A Tale of Two People

“Offering obeisances to Rama and Lakshmana, the very powerful Hanuman, delighted in seeing Sita, became hidden.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.32)

namaskṛtvā rāmāya lakśmaṇāya ca vīryavān |
sītādarśanasamhṛṣṭo hanumān samvṛto'bhavat ||

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Person 1: “I am so distressed. I can’t believe how bad things are right now. No, this is not about money. I’m doing okay. Actually, I’m pretty content with respect to possessions. I don’t need much to survive. I don’t shop online all the time or worry about my next big purchase. If I were a kid, the Christmas holiday wouldn’t be that exciting to me. I don’t need more stuff.

“I am distressed over certain situations with my family members. They aren’t in as good a shape as me. I’m worried that with what is going to happen in the future, they will be put into more distress. The future is uncertain. There is a cause for this uncertainty, and that person is hated by me. I wish they would be injured in the worst possible way. They are the greatest offender to my family members, so I don’t feel bad wishing these ill things upon them. Until some justice comes their way, I won’t feel satisfied. The whole time I will worry over the uncertainty of the future.”

Person 2: “I am not in distress. I have everything I could ever want. I have enough money. I have a beautiful wife, wonderful children, and a nice home. I came up from nothing too. I was once poor, but now I am not. I found success the old fashioned way: hard work. I delight in getting to see my family every day, and my job is also a lot of fun.

“I’ve been told that I am very beautiful. I am skilled in pretty much everything I try my hand at. I am well-known throughout the community, and if I have to go without for a few days, I can do that too. I pretty much have it all, so my life is worry-free. I am enjoying life to the fullest.”

Aspects of both of the above mentioned people were found in a devoted warrior a long time ago. He was distressed and at the same time highly blessed with personal fortunes. Through his behavior we learn who is the right person to approach and when the appropriate time for that approach is. We also learn of a great source of delight that is not dependent on any specific situation.

The person of whom we speak is Shri Hanuman. At the time of the scene mentioned in the above referenced verse from the Ramayana he was in distress. Thus he could sympathize with the first person. He was worried over the future outcome of a mission. Shri Rama, the eldest son of King Dasharatha, had invested His trust in Hanuman. Rama relied on Hanuman to find Sita Devi. She was Rama’s wife and had gone missing while the couple was together in the Dandaka forest.

Hanuman tried very hard, but after an exhaustive search he still hadn’t found her. He was thus worried. What would happen if he didn’t succeed? There was no one else capable. Hanuman was the only one who could leap across the ocean to the island of Lanka, where Sita had been taken. If Hanuman failed, there was no backup plan. He couldn’t call for reinforcements.

Hanuman’s personal abilities made him similar to the second person. He was highly knowledgeable. Real knowledge relates to information about the difference between matter and spirit. Such knowledge is safely tucked away in the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India. One is truly knowledgeable when they possess this relevant information and act upon it thusly. Hanuman’s behavior showed that both were true in his case.

“One cannot speak this way without having been well-trained in the Rig Veda, memorized the Yajur Veda, and thoroughly understood the Sama Veda.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana about Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 3.28)

Hanuman also had beauty and strength. He heroically leaped from a mountaintop to cross the expansive ocean. He was able to do this by first expanding his size, an ability available to expert yogis, or mystics. There are eight different siddhis, or perfections, granted to dedicated yogis, and Hanuman had all of them. He wasn’t really a yogi by occupation, though. He received these abilities as boons during his childhood.

Hanuman felt tremendous delight when he saw Sita. When he was finally sure that the person he was looking at from a distance in the Ashoka grove in Lanka was Rama’s wife, he felt the need to offer obeisances to both Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana. He then remained there hidden so that no one would see him. He was assigned the task of finding Sita, not doing away with her captor.

Hanuman was in distress, and in that situation seeing Sita made him delighted. He was also materially comfortable, and even with that he felt the same pleasure from seeing Sita. This means that Sita is not an ordinary person. Her vision delights Shri Hanuman, a person of the highest character. She is also cherished by Rama, who searches after her like a thirsty man does a well.

The same delight is available to us, who can see Sita in many temples dedicated to her and her husband around the world. We can see her when we think of Shri Hanuman, who is depicted in many pictures heroically serving Rama’s interests. We can see her when we chant the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

Whether we are full of desires, devoid of them, or want only liberation from the cycle of birth and death, devotional service will always be to our benefit. One of the benefits is delight, which Hanuman felt when seeing Sita from a distance. From the same Vedas that Hanuman is expert in we learn that Sita and Rama are the Supreme Lord’s energy and the Supreme Lord respectively. They are not ordinary people. From Hanuman’s behavior we thus get another lesson: seeing God is not the end. He saw Rama and then faithfully took up service. He felt delight from seeing Sita and then remained hidden, awaiting his next opportunity to serve. Similarly, we can regularly visit the temples of Vishnu, another name for God, and see God and His energy, and from there be rejuvenated in our eternal occupation of serving Him. Both the prince and the pauper have something to gain from seeing Sita, who as the goddess of fortune shows how the vital spirit in all of us can be properly utilized.

In Closing:

One person daily distresses only to find,

Another person without a worry in the mind.

 

Hints of both in Shri Hanuman found,

Who saw Sita Devi seated on the ground.

 

Still, obeisance to Rama and Lakshmana paid,

Despite accomplishment, humble he stayed.

 

Sita alone from seeing felt so much delight,

Vision worthy of eyes of sad and happy alike.

Viryavan

“Offering obeisances to Rama and Lakshmana, the very powerful Hanuman, delighted in seeing Sita, became hidden.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.32)

namaskṛtvā rāmāya lakśmaṇāya ca vīryavān |
sītādarśanasamhṛṣṭo hanumān samvṛto'bhavat ||

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If you have never heard of Shri Hanuman, this one verse is sufficient for understanding him. He possesses many wonderful qualities, with a commonly known one being his immense strength. He is depicted in pictures carrying a mountain in his hand and flying through the air from leaping. And yet this strength is always used for the right cause, which we see in the images depicting his humility, where he pays obeisance to Shri Rama, His younger brother Lakshmana, and His wife Sita Devi.

