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Vali Vadham

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M.K. Krishnaswamy • February 1, 2003 


Dear Rama Bhaktas,

It has been said that Ramayana is a treasure house of lessons from which we can greatly benefit in our lives. 
 
There has been considerable discussion on the merits/demerits of Shri Rama's action in hiding himself behind a tree and shooting the arrow at Vali while he was engaged in a fight with his brother Sugreeva. Is there a deeper mystical significance which we can ascertain and benefit from hearing this narration?

According to Shri Chinmayananda, Vali, the immoral and vicious brother represents lust, the lowest nature of human beings. Sugreeva, the moral and virtuous brother, represents our higher and noble nature. Vali had earned through the power of Tapas a boon by which half the strength of his enemy was transferred to him as soon as an enemy confronted him in battle.

Similarly, the power of lust becomes invulnerable the moment we come in direct contact with the object of lust. The sense objects overpower us with their temptations and leave us powerless to resist. To overcome this, we have to stay away physically from the sense objects. For, so long as we are not spiritually advanced and remain in the midst of sense objects in the mistaken belief that we can exercise self control, we are bound to fail since the power of the sense objects is almost invincible.

To indicate to us this great truth, Rama is described as hiding behind a tree - that is, physically keeping away from Vali, and shooting at him from a distance.

Our ancestors had the courage to present accounts of the Lord's exploits in a manner that do create doubts about such conduct in our ordinary minds. These are like the little sand particle in the oyster shell that helps through friction in the creation of the multi-hued, priceless pearl. Only absolute faith will enable us to ponder over these matters in greater depth and, through cogitation, grasp the lessons that the Masters intended for us to find out and learn. 
 
Blessed indeed are those who have such great faith and plod on until they produce the pearl of wisdom that is contained in the Puranic accounts.

Dasan,
Krishnaswamy M.K.


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