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Vali Vadham 62

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Hari Krishnan • December 26, 2002 


The question of standards


We were discussing the moments of hesitation or in other words when Rama needed to think twice before he finally decided on the action that he was about to take.  We saw how sage Viswamitra had to give a long list of justifications for killing Tataka.  That was the first instance when Rama is seen a bit hesitant about what he was supposed to do.  The second instance is the Vali episode, as ascribed by great commentators like Govindaraja.  Let us now take up the third instance where he is seen given seriously to thought and rather reluctant to use the mightiest of weapons against his foe, Ravana.

We have already discussed the difference between an arrow and an 'astra.'  Astra is a divine weapon, presided over by one celestial or the other.  Rama had always had his reservations about the use of extraordinary power in the elimination of enemies.  Use the minimum possible force and fight.  Parry an astra with an equivalent or a counter astra to neutralise the effects, only if and when the enemy uses it.  This has been the thumb rule in all his battles in the epic.  

The reader will recall the permission that Lakshmana sought to use Brahmastra against Indrajit.  In the second war against Indrajit, Rama precluded Lakshmana from using Brahmastra.  'aandravan adhu pagardhalum' When Lakshmana said so (that he had no other alternative but to resort to the use of Brahmastra) 'ara nilai vazhaadhaai' (Rama told him) O the unswerving one from the path of Dharma! 'eendra andhaNan padaik kalam thodukkil iv ulagam moondrayum sudum' If you resort to the use of Brahmastra, it would annihilate all the three worlds.  'oruvanaal mudigaladhu' Nobody can stop it.    Therefore do not use it.

Lakshmana was thus bound by the words of his brother and did not use it even when Indrajit did so.  That led to his falling on the ground and then he was rejuvenated by the herbs brought by Hanuman.  And hear what Rama says when Lakshmana was venturing on his third war with Indrajit.

'thoduppadhan munnam vaaLi thoduthu' Before (Indrajit) could choose an arrow, you shoot yours and 'avai thuraigaL thOrum thaduppana thaduthi' parry them with an appropriate arrow of yours.  'eNNam kurippinaal uNarndhu' Read his mind (and infer his next action) 'thakka kaduppinum aLavu ilaadha gadhiyinum kaNaigal kaatril viduppana avatrai nOkki' look at the speed with which his arrows come searing the wind (and understand what arrow has been shot at you) 'avatrai nOkki vidudhiyaal' and use an appropriate counter arrow.  'viraivu ilaadhaai' O thou the unhasty.  Do not be hasty is what is meant by the address.  

If at all Indrajit chooses a divine weapon, use an equivalent just to neutralise it and do not use a divine astra to kill your foe.  This is the standard that Rama sets when Lakshmana goes for his third war with Indrajit.  That was the standard that he set for his brother.  We know that Rama demanded more from himself when it came to observance of a standard that he set for others.  

With this background in mind, let us look at the final battle between Rama and Ravana and how he was postponing the use of divine weapons and how he had to be persuaded to do so.



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