罗摩衍那

能控制身心的罗摩， 看到了痛苦的婆罗多， 尊严高贵，愁苦不已， 为了安慰他又把话说： “一个人不能满足愿望， 他也不是自己的主宰； 命运反正总是把他 摆了过去又摆了过来。 所有的积累都会消减， 所有的升高都会下落， 聚会的结果总是分离， 死亡就是生命的结果。 那些熟透了的果子， 怕就怕的是落地； 同样，降生下来的人， 除了死亡一无所惧。 正如柱子结实的房子， 年代一久就会倒塌； 人一老，一接近死亡， 他们也就会倒下。 在这里对一切生物来说， 白天和黑夜一去不回； 生命总是迅速的消逝， 象盛夏的炎阳蒸发水。 你要先为自己担忧， 为什么替别人发愁？ 你的生命也在消逝， 不管你是停下还是走。 死同你一起走路， 死同你一起坐下， 死同你走很长的路， 死又同你一起回家。 皮肤长出了皱纹， 头发转成了白色， 年纪一老人就要垮， 有什么办法去阻遏？ 太阳升起，人们欢喜； 太阳落下，人们欢乐； 人们可是一点都不知道， 在这当儿生命已经走过。 新的季节一个接一个来， 人们看到了心中欢喜； 由于季节的轮流转换， 生物的生命也就逝去。 好象是在海洋里， 一块木头同另一块相遇； 它们偶尔碰到了一块， 时候一到他们又会分离。 同样，老婆和儿子， 亲属们，还有财富， 碰到一起，又分离， 同他们分离肯定无误。 在这里，没有哪个生物 能够向着命运进攻； 在它跟前谁也没有权利 去哀悼自己的祖宗。 好象一个人站在路上， 对着过往的商队把话喊： ‘我也将要走到那里去， 就跟在先生们的后面。’ 这就是我们的父祖们 从前必须走的道路； 走上这条路怎能难受？ 这条路谁也逃脱不出。 一旦堕入生命就不能回头， 就象是河里的水不能回流； 你就尽情的享受享受吧！ 生物就是被教导来享受。 这位以达磨为怀的国王， 用纯洁的仪式，丰盛的馈赠， 把自己的罪孽涤除以后， 我们的父亲就登上了天庭。 他不在豢养奴仆们， 不再保卫芸芸众生， 不再依法收取赋税， 父亲走上了最高天庭。 他举行各种的祭祀， 他获得了很多快乐， 他达到了耄耄之年， 国王就升入天国。 我们的父亲丢弃了 他那老朽的躯体； 他获得了天国幸福， 能在梵天来往游戏。 任何一个这样聪明人， 都不应去把他哀痛； 象你这样一个人也不应该， 你博学多闻，智慧出众。 这样各种各样的悼伤， 痛哭哀悼一个人的死亡； 你这样聪明人无论如何 也要避免这样的情况。 振作起来，不要发愁， 回到你那城里去住！ 能说会道的人啊！ 这是父亲的遗嘱。 我呢，那虔诚的人 指定我去做什么， 按照父亲的遗命， 我就那样去做。 克敌制胜的人！我不能 丢掉他那正确的命令； 他是亲属，是我们父亲， 你也要经常把他尊重。” ）——　《罗摩衍那·阿逾陀篇》 ，季羡林译

虽然书中女性的形象得到了赞美，可是她们依然没有获得爱情中平等的地位，女人无论做得多好，依然只是男人的附庸品而已。她们爱自己的丈夫，守护自己的爱情和贞操，却受到怀疑，受到伤害。更可怕的是在那种社会环境的影响下，女性自身也被这种思想所荼毒，一味的顺从而不觉醒，更不会去追求平等和自身的权益。她们的爱情来的并不崇高和纯真。这现在的印度这样的问题依然非常严重而未得到解决。希望越来越多的女性可以站起来，也希望属于她们的爱情越来越美好。

Ramayana Themes

Romantic Love

A central focus of the Ramayana is the love between Sita and Rama. As incarnations of the goddess Lakshmi and the god Vishnu, they are literally been made for each other. They fall in love at first sight, and their relationship is characterized by harmony and devotion. Sita follows Rama into exile out of her love for him, and she refuses Ravana's advances at great risk to herself because of her loyalty to her husband. Rama, in turn, defends Sita fiercely and cares for her tenderly. For centuries, the love between Rama and Sita has been a model relationship for South Asians.

The Perfect Man

Rama is the time-honored symbol of the perfect man: he is generous, just, merciful, the master of his emotions, and a valiant warrior. He is a dedicated son and a loyal husband. Other characters exemplify perfect virtues as well. Sita, with her perfect devotion to her husband, is the eternal symbol of the perfect woman and wife. Lakshmana, who never leaves his brother's side despite the horrible dangers, is the image of the perfect brother. Hanuman, witty, loyal, and wise, is the perfect advisor.

