(23) King Viveka and VastuVichaara

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{PLOT: King Viveka prepares for the battle. He meets every one of his people personally and discusses with them the strategies to be adapted by each one in the battle.}

(Then enter the king Viveka and the Door-keeper)

KING-

“Ah! You sinner! You wicked MahaaMoha! Always people perish because of you!

As it is-

शान्तेsनन्तमहिम्नि निर्मलचिदानन्दे तरङ्गावलीनिर्मुक्तेsमृतसागराम्भसि

मनाङ्मग्नोsपि नाचामति

निःसारे मृगतृष्णिकार्णवजले श्रान्तोsपि मूढः पिबत्याचामत्यवगाहतेsभिरमते मज्जत्यथोन्मज्जति [6]

The ignorant man even when he remains drowned in the ocean of nectar -

which is quiescent,

which is the undifferentiated supremacy,

which is the pure taintless bliss of awareness,

which is free of continuously rising rows of waves, 

- does not even take a sip of that water.

But though exhausted, the fool sips the water of the mirage-ocean,

 bathes in it, enjoys swimming in it,

dives in and out again and again fulfilling various desires.

{Though an individual is not different from Brahman, though Brahman alone shines inside and outside, the ignorant fool does not bother to contemplate on the Self even for a second. But he goes through endless experiences in the unreal appearance of the world.

He is like a fool who ignores the nectar filled real ocean and bathes in the waters of the mirage ocean.}

Or the root cause of the existence of MahaaMoha, who rotates the never-ending wheel of Samsaara, is ignorance alone! Only the realization of the Truth will get rid of him!

Because-

अमुष्य संसारतरोरबोधमूलस्य नोन्मूलविनाशनाय

विश्वेश्वराराधनाबीजजातात्तत्त्वावबोधादपरोsभ्युपायः [7]

There is no other means other than the realization of the Truth rising from

the seed of the worship of the Supreme Lord of the world,

 to completely uproot this tree of Samsaara which grows from the roots of ignorance.

प्रायः सुकृतिनामर्थे देवा यान्ति सहायतां

अपन्थानम् तु गच्छन्तं सोदरोsपि विमुञ्चति ||

‘It is a well-known fact that gods help those who do virtuous deeds.

Even a brother will disregard a person who is treading the wrong path.’

So do the knowers say! And Goddess VishnuBhakti has sent the message –‘Try to gain victory over Kaama and others. I am on your side only.’ Now the first enemy to be tackled is Kaama; he can be easily defeated by ‘VastuVichaara’ (the enquiry about reality). Let it be so! I will call him and get him engaged in this task of defeating Kaama. Vetravati (Door-keeper holding the stick)! Call VastuVichaara!”

DOOR KEEPER -

“As the Lord Commands!”

(leaves and enters with VastuVichaara)

VASTU VICHAARA-

“Alas! This world is deceived by the wicked Kaama who increases the attraction for the beauty where reason has no place!

Or all this happens because of that evil one, MahaaMoha!

कान्तेत्युत्पललोचनेति विपुलश्रोणीभरेत्युन्नमत्पीनोत्तुङ्गपयोधरेति

सुमुखाम्भोजेति सुभ्रूरिति

दृष्ट्वा माद्यति मोदतेsभिरमते प्रस्तौति विद्वानपि प्रत्यक्षाशुचिपुत्तिकां स्त्रियमहो मोहस्य दुश्चेष्टितं [8]

Alas! Even a learned man sees the woman who is a dirty mass of flesh as -

 an attractive one, as a lotus-eyed beauty, as with lovely hips,

as with huge risen up breasts which keep increasing in size,

as with the lovely lotus face, as with lovely eye-brows-

 and gets infatuated, is happy in her company, praises her in various ways!

All this is the wicked influence of MahaaMoha!

And also, even those men of sharp thinking who analyze well all things, do not get rid of the attraction for a woman, though they know very well that a woman is a cage of bones filled with wet flesh, stinking all over by nature, and of a disgusting shape! This is because they superimpose the beauty of other objects on her (and imagine her to be a thing of beauty!) 

As it is  -

मुक्ताहारलता रणन्मणिमया हैमास्तुलाकोटयो

रागः कुङ्कुमसंभवः सुरभयः पौष्पा विचित्रा: स्रजः

वासश्चित्रदुकूलमल्पमतिभिर्नार्यामहो कल्पितं

बाह्यान्तःपरिपश्यतां तु निरयो नारीति नाम्ना कृतः [9]

Alas! The garland of pearls, golden anklets with the rhythmically tinkling beads,

the body shining reddish by applying the vermilion paste;

 fragrant flowers and variety of garlands, colorful garments with a variety of designs-

all these are imagined as the beauty of the woman by the dumb heads!

However, for the wise men, who see her outward behavior and inner nature,

woman is the other name for the hell!

{But for the make-up and the various ornaments and garments which hide the ugly mass of stinking lumpy body of a woman, a woman is never a thing of beauty! Though she at first entices men with various attractive gestures and services, once the man is under her control she treats him like a pet to be trampled under her feet.}

Hey! You sinner!  Hey Kaama of low-caste! How you torment the world through something called ‘woman’ who has no essence at all!

