This translation from Telugu to English was done word-by-word to get the literal meaning. It ws done by Eileen Weed, checked by Prabhu and is not edited at all.

DISCOURSE BY SRI SATHYA SAI BABA
Summer Course # 6
20 May 2002

Sarva Rupa Dharam Shantam
Sarva Nama Dharam Sivam
Satchidananda Rupam Adwaitam
Sathyam Sivam Sundaram

All forms wear peace.
All Names wear auspiciousness.
The non-duel form is Truth, Awareness and Bliss.
Truth, Auspiciousness and Beauty.
(Swami sings a Telugu poem)

THE POWER AND CAPABILITIES OF GOD
Embodiments of Love!
No one can recognize the power and capabilities of God. Due to not knowing, criticism is increasing. One may praise or criticize, but God's Power is God's power. The power will not decrease through criticism and the power will not increase through praise. That which decreases or increases is only the traits of the physical world. Divinity doesn’t have these two. The ones who struggle for name and fame won't take part in this (Divinity) at all.
So many thousands of students are educated and they are arriving back at their homes without expenditure of even a naiya paisa. No kind of publicity is done. However, I am happy, feeling that their bliss is My bliss.
Yesterday (it was described how) many kinds of experiences were demonstrated in the world by the Ramayana. Bharata took the (Rama’s) sandals and didn’t go to Ayodhya. He built something like a small ashram and he spent his life (while Rama was gone for 14 years) in it. Bharata spent time in the service of Rama’s Feet. His wife Mandavi contemplated on the chanting of Rama’s Name, rendered help to her husband and remained in that same ashram. Rama and Sita were wandering about in the forest. Lakshmana was serving both of them and thus spent time blissfully.

SATRUGHNA UNDERTOOK THE ENTIRE BURDEN OF RULING
However, Satrughna: what of the subject of Satrughna? Yet, no one mentions the topic of Satrughna. However, much may be inquired by men who have intelligence and by individuals who have the power of inquiry. Intellectuals are increasing by thousands and thousands. Ones who have the power of inquiry are increasing by thousands and thousands. However, individuals like this are not making the effort at all to inquire about the influence of spirituality.
Sumanthra was serving as minister to Dasaratha since a long time. However, regarding the reign, he used to conduct only just as Dasaratha said. Today Rama is the ruler in the forest. Bharata, who is His representative, has built an ashram and is living separately (away from Ayodhya). However, who is ruling Ayodhya? Who is ruling it? Here our power of inquiry is essential.
From the time of getting up in the early morning until lying down at night, living in Ayodhya and inquiring well regarding the situation and fate of Ayodhya, Satrughna undertook the entire burden of ruling. At night he went to Bharata and gave a report. All the inquiry regarding the reign was only Satrughna’s. No matter how much work he did, no one mentioned the name of Satrughna.
Both the sons of Sumitra were immersed in service and sacred activities. They were in unity with their brothers but they didn’t take part at all in publicity or teaching. Yet Satrughna lost (renounced) everything, offered himself to Bharata, followed the commands of Bharata and served him. So Satrughna was greatly able, powerful and intelligent. No one tries to recognize such powers and abilities of Satrughna.
For eleven years it was only Satrughna who ruled Ayodhya. When any doubt came, he did not ask Bharata. What is the reason? He had the fear of, “I might be one who breaks his concentration and his service (to Rama).”
In the very beginning Sumitra made a promise. “Elder sister, Kausalya! Your son may become the king. However, when your son is the king, my son Lakshmana will serve Him. Younger sister, Kaika! Your son may become the king. When he is the king, Satrughna will give help and do his service. My two sons should only be experts at service. I had these sons for (in order for them to undertake) service. I didn’t have these sons for them to become king or for name and fame.”
Such sons of Sumitra, Satrughna and Lakshmana, were so virtuous. If they were not present, on this side Bharata or on that side Rama, would not have been able to achieve any success. They stood as an inner power, and gave help to their elder (Rama) and younger (Bharata) brothers.

