Vali Vadham 59

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Prudence was his watchword

 

 

We were discussing the reason why Rama did not kill Vali during the first

encounter between Sugriva and Vali. We mentioned that great commentators like

Govindaraja feel that it really was not the inability of Rama to distinguish

between Sugriva and Vali that stopped him from shooting his arrow. (See: Was it

a dilemma?) It was Govindaraja who suggested this and he is the widest quoted

and most respected of all commentators of Valmiki Ramayana.

 

One of our readers, Mr Ravi Venugopal, (Ravi.Venugopal), raised the

following question on the point that Rama would have hesitated to kill Vali.

"Now, if the Lord had any such dilemma, He would have revealed so initially, It

is my personal opinion that, the Lord would not even 'think' of going across his

word, however small the timeframe would be. There is a purpose in Vali's death,

forget Sugriva for now, just as a story to impart good moral life to all

mankind, it was essential for Vali and Ravana to die at the hands of Rama."

 

Well, Govindaraja did not mean that Rama wanted to go back on his word given to

Sugriva. Let's see once again what Rt. Hon'ble Srinivasa Sastriyar remarked on

this question. "Why did not Sri Rama kill Vali at once, the first time they met?

I told you of Sri Rama's difficulty. But you see nobody is willing to believe

that Sri Rama was really in doubt as to how to distinguish between brothers. As

a matter of fact, no commentator believes it. Both the commentators say 'Oh, no

no! Sri Rama could certainly have drawn a distinction between the two." For

one thing, when the fight was over and Sugriva was returning a humbled and

defeated individual, he could easily have seen which was Vali. Besides, Hanuman

was there and why not ask him? So you go and find all sorts of other reasons.

.... ... ...Govindaraja really says that Rama certainly could have known who was

Vali and who was Sugriva but he did not care for the moment to do so. ………But at

the same time, ladies and gentlemen, I have a suggestion to make. It is bold of

me to make it but I believe it is supported by the words of the Poet. When the

brothers were first locked in combat, Rama had not finally made up his mind

whether he would go and have a straight fight with Vali or whether he would from

his place of covert position attack. Perhaps he hesitated at the last moment,

'Am I going to do this wrong thing, this unchivalrous thing?' He might have

hesitated thus. But then he quickly made up his mind remembering that he had

made a promise to kill him at once... ... ..."

 

Thinking twice before making a crucial decision is the character trait seen in

Rama's actions, right from the very beginning. We mentioned a total of three

places where he thinks over and postpones the decision at least for moments. The

first instance occurs in the Bala Kanda. You know that sage Viswamitra came to

Dasaratha and requested him to send Rama with him to stand guard when he

performed his Yaga against Marica and Subahu.