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They tell you about Shabri all the time, they tell you about Kevat but very carefully avoid the conversation around Shambuka. Who was Shambuka? Why was he beheaded by Rama?
A thread:
A thread:
"Rama never observed the ancient rule of Indian kings of hearing wrongs of his subjects and attempting to redress them. Only one occasion has been recorded by Valmiki when he personally heard the grievance of his subjects. The incident known as the murder of Sambuka, the Shudra.
It is said by Valmiki that in Rama’s reign there were no premature deaths in his kingdom. It happened, however, that a certain Brahman’s son died in a premature death. The bereaved father carried his body to the gate of the king’s palace, and placing it there, cried aloud and +
bitterly reproached Rama for the death of his son, saying that it must be the consequence of some sin committed within his realm, and that the king himself was guilty if he did not punish it; and finally threatened to end his life there by sitting on a dharana (hunger-strike) +
against Rama unless his son was restored to life.
Rama thereupon consulted his council of 8 learned Rishis, and Narada amongst them told Rama that some Shudra among his subjects must have been performing Tapasya (ascetic exercises), and thereby going against Dharma (sacred law),
Rama thereupon consulted his council of 8 learned Rishis, and Narada amongst them told Rama that some Shudra among his subjects must have been performing Tapasya (ascetic exercises), and thereby going against Dharma (sacred law),
for according to it, the practice of Tapasya was proper to the twice-born alone, while the duty of the Shudras consisted only in the service of the “twice-born”.
Rama was thus convinced that it was the sin committed by a Shudra in transgressing Dharma in that manner, which was responsible for the death of the Brahmin boy. So, Rama mounted his aerial car and scoured the countryside for the culprit.
At last, in a wild region far away to the south he espied a man practicing rigorous austerity of a certain kind. He approached the man, and with no more ado than to enquire of him and inform himself that he was a Shudra, by name Sambuka +
who was practicing Tapasya with a view to going to heaven in his own earthly person and without so much as a warning, expostulation or the like addressed to him, cut off his head.
And lo and behold!At that very moment the dead Brahman boy in distant Ayodhya began to breathe again
And lo and behold!At that very moment the dead Brahman boy in distant Ayodhya began to breathe again
Here in the wilds, Gods rained flowers on the king from their joy at his having prevented a Shudra from gaining admission to their celestial abode through the power of the Tapasya which he had no right to perform. They also appeared before Rama and congratulated him on his deed.
In answer to his prayer to them to revive the dead Brahman boy lying at the palace gate in Ayodhya, they informed him that he had already come to life. They then departed.
Rama thence proceeded to the Ashrama, which was nearby, of the sage Agastya, who commended the step he had taken with Sambuka, and presented him with a divine bracelet. Rama then returned to his capital.
Such is Rama."
Such is Rama."
Source: Riddles in Hinduism by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Accessible at: https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/attach/amb/Volume_04.pdf
Accessible at: https://www.mea.gov.in/Images/attach/amb/Volume_04.pdf
