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Did Lord Ram wage a war with Ravan to save Sita or to kill Ravan? Ishita Roy · Updated September 9 Ramayana is more complicated than Mahabharata Originally Answered: Did Lord Ram waged a war with Ravan to save Sita or to kill Ravan?
Excellent question. And no, the answer is not "both", it's actually closer to "neither".
If you were to ask Rama himself, "Shriman, why did you wage the war?", he'd reply to you with the contents of Sarga 103 of the Yuddhakanda , which runs as follows: Background: The war is won, Ravana unceremoniously dispatched and the sundry kidnapped persons are being freed. Rama has summoned Sita in public. 1. Enraged by the very sight of Sita, but maintaining his composure, Rama says the following to her: 2. Destiny had caused me grief in the form of an enemy who sought to scorn me by abducting my wife 3. By using every means available to me as a human being, and as a man, I have redressed that grief by defeating said enemy 4. I have re-established my prowess/manhood, and am avenged on my enemy. Consequently my anger is abated 5. My toil and the efforts of all my allies have been rendered successful 6. िविदत ा ु (भ ं ते) योऽयं रणप र मः | स तीणः सु दां वीयान् न दथ मया कृतः || १५|| All of this toil and warfare, (may fortune be upon you), accomplished by the combined strength of my allies and myself, was not done for your sake. 7. Even though I have justly won you back, I have no need of you, as no honourable man would accept a woman who was housed in another man's harem*. Ravana would have surely raped you on sight 8. You are free to go anywhere and choose any husband you please, fortune be upon you, I am leaving *This allegation is true. Sita was kept in a garden that was part of Ravana's "inner apartments". In fact, she was kept there because it was right outside Ravana's bedchambers, and Ravana could show her what she was missing by not consenting (ewww!) [Note: the version on valmikiramayan.net deviates from the Critical Edition by saying that Rama was still in love with Sita and was hiding his love. It also adds a sappy verse to that effect]
Notice the following facts: 1. Rama's state of mind - i.e. his anger is described by the narrator. Rama is not pretending here - he is genuinely angry 2. Rama has not been shown to be a liar anywhere in the story - that means everything Rama says in this chapter is true, at least to the best of his knowledge at that point of the story 3. Rama does not blame anybody for his grief - he is basically saying destiny brings grief to everyone, and in his case that grief took the form of Ravana 4. There is no evidence in the story thus far that Rama actively targeted Ravana either due to his ideology or race - the fact that Ravana was a terror to the whole universe or that he was born a Rakshasa made no difference. In fact, there is every indication that if Ravana had left him alone, Rama would have done the same 5. While Rama believes that destiny is a real thing, he also believes in doing everything humanly possible to better his conditions - from his point of view at least, the Gods help those who help themselves 184
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6. While not evident from this chapter alone, the concept of manhood (and reputation 2 1
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for brave is aklībaṃ (अ ीबम्, meaning not emasculated), characters (including Rama) frequently refer to their own and their enemies' manliness (paurusham, पौ षं). Thus when Rama says he waged the war for re-establishing his manhood, he means it 7. Rama is genuinely interested in Sita's welfare and he says so - but is not interested in continuing his relationship with her - that's what he means when he says "I didn't do it for you" Therefore from Rama's own words we can gather that Rama did not wage a war for the express purpose of getting his wife back or for killing the most feared rakshasa monarch - he did it because he and his had been attacked and as a man he could not let that slide.
