[Sanskrit mantra playing]
[conch blowing]
Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna, wake up.
[Sanskrit mantra playing]
[conch blowing]
- [mantra concludes] - [conch blowing]
[Vakratunda Mahakaya playing]
[singing]
Salutations to Lord Ganesha.
- Salutations to Lord Ganesha. - Salutations to Lord Ganesha.
[conch blowing]
Can any of the pupils tell me
why we pray to Lord Ganesha
before embarking upon an auspicious task?
[pensive music playing]
It is because Ganesha is the first to be worshipped.
He is also the Lord of Wisdom.
It is because Ganesha has received the eight great perfections
and the nine treasures from Goddess Parvati.
It is a good answer, son,
but it is incomplete.
Rama, what do you think?
Gurudev,
Lord Ganesha is not merely a god.
His form is a recitation in itself
on how to attain and preserve knowledge.
His big ears signify
that one must pay very close attention
to even the most insignificant thing said by one's guru.
His long trunk displays curiosity and enthusiasm.
And his small eyes
teach us to look at everything very carefully.
Do our eyes not constrict too when we try to look
at something closely?
- Yes. - It is true.
His mighty head is a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom.
The face beneath his trumpet teaches us
that a pupil must focus on learning more than talking.
Every part of his body teaches us to embrace knowledge.
He is therefore the God of Knowledge.
Extraordinary.
That was incredible, Rama.
No one could have described Lord Ganesha
in a more beautiful manner.
Pupils, please take your places.
Repeat this shloka from the Rigveda
after me.
[chants shloka]
[pupils repeat shloka]
[chants shloka]
[pupils repeat shloka]
[chants shloka]
[pupils repeat shloka]
[conch blowing]
[theme music playing]
[theme music concludes]
- [birds chirping] - [water babbling]
- [Aum chanting] - [conch blowing]
[light-hearted music playing]
- What are you doing, Mother? - I am making a 'swastika', Sita.
Why do we make this?
The word 'swastika' is derived from the word 'swasti',
which means may everything be good.
Give me your hand.
Four lines are drawn from the centre point
which symbolise the four goals.
They are righteousness,
wealth,
desire and liberation.
Remember, you draw them from the outside towards the centre.
Now, from the south to the left,
let us draw the four lines of liberation.
The first is the 'salokya'
which is to live in the same domain as God.
Then comes 'samipya' which means nearness to God.
Followed by 'sarupya'
which means assuming the same form of God.
The final one is 'sayujya' which means merging in God.
After these four lines, you draw the lines of conscience.
They are the mind,
intellect,
ego and senses.
That is what these four symbolise.
Adoration is represented in the form of four dots.
They are devotion,
faith,
love and dedication.
Your 'swastika' is done.
- Did you understand, child? - Yes, Mother.
One must imbibe the positive energies
of the world to preserve the cycle of righteousness,
wealth, desire and liberation.
Coming to the four types of liberation.
By becoming one with God in our thoughts, speech and actions,
if we carry out every task with devotion,
faith, dedication and love,
then not just the task, but even our lives turn out well.
This is what the 'swastika' symbolises.
Marvellous, my child.
I merely passed on my knowledge to you,
but you have understood its real meaning.
[soft chuckle]
[sombre music playing]
You have not slept, my lord.
[poignant music playing]
I feel like the apple of my eye has been taken away, Kaikeyi.
The absence of my sons eats away at me.
Why have you not slept?
Their thoughts keep you up
while I dream of their futures.
Come on, my lord.
Let us dream about their futures with open eyes.
[light-hearted music playing]
I worry about Rama every moment.
As a father, my concern for my sons
knows no bounds.
Despite being a mother, you...
What worries you
brings me satisfaction
and contentment
that my Rama is with his brothers.
What more could a mother want?
Please do not worry.
[music playing]
Ah!
It was a tiring day, Lakshmana.
Oh, my! Learning the scriptures.
Are you already tired, Shatrughna?
Yes. I am in a lot of pain.
Pain and joy
are connected to the mind and not the body, Shatrughna.
If you take your mind off the pain, you will stop feeling it.
[Bharata sobbing]
What is the matter, Bharata? Why are you crying?
[sobs inconsolably]
He must be missing home.
[all laugh]
Come on, Bharata!
You are older than us. You must not cry.
- [laughter] - [Bharata sobs]
[Rama sobs]
What happened, Rama?
I miss home too.
I want to go to Father.
