Rama is ‘Rupadakshinya sampanna’. The word ‘rupa’ is inclusive of all the good qualities of the body. By saying ‘prasuta’, it is understood that those qualities came to Rama by birth. The qualities of Rama are described here in detail by Hanuman. “Rama is respected by good people and known for the celibacy (brahmacarya). Rama is highly knowledgeable, practical in action and studied specially the Yajurveda.”
Up to this point, Hanuman describes the qualities of Rama as related to his soul and then he describes the physical features of the body.
Rama has four Vedas at his command, meaning that he is catuskalah. Here the word kalah signifies the four lines that are at the bottom of the thumb which indicate the gift of the arts. It is said that for the twiceborn, the lines four, three or two or one at the bottom of the thumb indicate, the number of Vedas that they master as the case may be.
Rama has four lines in the forehead, feet and hands. It is said that one whose forehead has four, three, two or one lines are seen will live two hundred, one hundred, sixty or twenty years respectively. Again, one in whose feet are seen lines resembling Vajra, flag, conch, and hook is declared a king. Also, one who has four unbroken lines in the hands is to be declared a king.
Rama is four Kishkus tall. Kishku is a unit of measurement of length, which is also called Hasta. It is said that a man whose height is ninety-six angulas is to be known as ‘god’. Rama had four (pair of) limbs, which were equal to each other. It is said – arms, knees, thighs and legs should be equal in length. Fourteen pairs of limbs of Rama had equal to the other in size, which is a characteristic of a king. It is also said that the fourteen pairs are: ears, eyes, brows, cheeks, nostrils, rows of teeth, lips, shoulders, feet, hands, breasts, thighs and hips. One, who has them in equal proportion, is a king.
Rama has four damstras (teeth). In the two rows of teeth on each side he had four damstras. Or in both rows of teeth, on the two sides of the four middle teeth, he had two damstras each.
Rama’s movement is like that of four animals, namely lion, tiger, elephant and bull. He has great lips, and nose. The greatness of lip is in its being red like the hibiscus or the bimba fruit and also fleshy. Greatness of his chin is being fleshy and plumpy. Greatness of the nose is in being long and having attractive nostrils. It has been said elsewhere that a king has lips that can be compared to the flower called Bandujuva and fleshy like the bimba fruit.
Rama has five, smooth and soft features, namely speech, face, nails, hair and skin. He has eight bones long, two arms, two fingers, two thighs and two legs should have long and strong bones. Rama has five limbs that resemble the lotus. It is said that the face, eyes, mouth, tongue, lips, palate, breasts, nails, hands and feet are called the ten lotuses, one who has these resembling the lotus (is fit to be a king). Rama has ten big limbs and it has been said “Head, forehead, ears, neck, chest, heart, stomach, hands, feet and back are the ten limbs which should be big.
Rama has by three qualities of a great person: brightness (tejas), fame (yasas) and wealth (sri). Rama’s paternal and maternal families are pure, so he is called dvisuklah. Rama is high in six limbs, which indicate auspiciousness. They are lap (kaksa), belly (kukshi), chest, nose, shoulders and forehead.
Rama is small (sukshma) in nine places or parts. It has been said that joints of fingers, hair on the head, body hair, nails, skin and penis, when these are small, the persons live long. Also one whose hair on face is not split at the ends, thin, soft, continuous and oily, and who has sharp eyesight and intellect will live happily.
Rama performs actions for the sake of dharma, artha and kama in the three times respectively that is morning, noon and evening. It has been said in the Brahmapurana “one whose dharma, artha and kama are accomplished in the three times of a day is a good man”.
The intention (of Valmiki) is to show that Rama has all the features of a great man (mahapurusa) which are described in all sastras. Rama is one engaged in earning (wealth) and giving it graciously (to the needy).
Rama’s qualities 5.35.7-21
Rama is ‘Rupadakshinya sampanna’. The word ‘rupa’ is inclusive of all the good qualities of the body. By saying ‘prasuta’, it is understood that those qualities came to Rama by birth. The qualities of Rama are described here in detail by Hanuman. “Rama is respected by good people and known for the celibacy (brahmacarya). Rama is highly knowledgeable, practical in action and studied specially the Yajurveda.”
Up to this point, Hanuman describes the qualities of Rama as related to his soul and then he describes the physical features of the body.
Rama has four Vedas at his command, meaning that he is catuskalah. Here the word kalah signifies the four lines that are at the bottom of the thumb which indicate the gift of the arts. It is said that for the twiceborn, the lines four, three or two or one at the bottom of the thumb indicate, the number of Vedas that they master as the case may be.
Rama has four lines in the forehead, feet and hands. It is said that one whose forehead has four, three, two or one lines are seen will live two hundred, one hundred, sixty or twenty years respectively. Again, one in whose feet are seen lines resembling Vajra, flag, conch, and hook is declared a king. Also, one who has four unbroken lines in the hands is to be declared a king.
Rama is four Kishkus tall. Kishku is a unit of measurement of length, which is also called Hasta. It is said that a man whose height is ninety-six angulas is to be known as ‘god’. Rama had four (pair of) limbs, which were equal to each other. It is said – arms, knees, thighs and legs should be equal in length. Fourteen pairs of limbs of Rama had equal to the other in size, which is a characteristic of a king. It is also said that the fourteen pairs are: ears, eyes, brows, cheeks, nostrils, rows of teeth, lips, shoulders, feet, hands, breasts, thighs and hips. One, who has them in equal proportion, is a king.
Rama has four damstras (teeth). In the two rows of teeth on each side he had four damstras. Or in both rows of teeth, on the two sides of the four middle teeth, he had two damstras each.
Rama’s movement is like that of four animals, namely lion, tiger, elephant and bull. He has great lips, and nose. The greatness of lip is in its being red like the hibiscus or the bimba fruit and also fleshy. Greatness of his chin is being fleshy and plumpy. Greatness of the nose is in being long and having attractive nostrils. It has been said elsewhere that a king has lips that can be compared to the flower called Bandujuva and fleshy like the bimba fruit.
Rama has five, smooth and soft features, namely speech, face, nails, hair and skin. He has eight bones long, two arms, two fingers, two thighs and two legs should have long and strong bones. Rama has five limbs that resemble the lotus. It is said that the face, eyes, mouth, tongue, lips, palate, breasts, nails, hands and feet are called the ten lotuses, one who has these resembling the lotus (is fit to be a king). Rama has ten big limbs and it has been said “Head, forehead, ears, neck, chest, heart, stomach, hands, feet and back are the ten limbs which should be big.
Rama has by three qualities of a great person: brightness (tejas), fame (yasas) and wealth (sri). Rama’s paternal and maternal families are pure, so he is called dvisuklah. Rama is high in six limbs, which indicate auspiciousness. They are lap (kaksa), belly (kukshi), chest, nose, shoulders and forehead.
Rama is small (sukshma) in nine places or parts. It has been said that joints of fingers, hair on the head, body hair, nails, skin and penis, when these are small, the persons live long. Also one whose hair on face is not split at the ends, thin, soft, continuous and oily, and who has sharp eyesight and intellect will live happily.
Rama performs actions for the sake of dharma, artha and kama in the three times respectively that is morning, noon and evening. It has been said in the Brahmapurana “one whose dharma, artha and kama are accomplished in the three times of a day is a good man”.
The intention (of Valmiki) is to show that Rama has all the features of a great man (mahapurusa) which are described in all sastras. Rama is one engaged in earning (wealth) and giving it graciously (to the needy).