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Dilemmas>Lesson 1
Moral
Dillemas :Lesson 2
LAKSHMANA'S
LOYALTY
"Lakshmana
responds to Sita's plight by stating, 'No need for you to
harm yourself. Only I shudder at the import of your words.
I'll obey you now. Do not be anxious. This very second I'll
leave. I only hesitated because your order goes against
the command of my brother. I'll go, and may the gods protect
you from harm. If I don't go, she will kill herself... if
I go, she will be in danger. I'd rather be dead than facing
such a dilemma...I'll go and what is destined will happen.
Dharma alone should protect her." (from Valmiki, trans.
R.K. Narayan)
Defining
the Dilemma
After
Sita, Rama and Lakshmana are sent into exile, and Soorpanaka
has been humiliated, Ravana (Soorpanaka's brother and king
of Lanka) declares revenge. He not only wants to see Rama
and Lakshmana destroyed, he desires Sita to be his consort.
He decides to consult with Mareecha, his uncle, who now
lives as an ascetic in the woods. Mareecha had previously
tried to kill Rama to avenge his mother's death, therefore
Ravana thinks him to be knowledgeable on this subject. After
some provoking, Mareecha agrees to assume the figure of
a golden deer and to try to lure Sita from her guardians.
Once Sita spots the golden deer, her heart is set on it.
She begs Rama to bring it to her, and is terribly unhappy
until he agrees to try.
Lakshmana
warns Rama not to fetch the golden deer that Sita desires.
Rama ignores his brother's plea and goes any way, making
Lakshmana the guardian of Sita. Mareecha, after being mortally
wounded by Rama's arrow, calls for help in a voice disguised
as Rama's. Upon hearing this voice calling for help, Sita
pleads with her brother-in-law to save him. When Lakshmana
explains that this is a trick, Sita tells him that she will
throw herself into a fire and die if he does not help Rama.
Lakshmana
is in a dilemma. He has sworn to protect his sister-in-law,
yet he must help his brother as well. When Lakshmana decides
to leave Sita to try to help his brother, Sita is captured
by Ravana.
Outcomes
/ Consequences
If Lakshmana
goes to the aid of his brother, he is forsaking his duty
to guard Sita. Yet, Sita swears that she will kill herself
if he does not go.
Dharma
Lakshmana's
dharma as a younger brother is to follow what his elder
brother orders him to do. An earlier example of this is
represented when Lakshmana leaves his wife and beloved city
behind to follow his elder brother into exile.
Lakshmana's dharma as a brother-in-law is to follow the
wishes of his sister-in-law (who becomes as a mother figure
to him after the marriage ceremony) and to protect her from
harm.
Questions
Brainstorm
and discuss the following questions as they relate to this
scene.
1. In
a situation like this one, assuming that you do not have
an omniscient point of view, which decision seems to be
the best one? 2. According to Lakshmana's dharma, which
choice would have made the most sense?
3. Is Lakshmana's decision correct according to his dharma?
4. Does this remind you of a situation you have been in,
read about or seen?
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?
