The Ramayana and Dharma: Rama, Sita, and Hindu Duty

Introduction

Told and retold over two and a half millennia, the story of the Ramayana—or Rama's struggle for the dharma—is masterfully described in various texts and is known to all Hindus, as well as to many individuals the world over. Through an inspiring cast of characters such as Rama, his wife Sita, the king, the monkey leader, Rama's brother, and others, the search for, and importance of, the dharma is vividly depicted. All great narratives contain conflict, and the conflict here is the agony and sacrifice that the attainment of the dharma involves. The dharma, as understood in Hinduism, necessitates a persistent striving for truthfulness and obedience that is founded on order and that guarantees the stability and endurance of creation (Knott, 16). Each person has his or her own dharma, regulated according to the specific class or status he or she occupies.

In the Ramayana, the concept of dharma is played out by the various characters—specifically Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and the father—each in his or her own way. This essay begins with a concise retelling of the Ramayana before examining how the various characters, in particular Rama and Sita, chose to obey their dharma and were ultimately praised and honored for their sacrifice. It is no wonder, therefore, that the story of Rama endures as a story of inspiration: it serves as a work of exemplars that people in distress and times of challenge can follow. Rama stoically and dispassionately endures tremendous hardships, whilst Sita serves as the model for the dutiful Hindu woman and wife. This is one of the reasons the Ramayana has become so enduring and memorable—it helps many a person through tough times, challenging him or her to seek the dharma, or the good.

The Ramayana appears in various versions, but the most widely known is the one attributed to Valmiki and transmitted to him by the sage Narada, although there are countless other written and oral versions that differ in both major and minor aspects. The varying stories focus on different characters: most on Rama himself, others on Sita, and still others on the demon Ravana. Some portray the demon as evil, misguided, scheming, and cunning, whilst others show Ravana as an able, strong, brave, and misunderstood character—even as a kind of anti-hero rebel (Amar Chitra Katha, 54).

The Story of the Ramayana

Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, had several sons born to his three wives as a reward for his plentiful sacrifices to the gods. Rama, the oldest and beloved by the citizens of Ayodhya, was intended to succeed Dasharatha as king. Kaikeyi, Rama's stepmother, however, feared for her position and, wishing to see her son Bharata installed as king, managed to exact a promise from Dasharatha that Rama be exiled to the forest and that Bharata replace him as ruler. Sita, his wife—whom Rama had courted in a show of strength—accompanies him into exile, as does Lakshmana, his loyal younger brother. Bharata follows shortly thereafter, pleading with Rama to return, but Rama will not break his vow.

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana encounter various ascetic inhabitants and animals in the beautiful forest, as well as legions of demons (Rakshasas) who stalk the forest in search of mischief. After a period of wandering, they finally settle in a hermitage. There they are discovered by the sister of the demon Ravana, who attempts to kill Sita and to entice Rama. Wounded by Lakshmana, the sister hurries to Ravana—ruler of Lanka (now Sri Lanka)—and tells him what has occurred. Ravana, enraptured by Sita's beauty and determined to capture her, disguises himself as a holy man and carries Sita to his city in Lanka. The divine monkey Hanuman eventually finds Sita, and Rama, with a troop of thousands of monkeys, destroys Ravana and rescues her. Reluctant to accept Sita because of her time in Ravana's household, Rama makes her undergo an ordeal by fire in order to prove her virtue.

Upon their return to Ayodhya, Rama becomes king, but since rumors continue regarding Sita's chastity, he unwillingly banishes her. She lives in the forest, gives birth to Rama's twin sons Kusa and Lava—who are later cared for by Valmiki, the author of the story—and eventually leaves the world by disappearing into the earth from whence she came. Rama, grieving, then ascends into the heavens with his followers.

Dharma is known as uprightness, order, law, duty, and truth. The concept of dharma appears throughout the story in various forms. In Hinduism, each person has his or her own dharma, regulated according to the specific class or status he or she occupies. People are expected to follow their own dharma according to their varan (social class) and stage of life (ashrama)—hence the term varan-ashrama-dharma. For all individuals, regardless of station, there also exist overarching obligations: the dharma of maintaining order in the world and of upholding the relationship between humanity and the gods (Knott, 51).

