by the best collection of words. Those shlokas, or verses, are above the mode of ignorance, tamo-guna.

2. Our intelligence

Here I am sitting in front of the computer. No one watching over me. I can do whatever I want. I can learn a new language. Maybe get into programming with that cutting edge technology. Become an expert on a certain period of modern history.

The acharyas advise to sacrifice intelligence for Krishna’s sake. Use the enhanced ability gifted to the human species for understanding the one who is without a beginning. Study the nature around you and view in the context of a creator and an intelligent designer.

Think of new ways to glorify Uttamashloka. Help to bring others into the light, to end their struggles that have been ongoing since before anyone can remember.

3. Our wealth

Every person has something they can give. Even a renounced ascetic like Shabari found some wild berries in the forest. These constituted her offering to Bhagavan in His avatara of Shri Rama. Tapasya, sacrifice and austerity, is enough for pleasing Rama, but any additional effort is always appreciated.

If we should come into great wealth, there are many potential directions to follow. Build a new hospital. The local area could use a school with a modern look and large fields for playing sports. Maybe invest in research for curing dreaded diseases.

Wealth can be sacrificed for the pleasure of Shri Krishna. He is not in need. He is never daridra, or poor. The goddess of fortune, Lakshmi Devi, is His wife, after all. She distributes charity. She does not need to accept anything.

4. Our life

I will have to leave this body one day. When I look back, for whom did I sacrifice? For what causes did I dedicate the vitality? Was it worth it? Could I have done more? Should I have gone in a different direction?

There is the potential for giving up one’s life in defense of their country. The warriors on the battlefield get guaranteed entry into the heavenly realm. This was one of the justifications Krishna gave to Arjuna for continuing in the fight, for not abandoning his side on the battlefield.

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं
स्वर्ग-द्वारम् अपावृतम्
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ
लभन्ते युद्धम् ईदृशम्

yadṛcchayā copapannaṁ
svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha
labhante yuddham īdṛśam

“O Partha, happy are the kshatriyas to whom such fighting opportunities come unsought, opening for them the doors of the heavenly planets.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.32)

In truth, this life is meant for sacrificing to Krishna. While we refer to it as a sacrifice, what actually occurs is a huge benefit to the individual. I may think it a chore in the beginning to chant the holy names, but this sacrifice of time is doing the most good for myself and those around me: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

As sacrifice first understood,
But actually doing most good.

Rescued by that sacred sound,
And benefitting those around.

Even words or wealth option too,
This life meant just for You.

Shri Krishna, the Supreme One,
By only whose favor done.

What Is The Best Use Of Talent

“O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrishikesha [Krishna] these words:” (Bhagavad-gita, 1.20)

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अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा
धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपि-ध्वजः
प्रवृत्ते शस्त्र-सम्पाते
धनुर् उद्यम्य पाण्डवः
हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यम्
इदम् आह मही-पते

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā
dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ
pravṛtte śastra-sampāte
dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ
hṛṣīkeśaṁ tadā vākyam
idam āha mahī-pate

Friend1: You hear this lament sometimes, from the commentators. If there is a young athlete with star potential, expectations grow. Sometimes the loftiest, that they will break records set decades ago, and so forth.

Friend2: You know, a lot of times those athletes are able to meet that potential. Remarkable stuff. It’s interesting to see the discovery process, how scouts can accurately predict the future of a prospect. Even if the first few years after turning professional things haven’t taken off, there may be a lot of development left.

Friend1: The key is to stay patient. They will eventually get better. You also have the cases where everything gets spoiled. Maybe too much pressure. Hard partying and drinking. Crippling injuries in the beginning.

Friend2: Absolutely. In a sport like American football, your career can be finished in a single play.

Friend1: One of the laments you hear is that the talent is gone to waste.

“Oh, they could have done so much. Just imagine. What a shame.”

Friend2: Sure. That is only natural.

Friend1: It got me to thinking that every person has an amazing talent, even if they are unaware.

Friend2: You see that from the very beginning, during childhood. My kid understands the peekaboo game even before they learn to walk. I show them a few times and next thing you know they are playing it with me. My friend’s kid mimics words to perfection. They only have to hear a single time and they can repeat.

Friend1: You have to be careful with that. Don’t want to say a bad word in front of them.

Friend2: There is a unique genius inside every person.

