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Vali Vadham 30

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Hari Krishnan • December 14, 2002 


When 'My Lord' becomes the accused...


'How can you do such a thing to me!' Vali started his arguments, his skills of reasoning, logic and erudition touching a new high in his final peroration.  'You come of a high lineage.  You are highly educated. You have the right to govern all the three worlds.  You are supposed to protect all the worlds.  How can you go astray like this!

Your entire race is known for Dharma and justice.  Is it possible that you have lost your senses after you lost Janaka's daughter, your very soul, your wife, in the jungle?  Has her estrangement caused your sense of justice to go off track?  'arakkar Or azhivu seydhu kazhivarEl adharkku veru Or kurakku inaththu arasaik kolla manu neri kooritru uNdO?'  If some Rakshasa causes injustice to you, are you supposed to punish a totally unrelated monkey-king?  Has your Manu Dharma taught you to do so?  'irakkam engu uguthanai?'  Where have you shed your compassion?  'en paal ep pizhai kaNdaai appa?'  What was the fault that you found me guilty of? 'parak kazhi idhu nee poondaal,' If you become blameworthy, 'pugazhai yaar parikkar paalaar?'  who is the one that is to be found fit for all fame and glory?

'kootu oruvarayum veNdaak kotrava!'  O King, who does not need the aid of an ally (when you fight your enemy), 'petra thaadhai pootiya selvam aangE thambikkuk koduthup pondhu' To your younger brother you gave the kingdom that was given to you by your father.  'naatu oru karumam seydhaai.'  You thus did a wonderful thing in the civilised society.  'embikku iv arasai nalgi' By giving this kingdom to my younger brother, 'kaatu oru karumam seydhaai' you (indeed) did something wonderful in the jungle as well.  'karumamdhaan idan mEl uNdO?'   What other grand deeds can you think of doing?

When two warriors are engaged in a battle, the good and the wise must consider both as equally related to him.  It is not right to take sides Rama.  Your sympathy went with my brother and you aimed your arrow from hiding.  More over, 'seyalaich chetra pagai theruvan therindhu, ayalaip patrith thuNai amaindhaai enin,' If it was your intention to make Sugriva an ally of yours in your effort to vanquish your enemy, 'puyalaip patrum ap pongu ari pOkki' instead of associating with a lion that could fell a (cloudlike or storm-like) elephant 'muyalaip patruvadhu enna muyarchiyO?' what is this attempt of yours, in trying to get the friendship of a rabbit?

This argument is a bit elaborate in Valmiki Ramayana.  Vali speaks of his prowess.  "I would have brought (back) your wife (the princess of Mithila) to you in a single day, had you but moved me in this behalf before; for it is for this that I have been killed by you, keen as you were to oblige Sugriva.  Nay, tying round the neck the evil-minded ogre, Ravana, who stole away your wife, I would have handed him over to you without his being killed in battle.  I could have brought back at your command the princess of Mithila even if she had been kept in a place surrounded by sea water..." (Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, Canto 17, Sloka 48-51)

What we have presented above, with the exception of the first paragraph and the last one, are the original contributions of Kamban, which are not found in Valmiki.  If one carefully observes, he has not included a few of the points argued in Valmiki.  He, however, has included an important point about Sugriva's condition.  


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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