The scene of the above referenced verse from the Ramayana is the Ashoka grove in Lanka. A princess had been taken there against her will a long time ago. No one knew where she was, at least outwardly. Rama, the princess’ husband, worked with the king of Vanaras, Sugriva, to get a search party together. Hanuman was the most capable member of the searching monkeys, and he eventually made it to where Sita was.

As the verse says, Hanuman was delighted in seeing Sita. Nothing of her condition brought joy to the heart, but her mere presence was enough to give Hanuman hope and enthusiasm. The mission assigned to him was reconnaissance. The difficulty lay not only in searching but also in properly identifying the perceived object. Here he finally found a distressed princess, and through reviewing her features he was sure that she was indeed Rama’s wife.

Hanuman’s delight is rooted in pleasing Rama. There is no other cause. Hanuman was not happy that Sita was in distress, surrounded by female ogres who regularly feasted on animal flesh, including that of human beings. He was not happy that Sita was worn thin from fasting in defiance of the advances of the evil king of Lanka, Ravana. He was not pleased that Sita had been dragged there against her will, after she was peacefully residing alongside Rama and Lakshmana in the forest of Dandaka. He was not happy that she looked disheveled, nor was he pleased that she was missing ornaments that deserved to be on her body.

He was delighted, nonetheless, because of her relation to Rama. He knew that finding her would please all the parties of importance. It would spell doom to Ravana, the fiend who deserved the punishment of death for his crime. It would spell victory for Rama’s side, for now they would learn where Sita was. It would give the distressed princess the confidence that Rama was indeed looking for her. Rama did miss her. He did worry over her night and day. He was ready to come and rescue her, though as a pious soul He was naturally unattached to sense gratification. Sita is a chaste wife, a sadharma-charini, as Rama describes her. She helps in the performance of religious duties, which Rama takes very seriously. Therefore her association to Him has nothing to do with sense gratification.

In the verse previous to this, it is said that Hanuman offered respectful obeisances to Shri Rama. Hanuman didn’t take all the credit for success. It is easy to remember God when we are in distress, when we are in need of something, or when we are inquisitive about something we can’t understand. It is not as easy when things are going well for us, especially if we have succeeded in something after working very hard. As viryavan, Hanuman is mighty, possessing immense strength. He easily could have attributed all of his success to his hard work and strength, but he still paid respect to Rama.

Here it is said that he paid respect to both Rama and Lakshmana. Know that there is no one in the world physically stronger than Hanuman. At the same time, know that such a person loves God and His immediate family members so much. Strength or weakness are of no concern to the origin of matter and spirit. Sincerity in devotion, with knowledge of the higher being’s authority, is what counts most. He accepts the service of materially poor souls like Sudama Vipra, who have nothing to offer but pieces of chipped rice. And He also accepts the service of the mighty Hanuman, who crosses oceans and lifts mountains to put a smile on His face.

While he has immense strength, from this verse we see that Hanuman is also not too proud to mask that strength when appropriate. It is said that he went back to hiding after being delighted at seeing Sita. He did not want anyone to see him. He also didn’t want to startle her. She had been harassed greatly by Ravana and his attendants, so he didn’t want her to think that he was part of that group. Only a person blinded by their hubris would pound their fists and cause senseless destruction without cause. The wise know when to be as gentle as a feather and when to be as hard as a thunderbolt.

Thus from this verse we see that the mightiest person is the humblest and wisest as well. If he offers respect to Sita, Rama and Lakshmana, why shouldn’t we? Why shouldn’t we honor Hanuman every day and remember his love for God? He bravely acts through service, which is an example we can also follow through the constant chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

In Closing:

Can leap over ocean of immense length,

Shri Hanuman, of immeasurable strength.

 

If that he’s proud of his abilities you suspect,

Know that to Rama and Lakshmana he offers respect.

 

All accolades and worship to him deservedly so,

But still his dedication to God and His family go.

 

For his heroism and strength known as viryavan,

Best in devotion to God is Shri Hanuman.

Harsha

“Seeing that woman of intoxicating eyes, Hanuman shed tears of joy and offered respectful obeisances to Shri Rama.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.31)

harṣajāni ca so'śrūṇi tām dṛṣṭvā madirekṣaṇām |
mumuce hanumānstatra namaścakre ca rāghavam ||

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“Oh God, please help me out. I’m in a lot of trouble. I know that prayer can heal any wound. The power of prayer is immense. I will hold this special prayer ceremony to get your favor. I will gather my friends and family around to increase the volume of the prayer. I know that you can hear us. No one is kinder than you, so if you can help us this one time, we will be eternally grateful.”

It is completely understandable to turn to the Almighty when there is trouble. When there is seemingly no other hope, why would you just sit back and do nothing? The origin of matter and spirit must be able to control any outcome. If you don’t ask Him to help you, how will He know to intervene? If one is truly faithful, however, they will make the same turn when something good happens to them. This was exhibited by Shri Hanuman when he felt a happiness like no other.

The word used in the above referenced verse from the Ramayana to describe his emotion is harsha. This Sanskrit word can translate to “joy”, but it has a deeper meaning. In the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu of Shrila Rupa Gosvami, harsha is described to be the joy that comes from finally achieving the desired goal in life. Harsha is not related to any ordinary goal; the objective has to be important. The use of harsha is entirely appropriate in this regard, as Hanuman’s primary goal in life is always to please the Supreme Lord. Finding Sita accomplished that for him.

“Harsha is described in the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. Harsha is experienced when one finally attains the desired goal of life and consequently becomes very glad. When harsha is present, the body shivers, and one’s bodily hairs stand on end. There are perspiration, tears and an outburst of passion and madness.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 3.127 Purport)

As we are eternal beings, we live for an endless amount of time. This means that if we achieve the goal of pleasing God one time, we’re not prevented from getting it again. Hanuman is so wonderful that he looks to please God all the time. After He experiences harsha, he doesn’t rest on his laurels. He doesn’t consider himself to be the sole doer either. He offers respects to Rama in both times of trouble and turmoil.

