Many of us know the incidents from Ramayana depending of the stories we heard from others. Instead of leaving things for chance and error, I think it would be interesting to read the sequence of events and read the exact words which are used in Ramayana.
Conflict of Duties and Our Choices
To take revenge of Soorpanakha’s insult, great warrior Rakshasas Khar and Dooshan along with a huge army went to destroy Ram-Lakshaman. Ram single-handedly destroyed all of them and even killed Khar and Dooshan. Akampan, one of the few Rakshasa who survived the slaughter at Panchavati, fled to Lanka and informed Ravan of what had happened. Ravan thought to go fight Ram himself. But then Akampan explained the great power of Ram, and said the following:
“No one can fight with Raama and conquer him. When I say ‘No one,’ I mean ‘No one’. Not even you can do it. Because you have promised me protection, I dare thus to tell you the plain truth. There is only one way of killing him. His wife is with him. The whole earth holds not her equal in beauty. If you contrive to carry her off, separation from her will kill Raama; so great is his love for her. Consider how you can do this. Do not think of battle with him.”
When he heard of Seeta’s beauty, the Raakshasa’s desire was kindled. He began to think that the defeat of Khara and his hosts was indeed a fortunate event that brought him an opportunity for gaining one more beautiful queen and wife. He welcomed Akampana’s advice and said, “Tomorrow morning I shall go. I think your plan is good.”
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; The path of Ruin; P213)
Ravana goes to Maareecha and asks him to convert into a beautiful golden stag in order to help him abduct Seeta. Mareecha also asks Raavana not to go on his evil plan. After a long elaboration, Mareecha says this:
“If you are angry with Raama fight him face to face and meet your death like a hero. Do not follow a fraudulent path and drag me into it. Go back and be happy with your numerous wives. Do not invite Yama to your land and race!”
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; The Golden Stag; P223)
But Ravana, an embodiment of desire and pride, says this:
“What more is he (Raama) than a man driven out of his own country, a fool who has allowed himself to be cheated by a woman and has been deprived of his rights? The proper treatment for such a fellow is to disgrace him by carrying off his wife. This is a matter determined and concluded.”
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; The Golden Stag; P223)
When Maareech still doesn’t agree, Raavana then threatens to kill Maareech if he didn’t agree to the abduction plan. Maareech, knowing his end was certain, thoughts that it was better to be killed by the hands of Raama whom he considered an embodiment of dharma; than by Raavana. And he sets out to carry out Raavana’s evil plan.
I make following observations from this episode:
If Raama was an embodiment of dharma; Raavana seems to have ‘become’ embodiment of evil (adharma). And he seems to have been losing all his virtues, one by one.
When Akampana explains to Raavana the prowess of Raama, Raavana believes him. He shows no confidence on his own power; no courage; as he agrees to the abduction as a way to take revenge with Raama, rather than choosing a 'manly' fight.
Raavana has surely become a victim of his lust. Maareech noticed that and even addressed it when he asked Raavana to remain content with his already 'numerous' wives. But Raavana doesn't listen. Lust is deaf.
When Raavana is unyielding; Maareech agrees to obey his plan and get killed by Raama. His action may seem curious but I think in a way he is doing his 'duty' to obey his king (Raavana) no matter how evil his demands were; and secondly he chooses his death by Raama's hands - which perhaps would ultimately bring him salvation. But Maareech, even though he has knowledge and wisdom, fails to do what Vibheeshana did – to choose one’s destiny rather than falling to it. I think if he chose not to obey Raavana and ultimately got killed by his hands; history would remember him in a different manner. (But then ‘duty’ is a very different dimension. This is why during Mahabharata war, even though supporting Pandavas by heart and knowing the divinity of Krishna, Bheeshma, Drona and many others chose to do their ‘duty’ to the throne. ‘Duty’ was dharma and they didn’t want to fail it and bring disgrace to them by turning back towards it.)
- Rahul
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