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Vali Vadham 14

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Hari Krishnan • December 9, 2002 


I will kill Vali

Rama was listening to Hanuman patiently until he uttered the words, 'urumai endru iavRkku uriya thaaram aam aru marundhayum avan virumbinaan.'  He (Vali) has taken Ruma, the wife, the very manna of life of Sugriva, out of his desire for her.  'irumayum thruandhu ivan irundhanan.'  Sugriva has thus lost his possessions as well as his wife.  

That angered Rama.  'ayyan aayiram peyarudai amararkkum amaran,' The Lord, the one with thousand names, the Superior of all celestials and immortals, 'vaiyam nungiya vaai idhazh thudithadhu.' (Was angered and) His mouth which once ate the entire universe away twitched.  'malark kaN seyya thaamarai aambal am podhu enach chivandh.'  His lotus-like eyes reddened.

Very rarely did Rama show his anger on his countenance, rarer still in his words.  It is remarkable that even when he fought his enemies, he did it with a smile, keeping his cool and never allowing himself to be eaten away by anger.  In fact Ravana after his defeat at the hands of Rama in his first war, reaches his palace and recollects the events in his bed, alone.  He thinks, 'Even when he wiped the sea of the rakshasa army away and slighted me with his strength, 'andhak kooni koon pOga uNdai theritha podhu othadhu.'  His face (wore a playful smile and) was like when he hit the hunched back of Manthara.  'andri sinam uNmai therindadhu illai.'  I could not even see a trace of anger in his face.  

One can understand how agitated Rama would have been when he heard that Vali took away Ruma by force.  His anger showed on his face by way of twitching lips and reddened eyes.  One of the very rare occasions when Rama was really seething with anger.  'eeram neengiya sitravai sotranaL enna' Because his step-mother who was devoid of all love for him, asked him to do so 'aaram veengu thambikkuth than arasu urimai baaram eendhavan' he gladly gave up the right of his heirship in favour of his younger brother.  'parivu ilan oruvan than iLaiyOn thaaram vowvinan endra sol tharikkumaaru uLadhO.'  How can (such an elder brother) tolerate another brother depriving his younger brother of his wife?  

That was the reason number one.  That is his nature.  He could not (and of course would not) bear such things.  One has to remember that Rama came to Sugriva, seeking his help.  Rama doesn't have the assurance of Sugriva that he would do his best to help Rama in his search for Sita, as yet.  Instead of answering Rama, Sugriva sought his protection.  Rama came to know that he was wronged against.  The issue now is that Vali used his physical might against Sugriva.  Even if that could be understood, the fact that he took possession of the wife of his younger brother because he was stronger of the two and because Sugriva - apart from not in a position to protect himself - could not protect her was too much and was unacceptable.

This promise came from Rama, as a protector of Sugriva.  This was an assurance given to some one who sought refuge and not a business transaction, 'if you do this, I will do that.'   Rama is playing both his mortal and divine roles here and it is necessary to separate one from the other and see them in proper light.

We will see this question in its detail in our next instalment.


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