He previously offered respectful obeisances to Rama, the Supreme Lord in His incarnation as a warrior prince, at the outset of his journey to find Sita, Rama’s missing wife. From reading Vedic literature it is known that Hanuman is extremely knowledgeable. Though he is in a monkey form, he is not prevented from reaching high intelligence. He also has complete mastery over the siddhis of yoga. These are mystic perfections that allow one to do amazing things.

Therefore Hanuman cannot be considered a poor person who has no recourse other than to worship God. He serves Rama with full knowledge. In the Bhagavad-gita, such a worshiper is considered to be topmost. They see things as they are [jnani] and follow only devotional service, or bhakti-yoga.

“Of these, the wise one who is in full knowledge in union with Me through pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.17)

In full knowledge, Hanuman worships Rama, a personal form of God. He doesn’t worship Brahman, which is the impersonal representation of the Absolute Truth. He doesn’t worship the Paramatma, or Supersoul, situated within the heart. You can’t serve Brahman or Paramatma. You can’t experience harsha in relation with these two features because they are incapable of being served. You can realize them, experience them, study them, and think about them, but you can’t serve them. Only Rama, who is also known as Vishnu and Krishna, can be served.

“Thereupon taking the ring and placing it on his head, with folded hands, that foremost and best of monkeys praised Rama's lotus feet and then departed.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kand, 44.15)

Prior to embarking on his journey, Hanuman paid respects to Rama. He did so after accepting Rama’s ring, which was to be given to Sita, should she be located. When he was in trouble in Lanka, Hanuman again paid respects to Rama. Hanuman had searched long and hard but still hadn’t found Sita. In that distressful situation, he again prayed for Rama’s favor, to have the strength to serve Him.

“I offer my obeisances to Shri Rama, along with Lakshmana and the divine lady, the daughter of King Janaka. I offer my obeisances to Rudra, Indra, Yama, and Anila, the deity of the wind. I offer my obeisances to the moon, the sun, and the wind-gods.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 13.59)

Now that he had found Sita in this grove of Ashoka trees, Hanuman again didn’t forget Rama. The happiness he experienced, the harsha, was related to Rama’s interest, not his own. Hanuman didn’t think: “Look at all I have done. I crossed over the expansive ocean by leaping from a mountaintop. I battled wicked creatures who tried to obstruct my path. I scoured through the city of Lanka unnoticed. I searched through the inner apartments of the vile king, Ravana, the creature who took Sita away from Rama without any cause. Now I have finally found Sita. All my hard work has paid off. I’m so proud of myself.”

Hanuman was indeed happy with the success, but he still remembered Rama. This means that he knew that he was not solely responsible for his success. If even Hanuman gives God credit, how can any other person ever think that they should take all the credit for their good fortune? How can any sober person ever think to ignore the influence of God in their life?

Though Hanuman offered obeisances to Rama, the Lord still gives all the credit to him. Hanuman is offered prayers today, for he can grant devotion to the same Sita and Rama. In those prayers he is praised for his heroic journey to Lanka. He is honored for his bravery, perseverance, determination, kindness, and respectful attitude. He deserves all the accolades, and one can certainly experience harsha when they have found Hanuman and vowed to never let a day go by without honoring him.

In Closing:

When the goal to finally achieve,

Experience joy you cannot believe.

 

As harsha in Sanskrit it is known,

Relates to serving God alone.

 

Hanuman in Ashoka grove this feeling felt,

Upon finding Sita, of beauty the heart to melt.

 

When in this life Shri Hanuman found,

Harsha comes too, joy without bound.

Unparalleled Joy

“Observing Maithili, who was tolerant, had perfectly proportioned limbs, and was shining even without ornaments, Maruti felt unequaled joy.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.30)

tām kśamāṃ suvibhaktāṅgīṃ vinābharaṇaśobhinīm |
praharṣamatulam lebhe mārutiḥ prekṣya maithilīm ||

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What makes Shri Hanuman happy? He has possession of the six siddhis of yoga. He does not practice yoga as a fad. He doesn’t sign up for classes for thirty days so that he can improve his health. Not that there is anything wrong with trying to keep the body fit, but Hanuman’s yoga practice is pure. It is in line with the original intent of yoga. Despite full mastery over the various siddhis of yoga, and knowledge of the Vedas inside and out, Hanuman doesn’t want anything from this world. He doesn’t seek fame, fortune, comfortable living conditions, or release from the cycle of birth and death. All that he desires is for Shri Rama to be happy, and part of that happiness involves seeing His family members safe and sound.

Imagine if one of your family members has been wrongly accused of a crime. There is nothing you can do about it either. The matter is out of your hands. The law came, saw the situation, and determined that your family member was guilty. The law enforcers are supposed to be unbiased; they are supposed to be objective. They should not get emotionally involved in any issue. But then again, for these conditions to be met the enforcers must be of the utmost character. If they are addicted to sinful activity, how can one expect them to be completely down the middle in their administration of justice?

In an ancient time period, the administrators were so pious that even the punished couldn’t find fault with them. Such was the case with Shri Rama. As the eldest son of the King of Ayodhya, Rama had to sometimes administer justice. Yet everyone knew that Rama wasn’t invested in the outcome to any case. If someone committed a crime, the Lord would punish them but not harbor any ill will. He was not out to look for people to punish as a means of fulfilling a quota. He wasn’t particularly interested in stamping out this crime or that. For this reason even the criminals in His kingdom couldn’t say a bad word about Him.

“I have not seen anyone in this world, not even an enemy or someone expelled, who would speak ill of Rama, even behind His back.”  (Lakshmana speaking about Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 21.5)

Without God consciousness, without fully realizing who the Supreme Lord is and what His laws in the material world entail, how is anyone supposed to be truly objective? Therefore there is every chance that the innocent may go to jail, that they won’t get a fair trial. Imagine if such a thing happens to a family member of yours that you love very much. The moment that they are released from jail you will feel unbounded happiness. If you see them set free after having suffered so much, you will be thrilled beyond belief.

