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Vali Vadham 33

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Hari Krishnan • December 15, 2002 


Not guilty, are you?


Even when chiding Rama, Kamban's Vali acknowledges one fact.  'This earth belongs to you.'  He says 'veeram andru' (What you have done) cannot be considered to be heroic; 'vidhi andru' nor is it according to what is prescribed in great books; 'meimayin vaaram andru' it doesn't go with Truth; 'nin maNNinukku en udal baaram andru' nor is my body a burden on your earth;  'pagai andru' I am not one among your foes.  'paNbu azhindhu, eeram indri idhu en seydhavaaru arO' What have you done to me, quitting from your good qualities and compassion too?  

Notice that he says 'my body does not burden **your earth**.'  Therefore there is no question of violation of borders, who gave him the authority or how does Rama get his authority to kill someone in Kishkindha, while he was in exile.  Vali does not question his authority at all.  His arguments are on the morality of killing him when he didn't do anything in violation of the established order, and of course the point that Rama shot an arrow at him from hiding.

Kamban confines himself to strong reasons.  His Rama's reasons are logical and elaborate and he lists seven strong and indefensible reasons against Vali.  He gives a short recital of his case.  We have seen these incidents vividly in our earlier instalment "Thus he became the king".

'You went into the cave and did not come out for a very long time.  Sugriva was worried and he tried to get into the cave, to look for you.  Your elders stopped him and advised him against such an attempt.  They told him that he should assume the crown, in your absence because they felt that you should have died in your encounter with Mayavi.  Sugriva refused to do so and insisted that he would follow your pursuer who would still be in the cave, fight with him, avenge for your (assumed) death or give his own life up.  But they persisted with their advice.  They compelled him; forced him to accept the leadership.  'patri aandra padaith thalai veerarum mutru uNarndha mudhiyarum munbarum,' Your best commanders-in-chief, ministers, scholars and advisors as well as others who were present stopped him.  'etrum num arasu eidhuvayaam ena,' And they insisted 'Whatever might have happened.  Please accept the crown' 'kotra nan mudi koNdadhu ik kOdhilaan.'  It is therefore that Sugriva, the unblemished, accepted their r

It is established beyond doubt that Sugriva did not have any design over your throne and that he did not intend to cheat either your people or yourself.  He was guileless.  Okay.  What did he do when you returned?  'vandha ninnai vaNangi magizhndhaan.'  He was so happy that you returned and he fell at your feet.  It is not that you were not informed of what happened and how it happened.  Sugriva did tell you how he was forced to assume responsibility in your absence and your people stood witness to what he said.  You did not listen either to your younger brother or your people.  You assumed that Sugriva had malicious and cunning intentions and you believed your baseless conclusion so strongly that you pursued him with the intention of killing him.  

I therefore charge you with the following misdeeds.


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



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