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Vali Vadham 28

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Hari Krishnan • December 14, 2002 


In silence I stand before you...


Kamban puts the scene thus.  'malaindha pOdhu' When Vali fought (with Sugriva and beat him to a pulp) 'iravi sEi' Sugriva son of Sun god, 'ayyan maadu aNugi' went before Rama 'ulaindha sindhayOdu uNanginaan' withered and worn-out, with a heavy heart, full of sorrow, 'vaNangida' and bowed (before Rama).  Just two lines.  No accusations, no finding fault, no reproach or recrimination.  He was crest-fallen and went before Rama and bowed to him. He did not say anything.  That silence was more eloquent.  More expressive than any words that could be spoken.  'Did I not take refuge in you?  Did you not promise to save me?'  You may attribute as many words as possible to express what Sugriva's withered looks and war-worn psyche are expressing through this silent gesture.  But the Poet does not elaborate.  He stops somewhat short of two lines.  Would it be possible that the tear filled eyes of Sugriva conveyed to Rama a silent "Eli Eli lama sabach thani?"  'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?'   

It must have.  The Poet continues in the same verse and indicates Rama's response in the third and fourth lines.  Technically speaking, Rama's response starts from the last foot of the second line itself.  'uLLam kulaindhidEl.'  Do not lose heart.  'umai vEtrumai therindhilam.'  I could not distinguish between the two of you.  'kodip poo milaindhu selga' Wear this creeper full of flowers 'ena viduthanan' so saying Rama sent him back.  'edhirthanan meetum' and Sugriva resumed his battle with Vali.

It should sound odd.  Kamban's canvas is large enough.  His poetry is known to be more vivid and many a time he has proved his skill at painting stunning and realistic portrayal.  His gift for verbal portraiture is known to be crisper and clearer than many of the poets of his calibre.  Then why did he not express the feelings of Sugriva in words?  Why did his Sugriva not argue with Rama?  Why did he not find fault with his Lord?  Why did he not accuse him?  Just plain and simple.  Kamban wants us to understand Sugriva is playing the role of the 'protected' than an ally now.  The less he speaks, the better it is.  That is what Kamban has been maintaining right from the beginning as far as this episode is concerned.  

But there is no denying the fact that Kamban prefers to keep the scene as it is, a scene that has been interpreted as Rama's dilemma by great commentators.  We will see as the episode develops how completely Kamban moves away from some of the arguments presented in the original.  He repaints the whole episode and puts it under a different light altogether.  

No wonder Sri VVS Aiyar, a great patriot and an associate of Subramanya Bharati observes thus.  "Now the plot in almost all its details is Valmiki's.  But if Kamban takes the situations from Valmiki, he has treated them absolutely in his own way.  In the manner of developing the situations, in the gradation by which the climax of each situation is brought about, in the justesse which known how to bring out all its capabilities out of each situation, we feel the touch of a master artist."


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