CONTEXT: RAMA’S REPLY TO VALI WHO QUESTIONS HIS UNETHICAL SLAYING
PART 4, CHAPTER 18, VERSE 6, SANSKRIT:
ikshvaakuun`aam iyam bhuumihi sa shaila vana kaananaa
mruga pakshi manushyaan`aam nigraha anugraheshu api.
VERSE 10
tasmin nrupati shaarduula bharatee dharma vatsalee
paalayati akhilaam pruithviim kaha careet dharma vipriyam
VERSE 11
tee vayam maarga vibhrasht`am svadharmee paramee sthitaaha
Bharata aagnnaam puraskrutya nigruhn`iimoo yathaa vidhi.
ENGLISH GIST: This earth including hills, forests, animals, birds and humans belongs to Ikshvaakus (Rama’s dynasty). Ikshakus grace and control the animals, birds and humans.
When Bharata (Rama’s brother) is ruling the ENTIRE EARTH, who will violate law?
Following our impeccable law and duty, and as per the orders of Bharata, we punish the wrong-doers.
CRITICAL REMARKS: How arrogant is Rama! Ayodhya is a city kingdom. Their authority does not extend beyond the precincts of Ayodhya and surroundings. There are kingdoms like Mithila, Keekaya etc. which are as powerful as Ayodhya. Rama blatantly claims that the entire earth belongs to his dynasty.
*This behaviour can be compared to the attitude of Lord Dalhousie and Lord Wellesley the British Governor Generals who came from a small island England claimed the entire India as their own. Dalhousie usurped the kingdom of the Queen of Jhansi using similar specious arguments.
Rama does not follow any principles of natural justice. In any trial, first the accused has to be informed of the charges in respect of which he is being tried. An opportunity is to be given to the accused to present his side of the argument and defend himself. Rama decides quite arbitrarily and punishes Vali. Rama’s argument of his punishing Vali for his misdeeds seems to be an after-thought.
3 comments:
"Vaali Vadham" (killing of vaali) and that too by shooting an arrow while hiding, has been and will continue to be one of the most difficult items for the 'Rama Bhakthas' to explain rationally. Here, I may point out that in the 1930's or 40's one of the well-known orators (I think it was Rt. Hon. Sreenivasa Sastry) gave a series of lectures, at Madras,on Valmiki Ramayana. While dealing with the Vaali episode, Mr. Sastry did not hide any facts from the audience and concluded, somewhat, that Rama's act was indefensible.
The audience, which comprised mostly of the most well-educated, orthodox brahmins and other higher castes went into a rampage and threw chairs and other things at the speaker!
Things have not changed a bit even after so many decades and will continue as long as Religion has its addictive powers over the masses.
Thank U. You are right.
interesting. i always found two aspects difficult to explain. baali vadham and sita tyagam.
we read ezhuthachan's ramayanam every day at the end of day in kerala (after ramayana is read there are not further scriptural exercises for that day), even my grandmother found it difficult to defend sita tyagam. nay on the contrary she always said that rama was in the wrong and one doesn't abandon wives on the say so of some stupid person in the market.
Post a Comment