After Ravana abducts Sita, Rama and Lakshmana run hither and thither in search of her. One day, as they pass by the mountain, Rishyamukha, they meet Sugriva(a monkey-king) and Hanuman (his loyal minister). Sugriva's elder brother Vali had driven Sugriva out of the kingdom and had also coveted his wife, Indu. Hanuman introduces a bereaved Rama to Sugriva who agrees to help him find Sita provided he helps him defeat his brother, Vali and get his wife and kingdom back.
Rama asks Sugriva to invite Vali for a fight. While Vali and Sugriva are fighting, Rama hides behind a tree and shoots his arrow at Vali, killing him. During his last moments, Vali asks Rama - "O Rama, you are supposed to be the embodiment of Dharma(righteousness). You are respected for your fairness and adherence to what is right, in any situation. Pray tell me what Dharma is it to kill a person hiding behind his back? Have you forgotten the ethics of the battlefield? Do you think this guerrilla warfare of yours is justified?"
Rama solemnly replies - "Vali, you coveted another's wealth and another's wife by force. You are enjoying what is not yours. Because you are elder and much more stronger, you DOMINATED your brother, a rightful heir to a portion of this kingdom. In addition, you drove him out of this kingdom and pledged you would kill him if he entered here again. Every time he tried to win his right, you crushed him, slandered him, bullied him, got him beaten and drove him away again. You are even enjoying his wife because you feel you are the king and you have the power. O Vali, he who uses his God-given strength and skill to dominate over others, harass others and enjoy what is theirs is not to be considered a human being. He is indeed an animal. And animals are always hunted, not righteously fought as in a battle field. So the ethics of war do not apply to you. For whatever you have done while you were alive, you are dying an animal's death. This is what you deserve."
However strong one might be, one should never misuse his/her strength and take advantage of the weak. The body, the mind, the five senses, material wealth, knowledge, skills and strength are all sacred. He/She who uses any of these to bully others or rule over them is an animal. His/her show of power and apparent success in the physical world is but ephemeral. In the end, the judgment that would be pronounced on him/her would be ruthless - as unethical as his/her own life.
2 comments:
Don't you think that most learnings are often biased justification of ones opinion?
This learning also seems to be one such example. Just an effort to explain why Rama(whom we treat as God) was right in his Karma.
In fact looks like in our world anything that can be logically justified is right. One the that cannot be is wrong. Weird but true.
winners write history..
Whatever Rama says on this account.. He speaks from the Man's point of view.. Vali/Sugreev- they belong to the monkey clan.. As per valmiki's Ramayana- Vali does take up this stand when he argues with Rama.. Rama replies to him tht since Vali is an expert of Shastras/vedas and many such things, he evolves up into something closer to human and these laws do apply on him etc. But, according to vedas/manu neethi/hindu dharma, a man- however his deeds might be- remains what he is by roots. the social division of society in ancient days followed the birth rule.. what a man is by birth is his roots...
however convincing rama might hav argued, i dont like this episode of ramayana..
bt i would like to add- gr8 writing!
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