Kausalya’s delight
Company returns to collect an animal for finding total weight of the species (7)
Avoid females or put up with (7)
Weakness is systematically concealed by a cowardly person (5) Once, a Zimbabwean and a Greek character built a side with one player! (9)
25 Rules to stay indoors for some dogs outside (7)
26 Nominated a film cameraman, perhaps Edward (7)
28 Isabel, Eva, Teresa huddled inside lift (7)
29 Commercial I appeared in lens by introductions (4-3)
Down
1 Female caught a tailless rodent and became well-known (6)
2 Last piece of Lamington taken at Australia with decaf regularly
led to vomiting (6)
I don't laze easily, in the beginning it was opposite (4)
Poison in iron caplet? Purge stomach (6)
Lady cut short meeting captain for bad behaviour (8) Overcoming resistance, advantage garnered by innovative group
(5-5)
Organise marriage with kinsmen regularly (8)
Appraiser of animals standing at front gate (8)
Perhaps Mercury's type of music (5,5)
New scales between B and F shown by a symbol (4,4)
In contact with Stokes's club, seen sacking captain, skirting rules in public view (2-6)
Urged son to keep hair tied in half (8)
Skipper of vessel expelled by seer (6)
Perhaps Eskimo arrests leading Thai suspect (6)
One who bares pundits brutally after overcoming pressure (6) A gem at work, a leader of learners (4) 16
19 20 21 3 4 5 6
7 8 14 16 17
18 22 23 24 27
Solution to previous puzzle
Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku
The role of a mother is supreme, her status sacrosanct and Kausalya, Lord Rama’s mother, is hailed as the best among them. Under her gentle rearing, Lord Rama performed His duties creditably, leaving His mark everywhere. In his Kural, Tiruvalluvar has said, “A mother feels more ecstatic to hear her son being praised than when the son was born.” Kausalya experienced this fully as Rama led just such a life: He was the ideal son, one who brought immense joy to His mother, said Swami Mitranandaji.
Rama was not merely an obedient son: He was a constant source of joy to His mother, performing His duties well, taking obstacles in His stride while remaining unaffected by any change in His fortunes. As the prayer goes, He is Kausalya Sukha Vardhana Ram. In fact, He was beloved by all, including the other queens, even Kaikeyi, who later allowed herself to be enticed into coveting the kingdom for her son Bharata and banishing Rama to the forest, after Dasaratha had publicly announced Rama’s anointment.
It is human nature to turn resentful when one is denied one’s rightful due. However, Rama showed exemplary strength of character when He submitted to the change in His fortune without anger, rancour or hatred towards anyone. He chose to see the positive side even in adversity.