Take that feeling and multiply it by a very large factor and you get an idea of what Hanuman experienced in the Ashoka grove in Lanka. And mind you, the innocent person in this case wasn’t even set free yet. She was only found. Hanuman located her after a dangerous and lengthy search. In the above referenced verse from the Ramayana, Hanuman is said to have experienced unequaled joy upon seeing Sita, who still wasn’t in the best of situations.

It is said that she was tolerating her situation. She was stricken by grief and her sighs were so strong that it looked like the surrounding trees were being burnt by them. Her grief was understandable. Previously, she had been living peacefully in the forest with her husband Rama, the aforementioned objective administrator from Ayodhya. She had already suffered enough when her husband was forced into exile without cause. Why should she expect any more suffering?

It came nevertheless. She was totally innocent, but due to unforeseen events she ended up in Lanka. The king of Lanka wanted her as a wife, but she refused. She remained in the Ashoka grove as a prisoner, tormented day and night by ghoulish creatures who were at the beck and call of the king. Hanuman found her finally and felt so happy. He could have stayed home and just relaxed. Why risk your life for someone that you don’t even know? Hanuman was sent to look for Sita by Sugriva, who had formed an alliance with Rama. Though ordered by Sugriva, Hanuman actually felt that he was conducting the mission for Rama. Whether he had to be asked or not did not matter. Hanuman was going to fight to the death to look for Rama’s missing wife. He knew that finding her would take away some of the Lord’s grief.

Hanuman knew that finding Sita would take away some of her grief too. And that is what made him so happy. While tolerating the situation, her limbs still appeared beautiful. She was shining though without ornaments. She was all beautiful because that is her nature. When a woman takes to devotional service in earnest, it is seen that her aura changes. The same occurs for any person in fact, as the soul’s constitutional occupation is service to the Supreme Lord. Sita serves God as His devoted wife.

Hanuman shines as well, and one aspect of that splendor is his heroism. He is courageous in fighting against the enemies of God. And he takes supreme delight in meeting Sita and Rama and pleasing them in any way possible. The devoted souls, who dedicate their lives to thinking of the same Sita and Rama, take similar delight in seeing Hanuman, hearing about him, and praising him. Though he doesn’t covet such praise, there is nothing he can do to stop the devotees from worshiping him, as he is the source of unbounded delight for millions.

In Closing:

Like a mountain can stand tall,

In an instant become very small.

 

Of yoga he holds every perfection,

But his mind goes only in one direction.

 

On how the Supreme Lord to please.

In what way His concerns to ease.

 

Thus in Lanka unbounded joy Hanuman found,

When he saw Rama’s wife seated on the ground.

 

Without ornaments her body still did shine,

Was tolerant though in situation certainly not fine.

 

Because message of husband to bring,

Today the glories of Hanuman we sing.

My Character Will Protect Me

“Though her face was morose, because of her husband’s prowess that lady was not despondent. Sita, of black eyes, was protected by her own character.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.27-28)

tām devīṃ dīnavadanāmadīnāṃ bhartṛtejasā ||
rakśitām svena śīlena sītāmasitalocanām |

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When times are tough and everything seems to be going against you, it’s hard to believe that anyone or anything will offer sufficient protection. “Let me take things into my own hands” is the natural sentiment. “No one else is helping me, so I will have to do this myself. Forget what others say, I’m going to retaliate for everything that has gone wrong.” From the above referenced verse from the Ramayana, we see that for the devotees especially, there is full protection from their own character alone. When they are virtuous in the truest sense of the word, there is nothing anyone can do to harm them.

Can there be different kinds of virtue?

Depending on what your goal is, the exact makeup of virtue will vary. For instance, one kind of a virtuous runner is one who finishes the race. They go until the end, they don’t get in anyone else’s way, they don’t cheat, and they train properly beforehand. A virtuous chef uses fresh ingredients, cooks them properly, and doesn’t lie about what is included in their food. A virtuous businessman is one who turns a profit while abiding by the law of the land. They may sometimes lie to others about how much profit they make, but this is actually virtuous for their particular occupation.

The highest virtue is love and devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Someone who is virtuous in this way attains the best favor, which means they automatically reach the best position. We think that we are in total control of our destiny, but actually so many things have to fall into place in order to get what we think is good fortune. When good fortune does arrive, what really happens is that the higher authorities align things beforehand to allow the desired outcome to occur.

When your virtue, your high character, is offered as a sacrifice to the Supreme Lord, He takes on the role of managing your destiny. He protects you personally, even if sometimes it seems that no one is around to protect you. There are many instances in recorded history that show the presence of the divine protection even when it is apparently not visible. These examples are prominently represented in the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India.

A long time ago there was a five-year old son of a powerful king. The boy was named Prahlada and the king Hiranyakashipu. The boy was the definition of helpless. He had no one protecting him except his father. And that father turned on him in the worst possible way. Angered by Prahlada’s staunch devotion to the Supreme Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill Prahlada in so many different ways. Just one of the ways would have sufficed, but since none of them worked, the king had to keep trying new ways. Being thrown off a cliff, thrown in a pit of snakes, set on fire, and placed under the feet of giant elephants could not kill Prahlada. He was protected by his character, which was defined by his devotion to God. He had no one else there to protect him. Finally, the Supreme Lord Himself came to do away with Hiranyakashipu.

In a later time period there was a famous queen named Draupadi. She was the wife of the five Pandava brothers. One time she was lost in a wager, and the side of the rival kings tried to take off her sari in the middle of an assembly. During that time it was considered a great shame for a woman to appear naked before anyone except her husband. Draupadi had her character to protect her. She thought of Shri Krishna, the same Vishnu but in His original form, as the evil kings were taking off her sari. Krishna heard her plea and took the form of the sari to save her. The dress became endless in length, and no matter how much the miscreants tried, they couldn’t get Draupadi to appear naked.

The same Pandava brothers were also protected by Krishna. They had every justification to use violence that was outside the bounds of propriety. They were kicked out of their kingdom and many attempts were made on their lives. Imagine sleeping peacefully in your home, when all of a sudden it goes on fire. You leave the house in time to save yourself, and you know for certain that one of your rivals was responsible for the crime. Wouldn’t you want to do something? The rivals in this case were in charge of the government. So it wasn’t like the Pandava brothers could call the cops. One of the brothers, Bhima, who was very powerful, wanted to take action against the culprits so badly, but he was restrained by the cooler-headed eldest brother Yudhishthira. It was Krishna who protected them from the attacks every time, and finally the miscreants got their due in a massive war. Guided by Krishna, the five Pandava brothers survived the bloody war, while the rivals, headed by Duryodhana, died.

