Ramayana Analysis

A Subtle Morality: Rama and Dharma in The Ramayana

The Ramayana has at least two defining features: the exemplary virtue of its hero, Rama, and the presence of a universal moral law that governs the world, delineating good and evil and ensuring that in the end, all receive their just deserts. This, of course, is dharma, its greatest adherent being Rama himself. Despite the trials he must face and the tragedies that befall him, Rama remains constant in his righteousness and equanimity, proving himself to be the ideal man–or so we are meant to believe. Yet some of Rama’s actions seem to defy explanation; his seemingly inconsistent execution of dharma in different situations calls into question both his own virtue and the integrity of dharma

Can Rama’s sneaky ambush be called virtuous? Rama justifies it by citing Vali’s violations of dharma, for which Vali deserves to die. But does not Rama, in killing him, violate dharma himself? Underhanded tactics, as Vali points out, are improper for a “noble ksatriya” or member of the warrior class. In effect, Rama has broken the dharma–or code of conduct–of a soldier. Moreover, Rama’s stated justifications reek of pretense; his primary motivation was to fulfill his obligation to to Sugriva, thus securing much-needed monkey allies to help him defeat Ravana. Even if Vali had not been guilty of sleeping with his brother’s wife, Rama may well have killed him anyway. Therefore, Rama acted not for the sake of justice nor virtue, but for practical benefit, thus contradicting dharma as we have previously defined it. As for Rama’s treatment of Sita, it appears that Rama’s principles have changed entirely. He publicly humiliates his wife, rejecting and berating her and forcing her to undergo trial by fire to prove her innocence–all this so that Rama can prove his honor to the world. In other words, Rama appears to break his dharma as a husband in order to satisfy the minds of his subjects. He does what is popular instead of what is right. What happened to the Rama who had