Download pdf - Balagokulam

Great Personalities
April
Shri Ram – A Role Model
Ram was one of the most wonderful and charismatic personality of the Indian history.
He embodied all the virtues by practising what he preached. “Actions speak louder than
Words” was his chief motto. More than his divine powers, his popularity, bravery, courage
in face of all adversities, kindness, sense of justice, obedience, intelligence, limitless patience,
boundless compassion and steadfast following of dharma (duty) have made him not only
popular but endeared him to countless generations of Hindus and non-Hindus.
A Man or a God?
One may ask… was Ram a man or a God? Well!! He was both. He was a man as well
as God. He was a God because he was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. When Lord Vishnu
took birth as a Ram, he could have skipped (avoided) the common man’s sufferings and
daily duties and hence breaking the nature’s law. But he didn’t break it. Instead he went
through all the sixteen sanskaras that Hindus have to go through. He enjoyed family life.
And just like others, he also suffered in his life and died when his time came. That is why
Ram was a man!!! He was full of virtues and extremely powerful with an ability of doing
anything. Thus he was not just a man, but a super-man!!!!!
Man of Virtues
Ram was full of virtues. He was a perfect man. He was an ideal son of king Dasharatha,
an ideal king, an ideal husband, an ideal brother and an ideal friend . Ram was the epitome
of morality, truth, virtue and chivalry. Let us try to learn here some of his virtues.
An ideal son
Ram was an ideal son of his parents (Father – King Dasharath, Mother – Queen
Kausalya). He never ever disobeyed his parents. He would do anything to keep his parents
happy. He knew that his parents would always do the right thing for him. When his second
mother, Kaikeyi, wanted him to give up kingdom and go to the forest, he readilly agreed to
do so without a moment’s hesitation. He knew about the difficulties and dangers living in
forest. But just to keep up his father’s promises, and mother Kaikeyi’s wish, he went to the
forest. Besides, he didn’t even develop a slight bitterness about Kaikeyi. Without batting an
eyelid, he sacrificed his palatial comforts, princely rights and all family happiness. He shed
all material comforts as though they were dust. He smilingly endured the ardour of forest
life for fourteen years but never swerved from his duty towards his parents.
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS)
11