Freedom from fear

Valmiki describes the young princes Rama and

Lakshmana, with their swords, bows and arrows in place,

following Vishwamitra to the forest. It is the prevailing

belief that contemplating this picture of the well-armed

Lord confers a sense of security and freedom from fear,

said Oragadam Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy in a

discourse.

It is symbolic of the omniscience, omnipresence and

omnipotence of the Lord which sustains and protects the

entire universe.

When Vishwamitra requests Dasaratha to send Rama

and Lakshmana with him to the forest to protect the yagna

from the rakshasas Maricha and Subhahu, the king

hesitates because he fears for their safety. Both Vasishta

and Vishwamitra are aware of Rama’s Paratva and hence

are able to view the situation impartially, unlike Dasaratha

who is moved by parental love alone.

Vasishta intervenes and advises Dasaratha to send Rama

and Lakshmana as promised. He assures the king that no

harm will befall Rama and Lakshmana.

Vasishta knows how destiny had led Vishwamitra, a

Kshatriya by birth and a powerful ruler, through a series of

events to rightfully earn the status of a Brahma Rishi.

There is none to equal him in the mastery of weapons. He

can protect the yagas by the sheer power of his penance,

but it is for the good of the princes that he has come and

appears to seek Dasaratha’s help. The trip will be

beneficial to them in the long run for Vishwamitra is wellversed in archery and has many powerful mantras which

he would impart to them. On Vishwamitra’s advice, Rama

kills Tataka and shields Vishwamitra’s yagna from the

atrocities of the rakshasas. Subhahu is killed but Maricha

escapes only to be killed later by Rama.