HANUMAN CAME
So, at the time of the war Rama felt very bad when Lakshmana fainted. “If I search, I can get a wife like Sita. I can obtain a mother like Kausalya. Yet no matter how much I search, I cannot get a brother like Lakshmana.” He was ready, saying, “I will make any sacrifice for Lakshmana.”
Then only Hanuman came. (Rama said,) “Brother, you have to give help regarding this. Your devotion and surrender are limitless. In an external and physical way, it is very essential that you do this help for Me. Go and bring the mountain (that contains the plant named) sanjivi.” Hanuman was one who obeyed the command of Rama. He was also one among these four brothers. He went. He didn’t know at all where the plant could be. He lifted the entire mountain and came.
When he was going over the town of Ayodhya carrying the mountain, the news traveled that numerous demons were harassing Rama. ‘He seems to be a demon. He is bringing a mountain. He might do something dangerous to my Rama. Maybe he will cause harm,’ thinking that, Bharata shot an arrow.
Hanuman came down along with the mountain. He came down and did namaskaar to Bharata. “King, due to Lakshmana losing consciousness, I am taking this mountain to cure him and to restore his life. Someone said that the sanjivi plant was on this mountain. However, I don’t know how that plant looks like. Following the commands of Rama, I am bringing the entire mountain.”
When he said that word, Bharata could hardly contain his joy. He called Kausalya. “Mother, this sevak of Rama has brought news of Rama!” Hanuman gave details of everything that happened. “A war is going on between Rama and Ravana. In one or two days it will be completed. I am bringing this mountain because Lakshmana has fainted.”
Bharata also called Sumitra. Sumitra said, “I have no suffering at all. I have no worry of what will happen to my son. I only have the worry that something inconvenient might happen to Rama. If my son Lakshmana dies, I will send Satrughna to serve Rama. So I have no suffering at all concerning my son. Rama should be well. It should be seen that no obstacle at all comes in the way of Rama’s service. It was with this resolve that I sent Lakshmana with Rama.” She said that and was happy. He took her inside.

BOTH MANDAVI AND SRUTHAKEERTHI GAVE SUITABLE HELP
Lakshmana’s wife was painting. Her entire time was spent in painting (pictures of) Rama. Urmila was immersed in the same type of painting that she had begun when Lakshmana left. Then Bharata said, “Urmila, it is said that my brother (Lakshmana) has fainted. What a plight, I don’t know what to do!”
Then Lakshmana’s wife did not stop (painting). She didn’t suffer at all. “The contemplation of Rama’s Name is always in the heart of Lakshmana. He is blissfully sleeping without any worry. It is only Rama who is suffering so much. Hence, there is no danger to my husband. Lakshmana is always completely safe.”
Meaning, the inner meaning that we should recognize is that Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna were such virtuous people, and their wives were also equally virtuous. Their good virtues were the root cause for the safety (of their husbands). Their good conduct is the root cause. Their good habits were the root cause. Virtues are the root cause. The root cause for this is their good character.
Saying that, he sent Hanuman (to continue on his way). If observed like this, just as Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna, each one mutually, conveniently and ideally, gave an ideal to the world, their wives also likewise gave the same ideal.
When Sugriva (Satrughna) was ruling Ayodhya, his wife did suitable service to Sugriva (Satrughna). Was Sruthakeerthi any less (than Mandavi)? Both Mandavi and Sruthakeerthi gave suitable help to Bharata and Satrughna. They didn't take part in any other work. Early morning and evening they used to go to Kausalya. They used to bow at Kausalya’s feet and they came again to their houses and fulfilled their duties. To get such virtuous daughters-in-law in those days was a great good fortune.
Therefore, Mandavi and Sruthakeerthi also were not ordinary people. Though they were King Dasaratha’s (Janaka’s) younger brother’s daughters, though they were the daughters of Kusadhwaja, these children also had sacred feelings. Just as Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna gave an ideal to Dasaratha and Kausalya; Sita and the other three daughters-in-law gave an equal and suitable ideal to their mother-in-law and father-in-law.

SPEAK THE TRUTH, PRACTICE DHARMA
Many more (events concerning the) majesty of such virtuous people will (be told) in the future. The country of Ayodhya was ruled for eleven years with Dharma, and without any objection or complaint arising. Wherever anyone went:

Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara.