I want to eat the food prepared by Mother Kaikeyi.
Do you and Shatrughna not miss home?
[poignant music playing]
[Rama sobs]
[Lakshmana and Shatrughna weeping]
Please stop, Shatrughna. Do not cry.
You made us all cry by talking about home.
How can you stop crying and say that now?
[Lakshmana and Shatrughna weeping]
Yes. Along with missing Mother,
her words also came to mind.
She said...
She said that in her absence,
Rama would be our father and mother.
In the ashram, palace as well as the world.
Is it not right, Rama?
[joyous music playing]
[birds chirping]
It is so cold!
We are normally in Ayodhya at this time
having sweet dreams.
We got warm water there,
but here, we have to bathe in the cold water.
Who would want to jump into the river at this hour?
I am freezing.
I told you it is all in the mind.
Get rid of your fears, take my hand and jump.
Once you get drenched, even the cold water will feel nice.
I will hold your hand, Rama.
Why?
Will you impart courage to him by holding his hand?
Is he scared?
Yes, Lakshmana.
I am afraid of water.
If Bharata holds my hand, I will feel more confident.
Take my hand, Bharata.
[light-hearted music playing]
I will hold Bharata's hand.
Rama, you are pretending.
You pretended to cry last night too so that Bharata did not feel bad.
Why were you crying when you knew I was pretending?
Just so that I do not feel bad!
It is not wrong to cry, Lakshmana.
It is human nature.
I will not talk to you.
You shall bathe!
[Lakshmana screams]
[Bharata and Shatrughna laugh]
- Yes, Rama. - Okay, Rama.
[water splashing]
Lakshmana!
I don't want to talk to you.
You always side with Bharata.
He has Shatrughna with him but he wants you too.
His mother is Kaikeyi but he also wants Mother Kausalya.
But I... I want only you.
- Can't you see my affection for you? - No.
Lakshmana, you are like my eyes.
It helps us see everything
but we can't see them.
We just have a feeling
that our eyes are with us.
[water splashing]
My moron brother, I stand by Bharata
because he needs me.
You are my need though.
You are the only one who understands everything I feel
without me having to tell you.
[mellow music playing]
But still, you love Bharata more than me.
You may try hard
but you can't distance me from you.
Why wouldn't I understand you? I'm like your shadow after all.
Uh-uh!
You aren't like my shadow.
A shadow disappears in the darkness, you know.
You are like my soul. If you are upset, I won't exist.
[exhilarating music playing]
[Lakshmana laughing]
Rama! Rama!
Rama!
- Rama! - Rama!
Rama!
I'm right here. How can Rama leave his soul?
Rama!
[joyful music playing]
[theme song playing]
Unmatched! If all the brothers in the world were like them,
this world would be full of love.
Goddess, this world has elixir
and poison too.
That's enough, Mahadeva. Please tell me Shri Rama's story.
As You wish, Goddess.
Narayana in the form of a human being was getting trained to face
the future adversities in his life at Guru Vashishtha's ashram.
[mellow music playing]
[theme song playing]
[theme song continues playing]
These are beautiful flowers. Let me pluck them.
No, Bharata. One mustn't pluck flowers without a reason.
- All right? - Yes, Rama.
[theme song playing]
[theme song continues playing]
[joyful music playing]
All these plants you see
are Ashwagandha plants.
They have been used by physicians to make medicines for ages.
Look at them.
[flute playing]
Please come with me. I'll show you more medicinal plants.
Please come.
Prince, do you know something?
Prince... Prince?
Prince!
[suspenseful music playing]
Acharya, they are also living beings.
Let them go wherever they are going. Then I'll come.
[theme song playing]
[Sita chanting mantra]
[conch-shell playing]
[mantra chanting]
[theme song playing]
[theme song continues playing]
[exhilarating music playing]
[conch-shell playing]
[tense music]
Lord, Devi Gargi is here.
[suspenseful music playing]
Devi Gargi!
She comes here only when she wants to do a religious debate.
There's no scholar in Mithila right now
who could challenge her.
Lord, in the absence of a challenger,
Mithila's reputation of being the knowledge centre will be sullied.
[suspenseful music playing]
[tense music]
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music intensifies]
The one who defeated Yagyavalkya in a religious debate,
scholarly Gargi, I pay my respects to you.
Rishi Janaka, I'm not here to be respected.
I'm here to debate.
What's the matter?
Isn't anyone capable enough to accept my challenge?
