|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 61

Tattvadipika
"महावनं निर्विषयं च चक्रुः"

"निर्विषयं च चक्रुः" means,
"destroyed without a second thought.

What did they destroy?
महावनं - the great forest.
The great forest in this context is "मधुवनं", a honey grove.
The Sarga is about how that honey grove मधुवनं got destroyed

The last line in Sarga 60 is

'यथा तु रामस्य मतिर्निविष्टा
तथा भवान्पश्यतु कार्यसिद्धिम्'|(60.14)
"We shall know the thinking of Rama
and act accordingly for its success".
That was Jambavan's thought.

Sarga 61 starts with the line,

"ततो जाम्बवतो वाक्यं
अगृह्णन्त वनौकसः"| (61.01)
Then Jambavan's words were accepted by the Vanaras.

Those words are about finding out
Rama's thoughts on further course of action.
Then all the Vanaras take to skies,
to reach the Prasaravana hill,
where Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva are waiting

Vanaras were flying back in happy mood,
having accomplished their goal.
The feeling of accomplishment meant,
that their minds too, freed from the search, are virtually flying.
Thus, the freed mind loses its way on seeing Madhuvan.

Seeker, in search of Self or liberation, may also lose his way.
This Sarga reveals how easy is it for one to lose his way.

In Gita Arjuna asks Bhagavan,
how to control this mind which is so fickle.
Krishna says, "असंशयं महाबाहो",
without doubt, he says it is difficult to control.
"सुदुष्करं"- very difficult.
But not impossible.
Krishna says "अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेया",
"Arjuna, the control comes with practice".

Here in this incident of Madhuvan,
with Hanuma and Angada etc leading the way,
what we see how fickle indeed the mind is.
And we also see how difficult it is to control the same.

Now we hear the narration of Sarga 61 by the poet.

Then Angada and other Vanara leaders,
accepted the words of the great Vanara Jambavan.

All the Vanaras, who were very pleased
left Mahendra mountain led by Hanuman.
Taking the path of Charanas,
they were on their way to meet Rama.

They were like elephants in the rut,
resembling the mountains Meru and Mandara.
They flew as if covering the whole sky.

All Vanara's had their sights fixed on heroic Hanuma.
It is as though the Vanara's are carrying Hanuma,
with their unblinking sights fixed on him.

Having successfully completed the task,
concentrating on remaining in the service of Rama,
the Vanaras were flying with anticipation of things to happen.

All of them talking among themselves,
all of them anxious to fight a war,
all of them determined to please Rama,
all of them flew in the sky.

Then the excited Vanaras flying in the sky entered a garden
which is full of trees and creepers
which is like Indra's garden, Nandana.

Enchanting to all beings, it is called Madhuvan
It is under protection of Sugriva.
And it is difficult to access.

It is protected by a Vanara hero by name Dadhimukha
He is the maternal uncle of the Vanara King Sugriva.

The Vanaras flying in from the South,
entering the enchanting garden were highly delighted.

The honey colored Vanaras
delighted at having seen the great Madhuvan,
sought the prince Angada's permission.

Then the prince too seeking counsel of the elder Vanara's
gave them permission to drink honey.
Thus, permitted and encouraged,
all the Vanaras happily started dancing.

Some were singing and some prostrated.
Some danced and some laughed.
Some fell and some jumped up.
Some simply roamed and some were babbling.

Some were comforting each other.
Some were holding each other.
Some were talking to each other.
Some were entertaining each other.

Some ran from one tree to another.
Some jumped from the top of the tree.
Some jumped from broken branches.
Some very swift ones fell from the top of trees.

While one was singing, others approached him laughing.
While one was laughing then another went roaring.
While one was roaring another was pushing.
While one was encouraging the other who fell over and was shouting

Having lost control due to excessive drinking,
the Vanara army sat there quietly.
It is not that there was none who was not intoxicated.
It is not that there was none who was not satisfied.

Seeing the leaves, flowers and trees
which were destroyed,
and the Vanaras who were drunk,
the Vanara protecting the garden started warning them.

With the Vanara behavior exceeding limits,
Dadhimukha pondered over ways to protect the garden.

Some he spoke harshly.
Some he did not say anything.
Some he slapped with his palm.
Some he patted on the back pleasantly.
Some he quarreled.
Some he approached in a conciliatory manner.

In their drunkenness
speaking in abusive language
Vanaras retaliated using their strength without fear.

Without realizing their fault,
some roared, some held and pulled Dadhimukha.
The drunk Vanara's scratched with their nails and bit with their teeth.
They kicked with their hands and feet.
They looted the garden completely without a thought.

In Sarga 55, we heard about consequences of uncontrolled anger.
Here we have a demonstration of a similar uncontrolled mental state.
Being drunk, actions preventing them spark further destruction.

Thus, the Sarga sixty-one comes to an end.

|| om tat sat||

|| This is what we understood from Tattva Dipika of Shri Bhashyam, Appalacharyulu garu"||
|| om tat sat||