Speak Truth; act righteously.
(Sanskrit sloka)

‘Speak the truth, practice Dharma,’ with these propagated teachings, the whole country was conducted in a dharmic way by Satrughna.
Satrughna didn’t ever go to sleep for even a moment. (He kept thinking,) ‘What complaints may come? Will any fault appear my reign? Will Bharata get a bad name? No bad name should ever come to Bharata. He should have good name. This is the gift of Rama. Therefore, I should obey the command of Rama.’ Thinking that, Satrughna reigned as a duty, with supreme devotion.
The entire reign of Ayodhya was conducted due to Satrughna. Bharata did not enter into this at all. He nodded, “OK, OK,” to everything that Satrughna said. What was the reason? Satrughna is one who gave protection from enemies. He destroyed enemies. Satrughna wasn’t one who created enemies. He stomped out enmity. Wherever was observed there was only peace, peace, peace. In those days, in the sacred culture of Bharata:

Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

Speak Truth; act righteously.
Peace, peace, peace.
(Sanskrit sloka)

Everyone should be happy. All elder and younger brothers should be in unity. No one should get a bad reputation. Life should be lead with a good reputation. Satrughna spent time with this kind of adherence to vows of truth.

SUMITRA WOULD GIVE SUITABLE ADVICE
One time the news came that very severe things were happening to Rama. Meaning, they were kings, therefore the messengers used to bring messages to them. All news came through these messengers.
Khara (brother of the demoness Surpanakha) and Dhooshana were very bad people. They were the right hand of Ravana. Such a one as Khara used to enter into very awful actions. Without anyone knowing, one day he tried to kill Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Bharata got to know this news. Dhooshna was an army chief. Surpanakha told all useless things to both Khara and Dhooshana and instigated their anger.
So Bharata was feeling bad during these two or three days, thinking, ‘What news will come from Rama, what news will come from Rama?’ As he was an elder, for a few hours Satrughna didn’t have the strength to give him courage. He told Sumitra this news and sent (her to Bharata).
As a mother she (Sumitra) was one of great character. She used to speak softly and sweetly. She would give suitable advice. She came. “Son, why are you feeling bad?” Bharata didn’t send (word) to Kaika. Yet he only sent (word) to Sumitra. She went. “Son, you don’t need to doubt even a bit regarding Rama. The bodies of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna are different but the praana is one. Don’t have a bit of (feeling of) difference in you. All should be united. No danger will happen to Rama. Rama is God Himself. So don’t worry at all.” Giving courage to him like that, she left.
In that way, if advice needed to be given to Bharata, Satrughna didn’t have the courage to give it. Meaning, he had courage, but he felt that he didn’t have the authority to give advice to an elder brother. Advice should not be given to elders. At the time of advising elders, one must think and then only give advice. To speak as if one knows, without thinking, is a big mistake. Great dangers also happen through this.
So only truth should be spoken. One must proceed by practicing Dharma. Whether elder brothers or younger brothers, elder sisters or younger sisters, each one should mutually see that no danger happens (to the others).
Bharata and Satrughna spent time in Ayodhya in this way. However, Urmila was greatly virtuous. She used to sit painting pictures of Sita and Rama.
Sruthakeerthi was also doing that (painting) a lot. Sruthakeerthi was also greatly virtuous. She had the desire to do namaskaar to her husband at night, hear what suffering he had and give him advice. She didn’t speak words that hurt even a tiny bit, to anyone at anytime. Sruthakeerthi: in listening she was one of good reputation (srutha: to listen; keerthi: good reputation or fame). She always listened to good things. She made to others listen to good. She taught good things and she made good to be done.
In this way, (out of) the daughters-in-law of those days, Dasaratha obtained daughters-in-law who were like gems. But in the (Ramayana) story, only both Rama and Sita are (considered) important. No one pays attention to the subject of the others. Without Lakshmana, Sruthakeerthi and Mandavi how could their (Sita and Rama’s) fame arise?

THE FOUR HAD UNITY
Rama could not live even a second without Lakshmana. Even when He ate: if Lakshmana didn’t come He wouldn’t even try to eat. Rama didn’t lie down without Lakshmana. Similarly, Rama used to take rest only when Lakshmana took rest. They demonstrated mutuality to the country and they spread unity. In the Vedas they said this as a sloka:

Shatamaanam Bhavatu,
Shataayuh Purushah.
Shatendriya Aayuh,
Dehendriya Prati Tishtati.

