Even though Rama is considered very loyal to dharma, his character sometimes confuses me. For example, his statement, “’Today I shall kill the monkey who took your wife away from you! You should watch as your brother, who has done you wrong and is your enemy, is slain by my arrows as a mountain is split!” (263) bewildered me. It says, “Rama picked an arrow that was like a poisonous snake and released it from his bow. It struck Vali in the chest and he fell to the ground” (272). Additionally, Vali was shot when he was facing away from Rama and fighting against Surgiva. Is this really dharma? Was Vali supposed to die like that, with Sugriva taking the throne? Vali said to Rama, “I have never harmed your kingdom or your city. Nor have I ever insulted you. Then why did you do me such a grievous harm?” (273). This doesn’t sound dharmic, yet the story defends Rama’s actions as so. I acknowledge that Vali didn’t act in the best manner at all, but to kill him? The crazy thing, though, is that Vali eventually agrees with Rama, too, even though “Rama and Sugriva made a pact to destroy Vali” (361). Destroy? Such an intense word. Sita, Laksmana, Bharata, Sugriva, and Hanuman all adore Rama, though. For example, it says, Hanuman “touched Rama’s feet and joined his palms” (305), and “Laksmana respects Rama as much as he does his parents” (367). Rama is considered wonderful, but is he truly dharmic?
This is a really good analysis, Sam, and you've raised some good questions! Who defines what dharma is and isn't? How do we know if someone is truly following dharma? Do we trust the text to tell us the truth, or are we supposed to question and discern for ourselves? Although Rāma is praised as being god-like and perfect, he has done some shady and even downright cruel things!
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Sam! Great thoughts. I also have found myself questioning Rama as very loyal to dharma. While reading what you wrote it made me think of how possibly Rama could be used to show the complex relationship between dharma and humankind. He represents and follows his dharma in certain parts, but also falls very short in others. Possibly this could be with the intent of showing him as the God, Vishnu, but also as a human who cannot live up to the expectations of a god.
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Hey, I also find Rama's action that are supposedly ideal to be bewildering. If he is supposed to be so wise and wonderful then how come he kill Vali when he could have possibly tried an alternative such as exile. I don't think the narrative can be saying that he is trying to follow dharma as he imagines it, but instead he is following dharma as it should be by all. So that leaves no room for misinterpretation. Why then is he such a two-sided character?
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