1. Why is Rama suddenly angry with Sita? He admits that he fought for her freedom, but why did he reject her? We see that Rama spends an entire canto weeping and searching for Sita. From Hanuman's report, he is well aware that Sita was imprisoned inside Ravana's harem. This news clearly did not prevent him from launching a siege on Lanka. Also the same report from Hanuman confirmed that Sita had emaciated herself, and had not surrendered to either threat or temptation. So why does Rama suddenly grow angry and say this: न िह ां रावणो ा िद पां मनोरमाम् | मषयते िचरं सीते गृहे प रवितनीम् || २४|| Having seen your divinely beautiful form, O Sita, Ravana could not have kept his patience forever (i.e. waited for your consent), especially since you were available to him already imprisoned in his inner quarters. He would have known about Ravana's strength from Hanuman's report, and he does not have a very high opinion of the strength of women (See Verse 2 of Sarga 24 of Balakanda wherein he says that women are by nature weak - abalā, and expresses his surprise at Tataka's superstrength), so he would also have anticipated the possibility of her being raped. Then why did he march to Lanka despite that? Clearly there is a disconnect between what he says and what he knows. The answer to this is found in verse 12 of Sarga 106 , where Rama addresses Agni (who is carrying an unscathed and bedecked Sita in his arms): बािलशः खलु कामा ा रामो दशरथा जः | इित व मां स ो जानकीमिवशो िह || १२|| If I had installed Janaki as my consort, the people would have said, "Rama son of Dasaratha is a naive and lustful man."* There is a strong implication that Rama does not want to be known for repeating his father's mistake. Dasaratha, out of his attachment to Kaikeyi and his promise, had caused his citizens immense grief. That is why Rama admitted that he fought for Sita's freedom, but not for getting her back in his life - so that no one would accuse him of doing it out of lust. Instead, now he could just say that he was setting the Princess of Mithila (and several other women) free without expectation of "reward". This also explains why he's angry when he sees Sita - he's angry because she reminds him of Kaikeyi and her influence on his father, and how both he and Sita will have to pay for that. Also, the fact is, Rama never actually saw Sita as his reward. He didn't go to Mithila to win her hand - he went to see the divine bow - his marriage to Sita was an unexpected and happy consequence. It is fitting that even after fighting a war for her freedom, he did not expect her to be interested in him. Her continued loyalty was to him a surprise both bitter and sweet. *Notice that Rama says nothing about "testing" Sita - not here nor anywhere else.
2. In Balakanda Sarga 15 , and Sargas 105 and 107 of the Yuddhakanda, the Big 33 (ि दश े ाः) of the Indic Pantheon confirm that Rama was created for the defeat of Ravana. Doesn't this contradict Rama's statements? No.
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As we see from Sarga 105 , Rama is utterly1 and genuinely surprised when the Big 33 confront 2 Following Answer Notifications Search Quora him and ask him why he is beingSpaces so indifferent to his wife - not even reacting to her (apparent) death. He had always thought himself as a human and he says so:
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आ ानं मानुषं म े रामं दशरथा जम् | योऽहं य यत ाहं भगवां वीतु मे || १०|| I know myself as human, as Rama son of Dasaratha. O God, please enlighten me as to who or what I am. This is a clear case of the hero being Ignorant of the Call nature is essential to his success in killing Ravana.
. And Rama's ignorance of his true
Why? Compare it with User-10714011422289865982's answer to Why isn't Hermione the star of Harry Potter? Why did JK Rowling prefer Harry? Voldemort thought power and wit was all. It wasn't wit that defeated Voldemort. It wasn't power that defeated Voldemort. It was Harry's willing sacrifice. That's the thing. Dumbledore needed Harry's willing sacrifice. What if it had been Hermione? If Hermione was the one? Was she smart enough or powerful enough to defeat Voldemort? No. Being more powerful or smarter is Voldemort's game. Voldemort's victory. Hermione would not be capable of willingly facing death. Not because she doesn't have the courage. Not because she's afraid. But because she isn't as gullible as Harry. Because Hermione would have figured out Dumbledore's game. She would figure out that she wouldn't die. And Hermione knowing she wouldn't die might have killed her. Similarly, Rama did not defeat Ravana because he was stronger or smarter than Ravana. He was able to defeat him because he was different from him - not egoistic, not of divine descent, and utterly human. If Rama knew who he was, he would not have "counted" as fully human he would have targeted Ravana before he was ready and failed he might have ended up as conceited as Ravana was and failed
