| The two are complementary - example from the Raamaayana
17. Saguna is not only easy but free from danger, but it needs nirguna to
complete it. As saguna grows, the flower of nirguna, of devotion to principle, should blossom. Nirguna
and saguna complement each other, they are not incompatible. Starting from saguna, one has to
tread the path to the goal of nirguna : nirguna, too, needs the waters of
saguna to cleanse the subtle impurities of the mind. Each gains luster from the other.
18. Both these kinds of bhakti are nobly illustrated throughout the
Raamaayana, especially in the Ayodhyaa Kaanda. Bharata illustrates the nirguna form of
bhakti, and Lakshmana, the saguna form.
19. When Rama set out for the forest, he did not intend to take Lakshmana with him. Rama did not think it was
at all necessary. He tried to console him saying, "Lakshman, I am going to the forest
at the bidding of our father. You should stay at home. By coming with me, you would only add to the
suffering of our parents.
Serve our parents and our people. If you stay
with them, I shall be free from care. Stay here in my place, and do my duty for
me. In going to the forest, I am facing no danger. I am only visiting ashramas of rishis." With one word,
Lakshmana makes a clean sweep of all Rama's arguments. Tulsidas pictures this
incident vividly.
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