War of Lanka (Ram Chandra #4)

by Amish Tripathi

Ideas are more powerful than wealth and weapons. Few get this. And those who do, rule the world.

‘I will need three particular herbs. Vishalyakarani, Saavarnyakarani and Samdhaani. And the branches of the Sanjeevani tree.’

The Atharva Veda describes Indra’s Net as a deeply philosophical metaphor representing the universe as a web of

interconnectedness and interdependence. The entire universe as a whole remains in balance and all the vertexes of the universe are either positive or negative reflections. All the positives and negatives combine to make the zero principle or shunyata. It’s not exactly zero, for the universe is not actually in complete balance, but that is not important here. And, the logical corollary to shunyata is pratityasamutpada, or dependent origination, like the seven colours of the rainbow, the Indradhanush, originating from white light. In the simple words of the warrior, it can be stated that in order to remove the effect we must first remove the cause. To remove the seven colours we must remove white light. To end the enmity, one of the foes must die.

‘The paralysis caused by grief does not mean that one’s karma is over,’ said Sita. ‘All it means is that one is paralysed by grief. Which is perfectly understandable. But this paralysis will end. For change and movement are the very essences of life. We must not give in to grief.’ Mandodari smiled. ‘No, my child. Do not devalue grief. It can bring clarity to the mind. My mind is clear. Remember the words of Sikhi Buddha: Grief is the ultimate reality of the universe.’ ‘That is true, Mandodariji,’ said Sita, ‘but only from the prism of the universe. From a different prism, that of human

beings, grief is merely love that is aching to be expressed. Grief is dammed up love. It arises when love is blocked, like the waters of a dam. Grief is made of feelings that have nowhere to go; because the one you ache to express your love to, is gone …’

Love needs to flow, for it is the energy of youth and life in a soul. Love should not be static, for then it becomes disconsolate. When you lose the one you love, when there is nobody to give love to, then love ripens into grief. Grief is disheartened love, Guru Mandodari. Grief is love that has been bound by depression. Grief is not having the one you want to give love to. Not having the one who will accept your love … I did not get to meet the one I wanted to give love to … My birth mother … I lost the one I had given love to … My adoptive mother … But I have someone else now. Someone who makes me complete.’ Sita looked at Ram, who stood silently in the doorway. ‘I waited, I opened my heart, and my grief did go …’

The Dashrath vow. An open-ended promise that could never be broken. No matter what the circumstances. No matter what the time. No matter what the space.

‘Nobody escapes suffering. That is the reality of life. But the suffering of the selfish is different from the suffering of the noble. The selfish wallow in their misery, they whine, want attention, want others to empathise and console. They are convinced of their sense of victimhood. The noble, on the other hand, do not view themselves as victims. They make it their life’s mission to reduce the suffering of others. The noble want that nobody else should suffer the way they suffered. The way the one they loved, suffered. The suffering of the selfish harms the world. The suffering of the noble makes the world a better place.’ Mandodari was quiet. But her eyes reflected a new