Dear Devotees, The subject under discussion: "Vaali Slain" has arisen because of our common perception of a conflict in the observance of Dharma in many tricky situations. Speaking generally, how do we know that we are functioning within the framework of Dharma when we deal with conflicts in our every-day life? The lapses portrayed in the Puranic stories cause genuine doubt in our minds about the strict observance of the rules of Dharma. For example: Noble Bharata did not observe the injunction "matru devo bhava" and chided his mother Kaikeyi using abusive words, for sending Rama to the forest thereby also causing the death of Dasaratha. Vibhishana deserted his brother Ravana and joined his enemy Rama. Sugreeva plotted and succeeded in killing his brother Vali, taking the help of Rama. The Pandava brothers restrained themselves due to the Rules of contract and raja dharma and thereby allowed their wife Draupadi to be humiliated in open court. Ignoring kshatriya dharma, Arjuna at first turned against waging war with the kauravas because of the Dharmic rule against killing one's own kin and guru but later, on Krishna's advice expounding the superior dharma, took active part in the war and killed his close relatives and gurus. In this medley of rules relating to Dharma, how does one get out of confusion and who is to guide the common folk like us who do not have a Krishna by our side to guide us on the right path? The answer is perhaps contained in the sloka "sarva dharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraja". Recognising our natural confusion, the Lord advises us to rise above the confused mind, to abandon all our ordinary concepts relating to the conflicts in the codified dharmic rules and rely only upon Him who resides as the inner Self in us. He seems to be telling us: "I am not far, far away. I am
always closest to my devotees. sarva dharmaan
parityajya Dasan Krishnaswamy M.K
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