In any war, Victory is assured if you ride the Chariot of Dharma – Prakash Edlabadkar, Senior Litterateur and Researcher

Nagpur – “In any war, if you are riding the chariot of Dharma, defeat is impossible,” asserted Prakash Edlabadkar, a Senior Litterateur and Researcher, citing the moral lesson from ‘Bibhishan Gita’ in ‘Ramcharitmanas’ by Goswami Tulsidas. Edlabadkar was speaking as the keynote speaker on the topic ‘Shriram in Tulsidas’s Ramayan’ at a lecture organised jointly by the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad Vidarbha Province and Shri Jagdamba Devasthan Committee. The event was chaired by Dr Sharad Nimbalkar, former Vice-Chancellor of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University.

Edlabadkar further explained that, according to the Bibhishan Gita, when Ravan was preparing for the war against Shriram, Bibhishan asked Shriram, ‘How would you fight a fully armed Ravan without any weapons ?’ Shriram replied, ‘I have the chariot of Dharma. Valour and fortitude are its two wheels. Truth and Character are its banners. Strength, discretion, self-restraint and altruism are its four horses. Forgiveness, compassion and equanimity are the reins. Devotion is my charioteer, detachment is my armour and contentment is my sword. Generosity is my axe and intelligence is my strength. How can you call me unarmed ? No enemy can stand before me when I have these weapons.’

If citizens want Ramrajya, they must become deserving !

Edlabadkar further stated that Shriram also gave the message that a king is a master who indulges in no excess. The Ramcharitmanas clearly state that in Ramrajya (the reign of Shriram), there was freedom of conduct and thought. If citizens want Ramrajya, they must become deserving, as conveyed in Tulsidas’s Ramayana. To steer the chariot of personal life, society and the nation, adherence to Dharma is essential.

To become Shriram, cast aside the Ravan within – Dr Sharad Nimbalkar

Dr Sharad Nimbalkar commented, “Everyone would like to be like Shriram but to do so, each person must throw out the Ravan within and awaken the Shriram within, as exemplified by Deity Shriram. Ravan was also a Brahmin, known as Dashmukhi – endowed with ten qualities. However, his arrogance led him to lose everything.”