The episode with Agni and Sita Stung by those horrible words, in Sarga 104 , Sita is driven to suicide. To that end she commands Lakshmana to light a funeral pyre for her. Just before entering it, she prays to the Fire God - a single verse - addressing him as Pāvaka (purifier), entreating him to protect her with the same intensity/dedication that her heart has for Rama. Rama did not anticipate that Sita would enter the fire. He did not anticipate that she would return either. When Agni brings Sita back in Sarga 106 in Sarga 105 :
, Rama replies to the Big 33's question (see above)
याथ तु लोकानां याणां स सं यः | उपे े चािप वैदेहीं िवश ीं ताशनम् || १४|| इमामिप िवशाला ीं रि तां ेन तेजसा | रावणो नाितवतत वेलािमव महोदिधः || १५|| O abode of truth, I watched her indifferently as she boldly entered the fire thinking that she would prove herself to the three worlds. But now that she has protected herself from your might (fire) using her own power, I realize that Ravana could not have molested her, just as the ocean cannot transgress its shores. In a nutshell, Rama basically says "I couldn't take her back, I promised her that she could go wherever she wanted to and therefore I had to honour her choice to die. But now she has demonstrated her power, and I have been told about my true nature, so there aren't any more obstacles to us being together"
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(1) Ishita Roy's answer to Did Lord Ram wage a war with Ravan to save Sita or to kill Ravan? - Quora Home
The Critical Edition 2 of the Ramayana includes 1 portions of the Balakanda, Yuddhakanda and the Following Answer Spaces Notifications Search Quora Uttarakanda that are of later origin than the rest of the text for various academically sound reasons. And as it turns out, much of the answer for this question comes from those parts.
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Regardless, even if we ignore all of this, the basic answer remains the same: if Rama had wanted to kill Ravana he would not have sent a messenger to him asking for his surrender, and Rama never saw Sita as a "reward" so he probably genuinely fought for her freedom and not for her value as a wife to him. 12.6K views · View Upvoters · View Sharers
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Nayonika Vats · January 22, 2016
I agree with your brilliant post except point number 7.This is incongruent with Rama's psychology.Rama even cursed his parents for Sita's condition in Ayodhya Kanda when Sita was sleeping in bark. yadyasti pati susrUshA yadyasti charitam tapah yadivAtyEkapatnItvam sItO bhava hanUmatah yadi kinchidanukrOsastasya mayyasti dhImatah yadivA bhAgyasEshOme sIto bhava hanUmatah yadi maam vritta sampannAm tvam samAgama lAlasaam savijAnAti dharmAtmA sIto bhava hanUmatah The last sentence in bold means: If dharmatma Rama knows that I am chaste, sIlavati and am waiting for his arrival, then O agnideva stay cold to hanuman. And due to this satya vachana, agni stayed cold to hanuman. The when hanuman found that agni was not burning him, he understood that, So the argument that Rama didn't trust Sita is moot. Why else would you fight for a woman if you don't trust her?Anticipating rape is a normal thing,but Sugreeva's wife Ruma was also raped by Vali.Ravan abducted and raped women of Naga's and Devas.Why didn't Naga and Devas led a siege in Lanka to prove their manhood? I disagree that manhood was the ONLY motivating factor. Upvote · 7 Ishita Roy
Reply · January 27, 2016
We actually know that the Devas and Nagas were ineffective against Ravana - which means that they must have tried a siege at one point and failed (or at least there is no evidence to prove that they didn't lay a siege) The difference between Rama and the rest was that he won - and therefore proved/va … (more) Upvote · 1
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Nayonika Vats I am saying manhood is a factor .I am saying that manhood is NOT the factor.…
Rajat Kumar · January 17, 2016
So, you are saying that in the whole epic, Ram does not realise that he is an incarnation(or god)? Did he come to know about this only in the yuddha kanda and uttara kanda? Then that means the people around him are treating him like one, because of his "virtuousness", "kind hearted nature", and the people might know, up to a certain extent, that he is God. Even in the episode of Ahalya, where, even though the lifting of the curse depended upon Rama, he did not realise that. Am I right? But if he does not realise he is an incarnation, then what does yoga vasistha tell about? Isn't it the book where Rama is being enlightened of his duties as a human and as an incarnation? Even after all these small hints, do you say that Rama does not realise that he is an incarnation? Or, he does but forgets(amnesiac?) You say that majority of your answer comes from Uttara kanda but isn't the episode of agni pariksha a part of Yuddh kanda? The 7th book only contains the aftermath of all these war with episodes of Rama sita living happily for some time, banishment, Lava kush, Sita going back, Rama going back, doesn't it? Upvote · 4 Ishita Roy
