SUTHEEKSHANA MEETS RAMA
Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana continue their journey in the forests.
There is a scene where, a sage, named Suteekshana, is blessed by Rama with His darshan.
Swami writes,
"Meanwhile, a sage, Sutheekshna by name, came forward and prostrated before Rama. He was the pupil of the renowned Agastya. He was an incomparable devotee and his mind was saturated with love for Rama. He had steady faith that God can be won by Love alone. He could not picture before his mind's eye any form of God other than Rama. He gazed upon Rama, without winking an eyelid, lest even that fraction of time should go waste. His heart melted into adoration at the sight of Rama.
He said, "Lord! Did you come so far into this region just to bless me? Can you not merge me into the Love you are? Having come upon the earth with this visible form, do you still wish that I should adore, as hitherto, the Formless Absolute? No. I love this Form, and this Name. I do not know any rite or ritual. I know only that you, the embodiment of Love, can be attained through love. Yearning is the only earning I have accumulated. That is the only asceticism I have subjected myself to.
Tell me, is that not enough? 0, Savior from the travail of Birth and Death! No form of worship is so effective as service of the Lord through Love, isn't it? Singing your glory, meditating on it, and deriving unspeakable bliss in the process - can anything else yield greater joy?" he said. Sutheekshna danced about, unaware of where he was or what he was doing; tears flowed in streams down his cheeks; he appeared insane for all who could not gauge the inner joy he was experiencing.
Rama knew the urge within the Sage; he drew him near himself, and embraced him most lovingly. He spoke soft and sweet, to bring him round to a consciousness of his surroundings. While Rama was holding his hands, the great sage entered the supreme state of Samadhi. He became a doll, unmoved and immovable. Rama brought him back into consciousness; as soon as he came to, he fell at the feet of Rama, falling flat on the ground.
He raised his hands above his head and joining palms in adoration, he expressed his joy and took delight therein. He said, "Lord! You are the Conflagration that destroys the Forest of Delusion in which man has lost himself. You are the Solar Orb that makes it possible for the Lotuses of the Hearts of Good Men bloom in beauty and fragrance. You are the King of Beasts, come to destroy the brood of Demonic Elephants. You are the Eagle come to hunt down and destroy the bird that flits into birth and flits out of life, in a recurring cycle of joy and grief. Lord! Your eyes are as charming as Lotuses; my two eyes cannot drink in all the beauty of your effulgent Form.
You are the Moon that sheds cool light to enrapture the twin Chakora birds, namely, the eyes of Sita. You swim happily as the Celestial Swan in the placid lakes that shine in the hearts of Sages. You are the Garuda Bird that preys upon and destroys the Serpents that breed in the minds of doubters and unbelievers.
All cruelty, confusion and calamity will be burnt away when a tiny glance from your eye falls on them." He extolled Rama thus and in various other forms, and derived great joy at getting the chance. He also utilized the chance to gaze upon the Lord and to have His Image imprinted on his heart. He was not conscious of the passage of time or the needs of the body. He did not wink once while looking on and drinking deep the glory of Rama.
You are the Moon that sheds cool light to enrapture the twin Chakora birds, namely, the eyes of Sita. You swim happily as the Celestial Swan in the placid lakes that shine in the hearts of Sages. You are the Garuda Bird that preys upon and destroys the Serpents that breed in the minds of doubters and unbelievers.
All cruelty, confusion and calamity will be burnt away when a tiny glance from your eye falls on them." He extolled Rama thus and in various other forms, and derived great joy at getting the chance. He also utilized the chance to gaze upon the Lord and to have His Image imprinted on his heart. He was not conscious of the passage of time or the needs of the body. He did not wink once while looking on and drinking deep the glory of Rama.
Rama watched him for a while and then he raised him up with his hands upon his shoulders. He said, "Sutheekshna! You are endowed with all desirable virtues. Ask from me anything you wish, for I shall bless you as you desire." The sage replied, "O, Friend and Kinsman of the Distressed! My wish is this: Reside ever in the depths of my heart, with Sita and Lakshmana." Rama said, "So be it." Then, with him as companion, Rama moved forward towards the asram of Agastya, with Sita and Lakshmana following him.
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Dear All,
This was also shared in the theme "Narada Bhakti Sutra - Post 17 where Stabdha Bhavati was explained. Reproducing the content for your reference:
In that post, we read about Suteekshana running in all directions, dancing, singing, on hearing that his Lord Sri Rama is in chitrakoot.
The same Suteekshana sat silent, motionless and when Rama came near him, Suteekshana was so much filled with Rama's Love within, that he went into total silence and Rama had to wake him up and tell that He was in front of Suteekshana.
Only one who has experienced these states in their love for God will actually know that after the madness, the ecstasy reaches its peak, the Bhakta reaches that moment when he is fully enveloped by, filled with the essence of God's love and it is at this moment, this state, that the Bhakta gets automatically into the depth of silence.
He loses the consciousness of his body that danced, the voice that sang and is totally drawn inward and has totally immersed in God's love, God consciousness.
The same Suteekshana sat silent, motionless and when Rama came near him, Suteekshana was so much filled with Rama's Love within, that he went into total silence and Rama had to wake him up and tell that He was in front of Suteekshana.
Only one who has experienced these states in their love for God will actually know that after the madness, the ecstasy reaches its peak, the Bhakta reaches that moment when he is fully enveloped by, filled with the essence of God's love and it is at this moment, this state, that the Bhakta gets automatically into the depth of silence.
He loses the consciousness of his body that danced, the voice that sang and is totally drawn inward and has totally immersed in God's love, God consciousness.
When a devotee acts, it is God who acts through him. A devotee is inwardly quite peaceful and serene when he serves the world out of love and mercy.
Love.
Love.
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