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Vali Vadham 38

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Hari Krishnan • December 17, 2002 


Crime or no crime?


The scriptures say that a soul is born and reborn and takes various forms such as plants, animals etc. until it is evolved enough to be born as a human being.  The human being, endowed with the ability to think and to realise the ultimate, qualifies for what is known as mukti.  Animals do not attain mukti, as they have to pass through several births to realise the purpose of birth.  But there have been instances when animals were able to attain that ultimate state of bliss.  

Rama continued.  'maadu patri idangar valindhida' When a crocodile held it by one of its legs, as it entered the river, 'kOdu patriya kotravar kooyadhu' that which appealed to the Lord who holds a conch in His hand (i.e., the elephant) 'paadu petra uNarivin payathinaal veedu petra vilangum vilangu adhO' was given moksha because it was able to realise the ultimate and can that tusker be classified as an animal?  The soul that resided in the form of an elephant, could it have attained moksha, if it were considered a mere animal alone?  It was given a special status because it realised the Ultimate and surrendered unto it.  Because of that it was equated with that of a human birth and was given 'veedu' or moksha.  

Take another case.  You know Jatayu.  He was the king of vultures.  He saw Ravana taking Sita away and fought with him.  'sindhai nal aRathin vazhich chEralaal' His mind having been set in the path of Dharma, 'paindhodith thiruvin parivu aaturvan' to alleviate the suffering of Sita, 'vendh thozhil thurai veedu eydhiya endhayum', (Jatayu) my father, showed all his warrior's skills and fought (with Ravana) and attained moksha.  'eruvaikku arasu allanO?'  Was he not the king of vultures?  Was he to be considered a mere bird?  If it was so, how was that he received the hero's heaven, which is possible of attainment only for humans?  

It is therefore amply clear beyond an iota of doubt that beings are judged by their attainments and not by their forms.  Be it a bird or an animal, it can attain the ultimate once it is able to realise the Ultimate.  When such being so, how do you - who are endowed with a rich knowledge of the Books - claim to be equated with that of an animal and escape from the rule of law?

Sri Rama elaborates on this point now.  'nandru theedhu endru theri arivu indri vaazhvadhu andrO vilangil iyal?'  Is it not the nature of an animal to lead a life where it cannot distinguish between what is right and what is wrong?  'nindra nal neri nee ariyaa neri ondrum inmai un vaaimai uNarthumaal.'  The fact that you are well versed in all the books that lead a soul to a life of purity is betrayed by your own words.  You argue so logically.  You are able to tell me that this law pertains to humans and that law pertains to animals.  You have a clear perception of what is laid down in the books as the path of righteousness and what is to be eschewed.

The very reason why an animal is exempted is that it is ignorant.  When you are not ignorant, how do you fall under the exempted class?



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