There's no scholar in Mithila to challenge me!
Lord, is Shiva's bow the only attraction
of your kingdom?
With Father's permission, I'd like to debate with Mother Gargi.
[dramatic music playing]
Is she the same girl
who picked up Shiva's bow as a child while playing?
You are powerful.
As you are Janaka's daughter, you must be a scholar.
Sita, you picked up Shiva's bow.
Will you be able to accept my challenge?
[dramatic music playing]
I'll be happy if you accept it.
A woman scholar would debate with me
for the first time.
Till now, only men have been
defeated by me.
[suspenseful music playing]
Mother, victory and defeat happen on the battlefield.
Contrarily, thoughts are exchanged in the world of knowledge.
I'll be lucky to get some knowledge
from you.
[exhilarating music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
[sombre music playing]
Sita, please wear this garland made of flowers.
A wise person is always calm.
They are patient.
The weaker person in this religious debate
will start losing patience and they'll become angry.
Anger increases the body temperature.
A high temperature shrivels the flowers.
The person whose lotus garland starts to shrivel
will be considered a loser.
[suspenseful music playing]
Mother, I'll follow your instructions
Though I'll be focussed
on the knowledge I get from you.
[suspenseful music playing]
So shall we begin, Sita?
Yes.
Firstly, tell me.
What is the most powerful weapon in the three realms?
Is it Mahadeva's Pashupatastra,
Brahma's Brahmastra
or Naryana's Narayanastra?
[suspenseful music playing]
Compassion.
Mother, there's no weapon more powerful than compassion.
"The weapon of compassion!"
Sita, what kind of weapon is it?
Mother, why do we make weapons?
We make them to win over everyone, right?
A compassionate person
who can empathise
can win over
everyone in this world.
When a person empathises with everyone,
why would they need a weapon, Mother?
[ethereal music playing]
Okay. Now, tell me
the most important time.
Also, who is the most important person?
The most important time is the present.
This moment right now.
Because the past
will never return
and the future
can't be predicted.
The most important person
is the one we are accompanying right now.
For instance, I'm important to you
and you are important to me, Mother Gargi.
- Unbelievable! - Unmatched!
- Unbelievable! - Unbelievable!
- [sweeping music playing]
What is faster than light?
Our mind.
It can travel the three realms and beyond within a second.
[mantra chanting]
What is the most holy thing?
Fire.
It purifies anything it consumes.
What is the most auspicious thing?
Good words and good karma.
What about the best prayer?
The prayer we do for others.
Who is the best friend?
Our sensibility.
It guides us in the right direction.
The biggest enemy.
Arrogance!
What is the most beautiful ornament?
Compassion.
- The bravest act? - Sacrifice.
The greatest victory?
That on oneself.
[music playing]
One last question.
Who among the Trideva is the greatest?
Brahma,
Shiva,
or is it Narayana?
[tense music playing]
[conch blowing]
Man.
[dramatic music playing]
[conch blowing]
Man.
Brahma! Shiva! Narayana!
How is man above Them all, Sita?
A man who possesses compassion
is akin to Brahma.
It is because compassion gives rise to every good thing. Am I right?
A man who possesses sacrifice
is akin to Shiva.
It is but dignity
that gives one strength to establish
a balance as unwavering as Narayana's.
A man who possesses all three attributes
can be just as great as the Trideva, Sage.
[devotional song playing]
[conch blowing]
Sita, the daughter of Janaka, possesses unparalleled wisdom.
- Long live Sita, daughter of King Janaka! - All hail!
Incredible!
Marvellous!
I hope
that you find such a man to be your consort, Sita.
[joyous music playing]
I come here often to expound on the Shastras, King Janaka.
This time around,
the new perspective of the Shastras and life
that Sita familiarised me with
has me highly impressed.
But...
What is it?
I am concerned about you, Your Majesty.
Why do you say that, Sage Gargi?
Will you be able
to find a suitable groom just as prodigious and knowledgeable
as your daughter?
[joyous music playing]
Who is as good as Sita
and ready to give a test at the drop of a hat.
Who is not just valourous
but compassionate at the same time.
Who upholds dignity
and whose actions exude values.
Whom your daughter, akin to Goddess Lakshmi,
considers akin to Lord Narayana!
[conch blowing]
[pleasant music playing]
[conch blowing]
[Shri Ram Stuti playing]
[Shri Ram Stuti continues]
[conch blowing]