In this verse from the Ramayana, we see how a famous princess was protected against the worst evil. She was held against her will in an enemy territory. The king basically wanted to scare her into submission. She refused to give in to his advances. She can only be with the Supreme Lord Rama. Her chastity is what defines her. If she didn’t love Rama, she would cease to be. The King of Lanka, Ravana, was much more powerful in physical strength. That’s why he was able to drag Sita away from the forest of Dandaka. Despite all his power and his willingness to commit the most shameful acts, he still couldn’t touch Sita. She was protected by her character.

Shri Hanuman, the person who found Sita in the pitiable condition inside the Ashoka grove in Lanka, was also protected by his character. Seeing Sita’s plight, he wanted very badly to take her back to Shri Rama, who had sent Hanuman to look for her after she had gone missing. Hanuman also wanted to kill Ravana and all the people associated with the crime of abducting Sita. He kept his cool, though, as he was only asked to find Sita. Rama was the one wronged by Ravana, so He would be the one to kill the evil king.

From these incidents we know that devotional service is the greatest protection, as it helps to create the best character, real virtue. That devotion is best created and sustained when one is in a culture that pays heavy emphasis to the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.” In this chanting we can remember devotees like Draupadi, Prahlada, the Pandavas, Sita and so many others who are protected by their high moral character.

In Closing:

For his resolve in devotion stiff,

Young Prahlada thrown off cliff.

 

After winning Draupadi in dice game,

Rivals tried to make her naked in shame.

 

Pandava brothers’ house set on fire,

In trying to kill them rivals never to tire.

 

Away from her husband’s side to take,

Ravana tried Sita his wife to make.

 

In all cases the demons did not succeed,

To devotee’s rescue did God proceed.

 

By virtue to which they held firm,

Lord’s promise to protect confirmed.

Confident of Rama’s Prowess

“Though her face was morose, because of her husband’s prowess that lady was not despondent. Sita, of black eyes, was protected by her own character.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 17.27-28)

saṃvṛtām mṛgaśābākśīṃ dadarśa hanumān kapiḥ |
tām devīṃ dīnavadanāmadīnāṃ bhartṛtejasā ||
rakśitām svena śīlena sītāmasitalocanām |

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The descriptions of Sita provided here are similar to what was provided by Shri Hanuman himself in the previous section of the Ramayana. This shows yet another difference between the original Ramayana and the others that descend from it. There is much repetition in Valmiki’s telling, as during the Treta Yuga it wasn’t as difficult to commit such lengthy works to memory. If you can remember a lot, why not use that potential for storing information about the Supreme Personality of Godhead? From this one verse we get so much insight into Sita’s nature and also advice on how to deal with the common difficulties of life.

Imagine a situation where someone has wronged you. You are completely innocent. It’s not that you are being partial in this case. In a sober assessment, under an objective analysis, you have done nothing wrong. Yet to the other person you are the enemy. They will do whatever it takes to harm you, either physically or financially. They will try to ruin your reputation with others. They will try to take away as much money as possible, and they will hold the things most valuable to you as ransom. They are a reprobate in the truest sense of the word.

How will you deal with the situation? Will you get angry? For sure, especially if you think others are taking advantage of you. You are a nice person, but there is a limit to your kindness. You’re not going to just sit around and let someone else rob you. In this situation imagine what one of your close family members is feeling. They are likely angrier than you are. They want to do something very badly, even if it is against the law. They are burning with rage, but what can be done?

From this verse from the Ramayana we understand how a goddess handled herself in a similar circumstance a long time ago. She was personally wronged in the worst way. She was forcibly taken away from her husband while she was living peacefully with Him in the forest. She wasn’t unfaithful to Him at all. Rather, people today use her as the best example for chastity. She is the ideal woman, mother, and wife. She is the ideal devotee of the Supreme Lord as well. The glories of Sita Devi know no end.

The verse above describes Sita while she was sitting under a tree in a grove of Ashoka trees in Lanka. Being in a beautiful garden doesn’t seem so bad, right? To the observer, Shri Hanuman, the more immediate surroundings are what made the situation worse. Sita was encircled by a band of cruel-looking female ogres. They were ordered by the king of Lanka to harass her day and night. Not just your ordinary people making fun of you, these were man-eaters who wreaked of the stench of dead animals and wine. They had no scruples. They weren’t lobbing just empty threats. They were ready to eat Sita as soon as the king Ravana gave the order.

It is noted here that despite the fact that her face was morose, Sita was not in a poor condition. This is because she remembered her husband’s splendor or prowess. Maha-tejah is also an appropriate description for Rama, which means that He has great strength. When she felt angry, when she felt distressed, when she felt afraid over what might happen, she remembered her husband and His strength. This kept her from being in a totally depressed state.

It is also said that Sita was protected by the virtue of her own character. Ravana wanted her as a wife, but she refused. She couldn’t use weapons against him. She couldn’t run away. She didn’t caste a curse on him. She simply held firm to her virtue. Her father taught her to follow Rama like a shadow and to be a chaste wife. This wasn’t difficult for her, as Rama is full of virtues. He is Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord in His avatara as a warrior prince. He is a full incarnation, so He possesses the attributes of beauty, wealth, strength, fame, wisdom and renunciation to the fullest degree and at the same time.

Ravana could never touch Sita because of her character. She would never give in to him, despite his repeated attempts. The fear from the Rakshasis also didn’t work because Sita remembered Rama’s strength. An extension of that strength is His dearmost servant, Shri Hanuman. He was in the Ashoka grove as Rama’s representative. He was sent to find Sita and he succeeded.

In the difficult times through the travel in the material world, our virtue can protect us as well. The same virtue of holding affection for the Supreme Lord can come into our possession, should we so desire it. The virtue is initially created through the chanting of the holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” and then strengthened through remembering the prowess of Shri Rama and His courageous friend Shri Hanuman.

