The Earlier Epic

There used to be some discussion in some sections of the people, whether Ramayana was written first or the Mahabharatha. The birth of Rama was in Treta Yuga whereas, the birth of Krishna was in Dhwapara Yuga. Moreover, the order of Dhasavatara is, Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vaamana, Parasurama, Rama, Balarama, Krishna, and Kalki(yet to be born or made known). Some people add Buddha, instead of Balarama. It makes some sense to some extent. Lakshmana and Balarama are the avatars of Aadhishesha and not of Vishnu. Lakshmana was not considered as an avatar, but Balarama was considered.

As per this list, Krishnavatara is after Ramavatara only and hence Ramayana was before Mahabharatha. In Ramayana, Krishna was not mentioned anywhere, whereas, in Mahabharatha, Ramayana’s reference is there. Even Vaayuputra Anjaneya appears before Bheema when Bheema went to fetch Kalyana Sowgandhika flower.

Keeping aside all such discussions, I am going to write something more interesting.

A Sanskrit poet by name Daivagjna Surya Pandit wrote a book in Sanskrit by the name "Ramakrishna Viloma Kaavyam" in the 14^th century. Viloma means reverse. This book contains 40 shlokas and the beauty of these shlokas is, if you read them from beginning to end and from end to beginning, they make sense. More than that, if we read from beginning to end, it deals with Ramayana and from end to beginning, Mahabharatha. What a tremendous knowledge, skill, and control one would have in Sanskrit to create such interesting shlokas. My Pranaams to such great poets.

I give below one or two shlokas with meaning for the understanding of the readers.

वन्देऽहं देवं तं श्रीतं रन्तारं कालं भासा यः ।

रामो रामाधीराप्यागो लीलामारायोध्ये वासे ॥

“I pay my obeisance to Lord Shri Rama, who with his heart pining for Sita, traveled across the Sahyadri Hills and returned to Ayodhya after killing Ravana and sported with his consort, Sita, in Ayodhya for a long time.”

In reverse

सेवाध्येयो रामालाली गोप्याराधी मारामोरा ।

यस्साभालंकारं तारं तं श्रीतं वन्देहं देवं ॥

“I bow to Lord Shri Krishna, whose chest is the sporting resort of Shri Lakshmi; who is fit to be contemplated through penance and sacrifice, who fondles Rukmani and his other consorts and who is worshipped by the gopis, and who is decked with jewels radiating splendor.

One more shloka is given below.