பெண்களிடம் கருணை

I was mentioning how Swamigal was always filled with compassion toward women. Swamigal’s mother attained Mukti (passed away) when he was just three years old. She was said to be very affectionate towards him. Swamigal used to feel, ‘I lost that motherly love so early; I must have committed some sin in my previous birth. At least in this birth, I must conduct myself in a way that never hurts women in any form.’ He was very careful and interacted with them with great care. He used to tell us, ‘Women work hard physically (toiling for the family). Do not speak harshly to them; you must be kind.’“

After his mother passed away, his father remarried. Once, his stepmother (Chithi) went to her father’s house and returned two days later than planned. His father got angry. In front of other people, he spoke very harshly to her, saying, ‘You go as you please and return whenever you feel like it.’ She was deeply hurt by this. In her state of distress, while cooking, she accidentally spilled boiling water on her leg. An uncle (Athimber) who was present there scolded Swamigal’s father, saying, ‘Why do you scold her in front of everyone the moment she arrives? Look, in her sorrow, she has scalded herself with hot water.’ Immediately, his father quoted, ‘Parusham Janasamsadhi’—arguing that Rama spoke harshly to Sita in front of everyone, didn’t he?”

“Before the Agni-Pravesham, Sri Rama said very harsh words to Sita Devi in front of a vast assembly: ‘You lived in Ravana’s house for a year. I do not want you anymore; you may go wherever you wish.’ Swamigal’s father was quoting this incident to justify his own behavior. Swamigal, who was present there, gave tincture iodine to his stepmother’s wound and told his father, ‘Rama never got angry with Sita for visiting Janaka’s (her father’s) house!’ Hearing this, his stepmother hugged him out of affection, ‘En kanne! (My dear child!)’ Swamigal could never bear to see women in sorrow. His father then remarked, ‘You are a Suyuktavadi!’—Suyuktavadi means one who speaks the most appropriate and fitting words at the right time.”

In the Ramayana, Valmiki uses the term Suyuktavadi for Sumantra. When Kausalya is wailing in the agony of being separated from Rama, Sumantra consoles her. He says, ‘Do not grieve for Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, the King, or yourself. To uphold Truth, a father sent his beloved son to the forest, and the mother accepted it. The son, obeying his father, went to the forest. Out of love for him, his brother and wife followed suit. The world has never seen such conduct.’ He assures her, ‘Idam hi charitam loke pratishtāsyati shāshvatam’—meaning, this noble history will be established in this world forever. At that point, Valmiki calls Sumantra a Suyuktavadi.

Swamigal’s father would often call him Suyuktavadi, saying, ‘It is impossible to win an argument against you.’

There is another incident. From the age of ten, Swamigal started sharing the Ramayana he had studied and experienced with those who would listen. He would hold onto the doorframe and speak for hours. There was an elderly lady who had become a widow at a very young age. Swamigal narrated the entire Ramayana to her. In the story, after the killing of Ravana and the Agni-Pravesham, King Dasaratha descends from the heavens to bless Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. Dasaratha says, ‘I am in heaven surrounded by Rishis. However, those people of Ayodhya who will witness your coronation after your return are truly the fortunate ones. Kausalya is the one who is truly blessed (Bhagyavati).’“

Swamigal told that old lady—who must have endured so many taunts for losing her husband young—‘Grandmother, look, Dasaratha calls Kausalya a “Bhagyavati.” Others might call her “Abhagyavati” (unfortunate) because she has no husband. But because she witnessed Rama’s coronation, she is the fortunate one. Similarly, you are listening to the Ramayana. Those who have Rama Bhakti are the truly fortunate ones.’ Even as a young child, he felt the need to console her. Such was Swamigal’s natural, innate compassion.

“Gopika Jeevana Smaranam… Govinda! Govinda!“