In Closing:

When undue calamities befall you,

To your virtuous character hold true.

 

Supreme prowess Shri Rama has,

His messenger Hanuman to arrive fast.

 

Despite opulence’s perceived charm,

Sita’s chastity Ravana could not harm.

 

Chant holy names for virtue to make,

And strength from Rama and Hanuman take.

A Series of Distresses

“Having lost her splendor like the lotus flower struck with frost, tormented by a succession of distresses, the daughter of Janaka has been reduced to a helpless state, like a female crane separated from her companion.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 16.30)

hima hata nalinī iva naṣṭa śobhā |
vyasana paramparayā nipīḍyamānā |
saha cara rahitā iva cakra vākī |
janaka sutā kṛpaṇām daśām prapannā ||

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A parampara is commonly known as a chain of disciplic succession. In this verse, the parampara refers to a chain of unfortunate events, calamities that arrived one after another. They struck a person who never deserved them, and seeing this stoked the ire of Shri Hanuman, a heroic warrior sent to find said person. While in a situation worse than anything you could imagine, the distressed person carried on, although looking like a beautiful female crane who was previously with her companion and now separated from him.

“This is too much to take. First I lost my job. The economy is really bad. I understand that. And so I couldn’t catch a break when it came time for layoffs at my firm. I was one of the first people given the pink slip. Then I lost my home. I couldn’t pay for it anymore. I just didn’t have the money. Then I lost my spouse. They left me for someone else. And then I landed in jail, over something I never did. I was just trying to do the right thing, protecting someone I care about. But that person didn’t care as much about me, so they got me caught up in something illegal, and now I’m in jail. It’s cold in this cell, and the guards are very mean. I have no idea what time it is or if anyone is coming to rescue me. How can all of this be happening to me?”

As horrible as this hypothetical scenario sounds, Sita’s situation was worse. If such things were to happen to us, we would feel pretty bad. If we knew that we had done everything right, that we hadn’t committed any sin, the sting of the pain would be even sharper. Such was the case with Sita, as she had never done anything against the rules of propriety in her life. She only cared about others, and her husband was the same way. He never told a lie and always gave in charity. He never took charity, as it was His duty to protect the citizens.

“Rama always gives in charity but never takes any. He always speaks the truth and never tells a lie. O brahmana, this is Rama’s highest vow and He is incapable of deviating from it.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.17)

If Rama never told a lie, and Sita always did everything right, why did a series of calamities befall her? First she was kicked out of her home. The eviction order was actually given to her husband Rama. It came from a jealous step-mother. So strong is envy that it makes a person commit crimes against the most innocent. Queen Kaikeyi wanted her own son Bharata to ascend the throne after King Dasharatha. Rama was the eldest son and thus the rightful heir. Consumed with envy through the trickery of her servant, Kaikeyi demanded that Rama not only not get the crown, but that He also leave the kingdom for fourteen years. Dasharatha was in a bind, as he had previously promised Kaikeyi any two boons of her choosing. Rama made the decision easy; He left without objection.

Sita insisted on coming along with Him, and while in the forest with Him she would be separated from Rama. This was due to the influence of the evil king of Lanka, Ravana. Again, losing your home and being separated from your wonderful husband are bad enough, but things got even worse. Sita refused to give in to Ravana, so he left her in a grove of Ashoka trees, where she was surrounded by grim-visaged ogres ordered to harass her day and night.

In the above referenced verse from the Ramayana, Shri Hanuman, a messenger sent to look for Sita at Rama’s behest, sees the beautiful princess in this grove of Ashoka trees and very poetically describes her situation. In the verses that follow in the Ramayana, we get more details about how ghoulish the creatures surrounding Sita were. They had disfigured faces, looked plenty scary, and had blood around their mouths from eating animal flesh. They were also heavily intoxicated from drinking wine. Think of the prison cell filled with the worst characters in the world. With that picture in mind, know that it isn’t nearly as bad as what Sita faced.

Sita was naturally beautiful, but because of her predicament, to Hanuman she looked like a lotus flower destroyed by the frost. Usually, the winter chill is too much for the flowers to bear. They can only be revived by the onset of the spring season. In this case, Hanuman actually looked like the spring personified, as he was perched on a tree and covered by flowers. When he had first found that perch, birds flew away and clipped the flowers on the trees with their wings. Those flowers then fell on the heroic Hanuman.

“Seeing that monkey going in all directions through the collection of trees, all the creatures there took him to be Spring personified.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 14.12)

Sita’s situation is just another reminder that sometimes bad things happen to good people. Sometimes even very bad things happen to very good people, the extreme opposite of what we think should hold true. The material land is temporary and full of miseries. Therefore conditions are never permanent. And due to ignorance others are always envious. Ravana’s envy and lust led to this horrible situation, but the harsh conditions still weren’t enough to break the daughter of King Janaka. She remained firm by thinking of Rama, and as a reward for that stream of consciousness she got the gift of Rama’s messenger. He braved his way into Lanka to deliver life-giving words from Rama.

That same Shri Hanuman revives us from our stupor caused by the bewildering material energy. He reminds us that the meaning of life is to be devoted to God. There is no other purpose to work. The potential for action exists solely for pleasing the Supreme Lord, who looks more at sincerity than ability. Hanuman’s desire to please Rama was genuine, and so the Lord of all creatures, the origin of matter and spirit, made sure that his ability was sufficient as well. No one would believe the things Hanuman did, but the people who know Rama aren’t surprised by them. Similarly, they are not surprised in the ability of Rama’s messengers to deliver the fallen souls.

In Closing:

“Why such calamities come to me?

No more paycheck or home to see.

 

Company of friends and family bereft,

To rot in jail in innocence I’m left.”

 

Situation for Sita in Lanka much more bad,

In distress looked like crane so sad.

 

Female ogres made sure that with peace she was without,

Had horrible faces, blood dripping from each mouth.

 

Hanuman came to meet with Rama’s wife,

Delivering message to give her hope and life.