Dharma

A central concept in Hinduism and Indian philosophy, dharma may be translated as truth, justice, and duty. It refers to the central purpose of a particular being, as well as the correct path that she or he should follow in this world. Dharma also describes a conduct defined by truth and justice, which is divinely commanded. Populated with perfect characters, the Ramayana offers a playbook for how to behave with virtue and dharma in the world.

Brotherly Love

Lakshmana is an exemplar of brotherly love. He is never envious of his more accomplished brother Rama, and supports him in his every adventure. When they are still boys, Lakshmana accompanies Rama into the forest to defeat the rakshasa Tataka, having full faith in his brother despite their youth and inexperience. Rama tells Lakshmana that he is like part of his own body; Rama is never more devastated than when Lakshmana falls injured on the battlefield.

Good and Evil

In the Ramayana, good and evil are diametrically opposed forces, locked in eternal combat. They are frequently represented as a contrast between human/god and rakshasa. The rakshasas exhibit a number of vices (violence, blasphemous impulses, sexual indiscretions), while the righteous humans are exemplars of every virtue. Though good and evil are opposed, the Ramayana suggests that they are not innate but rather the result of choice. Some rakshasas have been turned into demons as punishment for a transgression, while previous virtuous human beings can become wicked when they choose to abandon the path of dharma.

Combat

Large portions of the Ramayana describe incredible battles between Rama and various wicked rakshasa. These battles are intense and described in evocative prose, featuring a great deal of violence and magical weapons. Rama's success in combat is part of his identity as the perfect man, an unconquered warrior. The centrality of combat in the Ramayana may also be symbolic: the rakshasas symbolize the evil impulses in every person, which must be destroyed in order for the soul to be made pure.

Human and Divine

The differences and similarities between human and divine are a major theme in the Ramayana. Rama himself is the incarnation of a god, but much of his goodness is the result of his own personal choices rather than this divine heritage. Rama has been born into the world because an enormously powerful rakshasa, Ravana, cannot be killed by any deity or supernatural creature; the gods themselves are unable to defeat them. In some ways, some human beings and vanaras (magical monkeys) are superior to the gods in their virtuous conduct. However, the gods still have the power to offer boons to mortals, such as weapons and invincibility.

很久很久以前，还是在神话中的特雷塔时期，有一个名叫伐尔弥吉（也有一种译法为：瓦米基）的强盗。他经常在他居住的村庄附近的森林里抢劫过往的行人，抢劫之后还要杀死他们。人们都很害怕他。　　有一天，他在森林里看见那罗达漫不经心地走过来了，便上前拦住他，让他把身上所有的东西都交出来。那罗达却对他说：“你这样抢劫和杀害无辜的人是使自己走上了下地狱的路。”伐尔弥吉辩解说：“我这样做是为了照顾我的家人。这是我的职责。”那罗达回应说：“你能肯定你的家人愿意与你分担你所犯的罪责吗？回去问问他们。我在这里等你。”伐尔弥吉想了想，便把那罗达绑在一棵树下，独自往家里走去。回到家后，他问父母是否愿意分担他为了养活他们而犯下的罪行。他的父母表示拒绝，并说从来没有让他去抢劫别人。伐尔弥吉听到父母的回答感到非常惊讶。他又用同样的问题问他妻子，她也拒绝分担他的罪责。　　伐尔弥吉这时感到很失望和伤心。他想，“我抢劫和杀害别人完全是为了我的家人。我这样做是走上了通往地狱的路。但我的家人却不愿意分担我的这些罪恶。”他回到森林里，解开了捆着那罗达的绳子。他猜到大师不同凡人，一定是天神，因此恳请大师给他指一条救赎之路，为了赎罪，他啥样的忏悔苦行都愿意承受。 　　于是，大师叫他坐在一处，告诉他不论发生什么都别离开，只是念神名“罗摩，罗摩。”　　罗摩是圣典《罗摩衍那》中的一个神名，可是，当时罗摩还没有出生，圣典还没有面世呢。　　　　伐尔弥吉说“我不配也不想念神名。”　　　大师说：“好吧，那就念摩罗、摩罗。”　　摩罗在古印度语中是死亡的意思。伐尔弥吉同意了。作为强盗，杀了那么人，所以他不介意念这个声音，他愿意以死赎罪。 就这样，他在一个地方坐了好多年，不停地念“...摩罗摩罗摩罗...。”　　随着时间的流逝，伐尔弥吉不停地快速连续地念着“...摩罗摩罗摩罗...”让人听起来却变成了“...罗摩罗摩罗摩...”　　就这样伐尔弥吉不知不觉地“...罗摩罗摩罗摩罗摩罗摩...”念下去，念了好多年，最后竟然开悟成道了。他坚持这样做了许多年，乃至后来蚂蚁在他身上筑起了蚁丘，他也没有移动过位置。人们因此给他起名为蚁垤。　　强盗伐尔弥吉后来成为大圣人蚁垤(Valmiki)，因为他写出了梵语文学的伟大史诗《罗摩衍那》。