Friend1: Then what is the best way to use that talent? I guess that is my question.

Friend2: Follow the example of Arjuna.

Friend1: Of Bhagavad-gita fame?

Friend2: Yes. His talent was the military arts. Typically, you would expect that religious life, devotional service, bhakti, whatever the preferred term, involves serious and silent worship in the temple. Deep contemplation.

Friend1: Off to the Himalayas. Living in a cave with barely any clothes. No connection to the outside world.

Friend2: Right, and so you would think that firing arrows from a bow on a battlefield is the furthest thing from pleasing the Almighty. Yet that is exactly what Arjuna did. He used his talents in the best possible way.

Friend1: What if I don’t have any talents?

Friend2: Why would you say that? I thought we just agreed on the truth that every person has something.

Friend1: Okay, but maybe I haven’t discovered my talent yet. Then what should I do?

Friend2: You can chant, can’t you? You can sing, no? Repeat the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. If you can’t do that, then at least hear. Maharaja Parikshit sacrificed his life at the end. He gave up everything and simply heard Krishna-katha in its most glorious form, the Shrimad Bhagavatam.

In Closing:

Always option to hear,
To Krishna coming near.

But talent inside there,
Even if now unaware.

In that direction use,
For Lord’s pleasure choose.

That highest engagement of all,
Perfection of life to call.

Five Ways I Can Sacrifice Words

“Shrimati Kuntidevi has prayed to the Lord just to enunciate a fragment of His glories. All His devotees worship Him in that way, by chosen words, and therefore the Lord is known as Uttamashloka.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 1.8.44 Purport)

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1. Praising people

“That person you see standing there – a great guy. He would give you the shirt off his back. He is a professional, successful at the highest level of his field. Yet you wouldn’t know it by meeting him on the street. He is so humble. He doesn’t talk down to you. He treats you like a friend, as if he understands what you are going through.”

2. Criticizing people

“Did you hear what that coach said to a player? It happened over ten years ago, but that doesn’t excuse anything. The language, it’s really unacceptable. He has since apologized. He quit the position, though the team would have fired him eventually.

“The thing is, the team needs to do more. Who else knew about this? For how long have they known? I’m sure other coaches behave similarly; we have yet to find out. That toxic environment, it needs to change. These people are the worst. This is not your grandpa’s league anymore.”

3. Speaking at a professional conference

“This is my first time going this route. Usually, I am on the other side. A member of the audience, I eagerly anticipate the presentations given by the all-stars in the industry. Now they will be sitting in the audience while I speak.

“I am passionate about what I do, so I think this will be an interesting topic. I have my slide presentation ready and I have rehearsed a few times. Maybe the more familiar I get with this process, the easier it will be. I hope to one day be an expert speaker like my mentors.”

4. Denouncing God

“I doubt that He exists. Man needs a way to cope with the difficulties of life. I think you are born as chemicals and you leave that way. Nothing more to it. Religion has hurt so many people. Destroyed lives. Unnecessary torture. The leaders think they are better than everyone else, but just see how pervasive scandal is at the highest level.

“If there is a God, He must be horrible. To witness so much suffering in the world and do nothing about it, what kind of person is that? Then He forces us to worship Him or we’ll be punished. Condemned to hell for eternity. Yeah, real nice guy He is.”

5. Praising God

The acharyas of the Vaishnava tradition recommend this outlet for the use of words. They compare the process to a yajna, which is sacrifice. Try to sacrifice, words, wealth, intelligence and life for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Words can be sacrificed in so many other ways, in fact. The distinction with the bhakti path is that the benefit is at the highest scale. There is no better match for the communicating ability in the living being. Make the all-attractive one the recipient.

For this reason, one of His many names is Uttamashloka. Know that God is all-attractive, Krishna, and the remover of obstacles, Hari. He gets praised by the topmost poetry and song. Those who sacrifice their entire life for offering such praise are happy, content, peaceful, kind, gentle, perseverant and resolute in their determination to continue in the ever-blissful process.

In Closing:

Outlet for many ways,
Words singing highest praise.

Or criticism upon heaping,
Booked for conference speaking.

Acharyas for sacrifice recommending,
That best words towards Krishna sending.

Since Uttamashloka is He,
Most appreciative to be.