Ready To Die For Others

“She, who is forgiving like the earth, has lotus-like eyes, and was previously protected by Rama and Lakshmana, is now guarded under the tree by Rakshasis of deformed eyes.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 16.29)

kṣiti kṣamā puṣkara samnibha akṣī |
yā rakṣitā rāghava lakṣmaṇābhyām |
sā rākṣasībhir vikṛta īkṣaṇābhiḥ |
samrakṣyate samprati vṛkṣa mūle ||

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In the Bhagavad-gita, there is a section where Lord Krishna reviews the qualities of both the demons and the saintly people. This review is nice because it allows us to properly assess others as well as ourselves. In addition, we learn what these various qualities lead to. If you are envious, mean, and selfish, your future isn’t too bright. On the other side, the godly qualities of truthfulness, forbearance, kindness, and knowledge of right and wrong lead to your benefit. The above referenced verse from the Ramayana seems to tell the opposite story, but from it we actually learn another way to tell the difference between a saint and a villain.

“The transcendental qualities are conducive to liberation, whereas the demonic qualities make for bondage. Do not worry, O son of Pandu, for you are born with the divine qualities.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 16.5)

The saint is ready to die for others, while the demon gladly sees others die for them. The saint doesn’t want to purposefully suffer, but they are so compassionate that they don’t mind a little inconvenience if it is for the good of someone else. The demon, on the other hand, is so selfish that they don’t care if the innocent have to suffer endlessly. The demon wants what they want, and they want it now. Who cares what others have done for them? And who cares whether or not the demon is worthy of what they are asking for?

Shri Hanuman here describes Sita Devi as being as forgiving as the earth. She is the beautiful wife of Lord Rama, the prince of the Raghu dynasty. Prior to her marriage she was affectionately known as Janaki, the eldest daughter of the virtuous king Janaka. Her father rightly taught her the proper role of a wife in marriage. At the time of her wedding, Janaka gave her away to Rama and asked her to always stay by His side, like His shadow almost. Sita took these words to heart; she didn’t discount them as being formalities tied to a ritualistic tradition.

“I have not seen anyone in this world, not even an enemy or someone expelled, who would speak ill of Rama, even behind His back.”  (Lakshmana speaking about Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 21.5)

Rama was also virtuous. As His younger brother Lakshmana points out in the Ramayana, not even those Rama had to punish from time to time could find anything wrong with Him. As the eldest son of the King of Ayodhya, Rama was groomed to follow in His father’s footsteps and be a capable administrator. The kings were the law in essence, so they had to punish people from time to time. Rama was known for being so virtuous that even those who were punished by Him knew that He didn’t play favorites. Therefore how could they find fault with Him?

You had the virtuous couple of Sita and Rama, and though they never did any harm to anyone, they had to suffer greatly for others. Rama’s father, King Dasharatha, had three wives. The youngest, Kaikeyi, once grew envious over Rama. She wanted her son to become the next king instead. So she used her influence with the king to get Rama kicked out of the kingdom for fourteen years. Rama accepted the punishment without objection. As a saint, He was ready to suffer for others. In this case His suffering would uphold Dasharatha’s virtue.

Sita also suffered for Kaikeyi. She didn’t want to let Rama go it alone in the forest. In fact, she refused to remain home alone. Bearing no resemblance to the miserly wife who simply lives off her husband’s hard work without giving anything in return, Sita considered Rama’s punishment to be her own as well. She went to the forest with Rama, as did Lakshmana. The devoted younger brother was even ready to attack Dasharatha and anyone who was going to get in the way of Rama’s coronation, but Rama talked him out of that idea.

In the forest, the trio was suffering due to the selfishness of Kaikeyi, but they were still okay. The three saintly characters were happy in each other’s association. The time in the forest afforded them the opportunity to meet with the many sages who had set up hermitages in the remote areas. The real benefit of visiting a place of pilgrimage is the association of the saints, or sadhus. They stay at the holy places to keep focused on their religious practice. When others get a chance to meet them, they can get divine wisdom. Sita, Rama and Lakshmana did not need such association, but as they were of the godly nature they enjoyed such association.

Here Sita is suffering for the selfishness of an outright demon named Ravana. He heard of Sita’s beauty and wanted her for himself. Never mind that Sita was already married or that Rama had done no undue harm to anyone. Ravana couldn’t fight with Rama one on one because Rama was more powerful. So he instead created a diversion that allowed him to steal Sita away and bring her back to his kingdom situated far away.

Sita refused to even look at him. Ravana could have given her back to Rama, but as he was of the demoniac nature, he made her suffer for his selfishness. Here Hanuman sees her and remarks that while she was previously guarded by the saintly Rama and Lakshmana, she is now surrounded by Rakshasis, vile female creatures of the same nature as Ravana. She didn’t deserve any of this. Her situation was the result of the selfishness of both Kaikeyi and Ravana.

Hanuman too is of the godly nature. He risked his life to find Sita. No one knew where she was, so the Vanaras in the Kishkindha forest scoured the earth to find her. They were allied with Rama through the help of Hanuman. Sita’s suffering was Hanuman’s suffering as well. So in this way Ravana’s demoniac nature inflicted pain on Hanuman too. There is no limit to the number of people the demon will harm. They have no conscience, so what care do they have for what others feel? It never occurs to them that they couldn’t tolerate even a second’s worth of the same suffering for someone else’s cause. Their foolishness knows no bounds.

Of course Sita, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman are divine figures, so their suffering is a little different. The events of the Ramayana are a coordinated play meant to give the association of the Supreme Lord to countless future generations. Those who are devoted to them are of the saintly nature, and those opposed are of the demoniac. The devotees will tolerate anything to please the Supreme Lord, while the demons cause untold suffering to others in order to chase their illusory happiness. The devotees always win in the end, as they are on the side of Hanuman, who never fails in his service to Shri Rama. This incident is an example of one of his triumphs, as he found Sita after he was asked to do so.

In Closing:

If for them countless die,

Demon not to bat an eye.

 

For reflection there is no pause,

For own sense pleasure just cause.

 

Saint works for countless others to save,

Like Hanuman, to whom mission Rama gave.

 

All good qualities in Lord’s devotees reside,

Victory for those on Hanuman’s side.

