Passage 5

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In plain words

You must not criticise such a mother. ‘Let your mother be God to you, let your father be God to you’: so I honour my mothers. I bow my head to my father's command. This is the Dharma of our family,” he said. In this way Rāma went on teaching Dharma as each occasion and circumstance arose.

Rāma knows all and is all-powerful

In the forest, when Lakṣmaṇa cut off Śūrpaṇakhā's ears, she went and reported it to her brother Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa sent a huge army of rākṣasas to the forest. Then Rāma said to Lakṣmaṇa: “Lakṣmaṇa! At this time you must do as I tell you. My command alone is what matters for you. So, without a word in reply, take Sītā away from here at once. The two of you stay in some small cave. I will destroy these rākṣasas and come.” But Lakṣmaṇa would not agree to it at all. “Brother! When you are fighting alone against so many rākṣasas, can I leave you and go? Being your brother, is this what I should do? No, no. Besides protecting Mother Sītā, it is also my duty to help you, my brother. So I will not leave you and go,” he said. Then Rāma: “Lakṣmaṇa! In daily life man meets many situations like this. One must practise Dharma as the moment requires. Not only these many: however many more rākṣasas come, you know that I can face them alone and conquer them! So bow to my command and protect Sītā,” he told him with kind words. He breathed the secret of Dharma into Lakṣmaṇa's ear. Then Lakṣmaṇa agreed and took Sītā to a safe cave.

The battle raged fearfully, with shouts and flashes. Hearing those sounds, Lakṣmaṇa grew somewhat anxious. Sītā scolded him for having left Rāma alone, and pressed him to go at once to Rāma's help. But Lakṣmaṇa did not move. “Mother! I cannot disobey Rāma's command. Rāma knows all and is all-powerful.