In the Ramayana, the concept of dharma is played out by the various characters—specifically Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and the father—each in his or her own way. The father reluctantly expels Rama, for his dharma demands it. He whispers to his son that he has had to keep his promises, but that Rama may consider him insane and depose him if he wishes. In turn, Rama asserts: "I will never make you lose your faith or honesty… I will go out today from Ayodhya for fourteen years" (Buck, 71), and he says to Kaikeyi: "Dasharatha never takes back, never fails to carry out what he has once spoken. Mother, I am like my father. Trust me, have no fear" (ibid.).

Likewise, Sita is obedient throughout, even though her reputation is at stake and even though she is innocent to the end. Nonetheless, she reluctantly and obediently follows Rama's commands. Rama, yielding to his duty as king—here, too, is dharma—reluctantly banishes Sita. Lakshmana also acts as a loyal and dutiful younger brother, fulfilling his dharma in his unique manner. Each character follows his or her particular duty to ensure the right ordering of society, and in this there is not one but many conflicts, for each dharma is a conflict in itself. It is just this point that Lakshmana attempts to articulate to Rama when he is commanded to leave Sita alone in the forest:

Dharma and Its Role in Hinduism

"Rama, since we were young children, I followed you; now I will still serve you. For right and wrong are very subtle and hard to tell apart, and the Dharma law is difficult to know—and it is inconceivable to me that I shall ever willingly disobey you, Rama." (Buck, 392)

For Sita, as for Rama, it was not easy to banish or be banished from the other, particularly after their mutual ordeals. Neither could it have been easy for the king to banish his beloved son and to hand his throne over to a stepbrother. Bharata is to be commended for seeking Rama out and attempting to restore the throne to its rightful owner, and when unable to do so, for insistently reigning as regent rather than as king.

Dharma as Lived by the Characters

Throughout, good order is founded on truthfulness and obedience. Dasharatha must not break the vow made to his wife, and neither does Rama break the vow made to his father. As Rama tells his father:

"Every broken promise breaks away a little dharma, and every break of dharma brings closer the day the worlds too must break apart. When Dharma is altogether gone, the three worlds will end; they will be destroyed once more. If a man breaks his word, why should the stars above keep their promises not to fall? Why should Fire not burn us all, or Ocean not leap his shores and drown us?" (Buck, 80)

Sita has a different dharma to fulfill—that of the dutiful daughter and obedient wife. She fulfills her dharma by following Rama into the forest, by demonstrating chastity in Ravana's palace, and by acceding to Rama's decree of expulsion. Sumantra the charioteer tells Sita he has bad news: "Rama will live alone from now on apart from you" (Buck, 394). Sita weeps. Sumantra continues:

"All the universe is but a sign to be read rightly; colors and forms are only put here to speak to us; and all is spirit, there is nothing else in existence… Let us not grow old still believing that truth is what the most people see around them…" (ibid.)

People may treat us unjustly, but we have dharma—a certain obligation to do right in the world.

Modern readers might perceive the banishment of Sita from her beloved husband, despite her proof of innocence, as heartless and unjust. However, Hindus see the proper ordering of the universe as a state of affairs that must precede individual human desires. Once again, Rama must act as ruler first and foremost; he must still the fears and suspicions in the hearts of his subjects and thereby prevent potential anarchy, particularly with the birth of sons whom society might claim to be illegitimate. As a reward for, and recognition of, his virtue in keeping to the dharma despite the immensity of the conflicts involved, Rama is, toward the end of the story, referred to as an incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is said of him that he came down in human form as a god in order to introduce order in the world and to vanquish its evil forces (a-dharma).

In fact, the story begins with Valmiki, who is searching for friendship, happiness, and hope and, finding none of these, sits inside an anthill for many years. One day, Narada the inventor of music begs him to come out: "See how life goes by, with every creature following his nature." Valmiki replies: "Just name me one honest man and I'll move." "Rama!" says Narada. "Come out of there!" (Buck, 5). After hearing the story of Rama—the Ramayana—Valmiki does come out, in order to teach the story to Rama's two sons as commanded.

Conclusion

As to the story of Rama itself, it endures as a story of inspiration since it serves as a work of exemplars—models of good behavior that people in distress and times of challenge can follow. Rama stoically and dispassionately endures tremendous hardships, and Sita has become the model for the dutiful Hindu woman and wife. This is one of the reasons the Ramayana has become so enduring and memorable. It is inspirational and powerful. It helps many a person through tough times, challenging him or her to seek the dharma, or the good.