Page 17 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

Persons, who are pious but still bewildered by material nature, pray to the Lord to increase their sense gratification.
Although engaged in pious activities, their goal is still temporary material pleasures derived from family, friends,
society, wealth, sense gratification, elevation to higher planets, etc. They remain in the grip of the illusory energy,
maya, by which they drift farther and farther away from Lord Krishna. The devotees, who listen and follow the
instructions of Krishna coming through the disciplic succession of pure devotee gurus, come under the influence of
yogamaya, under which one comes closer and closer to Krishna. Thus, there is a vast difference between the
statements of devotees and those who seek sense gratification and self-indulgence. One should not hear about
Krishna from non-devotee mundane scholars regardless of their academic credentials.
Importance of proper speech is emphasized in many sacred scriptures such as Valmiki Ramayan. In fact, one of the
best speakers is Hanuman, the eternal servant of Lord Rama. When Sugriva saw Rama and Lakshman at the base of
Mountain Rishyamukha, he was frightened that they were emissaries of his cruel brother Vali. Hanuman assuaged his
fear by saying ‘sambhramah tyajatam esha’ or ‘do not be afraid’ (VR 4.2.12) Hanuman is never afraid of the unknown.
Truthful and confident speech has the potency to reassure the hearer.
When Hanuman met Rama and Lakshman, he had only two questions: who are you, and why have you come to this
place. However, he was not blunt in his query. He used soft, pleasing and beautiful words to pose his questions.
Hanuman immediately established that he was on the side of the righteous by his humble behavior and speech.
However, there was no self-praise. He was not obsequious or unctuous in his presentation. He was simultaneously
bold and soft-spoken, enquiring with a submissive, polite and curious attitude. When the Lord responded, Valmiki said
that the Lord responded facially, ‘prahrshta vadanah’. People responded with facial expressions. The ministers of
Ayodhya were also excellent orators. They would always start their conversations with a smile. Similarly, the Lord also
easily responded to the frank speech of Hanuman. Lord Rama has explained the art of good speech:
a. Only a knower of Vedas can speak like Hanuman.
b. Grammar should be correct, and comprehensive – not a single word should be amiss.
c. The facial expressions including the eyes, forehead, and brows should be calm and serene. The words should be
consonant and harmonious.
d. The speech should be neither too diffuse nor too diffident, neither halting nor hurried, neither too slow nor too
fast. The words should be faultless, charming, and auspicious.
e. The sentences spring from chest. Sounds in the throat are spoken in the pitch of Pa (madhyama)
f. Words are pronounced with wondrous beauty, proceeding as they do from the chest (urashi), throat (kantha) and
head (shirashi) in accordance with the udatta, anudatta and svarita notes.
g. Even the deadliest foe, rushing towards the speaker with a sword uplifted, will forget his wrath and come under
the spell of his influence by gentle and confident speech.
Another example is from Sundarkhand of Valmiki Ramayan. Hanuman jumped across the Ocean from India to the
island of Lanka, and found Mother Sita surrounded and tormented by she-demons in the Ashoka garden. He observed
Her desperate state and saw that She contemplated using Her long braid as a noose the end Her life. Suddenly, Her
left eye throbbed, indicating an auspicious omen. At that time, Hanuman pondered how he could assuage Mother
Sita’s grief. At that point, Valmiki, the biographer of Lord Rama’s exploits, dedicated one entire chapter to inform the
reader how one should speak at an appropriate moment, with awareness of the particulars of the place, time and
circumstances. Valmiki examined Hanuman’s tact in speaking.
1. Hanuman accomplished the task that Rama gave him: to ascertain Sita’s whereabouts and to perceive the strength
of Ravana’s army. However, Hanuman realized that importance of consoling Sita so that She may not commit
suicide in a fit of abject despair. He was also concerned to come back to Rama with proof that he actually did
contact Sita.
Proper speech has the power to extricate a person from committing desperate acts. Both Rama and Sita were
pining for the news of each other, and Hanuman, the sagacious speaker, wanted to mitigate their mutual grief due

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