Five Ways To Sacrifice Wealth

“O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.27)

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यत् करोषि यद् अश्नासि
यज् जुहोषि ददासि यत्
यत् तपस्यसि कौन्तेय
तत् कुरुष्व मद्-अर्पणम्

yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi
yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam

You have just come into a large amount of money. Unexpected, to say the least, and in such a vast quantity that you are not sure what to do with it all. You have enough to live off for the rest of your life. Immediate family taken care of, and you don’t really need a new house.

There are ways to sacrifice that wealth. In Sanskrit the word is yajna, and the connotation is a connection, yukta, to a higher purpose. On loan from the goddess of fortune, the ideal intent is one identical to hers.

1. Give away to family members

Unfortunately, you could not keep this a secret. Others found out. They want a share. They need some help, as they are down on their luck. As soon as you give away some money, others take notice and feel entitled.

Then there is that one family member who keeps squandering whatever you give to them. Their house is about to be foreclosed on. Their business is on the verge of shutting down. There is that gambling debt that needs to be resolved. One headache after another, you wish you could go back in time and be poor again.

2. Donate to a college

The alumni association has your contact information. You reluctantly gave it to them one time when they got ahold of you on the phone. Now you want to move and change your number. They keep sending solicitations. It is like they never have enough. What is tuition for? Why do they need so many donations? You had a good time in college, for sure, but you don’t feel that you owe them anything.

3. Build a new hospital

It is embarrassing that the best hospital in the area is over an hour away by car. What if there is an emergency? People need surgery, don’t they? Child birth? The little ones are ready to enter this world, and they may not be able to wait until you are sitting in a hospital of your choosing.

You decided to remedy the situation by building one in the local community. It will be state of the art. The best physicians. The highest quality nurses. Plenty of capacity. Yet giving the money was only step one. Now so many regulations are coming in. The other hospitals, the ones viewed poorly, are unhappy about the competition. They are trying to find ways to sabotage your effort.

4. Invest in new businesses

There is the saying, it takes money to make money. Why not invest for the future? Let the newfound money multiply many times over. Assist budding entrepreneurs who are just waiting to strike it big. They have some innovative ideas, but no capital to turn the dreams into a reality.

5. Help the cause of bhakti

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada advises to sacrifice words, wealth, intelligence and life for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. This matches the interest of Lakshmi Devi. She controls fortune and she seeks the pleasure of Narayana, her husband.

Narayana is another name for Krishna. Everything we receive in this world is sourced in Him. He is the origin of everything, adi, and He is also without an origin, anadi. Any other sacrifice of wealth has limitations. There may be pious credits accrued, but the person making the donations still feels something is missing.

The dedicated servants of Krishna often live off begging. Not that they are trying to get out of working for a living, but detachment from material affairs helps to maintain a focus in the service. They continue off the donations of others, and these gifts are a sacrifice in line with yajna.

Indeed, such a sacrifice is no different than the actual devotional work of the recipients. This is the meaning of absolute with respect to bhakti life. The sweeper in the street has just as much value as the expert preacher. The person making the donation is as dear to Krishna as the person using the wealth to maintain the temple and spread the glories of the sankirtana process: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In Closing:

In wealth suddenly to come,
In demand person to become.

This one and that in need,
Wanting with assistance to proceed.

Best use for bhakti’s sake,
Servants as blessing to take.

So that spreading sankirtana sound,
Sacrifice for transcendence found.

Five Takeaways From The Image Of Padmanabha

“Know that all beautiful, glorious, and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 10.41)

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यद् यद् विभूतिमत् सत्त्वं
श्रीमद् ऊर्जितम् एव वा
तत् तद् एवावगच्छ त्वं
मम तेजो-ऽंश-सम्भवम्

yad yad vibhūtimat sattvaṁ
śrīmad ūrjitam eva vā
tat tad evāvagaccha tvaṁ
mama tejo-‘ṁśa-sambhavam

This is the Vedic contribution to the discussion on the origins of the universe. It can be considered an entry to be compared with others, but in truth parampara does not speculate. The information gets passed down in a chain of teachers. No one could conjure up such an image, regardless, and it is corroborated by many seers of the truth and also many sacred texts of value.

The image is of Padmanabha. This is God, the Almighty, the Supreme Lord, the one without a beginning, “working” at starting the creation. It is a still image, but there are hints of the before and after.

