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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 The noteworthy point about Lakshmana’s love for Rama is that he remains unruffled in the face of criticism and even Rama is not so very kind in his response at some points of time. We have made a mention of one such incident in passing when we were discussing the Vali episode. (See:
Strange pairs of brothers)
It is only natural that people see the world from their personal stand point and Lakshmana, at least when he sees the tussle between Sugriva and Vali, is no different. Being a very affectionate, loyal and respectful brother himself, he is not able to digest the fact that a younger brother could turn hostile against his elder brother, whatever be the provocation. If Lakshmana was placed in the situation of Sugriva, there is no doubt that he would have accepted anything and everything. But it was Rama who was his brother and he had not experienced what being bullied by an elder brother for no reason is.
And strangely, he gets a feeling that Sugriva may not be the right choice for an ally. It is a matter affecting the welfare of his brother, you see! He feels that they cannot take chances with a person who is not hesitant to bring the very ‘yama’ in the form of Rama, to kill his brother. What disturbs Lakshmana most is the thought that a brother could go against his brother, collude with somebody else and arrange to kill him. As we said above, Lakshmana was fortunate in having Rama as his brother and he did not have any opportunity of knowing what it is like to go through the rough at the hands of a brother.
 ‘aatraadhu pinnum pagarvan.’ (Seeing Vali and Sugriva locked in a bout of wrestling) Lakshmana could not contain himself any more and he spoke thus to Rama.
‘arathaaRu azhungath thEtraadhu seyvaarigaLaith thErudhal sevvidhu andraal.’ It is not wise to choose a person who swerves from the path of Dharma and behaves in an un-trustworthy manner. ‘maatran enath tham munaik kolliya vandhu nindraan.’ He (Sugriva) acts as if he is an enemy of his brother and has arranged (with us) for killing him.
‘vEtraargaL ivan thanjam en vIra?’ What would he not do to total strangers like us? Have we done the right thing? Are we in the right hands? Would we be able to trust this brother-killer?
Now, this is a situation when the speaker has to exercise caution of the utmost kind. Lakshmana, though not explicitly done so, and not even intends to do so, inadvertently makes it possible to read his statement to call attention to his own loyalty. Rama himself has acknowledged what Lakshmana means to him, as we have seen in several of our recent postings. Anybody else in the position of Rama would have answered, ‘There are not many brothers like you, Lakshmana. It is not easy to be blessed with a brother like you.’
But it is Rama who is answering this question. There is no room for sentiments now. His answer is very sincere but is seemingly very polite and gentle. It has however all the potential of crumbling the heart of the listener in such circumstances. Let us remember that it was Lakshmana who was there and let us see how he remains calm and collected.
More follows...
Published on 01st April 2002
Hari Krishnan
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