Why Would Someone Be Afraid Of Shri Rama

By krishnasmercy on April 16, 2023 • ( 0 )

“Smelling the fragrance of Rama and Lakshmana, like a dog smelling a tiger, certainly you will not be able to stand.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 21.31-32)

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न हि गन्धमुपाघ्राय रामलक्ष्मणयोस्त्वया ||
शक्यं संदर्शने स्थातुं शुना शार्दूलयोरिव |

na hi gandhamupāghrāya rāmalakṣmaṇayostvayā ||
śakyaṃ saṃdarśane sthātuṃ śunā śārdūlayoriva |

“Can you explain something to me? From studying the Ramayana history, as presented in ancient Sanskrit works, why would anyone be afraid of Shri Rama? He is an avatara of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You could extend the question out to Vishnu, as well. Any identifiable form, saguna, of God will do for the purposes of this analysis.

“The premise for the question is the comparison once made by Sita Devi, who is Rama’s wife. She says that Ravana, the king of Lanka, will run away in fear if he should even get a glimpse of the arrival of Rama and His younger brother Lakshmana.

“The exact comparison is to a dog sniffing a tiger. A whiff in the distance. The dog does not have to be close to the tiger. The dog will run away. It just knows better. It will not tempt fate. It will not be foolish enough to think it can prevail in a conflict.

“But why even dream of conflict? What is there to fight about? Rama is the kindest person you could ever imagine. He sacrifices everything for those close to Him. He defends the honor of King Dasharatha by accepting the unjust punishment of exile into the forest.

“Rama does not mind personal dishonor or misfortune. He is always doing things for others. He is interested in the well-being of all life, from the human beings all the way down to the ant. Why would anyone be suspicious?

“Why would they want to raise tensions? Why be acrimonious? I don’t understand. Can you explain what Ravana was thinking?”

The simplest comparison is to the police. Under normal circumstances, no one is really afraid of the presence of police officers. Especially if there is no pressing emergency, if the lights are not turned on, people will go about their day as per normal.

The criminals, on the other hand, will scatter. Like turning on the light in a room and watching the cockroaches head straight for the holes within the walls, those who are wedded to adharma do not look upon God innocently.

Rather, they know that something will be up. They are set to receive punishment, in the manner of flowers blossoming on trees. Rama sometimes personally delivers that punishment.

अवश्यं लभते जन्तुः फलं पापस्य कर्मणः।
घोरं पर्यागते काले द्रुमाः पुष्पमिवार्तवम्।।

avaśyaṃ labhate jantuḥ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ।
ghoraṃ paryāgate kāle drumāḥ puṣpamivārtavam।।

“Just as a tree starts to blossom during the proper season, so the doer of sinful deeds inevitably reaps the horrible fruit of their actions at the appropriate time.” (Lord Rama speaking to Khara, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 29.8)

People tried to talk sense into Ravana. They tried to persuade him to give up on adharma. They assured him that Rama would forgive, that there would not be lasting enmity. Ravana would be able to maintain his hold of the kingdom of Lanka. He could escape punishment.

That line of reasoning was certainly true, but there was also the logical angle to consider. Going up against Rama was a losing proposition. Ravana would not win. He was safe for a certain amount of time, but if the punishment is pending, then the safety is really an illusion.

In the same way, we think that since we have yet to remember an experience of death we will be okay moving forward. Nothing will change. There will not be punishment for misdeeds. We will get to enjoy for as long as we want. There will not be any disruption to the current cycle of events.

क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा
शश्वच्-छान्तिं निगच्छति
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि
न मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति

kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā
śaśvac-chāntiṁ nigacchati
kaunteya pratijānīhi
na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati

“He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.31)

This is a more dangerous path than those who do acknowledge the presence and superiority of the Supreme Lord. There will be destruction in both cases, but it is expected with the devotees. They know that their most valuable possession, the very devotion they have to God, will remain secure and intact.