Vali Vadham 6

[Guest guest]

The protector protected

 

 

That statement of Sugriva must have put anyone off-balance. Any lesser

individual would just have gone that way. Not Sri Rama. Yes. When he came to

meet Sugriva, he was greatly distressed. He came to this place seeking the help

of Sugriva. It was what he expressed to Hanuman when the latter met him for the

first time. It was the opening sentence of Sri Rama's address to Sugriva. And,

what does Sugriva say! I come to him seeking his help. He doesn't listen to me

at all, doesn't assure me that he would extend his help or even let me know that

he has any interest at all in listening to what I am going to say or why I came

to him in the first place. Instead, he is making a request to me, seeking my

help. What kind of negotiation could this be!

 

In fact it was not a negotiation here - at least between Sri Rama and Sugriva.

All the negotiations were skilfully done by his trusted deputy, Hanuman, later.

Sugriva opens his speech with a supplication. He seeks the protection of Sri

Rama, surrenders unto him.

 

Sri Rama forgets all his personal sufferings, the misery that he has been going

through for such a long time, the depression that led him to the decision to

give up his life at the hands of Kabandha, a depression out of which he was

pulled out by Lakshmana. (It is just the reverse in Valmiki. Lakshmana is

depressed and prefers to die at the hands of Kabandha and Rama consoles him.

This however, is not the time to discuss the reason for this diametrically

opposite scene painted by Kamban. Let's see that when we study Lakshmana.)

 

Once he heard the word 'surrender' he is his own merciful self. 'endra ak

kurakku vEndhanai iraamanum irangi nOkki,' Rama looked at the Vanara king with

eyes full of compassion 'undhanakku uriya inba thunbangal' whatever be your

pleasures and pains; 'uLLa mun naaL sendrana pOga mEl vandhu uruvana theerpal'

whatever be your pains originating from the past or arising in the future, I

will alleviate. 'anna nindrana enakkum nirkkum nEr ena mozhiyum nEraa.' All

such (pains and pleasures) are mine too and he gave his word for it. Your

pleasures are my pleasures and all your past, present and future pains are mine.

I will do everything in my power to rid you of them.

 

An unconditional assurance. No strings attached. No questions asked. No

conditions laid. Not even a single word spoken about Rama's own predicament and

his need for Sugriva's help. Rama gave his word without asking for anything in

return, though he opened his address with a solicitation. He knew the bare

details when he made the assurance. He knew that Sugriva was living in Mount

Malaya (which is an offshoot of Rishyamuka Parvata) because he was chased away

by his elder brother. Nothing more. He didn't know why it happened.

 

But that doesn't matter to Sri Rama when he grants his 'sarana gathi' to anyone.

Surrender unto him. The merciful Lord doesn't look for credentials when his

devotee seeks his protection. This is the same Rama, who in Valmiki tells

Sugriva when Vibishana came to him seeking his protection, "I vouchsafe security

against all living beings to him who comes to me only once and seeks protection

(from me) saying 'I am yours'; such is my vow. Bring him (hither) O jewel among

monkeys, be he Vibishana or Ravana himself, O Sugriva! Security has (already)

been granted in his favour by me. (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, Canto 18,

Sloka 33-34).

 

He was too ready to grant his 'sarana gathi' even to the very Ravana, if he

chose to seek it from him, without going into the merits of the case. This

Supreme nature is brought out by Kamban in this scene. And he has so

wonderfully built his first defence against the critics of Vali Episode.

 

We will compare this scene with what Valmiki narrates, in our next instalment.