Motherhood brilliance - Kausalya Supraja Rama

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते ।
उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ॥

You must be familiar with this opening shloka of Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam. Eternalized by the great M.S. Subbalakshmi. This shloka is originally from Valmiki Ramayana, Balakanda, 23rd Sarga. Let's explore the context and the extensiveness of its meaning. Rather than understanding the surface-level meaning, going in-depth into our scriptures reveals several benefits. It broadens your thinking, develops a more discerning mind, helps reflect upon oneself, learn about values, and how to live life. Aligning oneself with values becomes easier, increasing emotional intelligence and speeding up intellectual growth. After discussing this, consider whether you ever imagined that this one common shloka contained so much in it.

The context - Vishwamitra is taking young Sri Ramji and Lakshmana for the protection of his yaga from Rakshasas. The first night after leaving the place, they slept on the banks of River Sarayu, on grass and leaves as their bed. At dawn, Vishwamitra approached Sri Ramji to wake him up. This shloka addresses Sri Ramji.

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम - Why is Sage Vishwamitra addressing Sri Ramji as the son of Kausalya here, not as the son of Dasharatha? This choice isn't arbitrary; it underscores the paramount importance of the mother in our culture. Vishwamitra is mesmerized by the brilliance of Sri Ramji even while he was sleeping. He forgets his mission and wonders which fortunate mother would have given birth to such a glorious child - Kausalya. This is Kausalya's Supraja, progeny. The address highlights the deep-rooted reverence for maternal influence in shaping a child's character and values. Even when we say मातृदेवो भव पितृदेवो भव, Mata comes first, showcasing the mother's role as the first teacher, initiator, and nurturer of the child.

पूर्वा सन्ध्या प्रवर्तते - It is dawn, and Sri Ramji looks like the brilliant dawn. He is THE dawn, the commencement of Rama's mission to eradicate malevolence. When he wakes up, the evil disappears. Vishwamitra has already seen the brilliance of Sri Ramji as he sleeps. Now, he is eager to see the brilliance as he wakes up and says - उत्तिष्ठ - wake up, wake up.

नरशार्दूल - Sri Ramji is a tiger, Shardula is tiger. नरशार्दूल is a common term used to address brave men. But it is important that Rama should be a man, a Nara. He has to limit himself to the capabilities, limitations, and resources of man. He cannot take Sudarshana chakra and behead Ravana. Rama has to limit himself to what a man can do.

उत्तिष्ठ, उत्तिष्ठ - look at the tasks ahead of you, you have no time for a relaxed sleep. Wake up, wake up. कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकं - it is time to do the duties towards Gods ordained by dharma. You have to perform these duties because you have to pretend that you are a man. Ravana has got a boon that none other than a Man would be able to kill him.

Did you ever imagine that one shloka which we say so casually could have so much in it? This is the way we should understand the scriptures.