Vali Vadham 20

[Guest guest]

The case restated

 

 

We have been discussing the preliminaries to the Vali Episode this long. We

have not even touched the fringe of the issue. Nor can we do so for a couple of

days more until we see the complete background as shown by the two Poets and the

deviations that Kamban makes so that these can be reviewed in full when we reach

the actual scene, when Vali argues his case against Sri Rama and how Kamban

justifies the act of Rama. I am stating this here because several readers - or

that is the impression I get from their mails - seem to believe that we are

discussing the justifications in favour of or against Rama, in this particular

instance. No. We have not yet entered into the subject. We are just looking

at how it started and how it develops. Because this forms the basis of Kamban's

portrayal, it is important to see them as elaborately and as minutely as

possible before we discuss the actual issue and try to find answer to the other

major criticisms.

 

Yesterday, we saw Kamban making another deviation from Valmiki. The ornaments

of Sita are shown to Rama immediately after Sugriva and Rama became friends.

Here in Kamban, the ornaments are shown after the test. Kamban has built the

drama and rearranged the events so carefully to emphasise the fact that it was

Saranagathi that was granted to Sugriva, rather than a you-do-this and I-do-that

pact. By this reordering of events, Kamban suggests that Rama did not know the

existence of such valuable evidence available with Sugriva.

 

Let us recapitulate the events thus far. Rama approached Sugriva for his help

in his search for Sita. Sugriva had a grievance and he wanted the protection of

Rama. Sugriva, without answering Rama or assuring him that he would do whatever

he could in assisting him in his efforts, sought his protection. 'saran unaip

pugundhEn enaith thaangudhal dharumam endraan.' I am seeking refuge unto you.

It is your Dharma to protect me. Though they become friends, Rama still plays

the role of a protector only. Neither Sugriva nor Hanuman who speaks on his

behalf make an open request to Rama to kill Vali, though when they are alone

Hanuman comforts Sugriva that Vali will be killed by Rama.

 

Another thing to be observed is that neither Sugriva nor Hanuman have given any

open commitment about their help to be rendered to Sri Rama in return for his

help in killing Vali. In the first instance, they did not ask for the killing

of Vali. It was Sri Rama who assured protection to Sugriva.

 

Kamban is eliminating the least little possibility here in showing the ornaments

to Rama, after he accomplished what was required of him. So, till Rama made a

promise to dispatch Vali and till he proved his strength to Sugriva, he was not

promised of anything nor was he aware of the fact that Sugriva possessed any

knowledge about Sita or Ravana who took her by force. The promise to kill Vali

was therefore done not in return for a favour. It was an act of benevolence

that a protector is supposed to show to the one who has surrendered unto him.

 

Then what is the difference between these two versions? How does this

Saranagathi serve the purpose? Saranagathi shows the entire episode in a

different light. But that can be elaborated only after we discuss the killing

of Vali.