Reply · January 17, 2016
What has Yoga Vashishta got to do with this? This is Vamiki's epic, that is some dude's fanfiction. People treated Rama with regard because he was a young and beautiful prince, the son of Dundubhinada, and pupil of Vishwamitra. They were impressed that despite
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There is no evidence that Rama did anything to help Ahalya. Ahalya was invisible, she saw a guest, and offered him hospitality. This action by her was the last straw that completed the terms of her penance, and she was able to free herself from the curse. Upvote · 6
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Nayonika Vats Bal Kanda and Uttar Kanda are later interpolation.The last chapter of Yuddha…
Himanshu Kejdiwal · March 29, 2016
Ohh that Harry Potter reference was a beauty as much as it was must. Never have I ever read a better explanation. Brought shivers. Kudos. Upvote · 2
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Palash Srivastava · April 5, 2017
So, the entire epic is about masculinity ?! A war was fought for a social construct ? That is startling information ! Also, it takes me further away the idea of holding Ram as an ideal of what a man should be.. Upvote · 1 Ishita Roy
Reply · July 31, 2017
Money is also a social construct. It's also very very real. Money (or resources) has been the dominant cause of wars throughout history. Hardly startling information, is it? That said, the epic is about the triumph of human will against fate (the word used for fate may also be translated as ‘will of the Gods’) and the triumph of a man against his enemies. The phrase ‘vindicating one's manhood’ is used to mean the aforementioned things. This is deeply problematic, given that the phrases treat masculinity almost as a synonym for humanity as a whole, and the lack of manhood as some kind of unforgivable weakness of character. But your comment makes it look even worse, and I admit I hadn't thought about it all that harshly (still can't, despite everything, I'm a Ramayana fan girl). So thanks for your comment - really made me wonder. Upvote · 2
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Vishwathika Sitaram · January 18, 2016
Wow! I did not know that. But I still can't say I like Rama very much nor do I look up to Sita as a female role model. Upvote · 1
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Nayonika Vats · January 22, 2016
She is navigating truth for you.Her intention is NOT to make you love Rama or Sita Upvote
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Vishwathika Sitaram I know. I guess I was just sort of saying it to myself.
Jatin Dinesh · January 17, 2016
oh the details...the very detailed details.... Upvote · 1
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Pratik Mehta · January 17, 2016
Your writing is a treat. So fluid! :-) Upvote · 2
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Rahul Srivastava · January 25, 2016
Unbelievable..Ishita Roy Where did you learn all this..? I am yet to come across such objective, incisive, profound & unconventional interpretation of these revered verses. Have you done a Doctorate or some specialization in this domain ? Honestly speaking, I am mesmerized by the quality & depth of y … (more) Upvote · 1 Ishita Roy
Reply · January 27, 2016
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Thank you, that's more praise than1I deserve. 2
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Rahul Srivastava Praise apart, I asked: have you undertaken some specialization/professional…
Raunak Agrawal · January 17, 2016
Thanks for such a lucid answer. Had always wondered about the 'Agni Pariksha'. Got a good perspective from your answer. Upvote
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Ayush Das · February 21, 2017
Have you answered any questions on the morality or justification of Ram leaving Sita ji? Would love to read.. Upvote
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Ishita Roy Cloudcuckoolander Works at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) PGDM in Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management, Xavier School of Management Graduated 2011 Lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India 2.7M content views 35.5K this month Top Writer 2016 Active in 4 Spaces Follow · 10.2K
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