How Hindus Fought To Keep India Hindu Againt Islam

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Post 146 (Digvijay):

1. This Sloka is from अरण्यक पर्व (araNyaka parva) of Mahabharata, specifically from that part which is known as रामोपाख्यानम (rAmopAkhyAnam). This is a truely wonderful part of the great epic, covered over 20 chapters from the chapter 257 to 276, also sometimes known as आध्यात्म रामायणम - AdhyAtma rAmAyaNam (? - could not confirm this one, but think so).

This part of mahabharata is in the format of a dialog between mahaR^Si mArkaNDeya and maharaj yudhiSThir. Context is that mahAranI draupadI had been abducted by jayadratha. bhIm had chased and defeated him, and freed up mahAranI draupadi. However, the abduction of their wife had left pandavas feeling dejected. In this context, maharaj yudhiSThir laments and sadly wonders whether there ever was any human being less fortunate than pANDavas, and what had draupadi done to deserve the abduction. In response, mahaR^Si mArkaNDeya recites the story of Sri Rama, and consoles them, that even He, who is best of all men ever, had suffered the similar ordeal, but how he had upheld his dharma.

In this particular Sloka that you mentioned, Sri anjaneya is addressing mahArani sIta, and conveying the wellfare of Sri Rama. (in more accurate sense, Rishi Vyasa is addressing Sri Ganapati, in which Rishi Markandeya is addressing Maharaj YudhiSThira, in which Sri Anjaneya is addressing Sugriva and Sri Ram to debrief how He had addressed mahArani sItA)

He says:

सीते रामस्य दूतोहम वानरो मारुतात्मजः
त्वद्द्र्शनम्भिप्रेप्सुरिह प्राप्तो विहायसा
राजपुत्रौ कुशलिनौ भ्रातरौ रामलक्षमणौ
सर्वशाखामृगेन्द्रेण सुग्रीवेणाभिपालितौ
कुशलम त्वाब्रवीद्रामः सीते सौमित्रिणा सह
सखिभावांच सुग्रीवः कुशलम त्वानुपृच्छति
(MB 3.266.60,61,62)

O Sita, I am a vanara, son of Marut, messenger of Ram. With aim of seeing you, I have arrived here through the wind. Both the brothers, Ram and Lakshmana, the royal princes, are doing well, protected/guarded by Sugriva, the king of all vanaras [literal : creatures that live off the tree-branches (shakhamrig)]. Ram, along with Lakshamana, send to you their well-wishes. Sugriva, in his friendly attitude towards Ram, enquires after your wellbeing too.

Here 'Rajaputrau' seems to have been used very matter of factly way, an adjective for expressing their princely status rather than anything else.

2. The translation of the second Sloka, from Srimad bhAgavatam seems accurate. But here too, the adjective Rajaputro is used in reference as a prince for Maharaj Parikshit.

3. Same in the reference to Bhagwan Gautama Buddha, or King Harshavardhana. They are referred as rajaputra in the same context too.

What maybe useful is to find some references where 'rajaputra' word is used in referring to a clan of kshatriyas, or to refer to a kshatriya who is not necessarily a prince - but maybe warrior or administrator etc.

<b>ishwaji, welcome back!</b> You were missed at the forum.

post 148: Husky, this is very interesting and useful. Is it possible to provide some references (Tamil or other languages, referring to kings as rajaputra or equivalent)