May there be one hundred years of the standard longevity for the person,
And may the limbs of the body also have a steady longevity of 100 years.
(Sanskrit sloka)

Saying that:

Let us grow together. Let us move together.
Let us expand the knowledge
that we have learnt together.
Let us live together in friendship, without conflict.
(Telugu poem)

The four had that kind of unity. Today if four children are born, the four have four (different) paths. Not one path: they will have 40 paths!

KHARA DHOOSHANA
One time Khara came to fight Rama. He (Rama) didn’t have any weapons. Nothing at all. When he took the order from Dasaratha and left (Dasaratha told him), “Son, take all the things (you need).” Then Rama said, “Only a crowbar is enough for Me.” Lakshmana said, “If I have a basin, it is enough. It is enough if I have a basin. It is enough if elder brother has a crowbar. Why? This is because if any work is needed there, He will dig and I will remove it. It is only these two which are important to us. We don’t have need for any things other than this.” They put on clothes of tree bark and wandered the forest for fourteen years.
Khara brought 40,000 soldiers. What to do? He (Rama) told Lakshmana, “Lakshmana, you won't look at the face of your sister-in-law but make her listen to your words and take her into a cave in that dense forest. I will gain victory over all (of the 40,000 soldiers plus Khara and Dhooshana).”
He had no weapon at all. However, when going into that forest, Viswamitra offered all the weapons he had to Rama. Therefore, he said there:

He (Rama) punished Khara and Dhooshana, bestowed grace on Jatayu in his last moments, heard the prayer of the sage Sarabhanga and lovingly ate the fruits offered by Sabari. Rama, Rama, Rama! He blessed the sages and Hanuman, protected the son of the sun god (Sugriva), killed Vali and heard the prayer of all the valorous monkeys. Rama, Rama, Rama!
(Telugu poem)

Hanuman was one who contemplated on the Name of Rama in this way. However, all the weapons: Viswamitra, who recognized how great He (Rama) was, gave him all the weapons that he had. Because of these weapons he could shoot all 40,000 people with one arrow. As soon as he shot one arrow, one hundred arrows (appeared). From the one hundred arrows, one thousand arrows, and from one thousands arrows, ten thousand arrows (appeared). In this way he shot 40,000 people in one moment.
The demigods showered a rain of flowers. “Khara and Dhooshana were very evil. They both have been killed therefore Rama has no other work. Victory, victory, victory to Ramachandra!” All of them declared victory. This news was sent to Ayodhya. Then the inhabitants of Ayodhya, Bharata, Satrughna, Sumitra, Kaika and Kausalya, experienced great joy. Rama achieved everything with so many types of help like this and with His Divine power.

SURPANAKHA CAME
Agasthya came. He also had many great weapons. He also gave them to Rama. “Son, Ramachandra! You are a householder. It is not possible for You to remain in my ashram. Look here, build an ashram (residence) in Panchavati where there are five rivers together, and remain there. Spend ten years in Panchavati. It is a part of Dandakaranya.”
After spending ten years there, then gradually the help of Surpanakha came. Bad friendship came.

Give up bad company. Join good company.
Undertake meritorious deeds day and night.
(Sanskrit sloka)

