Humans differ from one another in many ways: physical, intellectual, moral, social, cultural, etc. There are inherent temperamental differences in people. If we do not take into account these differences while prescribing a certain path to lead a good life—and instead offer a single formula to all, it will only lead to incompatibility. Moreover, it is this variety in human beings that makes them valuable to one another.
The ekārtha presentation Rāmāya Tubhyaṃ Namaḥ by Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam has captured the imagination of three generations of audience and has touched the hearts of the lay and the learned alike. As typical to an ekārtha presentation, Padma presents several episodes and characters, and thereby, sketches the physical, emotional, and spiritual journey – ayana – of Rāma. In the Indian tradition, Rāma is held as one of the highest ideals of a son, brother, husband, friend, king, and lord.
Padma is widely recognized for her path-breaking reconstruction of the mārga-karaṇas. Her achievements as a researcher and performer of this universal language are comparable only to the combined efforts of Bhagavān Pāṇini (as well as Maharṣi Patañjali) and Amarasiṃha, the masters of Sanskrit grammar and thesaurus respectively. At an early stage in life, she realized that the sublime scheme of Bharata accommodates all beautiful movements, regardless of the barriers of space and time.
One of the remarkable contributions of Hindus is that they not only crystallized the concept of Ultimate Liberation but also established its immediacy. In other words, mokṣa is not restricted to a post-death stage but can happen here and now.
This glorious conception—of being liberated during one’s lifetime—is called jīvanmukti.
In the second act, the king of Nissantānagrāma by name Saṅgrāmavisara arrives there with his friend named Viśvāsaghātuka. Madanamañjarī, who realises that he was a rich man, speaks to him in a welcoming and pleasant manner; he, however, was a namesake king only. He had to borrow money to buy a dog; he had no means to even earn to repay the debt.
A brāhmaṇa named Mithyāśukla arrives there. The following verse describes his name –
brāhmaṇya-darpa-paripṛṣṭa-viriñci-śīlaḥ
śambhorapi vratavidhāvupahāsa-śīlaḥ|