1. Not angry

Padmanabha is one name for the person most often addressed as Vishnu. He is lotus-like in many features, including the navel. As He is the source of the material and spiritual worlds, naturally He is ultimately responsible for everything that we see around us.

The mountains, the trees, the blue sky, the rainclouds, the rivers, the valleys, and not to forget the entire population of creatures, moving and nonmoving. Everything and everyone has their origin in Padmanabha. We are in a sense all related to one another.

In this image, Vishnu is lying down. Notably, He is not angry. He is not upset in the least. This confirms a suspicion many of us have had. If God is an old man, with a long white beard, doesn’t that make Him susceptible to time? Isn’t He flawed to a degree, especially if He is upset at what He sees occurring on earth? If that were truly the image of God, wouldn’t He be able to remedy the situation without much effort?

Padmanabha lies down in complete rest. He is entirely comfortable in contact with that bed created by Ananta Shesha Naga, who is something like the first expansion from the Divine. One is the object served and the other is the person offering the service.

2. Not looking down at anyone

Padmanabha is not looking down at anyone, spying on their activities. The acharyas explain that the eyewitness capability is accomplished through the plenary expansion known as Paramatma. This is Supersoul. Without this expansion of the Almighty, no result we see would manifest. I am reading these printed words at the moment only because Paramatma sanctions the activity. I am hearing these words because of the material nature and its laws sourced in Vishnu.

In His resting place in the spiritual world, there is nothing to worry over. Everything will arrive to the proper conclusion in due course. Karma already accounts for this. The fruits may not manifest immediately, but give it some time, like with the trees blossoming flowers.

अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः।
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्।।

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ।
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam।।

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

3. Completely at rest

Padmanabha is not agitated in the slightest. This is not like my last night of sleep, where I was constantly stressed out. The blaring ambulance signals from the street nearby, the incessant walking from the neighbors living upstairs, the baby intermittently crying in the adjacent room – it’s a wonder I got any sleep at all!

No one is disturbing Bhagavan. Depending on how detailed the image gets, we may even see others offering personal service. Lakshmi Devi, the goddess of fortune, is massaging her husband’s feet. The demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, are humbly offering prayers.

4. Lotus flower from the lotus navel

There is a stem of a lotus flower that emerges from Padmanabha’s navel. This stem is the source of birth for Lord Brahma. He is often referred to as Svayambhu, which means “self-born.” He lacks the mother and father in the typical sense, but Vishnu is the actual origin.

Brahma then takes ingredients that already exist. These are the modes of nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. Brahma is the creator in the sense that he crafts the body types, which are like the playing field. Small and large, at the local level and at the grandest scale, Brahma is like the architect with the most intelligence at their disposal.

The residents, the people appearing on the playing field, are out of Brahma’s scope. Just as the child produced by the union of the mother and father may appear to have an origin in the parents, the actual spark of spirit is eternal in its existence. For the soul there is no birth or death.

5. Atmarama

Another name for Padmanabha is Atmarama. He is completely satisfied in the self. Though He has many associates close by, He does not require anyone’s association. Even the work of the world gets accomplished without any stress. All that we see around us represents but a spark of His splendor. This is confirmed to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita.

The image is inspiration for us. We should serve in the same way as the demigods. There is nothing to ask in return, as even the greatest success in material life cannot compare to an ounce of nectar of pure devotional life.

In Closing:

Not aged and gray,
Nor of angry way.

Where disapprovingly to look,
In revenge the planets shook.

Rather in rest lying down,
Ananta of resting ground.

The creator from the stem emerging,
Devoted souls at His feet converging.

Three Non-Human Heroes Of The Ramayana

“Being thus informed, the grandson of King Vena immediately began to follow Indra, who was fleeing through the sky in great haste. He was very angry with him, and he chased him just as the king of the vultures chased Ravana.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.19.16)

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एवं वैन्य-सुतः प्रोक्तस्
त्वरमाणं विहायसा
अन्वद्रवद् अभिक्रुद्धो
रावणं गृध्र-राड् इव

evaṁ vainya-sutaḥ proktas
tvaramāṇaṁ vihāyasā
anvadravad abhikruddho
rāvaṇaṁ gṛdhra-rāḍ iva

Those familiar with the Vedic tradition, through either family ancestry or voluntary immersion in the culture, notice the similarities when consuming popular fiction film and television. A hero beloved by the community suddenly left alone. A trusted sidekick, ready to protect and defend. A spouse in distress, an unfortunate victim at the hands of a ruthless villain.

