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Dilemmas>Lesson 1
Moral
Dillemas :Lesson 1
Defining
the Dilemma
By
design of the Gods, four sons are born to the noble king
Dasaratha of Ayodhya. Rama, the hero of the Ramayana , is
the son of the king's first wife Kausalya, the twins Lakshmana
and Satrughua are the sons of his second wife Sumitra, and
Bharata is the son of his third wife Kaikeyi. After coming
of age, Rama and Lakshmana are taken away from the palace
by the sage Visvamitra. Rama is taught the arts of war,
slays demons that have been threatening the forests and
wins the hand of Sita, princess of Mithila, by lifting,
stringing, and breaking the sacred bow.
Rama, Sita, and Rama's brothers live contentedly
in the kingdom of Ayodhya for 12 years until Dasaratha decides
that it is time for him to give up the crown. Dasaratha
tells Rama that he will become the heir, and he makes arrangements
for the rituals and festivities that will celebrate the
passing of the crown. The evening before the coronation
of Rama is to take place, Dasaratha's third wife, Kaikeyi,
reminds the king that he had promised her two boons when
she had earlier saved his life in battle. She claimed these
boons now. One boon was that her son, Bharata, would be
crowned king instead of Rama; the other was that Rama would
be exiled from the kingdom for fourteen years.
Within the terms of his culture, Dasaratha
faces a difficult dilemma. On the one hand, it is customary
for the eldest son to inherit rule from his father and Dasaratha
had publicly proclaimed to all Ayodhya that Rama was to
be the his heir. On the other hand, Dasaratha is bound by
the boons he promised Kaikeyi when she saved his life on
the battlefield.
Outcomes
/ Consequences
Dasaratha must consider the consequences
of his decision in terms of satisfying dharma and in terms
of the good of Ayodhya. If he chooses to continue with his
plan to have Rama king, he is breaking his oath to Kaikeyi.
This violates the rule of dharma that demands absolute loyalty
to oaths and may bring cosmic punishment. He will also loose
the love of his favorite wife, Kaikeyi, and his family life,
which is supposed to be the model for his citizens.
If, on the other hand, he makes Kaikeyi's
son, Bharata, king, he breaks his promise to Rama and violates
the accepted custom of primogeniture.
Questions
1. Which decision do you think would be
most in line with dharma?
2. Which decision do you think would be most in line with
what you know of Dasaratha?
Continuing with the story, we know that
Dasaratha chose to grant Kaikeyi her boons, thus proclaiming
Bharata the king and sending Rama into exile.
1. Do you think that his decision was the
most moral one?
2. Why or why not? (What is the principle or bit of overwhelming
evidence that persuaded you to answer in the way you did?)
3. What decision would you have made under the same circumstances?
4. What would have been the reason (s) for your decision?
5. What choices that you have made, or have seen others
make have been similar?
Extensions
1. Ask students what current or historical
issue illustrates the same type of dilemma.
2. Ask students what comparable piece of literature illustrates
similar dilemmas.
3. If this were to be viewed as a contemporary dilemma,
what factors or variables would contribute to the outcome?
