Valli and Rama question and Answer

Valli and Rama

For those who have read Valmiki Ramayana, a doubt arises in mind, Was Rama correct in the way he killed Vali ? Is it not unfair for a Kshatriya to hide behind a tree and kill someone?

Fact is Vali himself has asked these questions to Rama. And Bhagavan Rama has also given him a fitting reply. After Vali Vadam (killing of Vali) as he lies there fatally wounded, gathering all his strength, Vali puts forth Six clear questions to Rama. Vali was a king himself, though a king of monkeys, but still a king. So the questions were directed from a defeated king towards the victorious one. His questions were as follows:

Hey Rama !!

You and I do not have any dispute over Land or property neither are we related to have family disputes. You belong to Ikshvaku clan and I have nothing in common with you. Then why did you kill me? We are both strangers to each other. Then why did you kill me? I am an animal dwelling in the forest. You are a human being living in great cities. You and I are different species alltogther. Then why did you kill me? Let us assume that you hunted me. But generally animals are hunted for their fur or Nails and Bones or their meat. But I am a mere monkey, whose fur is of no use, whose Nails and Bones are of no use to humans and no one eats the meat of a monkey. Then why did you kill me? You may have killed me as a punishment for my mistake but I did not do any mistake. Did Manu Bhagavan instruct you to give capital punishment without any basis. Then why did you kill me? My Last question is Why did you kill me by deceit? These were Vali’s genuine questions.

In His capacity, Lord Rama need not reply to a monkey. But He replied calmly as a true King.

Hey Vali, you say we have no disputes over land. But our Ikshvaku dynasty is so vast ruled by Bharata my brother. I am here taking care of his forests for him. So I am not out of the territory. This is my territory. You have wrongly assumed that you own this place. When a small king under our rule misbehaves it is my duty to punish him. So I did. Yes, we are strangers. But while punishing a wrongdoer there is no necessity to know the person. It is enough if I know about his misdeeds. Of course, you are not a human. You are a monkey. There are a set of rules and code of conduct for the monkeys too. But you have failed to live by those rules. Therefore I had to kill you. I did not kill you for your fur or nails. I just killed you as a punishment for your mistake. “औरसीं भगिनीं वापि भार्या वाप्यानुजस्य च |प्रचरेत नरः कामात्तस्य दण्डो वधः स्मृतः |” According to ManuSmriti capital punishment is prescribed for a person who misbehaves with his sister or with the wife of his younger brother. That is what you have done and so I punished you. Moreover when your brother fell at your feet and begged for mercy you did not forgive him as a true king should have done. Vali you are a monkey, an animal. While hunting an animal there is no need to come face to face with the animal. When Rama spoke these words Vali too understood the logic and the lawfulness of Rama. He surrendered to him and reached the highest abode.