Then there are the unexpected assistants. New friends that the hero runs into. They do not know the story for long, but they are willing to give up everything for the sake of the higher cause. The Ramayana is like this, except it is the oldest story in history. Moreover, the authors were not of the creative or imaginative mind. They simply recorded what they witnessed themselves, in the style of beautiful poetry that could also be sung.

1. Jatayu

He is in the body of a vulture. The distinction is important because according to Vedic teachings all individuals are of the same quality. That wealthy business mogul trying to cure disease on that forgotten continent. That genius who invented the widely utilized programming language. The world’s strongest man, according to fitness evaluations.

They are equal at the core. At the deepest level is the animating spark. This is the spirit soul. So tiny that the size comparison is to the piece of a tip of hair divided into ten thousand parts. A microscopic entity powers both the large and the small.

Jatayu is a spirit soul covered by material elements which form a species we identify as vulture. As spirit soul, the tendency towards service remains. This means that Jatayu follows the natural occupation of dharma in trying to meet the interests of Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

In the Ramayana, we read how Jatayu valiantly tries to block the path of Ravana, the ten-headed leader of Lanka. Sita Devi is caught in the middle. She is the beloved wife of Shri Rama, the avatara of Bhagavan and from whom the published work gets its name.

Jatayu is a hero, and surprisingly he does not succeed. Ravana is victorious in their short conflict, which takes place in the air. The twenty arms unleashing sharp weapons are too much for Jatayu to bear. He becomes mortally wounded, and Ravana is able to take Sita back to Lanka, away from her husband.

2. Vibhishana

This is another surprising hero. He is actually one of Ravana’s brothers. He was born with a tendency towards dharma, while his brothers leaned the other way. Vibhishana remained in the kingdom, a disapproving witness to the prevailing way of life.

The last straw was Ravana’s utter defiance of common decency. Vibhishana asked that the brother change his ways. Returning Sita would clear the matter. Rama would forgive. No harm would come. Vibhishana was the only person in the community speaking honestly and for the welfare of Ravana.

The ten-headed one did not listen and so Vibhishana became a turncoat. He went to Rama’s side. Some of the people associated with Sita’s husband were suspicious. Perhaps the enemy had intentions of infiltrating the camp. How could a Rakshasa, a man-eating ogre, be trusted?

3. Hanuman

He is so dear to Sita and Rama that he has an entire section of the Ramayana dedicated to his activities. It is the book of beauty, Sundara-kanda. Hanuman is in a monkey-type form. He is the one who first meets Rama in the forest of Kishkindha. Rama immediately notices Hanuman’s good qualities and shares his thoughts with Lakshmana.

प्रसन्नमुखवर्णश्च व्यक्तं हृष्टश्च भाषते |
नानृतं वक्ष्यते वीरो हनुमान्मारुतात्मजः ||

prasannamukhavarṇaśca vyaktaṃ hṛṣṭaśca bhāṣate |
nānṛtaṃ vakṣyate vīro hanumānmārutātmajaḥ ||

“He speaks clearly, joyfully, and with a pleasing glow on his face. The heroic Hanuman, son of the wind-god, does not appear to speak anything that is false.” (Lakshmana speaking to Lord Rama about Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 4.32)

Lakshmana, Rama’s younger brother, concurs. The two decide to ride on Hanuman’s back, as the powerful monkey leaps to the top of Mount Rishyamukha to set up a meeting with Sugriva, the Vanara-king. From there the great alliance is formed, one that will ultimately take down Ravana and return Sita to Rama.

…

In every case, Rama accepts the service. Even failure for Jatayu turns out to be auspicious. That vulture gazes upon the moonlike face of Dasharatha’s son at the time of death. Vibhishana’s immoral act is actually in line with dharma, and it represents real surrender. Hanuman’s bravery is rewarded to the point that to this day he remains the gatekeeper to Rama’s kingdom, which is the destination for the souls devoted to Him.

In Closing:

Heroes many are found,
In Ramayana’s sacred sound.

Vulture through the air flying,
To obstruct Ravana’s path trying.

Vibhishana against family turning,
Ways of Rakshasas spurning.

Hanuman pivotal in setting up meeting,
All of them Rama happily greeting.