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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 'Do you remember what my mother told me when I set out on exile along with you? You were witness to her words.
'en thaai, un mun Eviya yaavum isai'
My mother (ordered me) to obey your orders 'innal pindradhu eiydhi,' and bear all the difficulties that may come your way in carrying out those orders, 'isayaaLarukku azhivu uNdEl,' if at all Rama is faced with his end,
'pondraa munam pondrudhi endraaL' you give up your life before he dies.
'urai poyaa nindraal andrO niRppadhu vaaimai niali amma!' Is it not proper for me to carry out her command if at all I have to pursue the path of Dharma?
'The logic that applies to you applies to me too! If you have your father's word to follow, I have my mother's! You came on exile and refused to go back to Ayodhya when Bharata begged you to do so, because you said your father ordered you to do so. Now my mother has ordered me to die before you, if you are in danger. Now you say you are going to give up your life. What do you think I have to do now? If I respect the words of my mother, it is but proper for me to die before you! I cannot return to Ayodhya, for I have Sumitra's orders to be obeyed! What do yo want me to do now?'
'My brother! You have a reputation to live up to. You cannot talk like this. You say you would be blamed when you return to Ayodhya, if you go without Sita. What do you think would people speak of you, if you choose to die at the hands of this ogre?
'kEttar koLLaar.' Those who come to know that you decided to die at the hands of this demon, would not accept it as a correct decision. 'kaNdavar pENaar.' Those who see this would not approve of it. Instead, they would say,
'thOttar kOdhai sOr kuzhal thannaith thuvaLaamal mIttaan ennum pEr isai koLLan' Rama was unable to rescue Sita from the hands of the rakshasa, befitting our praise
'seru vella maattan' he could not win the battle against Ravana and therefore
'maaNdaan' he died.
That is not a name worth dying for! Take up your sword and let us sever the shoulders of this demon!
 However, it must be noted that this depiction of Kamban is so totally different from what Valmiki has portrayed. He shows Lakshmana in fear when caught in the hands of Kabandha. "Look at me helplessly fallen into the clutches of the ogre. Having offered sacrifice to this ogre with me alone (as a victim) (manage to) escape (from the clutches of this monster), O scion of Raghu! Offering me as a sacrifice to the devil (in the form of this ogre) run away at your convenience. You will recover Sita (a princess of Videha territory) before long; such is my conviction. Nay, getting back (the rulership of) the earth inherited from your forefathers, and installed on the throne, O Rama, you should always remember me there!" (Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kanda LXIX, Sloka 39-40)
This deviation made by Kamban maintains the consistency of character of Lakshmana, who has no reason for fear now. It was Rama who was dejected and had been feeling rather downy and alone at heart and therefore the dramatic element is preserved perfectly with this change that Kamban has made.
As we know and discussed it earlier at the commencement of our discussions on Vali, Kabandha, the Gandharva turned ogre, when ascending to the heavens suggests that Rama should seek the friendship of Sugriva and directs them to Sabari, an aged devotee, for getting details on the whereabouts of Sugriva.
More follows...
Published on 30th March 2002
Hari Krishnan
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