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Vali Vadham 9

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Hari Krishnan • November 7, 2001 


Superior among equals


Let us get back to Kamban's treatment of the story.  We saw how Sugriva didn't even listen to what Rama began to say; instead sought his protection and Rama instantaneously gave him his word declaring to share the pleasures and pains of Sugriva.  He doesn't stop with that.  'matru ini uraippadhu ennE' What more remains to be said?  'vaanidai, maNNil ninnaich chetravar ennaich chetraar.'  Whoever causes pain to you has caused me pain, be it on earth or in the sky.  'theeyare eninum unnOdu utraar enakkum utraar.'  Whoever is your friend, even if they are bad (and of questionable character) is my friend.  'un kiLai enadhu.'  Your relatives are mine.  'en kaadhal sutram un sutram.'  All my kith and kin that I love are yours too.  'nee en in uyirth thuNaivan endraan.'  You are my friend who is as good as my very own soul.

All these promises, I wish to reiterate, are made before Sugriva gave any assurance.  It was not an 'I will do this if you will do that' or conditional agreement that Sugriva entered into with the Lord here.  Though doubtless Rama still needed the help and support of Sugriva and opened his part of the discussion with a request, Rama gave the assurance before he was assured of anything.  That is something very close to a 'sarana gathi' that was granted to Vibishana.  However, Vibishana had to wait till what was assured to him fructified.  Here, Rama had to wait till what was sought for from his ally came to fruition.

This change, though it appears very minor at this point of our discussion is a major bulwark in the Vali episode.  Since Kamban showed Sugriva in a dazed condition of mind in the beginning, he had to maintain that state further and allow things to happen naturally after that.  The major point to note here is that while Valmiki's Sugriva pronounces in detail the loss of kingdom, the torment that he was put through by Vali and the fact that Vali took his wife by force, Kamban's Sugriva is silent on these points.  He simply seeks refuge in Rama.

Then Kamban builds the drama so skilfully and ensures that Sugriva continues to be in the same mental state while the dissemination of information is done by Hanuman, a person who is a better communicator and a wise counsel who thinks of a win-win situation, taking care of the interests of both the parties involved.

After the avowal of friendship, Hanuman suggests that they reach Sugriva's place and feast together.  Well, they reach there and fruits, roots and leaves are served.  After the feast, Rama takes rest for a while and then it occurs to him that the food was served by an all-male team and Sugriva's wife was conspicuous by her absence.  

'virundhum aagi am meymai anbinOdu irundhu nOkki,' Rama was their guest that day.  He, stayed there with the truest of love (and after the meal) saw around.  'nondhu, iraivan sindhiaa,' He was pained to realise when he thought about it (and asked Sugriva) 'porundhu nan manaikku uriya poovayaip pirindhu uLaai kolO neeyum pin endraan.'  Does it mean, he asked, that you also are leading a life, estranged from your wife?

None has mentioned that Ruma, wife of Sugriva, has been taken by force by Vali.  But a natural event has made Rama to see the absence of Sugriva's wife.  Our scriptures lay down that attending to a guest is a joint responsibility of both man and the woman of the house.  If the woman is absent on such an occasion then that signifies that there is something wrong.  

Hanuman joins the conversation now, since Sugriva is not yet out of the stunned condition in which we saw him right in the first scene.  


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