Ramayan, an eternal inspiration for justice, says Bihar judge

Patna: Even in this materialistic era, the philosophy of Ramayana, a revered epic is an eternal source of inspiration for delivering speedy judgement with accuracy, Sam Bhav (equanimity) and detached emotions.

A judge, Suman Kant Jha, posted as First Class Judicial Magistrate in Patna civil court, quoted several instances of Ramayan that speaks about the quality of a judge for delivering judgement judiciously. Jha, an author of 'Ramayan Suman', the book written in English in the form of poetry for convenience of non-Hindi people, said that Ramayan teaches how to become a good judge.

Quoting one such instance, he said that through 'Rama-Jayant' Samvad (conversation) in Aranyakand, when Jayant, Lord Indra's son, disguised as crow hurt Sita, the quality of a judge has been discussed in detail.

Jha said that as per the Samvada, it is not wise to judge while looking into things with dual eyes like birds see. A judge has to observe everyone with single eye that is Sam Bhav, without preconceived grudges and detached emotions.

With sound understanding of all types of Ramayanas including Ramcharitmanas, Valmiki Ramayan, Kamb Ramayan, Ram Gita, Lakshman Gita, Yogvashishta Maharamayana in which existence of the world and the Supreme Soul are presented through various illustrations, Jha said that decision should be made at proper time as delay may perpetuate more crime.

He said Ramayan describes that duty of a judge was not just a formal routine affair as a judge has to be more crisp and clear in his decisions. Above all a judge must have all humane quality along with an indiscriminating heart.

Jha who worked as an Assistant Commissioner of police in Delhi after cracking the civil services examination conducted by Union Public Service Commission, joined Judiciary services in Bihar with a passion to serve the soil.

Jha said that he embraced the paradigm shift to feel and experience the thoughts and mentality of a person when he is there in the chair as judge. He said that a judge has to be prepared to make sacrifices to protect the dignity of judiciary under any circumstances. Rama and Krishna both delivered justice even after facing problems and taking a lesson from them, a judge needs to perform like them.

Mr Jha said our epic teaches us to work for "Lokhit, Nayayhit and Dharmahit" in judiciary to serve the interest of the poor aspiring for justice.

When asked about the paradigm shift in his life from ACP to a judge Mr Jha said that being in Delhi he used to listen to the spiritual discourses of a great Saint late Padma Bhooshan Ramkinkar Upadhyay. After reading the holy books and attending spiritual discourses, an understanding about the basic spirit of Ramayan developed in him, he said following which he had decided to translate the basic spirit of Ramayan into English for convenience of non Hindi people. Mr Jha further said that several people including the former Presidents Sarvpalli Radhakrishnan and K R Narayan had translated Ramayan in English in form of prose but the translation done by him is in poetry and is the gist of Ramayan.

Speaking about the relevance of Ramayana in the judiciary, Mr Jha said that as Ramayana teaches to control Lust, Ego and Greed, the preachings of the holy book are important in common as well as in professional life. He said that each and every character of Ramayana teaches how to deal with the problems in life.

The book, "Ramayan Suman" starts with unique rhythmic prayer with single word lines in first para, two words line in second para, followed by third with three words, fourth with four and so on.

The command on law and his experience in profession as judge reflects in the book authored by him as Mr Jha talks about equality, freedom of speech and expression, real democracy. He has tried to connect all these with Ramayana couplets in the form of Quatrain, added Mr Jha.

He said that Ramayan is an eternal story of everyone's life depicted through Lord Rama. The physical aspect has deep spiritual meaning embedded in it.

According to Mr Jha, the perpetual search for Sita, the embodiment of blissful peace, is the ultimate goal of every human being. But to achieve it one has to control demons in the form of Lust, Ego and Greed. This can be accomplished by regular satsang which teaches the skills of detachment, divine wisdom and contentment.

Elaborating the Lust, Mr Jha said every human being has divine wisdom within him but it is overshadowed by the lust. We need to distance ourselves from lust to attain divine wisdom.

Speaking about greed, he compared it with "Kumbakkarna" and said that it can be annihilated with Satsang and accompanying Saints like Hanumana. He said that Ramayan gives a clear cut message to annihilate the greed for becoming a saint.

Regarding ego, he says it is a dangerous ailment like Ravana. He has also compared ego with self mutating virus just like Corona virus and feel that the 10 heads of Ravana were symbol of mutating virus. He said that the ego within human beings keeps on mutating just like 10 heads of Ravana and suggests killing the ego through knowledge to get the divine pleasure.

Symbolising mother Sita with blissful peace, Mr Jha said that saints like Vishvamitra, Bharat and Hanuman acts as a bridge between the profane physical planet and the sacred spiritual space.

Every human being has Ram within himself in the form of divine wisdom but to realise it, he said that we all need brother Lakshmana in form of "detachment" which can kill the lustful Indrajeet through the spiritual arrow of unwavering faith and belief. At the same time the company of Saints like Hanuman is necessary to annihilate greed like Kumbhkarna within us, through the contentment pledge. According to him, the true knowledge of self will eradicate ego in form of Ravana only then the Rama with us will be able to achieve the goal of blissful peace in form of mother Sita completing the holy search for Sita.

Mr Jha in Ramayana Suman talks about soul like it has been discussed in Geeta "I am eternal soul without beginning or end".

The writer has discussed the power of silence in his book which he finds important for peace.

Mr Jha said fools argue but wise remain silent as it is the Golden key to concentration.

Being a judge, Mr Jha realised the power of words and maintained that one should speak carefully as sometimes speaking worsen things. He insists not to hurt anyone's feelings by words as it will nurse ill-feeling among those hurt just like Manthra who took Revenge from Rama at an opportune moment as Rama in his childhood had teased her for her physical disformity.

In the entire book, Mr Jha said that he has compared Tadka with anger, Ahilya with passion, Manthra with jealousy, Kaikei with selfishness, Bharat with selfless Saint, Surupanakha with full of lust, Golden dear with alluring illusion, Guru Mantra with Lakshman circle, Jatayu with sacrifice, Hanuman with bridge between Lord and human being, Bali with absolute power corrupts, burning of Golden Lanka with sufferings for committing offences against saints, Ravan's insult of Vibhishan with think twice before separating from brother, Angad with never assume enemy as weak and divine wisdom with selfless ego. (UNI)