You should go away from bad company. However, Surpanakha came as good company for them. Rama and Lakshmana made many jokes. They had no other opportunity for fun. She came. “I am very beautiful. Rama, love me!” Saying that she went to Rama. Rama said, “Mother, you are a very beautiful woman. Yet Sita is not beautiful at all. However, Sita is with Me so it is not possible for you to be with Me. If you become my wife, you will have to only do service to Sita. No, no! Lakshmana is alone, love him,”
When she went to Lakshmana, Lakshmana said, “O Surpanakha, you are very virtuous and so bold. You are very beautiful. (However,) if you become my wife, it is not possible for you to do (my) service at all. So you will have to serve Sita. No, no, no, no! I don’t want you with me.” Saying that, he (Lakshmana) sent her back to Him (Rama). He (Rama) would send her to him (Lakshmana) saying, “I don’t want her,” and both of them were laughing and joking like that. In the forest there was no other opportunity for joking.
As they were acting this way, they increased her anger, anger and anger. Then she observed, “It is due to Sita, isn't it, that both of them are distancing me. If I swallow Sita, they won't have any suffering at all. Then both of them will easily be my own.” Saying that, she flew up to swallow Sita. Then Rama made a sign. Then Lakshmana went and cut the nose and ears of Surpanakha and sent her away. She should not be killed, as one should not kill a woman.
She went. She went to Ravana with blood flowing. “Elder brother! It seems they are sons of King Dasaratha. They put me in this plight.” When she said that, he also made fun of her. “Younger sister, your nose is on one side and ears are in a another place. It is only after cutting off the nose, isn't it, that the ears should be cut. It is not possible to cut both at once. Why didn’t you escape when the ears were being cut? Or, when the nose was being cut why couldn’t you have escaped?”
Then she said, “Elder brother, I can't say. When they touched my body, I couldn’t recognize anything. Their beauty made me forget myself. They are so greatly handsome. I lost consciousness due to their touch. There are such virtuous ones and such beautiful ones!” She described them in this way. There is so much description like this in the Ramayana.
Therefore, today, the power that Satrughna used in the ruling of Ayodhya is a great topic. Satrughna ruled for a full ten years. In name it was Bharata (who ruled) but the power of administration and the power of protection was only Satrughna’s. Even one enemy did not get into Ayodhya during those ten years. Ayodhya didn’t experience any kind of ashanti. People were very scared thinking, ‘How will a kingdom be without a king?’
While in the forest Rama sent a message to Bharata. “Bharata, from now on you are the king. Our father was a great ruler. He died and now afterwards, it is only you who should bear this responsibility. Don’t talk back to anyone. Don’t speak any kind of harsh words to anyone. Speak sweet words. There should be no kind of ashanti in our kingdom.” He advised so much. All of what was (told to) Bharata was also heard by Satrughna and he ruled (accordingly).

REGARDING THE HOSPITAL
So, our Mariwala gave an impressive talk regarding the hospital. I am always telling our children (students) not to talk outside of what happens in the hospital. So many great wonders are happening. A gentleman from Nepal had his heart on the right side. They (the doctors in Swami’s hospital) removed it and changed it over to the left side. The whole system needed to be changed. “Don’t tell of this. They will think that we are bragging. Your work is to make everyone happy.” (Applause) I told them that and I myself never talk of it.
Today Mariwala said it in front of Me, but he never told Me (beforehand, that he would say it). When these four came from the hospital, they sleep downstairs. I am upstairs. They always talk about this (hospital matters) only. (I said,) “Dear one, don’t talk anywhere (outside). Just do your work with sraddha. Arrange all conveniences for all the people who come.”
The other day he came (to Me). One injection needed to be given. If that injection were given, he (the patient) would live. It wasn’t possible to give that injection (because of hormone troubles in the patient). That injection (plus hormone treatment) was 80,000 (rupees). Mariwala came (and said), “Swami, how to give him such a very expensive one (injection)?”
I said, “To save his life, it must be given no matter how costly it is. It doesn’t matter about the cost. I will give. You bring the medicine.” Immediately he sent someone and the injection was brought from Bangalore. They gave it to him and he lived.
Some injections cost 80,000 and even 90,000. No outside people know this. (I tell the doctors,) “Don’t pay heed to the costs. I will see to it. You do your work and see that they are safe.” (Applause) Therefore, I said that they (the patients) should have no kind of troubles at all.

(Swami calls one gentleman to the microphone and the gentleman says,)
We had to spend 80,000 for an injection for a patient who has to go for nero surgery, but had problems in the hormones so those hormones cost that much.
Actually Bhagavan is kind enough to mention one but we have had so many patients in which we had to give five, six drugs to save their life, each drug per day cost more than 10,000. There in Puttaparthi, in that little village, even to procure these things has been so difficult. But Bhagavan has, we have never let down any patient, thanks to Bhagavan’s Grace and so much good has been done all because of Him. (Applause)

Bhagavan ended His Divine Discourse by chanting the bhajan, ‘Prema Mudhita Mana Se Kaho…’