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Vali Vadham 35

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Hari Krishnan • December 16, 2002 


These are my charges II


The charge is even more explicit in Valmiki.  "You cohabit through lust with Ruma, the wedded wife of the high-souled Sugriva, who is your (virtual) daughter-in-law, **even while Sugriva is alive**; you have (thus) perpetrated a sinful deed."  (Valmiki Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, Canto 18, Sloka 19)

Younger brother is the equivalent of a son in the Indian tradition and the elder brother is regarded as next to one's father.  Therefore, wife of a younger brother is naturally to be considered as one's daughter-in-law and elder brother's wife is the very incarnation of one's mother herself.  The words 'even while Sugriva is alive' are suggestive of the accepted norm among some of the ancient communities all around the globe to marry the wife of the brother, after his death.  We will see this when we see what happened to Tara, later.

Coming back to the charges of Rama in Kamban's version.  "Thou talkest of mercy and gentle birth and equity and valour; depriving another of his wife - is it mercy?  Or nobility of birth?  Or justice?  Or valour?  The arrogant tyranny that fights without cause and pitiless cruelty towards the weak are the chief unpardonable crimes against the laws of chivalry.  And lust towards the wife of another is the highest crime against Dharma.  This is the conclusion of the wise.  Thou knowest the Dharma and understandeth what is right and what is wrong.  And still thou didst not care for Dharma or the right.  For if thou hadst cared, wouldst though have desired the dear wife of thy brother?" (Translated by Sri VVS Aiyar)  

You did both.  You, without any reason, were angry with Sugriva and showed your physical might on him who is much weaker as compared to you.  You failed to protect the modesty of his wife.

My seventh charge is this.  Apart from failing to protect her modesty, you took her by force.  'dharumam innadhu enum thagaith thanmayum irumayum therindhu eNNalai.'  You did not consider what was right and what was wrong according to Dharma.  You did not think of the consequences that your act would lead to in this world and in the other.  'eNNinaal,' had you ever considered it that way, 'arumai umbidhan aar uyir dheviyai perumai neenginai eydhap peruvayO' would you have ever done what you did to Ruma?

And if you ask, 'How does you come in the way, between my brother and I?' I have this to say.  'aadhalaanum,' because of all the above and, 'avan enakku aar uyirk kaadhalaan enalaanum niR kattanen' and because he (Sugriva) is my brother as dear as my life, I punished you.  'edhilaarum' Even if he (or anyone else for that matter) is not in any way related to me, 'eliyar endraal' if he is poor and oppressed, 'avar theedhu theerpadhu en sindhaik karuthu arO' it is my avowed mission to help them and alleviate their suffering.  

Yes.  It was the vow of Rama.  It was the assurance that he gave to all the Rishis when he met them in the ashrama of Agastya, when he started his exile.  'I will protect you all against your tormentors, because 'aavukku aayinum' if for the sake of cattle; 'andhaNarkku aayinum' or for the sake of the learned; 'yaavarkku aayinum' for the sake of whoever they may be; 'eLiyavarkku aayinum' or for the sake of the poor and the oppressed 'saavap petravarE' one gives his life up, 'thagai vaan urai dhEvarkkum dhEvargaL aaguvaar' he becomes the supreme of all celestials.  

I did what I assured in the presence of great Rishis and the most celebrated of all among them, Agastya himself.  


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



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