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Vali Vadham 60

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Hari Krishnan • December 25, 2002 


The 'maiden' kill

Well, you know how displeased Viswamitra was when Dasaratha hesitated to send Rama and offered to come to the forest himself, to stand guard there, to protect the sacrifice of Viswamitra from demons.  He was so angry and then Vasishtha had to intervene and convince Dasaratha of the benefits that would accrue to Rama if he accompanied Viswamitra to the forest.

'I entrust them to you,' said Dasaratha to Viswamitra.  It may be noted here that Viswamitra asked only for Rama but Dasaratha sent Rama and Lakshmana both with them.  Srinivasa Sastriyar says, "The commentator, hard put to it to explain the matter, says that Lakshmana is also included in the word Rama by Upalakshana, the Sanskritic equivalent of the English figure of speech, synecdoche.  When Sri Rama is mentioned, Lakshmana is also included in it."  Such was the love and affection between these two brothers that they were considered inseparable and one could not be thought of without the other.  But that is a discussion for another day.

'vandha namibiyai thambi thannodum mundhai naan marai munikkuk kaati,' (Dasaratha) showed Rama as also his brother who came with him (and told him) 'nal thandhai nee thanith thaayum nee' You are their father and mother.  'ivarkku endhai thandanen' I, who am their father, am giving them to you.  'iyaindha seyga.' Do whatever is good for them.

This verse is important in the context of what we are going to discuss.  Viswamitra was told in the presence of Rama that the former was like their very father and mother.  That is to say, Rama was supposed to carry out his orders as a son would carry out the orders of his parents.  

When they walked into the forest, the sage was narrating about the cruel and unbearable acts of the demons.  Though he was capable of handling these ogres himself, once he sat before the fire to perform the sacrifice he was not supposed to lose his temper or engage in any acts of war, even if it was defensive.  Then the sage mentioned about Tataka.  Tataka was the grandmother of Ravana.  She was the mother of Marica and Subahu and therefore the latter two were the maternal uncles of Ravana.  

'ilangai arasan pani amaindhu,' (Tataka) at the behest of Ravana 'Or idayUra vilangal vali koNdu enadhu vELvi naligindraaL' with her strength like that of a mountain, is committing all kinds of misdeeds to spoil my sacrifice.  'alangal mugilE' O the cloud with a garland! (an address to Rama, referring to his dark complexion and likening it to the rain bearing cloud) 'avaL iv anga nilam engum,' she wanders all over Anga  'kulangalOdu adanga nani kondru thirigindraaL' and is indulging in wanton killing of people on a massive scale.  

Before Viswamitra could complete his words, there appeared Tataka.  We know Rama did not kill her at once.  We know what he thought of and why he hesitated.  But the scene develops to show something more.  It shows that Rama could not be influenced against his own will.  It shows that he would not do a thing unless he is convinced first.  

Let's see the drama unfolding before us.




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