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proportion
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to
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the
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quantity
|
of
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payasam drunk by the respective mothers,
|
the sons are traditionally considered to be
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parts of Vishnu. Rama was thus half-
|
Vishnu.
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But such calculations have no meaning,
|
as it is impossible to measure the Infinite
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arithmetically. Sruit tells us that even a
|
fraction of the Supreme Being is whole
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and complete by itself.
|
"Om
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Poornamadah
|
Poornamidam
|
Poornat
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Poornamudachyate
|
Poornasya
|
Poornamadaya Poornamevavasishyate."
|
"What is whole, this is whole; what has
|
come out of the whole is also whole.
|
When the whole is taken out of the whole,
|
the whole still remains whole."
|
Dasaratha's four sons were given all the
|
training prescribed for princes. Rama and
|
Lakshmana were specially devoted to
|
each other and so were Bharata and
|
Satrughna. We can imagine that this
|
special attachment arose out of the way
|
the divine payasam was divided among
|
the King's wives. Dasaratha was happy to
|
see his four sons grow up strong, virtuous,
|
brave and lovable and with all other
|
princely qualities.
|
One
|
day
|
as
|
the
|
King
|
was
|
contemplating his sons' matrimony, ushers
|
rushed in to announce that the great Sage
|
Viswamitra
|
had
|
arrived
|
to
|
see
|
him.
|
Viswamitra was held in awe by all as the
|
most powerful among rishis.
|
Viswamitra's arrival at Ayodhya was
|
unexpected; and King Dasaratha stepped
|
down from his throne and advanced a few
|
paces respectfully to receive the sage.
|
Viswamitra was a king who attained
|
sainthood through terrible austerities. He
|
had
|
long
|
ago
|
exhibited
|
his
|
spiritual
|
powers by starting to create another
|
Brahma and a rival universe. He had gone
|
as
|
far
|
as
|
the
|
creation
|
of
|
new
|
constellations, but was prevailed upon to
|
stop by the entreaties of the alarmed gods.
|
Viswamitra, while he was king once
|
went out with his army and chanced to
|
visit
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Vasishtha's
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ashrama.
|
The
|
rishi
|
cordially welcomed his royal guest and
|
his huge entourage and extended to them
|
all hospitality so sumptuous that the King
|
wondered where all the rich abundance
|
came from in a forest hermitage.
|
Questioned by him, Vasishtha called
|
his cow Sabala and explained that she was
|
the fountain of unfailing plenty.
|
Expressing gratitude to the sage, King
|
Viswamitra said: "You must give me this
|
cow as she would be more useful with me
|
than with you. Such things of power and
|
wealth by right belong to the King."
|
Now Vasishtha could not part with the
|
divine cow. He gave many reasons and
|
asked the King not to press his request.
|
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