Rāmeśvaram is a very beautiful and sacred place. It is the land of Lord Rāma’s glorious pastimes. I was reflecting on the pastimes and the unique nature of Lord Rāma. Though He is famously known as Maryādā-Puruṣottama, the perfect upholder of etiquette and duty, His mercy has no maryada.
He may observe strict decorum and boundaries in His personal conduct, but there is no boundary when it comes to His compassion.
An ordinary person neither has any proper etiquette nor shows any mercy on others. A practicing devotee struggles with both – trying to maintain proper conduct while learning to show mercy to others. A perfect devotee ideally achieves both.
In the case of the Supreme Lord, we find different manifestations. Lord Kṛṣṇa, for example, is known as Līlā-Puruṣottama. He often breaks etiquette and social norms, yet His overflowing mercy embraces everyone.
Lord Rāma, on the other hand, strictly follows all codes of conduct as the maryada-purushottama, but His compassion is immeasurable.
The Ocean of Mercy
One of my favorite pastimes of Lord Rāma, which illustrates the limitless nature of His mercy, took place here in Rāmeśvaram.
As the bridge to Laṅkā was being constructed, Vibhīṣaṇa, the brother of Rāvaṇa, came to surrender to Lord Rāma. He crossed the ocean with his four associates, desiring to seek shelter.
Before accepting him, Lord Rāma consulted His devotees. Their opinions varied. One said Vibhīṣaṇa shouldn’t be trusted. Another suggested testing him thoroughly. A third advised extracting secrets about Laṅkā from him and then discarding him. Lord Rama was listening patiently.
Finally, the devotees turned to Lord Rāma and asked for His decision.
Lord Rāma then spoke one of His most famous declarations.
He said,
sakṛd eva prapanno yas
tāvāsmīti ca yācate
abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai
dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama
“It is My solemn vow that whoever surrenders to Me, even once, saying, ‘I am Yours,’ I offer them protection from all dangers. This is My vow.”
He instructed, “Bring Vibhīṣaṇa to Me. I will immediately coronate him as the king of Laṅkā.”
The devotees were astounded and asked, “But then what will happen to Rāvaṇa?”
Lord Rāma replied calmly, “He will be killed.”
Then they asked, “But what if Rāvaṇa surrenders tomorrow?”
Lord Rāma said without hesitation, “Then I will give him Ayodhyā.”
They asked, “And what about Bharata?”
He answered, “I will give him Sāketa-dhāma, the spiritual world. And I will become his servant.”
Such was Lord Rāma’s humility, affection, and causeless mercy for anyone willing to surrender.
More Merciful Than the Devotees?!
Interestingly, in one purport in the Third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, it is mentioned that devotees are sometimes more merciful than the Lord Himself because they take personal austerities to preach and uplift others.
Yet here, we see Lord Rāma’s devotees hesitant to accept Vibhīṣaṇa, but Lord Rāma’s mercy won over all opinions.
Sometimes, a devotee may be misunderstood by others, even other devotees. But the Supreme personality of Godhead knows the innermost desires and aspirations of our heart. And He rewards each devotee fittingly.
Lord Rama’s maryada wasn’t bound by the maryada of His devotees. It overflooded even their hearts which weren’t able to accommodate Vibhisana due to his connection with Ravana.
Hope for the Hopeless
Another beautiful example of Lord Rāma’s mercy is Śabarī. She was a poor, aborigine woman who had served her guru with great faith. Though her guru and his disciples had departed long ago, she stayed behind, patiently waiting for Lord Rāma’s arrival.
Many many years passed. She had nothing except her service and her hope.
Lord Rāma did not disappoint her. Her patience was tested, but her hope was rewarded. There is no question of hopelessness for a sincere devotee of Lord Rāma.
No Boundaries in His Mercy
Lord Rāma gave His mercy to everyone, regardless of status, background, or species:
Lord Rāma’s mercy was never limited.
He gave shelter to King Guha, who was a tribal outcaste. He accepted Guha as His dear friend.
He accepted Vibhisana, who was from a demoniac lineage.
He accepted Śabarī’s simple offerings.
He gave grace the vānaras, who were not even human beings.
Therefore, Sugreeva says,
One cannot establish a friendship with the Supreme Lord Rāmacandra on the basis of material qualities such as one’s birth in an aristocratic family, one’s personal beauty, one’s eloquence, one’s sharp intelligence or one’s superior race or nation. None of these qualifications is actually a prerequisite for friendship with Lord Śrī Rāmacandra. Otherwise how is it possible that although we uncivilized inhabitants of the forest have not taken noble births, although we have no physical beauty and although we cannot speak like gentlemen, Lord Rāmacandra has nevertheless accepted us as friends?
This was His grace, which flowed as unbounded as the ocean near which He stood.
Though called Maryādā-Puruṣottama, He never let that maryādā become a wall between Him and a sincere soul.
And anyone who comes to Him, longing for shelter, receives something far greater than material rewards. They receive the lotus feet of the Lord, which alone can fully satisfy the soul desperately searching for happiness.