This is how the attraction occurs-

बाला मामियमिच्छतीन्दुवदना सानन्दमुदीक्षते

नीलेन्दीवरलोचना पृथुकुचोत्पीडं समाश्लिष्यति

‘She is so young and innocent!

This moonfaced lovely girl likes me! She looks at me with such joy!

This girl with lovely eyes resembling blue lotuses,

is embracing me hard with her huge breasts getting crushed on my bosom.’

Hey fool!

का त्वामिच्छति का च पश्यति पशो मांसास्थिभिर्निर्मिता

नारी वेद न किञ्चिदत्र स पुनः पश्यत्यमूर्तः पुमान् [10]

Who likes you? Who is seeing you, you stupid animal?

This thing called woman is (a doll) made of flesh and bones.

She has no understanding.

Whoever perceives is the Supreme Self alone who is without any form.”

{A woman is just a shape made of flesh and bones. There is no conscious action done by that shape which sees you and feels attracted towards you. You, the Self alone are there. You are just looking at a shape and superimposing all these feelings on her as if she loves you and are deceiving yourself. It is similar to a child playing with an inert doll as if it is alive.}

DOOR KEEPER-

“May the noble Sir come this way!”

(Both of them move towards the king.)

DOOR KEEPER-

“Here the king remains seated. Please go near him.”

VASTU VICHAARA-

“Victory, Victory to the King! VastuVichaara salutes His Highness!”

KING-

“Please be seated here!”

VASTU VICHAARA- (sits)

“Lord! This is your servant waiting to serve you. Grace me with your command!”

KING-

“Our battle with MahaaMoha is about to begin. The first soldier we have to fight in the enemy-side is Kaama. You have been selected as the suitable person to fight him.”

VASTU VICHAARA-

“I am blessed that I have been honored thus by His Highness!”

KING-

“What weapon are you going to use against Kaama to defeat him?”

VASTU VICHAARA-

“Ah! Just five arrows and a bow made of flowers! Huh!

Who needs a weapon to defeat Kaama?

Look,

दृढतरमपिधाय द्वारमारात्कथन्चित्

स्मरणमपरिवृत्तौ दर्शने योषितां च

परिणतिविरसत्वं देहबीभत्सतां वा

प्रतिमुहुरनुचिन्त्योन्मूलयिष्यामि कामं [11]

Without delay, I will somehow close the door for the memories

which pull towards the sight of a woman

and rush towards her without any hindrance.

At every moment I will analyze in the mind,

 the insipid nature of the body as it grows old,

 and also it’s disgusting nature  

and will uproot Kaama completely.”

KING-

“Well-said! Well-said!”

VASTU VICHAARA-

“And also-

विपुलपुलिनाः कल्लोलिन्यो नितान्तपतज्झरीमसृणितशिलाः शैलाः

सान्द्रद्रुमा वनभूमयः

यदि शमगिरो वैयासिक्यो बुधैश्च समागमः क्व पिशितवसामय्यो

नार्यस्तथा क्व च मन्मथः [12]

If there are –

speeding rivers with far-stretched sandy banks,

hills filled with rocks dampened by the abundantly falling streams,

forest lands dense with trees,

  soothing stories of Vyaasa (Puraanas),

the company of the wise-

what are these things called women made of flesh and marrow

and where is this Manmatha?

Woman is the most important weapon used by Kaama. If she is conquered, then all the other weapons of Kaama will turn futile. As it is- 

चन्द्रश्चन्दनमिन्दुधामधवला रात्रिर्द्विरेफावलीझङ्कारोन्मुखरा

विलासविपिनोपान्ता वसन्तोदयः

मन्द्रध्वानघनोदयाश्च दिवसा मन्दाः कदम्बानिलाः शृङ्गारप्रमुखाश्च

कामसुहृदो नार्यां जितायां जिताः [13]

Moon, sandal paste, night shining bright by the moonlight,

group of humming bees, garden regions suitable for amorous sports,

rise of the spring season, days filled with dark clouds making deep rumbling noise,

winds from the Kadamba grooves moving slowly, attractive dresses-

all these which act as Kaama’s helpers,

 get conquered if women are conquered.

{If a man is not at all distracted by any woman, then all the other things like moon-light etc, have no power to make him get interested in a female.}

Enough of waiting any more!  Lord, please give your orders.

सोsहं प्रकीर्णैः परितो विचारैः शरैरिवोन्मथ्य बलं परेषां

सैन्यं कुरूणामिव सिन्धुराजं गाण्डीवधन्वेव निहन्मि कामं [14]

Through my analytical thinking covering various topics,

I will crush the enemy army, as with sharp arrows,

and like Arjuna the wielder of the Gaandeeva bow conquered

the army of Kurus by killing Jayadratha,

I will destroy Kaama!”

{Jayadratha was the brother-in-law of Duryodhana.}

KING- (pleased)

“Then prepare yourself to destroy the enemy.”

VASTU VICHAARA-

“As the Lord Commands!”

(salutes and leaves)