Page 13 - GALIET LOVE AND DUTY´S LOTUS: Rama and Sita IV

Galiet & Galiet
go,”9 that “he no longer wants her”9 and that he “cannot receive her back when she has sat on Ravana’s full lap.”9 Rama is angry. Rama blames Sita for her lack of purity for he is convinced that “Ravana could not have resisted her who is so beautiful and charming.”17 Rama’s bitter speech is a knife to Sita’s heart. Sita, self-possessed, responds that “he is cruel,” that “she is no vulgar woman” and that neither “is he a vulgar man.”18 Moreover, she challenges his judgement. She does not understand why he did not tell her of his renunciation when he sent Hanumat. Sita, in her usual selflessness, strongly feels that she could have put an end to her life and saved him and his allies endless suffering and grief. Angered Sita also blames Rama for not understanding her nature and asks Lakshmana to prepare a funeral pyre for her. After Sita survives the fire, Agni vows for her and declares Sita to be immaculate. He tells Rama that “Sita has not committed any sin by word, action or thought” and adds that, “Sita’s heart is pure” and “absolutely sinless.”15 Not only does Agni command Rama to “accept her now” but also not to “suspect her even for a moment.”19 Rama repents and accepts her, yet not unconditionally for Rama banishes Sita a second time after their arrival at Ayodhya.
When Rama hears from his spies that his subjects are questioning his reception of Sita after she has dwelled with evil Ravana for almost a year, he fears that, by virtue of his example, his subjects would have to tolerate similar transgression from their wives20. Rama, fearing negative public opinion, demonstrates that his stern sense of duty takes precedent over his role as husband and father. If Sita had looked upon Rama as “her god,” Rama looks upon his subjects as “his god.21” Rama is neither willing to suffer ill-repute nor sacrifice the well-being of his kingdom for his beloved Sita and family. He is prepared to abandon Sita to safeguard the unblemished honour of the Kshatriya. In this regard, Rama’s
9 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. (VI-115-18,19,20,21,22,23,24) 257 9 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. (VI-115-18,19,20,21,22,23,24) 257 9 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. (VI-115-18,19,20,21,22,23,24) 257 17 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. (VI-115-18,19,20,21,22,23,24) 257 18 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. 256
15 Epithet used by Valmiki to describe Sita.
19 Nagaiah, Samudralala. An Appreciation of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Tirupati: Nagaiah, 1981. (VI-5-6-11 259) 20 Although King Rama’s deduction is logically fallacious, he has to abide by stern Dharma.
21 “his god” is a beautiful metaphor suggested by Professor Nagaiah.
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