Vinay Patrika: Hymn 99

Raag Dhanaasreee

Shri Ram Delights the Poor

birad gareebnivaaj raamko |

gaavat baid-puraan, sambhu-suk, pragat prabhaau naamko ||1||

dhruv, prahlaad, bibheeshan, kapipati, jadh, patang, paandav, sudaamko |

lok sujas parlok sugati, inhamein ko haai raam kaamko ||2||

ganika, kol, kiraat, aadikabi inhate adhik baam ko |

baajimegh kab kiyo ajaamil, gaj gaayo kab saamko ||3||

chhalee, maleen, heen sab hee ang, tulsee so chheen chhaamko |

naam-nares-prataap prabal jag, jug-jug chaalat chaamko ||4||

Lord Shiva Sings the Glories of Shri Ram

The very nature of Shri Ram is to gratify the poor by making them happily content. The Vedas, Puranas, Lord Shiva, *Shukdev ji and others sing of this attribute. The majestic impact of chanting the name of Shri Ram is a visible reality ||1||

Lord Krishna Washes the Feet of Sudama, His Poor Childhood Friend

The Supreme Being gave grand fame to *Dhruv, *Prahlad, *Vibhishan, *Sugreev, lifeless *(Ahilya), birds (*Jatayu, *Kaakbhushundi), all the five *Pandavas and *Sudama in this loka (material world) and granted them deliverance (or release of the soul from the body and from further rebirth) in parloka (the other world after death). In truth, whom out of these was of any worth to Lord Ram! ||2||

Maharshi Valmiki with Luv & Kush

Who could be worse than ganika (*Jivanti), non-Aryan tribes (menial Nisads) and Valmiki, the aadi kavi ?

The Envoys of Lord Vishnu Come to Take Ajamil

When did Ajamil perform the Asvamedha Yagna and when did *Gajraj sing glories of the Sama Veda? ||3||

Shri Ram Dwells in the Heart of Goswami Tulsidas

Who else is as deceitful, dirty, deprived of all means, and thin plus lean, like Tulsidas ? But by the powerful impact of the realm of King Ram's Name, a leather coin has also worked since ages. In other words even those who were extremely despicable have been attaining the Supreme Being by the glorious might of the name of Shri Ram. I am also going to attain Him in precisely the same way ||4||

Shukdev: name of the son of Vyas (narrator of the Bhagavata Purana to Parikshit)

Dhruv: The father of Dhruv was king Uttanpad, who was married to Suruchi and Suneeti. The father preferred Suruchi. Dhruv was Suneeti’s son and Uttam was Suruchi’s son. Once Dhruv saw Uttam sitting on their father’s lap and he wanted to do the same. Suruchi was furious at him, and he ran to Suneeti his mother. She consoled him that if he had to ask for something let that be from God. Dhruv set out for the forest and met Narad Muni who gave him the mantra of 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaaya,' for attaining Lord Vishnu.The Lord appeared before Dhriva and wished that he should return to the kingdom.Thus endorsing the fact that God also gives material wealth to his devotees. Dhruv was transported to the highest point of heaven, where he sits on his Divine father’s lap as the Pole Star also known as the North Star.

Prahlada: is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, wherein he is famed for his dedicated devotion to Vishnu, despite attempts by his father, Hiranyakashipu to turn him to the contrary. He is considered a great devotee, by followers of Vaishnava traditions and is of special importance to devotees of Narasimha Avatar.

Vibhishana: or Bibhishan is a character in the epic Ramayana. He was the younger brother of demon Ravana. Though a half-demon himself, Vibhishana was noble and advised Ravana, who had abducted Sita, to instantly return her to her husband Rama in an orderly fashion. When his brother did not listen to his advice, Vibhishana joined Rama's army. Later, when Rama defeated Ravana, Rama crowned Vibhishana as the king of Lanka.

Sugreev: In the Ramayana, Sugriva was the younger brother of Bali, whom he succeeded as ruler of Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom. Ruma was his wife and he was the son of Surya. As king of the monkeys, Sugriva aided Rama in liberating his wife Sita from the captivity of Ravan, the demon king.

Ahilya: was the wife of sage Gautama and both lived happily in his ashram. One day during the sage's absence Indra, desirous for the beautiful Ahilya, entered the ashram disguised as Gautama. Vain of her beauty, she yielded to his desire.

