Sanghadeepam-3 Shabd Vedhi/ Shabd Bhedi

Sanghadeepam-3

Dated: 17-05-2020

Shabd Vedhi/ Shabd Bhedi

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Shabd Vedhi is the ability of a person who can shoot an arrow to the direction from where a voice is heard and hit the target but not really seeing it. In Valmiki Ramayan, this skill is possessed by King Dasarth.  In some articles and interpretations of different stories in Puranas, the term Shabd Bhedi is also used.

The most famous owner of this skill in the history of mankind is King Dasarath. As per Valmiki Ramayan, he used this skill once to the horrible consequences that ended with his pathetic death.

"लब्ध शब्देन कौसल्ये कुमारेण धनुष्मता |

कुमारः शब्द वेधी इति मया पापम् इदम् कृतम् || "

Dasarath explains to Kausalya the incident that was a sin he committed when he was a young prince. At the young age itself , he showed uncanny ability to shoot arrows without seeing the target but aiming towards the sound produced it.  In the height of youthful enthusiasm, one dark night, he sets out for the elitist pastime called hunting. In the thick jungle, on the banks of river Sarayu, he listens the sound of an elephant collecting water  in its trunk. The prince, the prolific master in  Shabd Vedhi, immediately shoots an arrow. There starts the disastrous consequences that culminated in his end.

There lied an invincible archer. The illustrious descendant of Ikshvaku dynasty. Not being attended by his most loved wife Kaikeyi. Nor his sons, the numerous servants and the see of subjects. His tears flew like a river. The sorrow of his most beloved son Ram's departure to jungles consumed his life ultimately.

He profusely repents the act of sin that was committed without thinking about the consequences. He laments to Kausalya about the skill that was used without thinking of its consequences.  

This is the lesson for all we ordinary mortals. Skills, qualifications, capabilities, how much ever great they could be, they shall never carry us away. Pumped up charges if not used diligently are destined to be grounded in the most unexpected and unpleasant ways. Consequences could be beyond our imagination. 

The last time Shabd Vedhi skill was believed to have been used by one of the greatest sons of Bharath -Prithviraj Chauhan. In the epic poem named Prithviraj Raso, the king's court poet Chand Bardai narrates the heroics of Prithviraj. Mohammed of Ghori defeated him, captured and taken to Afghanistan. There he had been blinded but he managed to kill the evil invader using Shabd Bhedi. In the narrative by the poet, Shabd Bhedi is mentioned as an arrow. However, as per the history books, Prithviraj was killed in the battlefield.

Though there is no specific mention of the skill being possessed by any other great archers in the epics, it could be reasonably believed that Ram, Laxman, Lav, Kush, Arjun, Karn, Ekalavy, Bhishm were masters in this art. Ram killed Thadaka without seeing her and so did her son Subahu. The other son Mareech was chased by Ramabaanam. Eklavy's extraordinary skill brought the attention of the Pandava and Kavrava princes. 

In the modern days, Indian railways named a train that runs between Kolkata and Ghazipur after Shabd Bhedi. In what context the railways gave this name is not clear because the average speed of this super fast train is a little above 50kmph. It is hard to believe that this train can reach the destination station without really seeing the railway station!!