Bad Company

“She, who is forgiving like the earth, has lotus-like eyes, and was previously protected by Rama and Lakshmana, is now guarded under the tree by Rakshasis of deformed eyes.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 16.29)

kṣiti kṣamā puṣkara samnibha akṣī |
yā rakṣitā rāghava lakṣmaṇābhyām |
sā rākṣasībhir vikṛta īkṣaṇābhiḥ |
samrakṣyate samprati vṛkṣa mūle ||

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“Boy, I’m so excited to go to this thing. I’ve been waiting all week to go. I haven’t been able to think about anything else. Sure, it is the middle of the winter season and today happens to be the coldest day of the year, but I’m not going to miss this for anything. I’m going for sure; I’ll accept whatever conditions come my way in the journey.”

A little later…

“Okay, that walk to the train station was a little difficult. The chilling wind hitting up against my face felt like ice smacking against my cheeks. I have my winter gear on, but that is only a little help. When the temperature is well below freezing like it is today, there is not much you can do to keep yourself warm. I keep thinking to myself, ‘If I didn’t somehow make it indoors within a few minutes, I would literally freeze to death out there. Makes you wonder why man ever decided to inhabit this area when there are so many other places that are warm year round.’

“Okay, now I’m on the train. It’s warm in here. Everything is going to be alright. We’re at our first stop. I’m seated in a row of three, with two empty seats next to me. This train is for everyone, so I don’t mind if others sit next to me. They are individuals just like me, headed somewhere for the day. There is no reason to be afraid of them.

“Oh, here is a person coming this way. And now he has sat down next to me. No worries, right? But he looks odd. He has so much layering on that it looks like he’s from the North Pole. He could easily be mistaken for an Eskimo. He’s got a bunch of bags and stuff that he’s laid on the empty seat next to me. Still, no big deal. But wait, what’s that smell? It’s awful. It’s starting to make me sick. It’s like toxic fumes mixed with terrible body odor. Oh no, it’s coming from this person. He smells as if he hasn’t showered in days. His long beard tells me that he likely doesn’t have a home. I shouldn’t judge, especially when we are in the dead of winter like this.

“Considerable time has passed, and the situation is not getting any better. I really can’t stand this smell. It’s not fair. Why do I have to endure this situation? I’m actually travelling for a good cause right now. I made this choice all on my own. No one is forcing me to go. I easily could have gone home after work and relaxed in the comfort of my bed, but I chose this instead. Why am I being punished like this? This smell is so bad; I can’t wait until I am rescued by the arrival to my destination.”

In this scenario, the incredible discomfort is due to a situation where there is unwanted company. The smell in this case is what makes the person’s company unwanted. Such situations occur all the time, and they get worse when the length of the time spent in the unfavorable association increases. A princess a long time ago faced the worst company, and it was immediately after she had the best company. Seeing this, a warrior who went to find her felt pity. At the same time, he made sure to do whatever he could to fix the situation.

The above referenced verse from the Ramayana gives us some more details about the woman in question. She has eyes that are like lotuses. The shape of the eyes is what resembles the petals of the lotus flower. Her face is thus pleasing to the eyes of others, as who wouldn’t like to look at lotus petals? It is also said that she is as forgiving as the earth. The earth accepts whatever others do to it without balking. Sometimes she has earthquakes, but more or less there is no response to the constant treading on her land. Therefore the best way to compare forgiveness is to use the earth as a reference.

Mentioning this woman’s forgiving nature is important due to the situation at hand. A person who is forgiving is considered superior to someone who isn’t. As such, they don’t deserve bad fortune. For the woman in question, the situation was really bad. She was underneath a tree, surrounded by female ogres. Unlike her, these ogres had hideous looking eyes; they weren’t pleasant to look at.

This woman previously had the protection of Rama and Lakshmana. She stayed with them in the forest of Dandaka. Rama is the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as a warrior prince. In His appearance, He comes as the eldest son of Maharaja Dasharatha of Ayodhya. Lakshmana is a partial incarnation of the same Supreme Lord, considered the servitor God. On earth He is Rama’s younger brother. He can also be addressed as Ramanuja, which means “younger brother of Rama.”

There is no better company than Rama and Lakshmana, especially for Sita. She is Rama’s wife. She loves Him more than any person can love someone else. She is not interested so much in what Rama does for her; she only cares about what she can do for Rama. The two brothers are the best bow fighters this world has ever seen, so she feels protected in their company. They are also highly chivalrous, which matches well with her spotless character. Therefore the three of them never deserve bad fortune, though they were in the forest of Dandaka due to the envy of Rama’s step-mother.

Now here was Sita surrounded by vile creatures. Hanuman did not like that. He was sent by Rama to look for Sita after she went missing. Here he has finally found her. He will offer a short-term solution by giving Sita news about Rama, relaying how the Lord is dedicated to finding and rescuing her. We are in a similar situation today. We may or may not have a person with a foul odor sitting next to us on a train, but such situations are only temporary and not so important, even if we think otherwise. The more pressing problem is the lack of company of Rama and Lakshmana or their representatives. As individual spirit souls, we are meant to serve God, but how can we serve Him if we’re unsure of what He looks like, where He lives, and what He wants from us?

The saints kindly disseminate information about God to those who are willing to accept it. We all need it, but suffering from the illusion of the material nature we think that we’ll be better off on our own. In that fearful condition, we meet all sorts of unpleasant situations with unpleasant company. The heroic warriors like Hanuman are sent from above to give us the warmth of the company of Godhead. In Sita’s situation, the relief came from words about Rama, and in our situation the same powerful presence arrives through just the name of God alone. Thus hearing, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare,” from a devotee of the Lord can turn things around very quickly.

In Closing:

Foul smelling person on the train,

Slow and reckless driver in our lane.

 

If in motives we are pure,

Why bad company to endure?

 

Sita staying in Ashoka grove on ground,

Rakshasis of wicked eyes in circle around.

 

Came to scene Hanuman of no fear.

To give news of brothers to her very dear.

 

Know that from only His name,

God to arrive all the same.

 

Saints thus to give association the best,

Through their hard work we are blessed.