When the sin had been committed, she warned Indra of his terrible peril and begged him to be gone. Indira was fleeing when he bumped into the rishi who was just returning from his ablutions.The sage cursed Indira that he would loose his manhood immediately.

Then the sage turned to his erring wife said, "living on air, you shall stay here, unseen by anyone. After a long time, Dasaratha's son will pass this way. When he sets foot in this ashram, you will be freed from the curse.”

As years passed by Ahilya remained in the ashram as a stone idol over which vegetation grew up with time. One day Lord Rama, accompaniee by Lakshman happened to pass by on his way to Mithila. And the moment Rama set his foot in the Ashram, the curse was lifted and Ahalya stood before them in all her beauty free from the curse of her husband.

Jatayu : in the Hindu epic Ramayana, Jatayu is the son of Aruṇa and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of a vulture, is an old friend of Dasharatha (Rama's father). He tries to rescue Sita from Ravana when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but Ravana got the better of him. As Rama and Lakshmana chance upon the dying Jatayu in their search for Sita, he informs them of the fight between him and Ravana and the direction in which Ravana had gone (i.e., south).

Kak Bhushundi: In Uttarkanda, the last chapter of Ramacharitamanas, we find the teachings on bhakti yoga delivered by Kaka Bhusundi, who was an enlightened sage in the body of a crow, to Garuda, the celestial eagle and vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Kaka Bhusundi is a great bhakta of Sri Rama and teaches all the feathered folk who flock around him about the path of devotion to Sri Rama. Kaka Bhusundi first relates the story of Sri Rama's life, but what he is really conveying is the path of bhakti yoga.

The five Pandavas: In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandavas are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva and all five of them were married to the same woman, Draupadi.

Together, the brothers fought and triumphed in a great war against their cousins the Kauravas, which came to be known as the Battle of Kurukshetra. Their alienated half-brother Karna fought against them and was eventually slain by Arjuna.

Sudama: was a childhood friend of Hindu deity Krishna from Mathura, the story of whose visit to Dwaraka to meet Krishna, is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana. He was Narada born as a poor man in order to enjoy the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna.

Jivanti: Ajamil was a brahmin who led a righteous life in Kanya Kubja. But one day while collecting flowers to worship the Lord he saw a drunken shudra and Jivanti, a ganika or prostitute engaged in a sexual embrace. He took the ganika home as a maid servant and begot several children from her, after abandoning his family.

Valmiki: Valmiki was going to the river Ganga for his daily ablutions. Looking up, he saw two birds flying together. Valmiki felt very pleased on seeing the happy bird couple. Suddenly, one of the birds fell down, hit by an arrow; it was the male bird. Seeing the wounded one, its mate screamed in agony. Valmiki's heart melted at this pitiful sight. He looked around and saw a hunter with a bow and arrows, nearby. Infurieated Valmiki uttered the following words:

You will find no rest for the long years of Eternity

For you killed a bird in love and unsuspecting

This was the first śloka in Sanskrit literature.Thus Valmiki is revered as the first poet, or Adi Kavi, and the Ramayana, the first kavya.

Ajamil: was the son of a devout devotee of Vishnu. But , unlike his holy father wasted his time in sinful activities.

One day, his father sent him to the nearby forest to pluck flowers. There a beautiful tribal woman, accompanied by her lover, saw the handsome Ajamil and fell in love with him. She approached him and expressed her wish to be his wife. Ajamil agreed to marry her and returned home with his bride. Shocked, his father rejected her and a heated argument followed between Ajamil and his father after which he threw the old man on the ground and asked him to leave the house. Many years passed and Ajamil's sins only increased.Ajamil's wife bore him ten sons. The youngest, called Narayana was the most loved of them all.

Ajamil slowly became poor in health and took to his bed. He saw Yama's two messengers by his bedside. Startled, he shouted his son Narayan's name. Vishnu who is called Narayana heard the plea and responded.

Ashvamedha Yagya: or 'horse sacrifice' was one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion, described in detail in the Yajurveda.

Gajraj: Gajendra Moksha is a Puranic legend from Bhagavata Purana. Lord Vishnu came down to earth to protect Gajendra(the leader of a herd of elephants) from the death clutches of Makara (Crocodile).

SamaVeda: the second of the four Vedas or ancient Hindu scriptures