One of the most iconic chapters from the Indian epic Ramayana is the building of the bridge Rama Setu or Ram Setu. It was a built on the sea from the southernmost tip of India till Lanka [now Sri Lanka]. Its aim was to facilitate lord Ram, his brother Lakshman and his vanara sena [army of animals] to reach Lanka to rescue Ram’s wife Sita, who was kidnapped by the evil Ravana.
The bridge was being built by the army of animals who teamed up with Ram to rescue Sita. They used huge stones and boulders in constructing the bridge. The objects magically floated on water after the name of Ram was inscribed on them.
But among these mighty animals, there was also a little squirrel who contributed in the building of the bridge.
After watching all these animals selflessly helping Ram in his mission, the squirrel starts feeling that it shouldn’t be left behind. The little rodent naturally develops the zeal to do its bit in helping someone as Godly as Ram in building the bridge.
Hence, it began picking up tiny rocks and tiny bits of sand and dispatched them on the site of the bridge. The squirrel continued its task with enthusiasm and interest. Just then, a monkey from the vanara sena spots the squirrel carrying out that activity and has a good laugh at it.
The monkey points out that he and his teammates are carrying boulders and parts of mountains to help build the bridge. So in comparison the contribution of the squirrel is not only negligible but also laughable.
Ram notices this and is clearly not impressed with the attitude of that particular monkey. He sternly expresses his displeasure at the arrogance of the monkey and asks him to stop insulting the squirrel and its contribution just because of its size.
Ram says that it is not the squirrel’s fault for its size; that’s how nature has built them. But despite its tiny size, it has shown as much enthusiasm and selfless service in serving Him as the monkeys and others from the vanara sena.
The monkeys might feel that the contribution of the squirrel is negligible but that is the most the squirrel can do. In other words, the squirrel is giving its 100% to serve Him. That’s what matters the most. Ram said that for him the contribution of the squirrel is as much as the monkeys because both are doing their best.
Our mythological incidents are full of symbolism and social messages that are relevant even today. This incident tells us that even in our day-to-day life, we shouldn’t make fun of someone who isn’t able to do as much as us. We have no idea what circumstances or natural factors they are facing.
Interestingly, Ram in his next birth as Krishna said the same in the Bhagavad Gita – “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”
Also read:
Road to Divinity... 