Lord Rama and Pandavas – Who followed kshatriya dharma better?
A Girl Devotee (Name hidden) asked like this:
I really need your blessings along with krishna. Krishna listens to his devotees and you are a true devotee. You have always guided like an elder brother.
Lord Rama silently left his kingdom. Pandavas eventually fought for their share of kingdom. What was the right dharma? The decision made by Rama to go for exile or Pandavas who fought with Kaurav? Thanks a lot again, Prabhuji. Thousands of blessings to you and your family and all other devotees who are helping you.
REPLY:
I think that your understanding is not complete about the background of happenings.
First, Lord Rama is the Vishnu/ Krishna Himself as Rama avatar. He came to the earth hiding some of His qualities. He even did not remember that He is the Lord Himself all the time. Only during a certain circumstances, He remembered and showed that He is the Lord. Eg: He left to Vaikunta miraculously by entering into the river water. However, He fought the war with Ravana like a normal Kshatriya and won.
(If Lord Rama worshiped Siva, does that mean Siva is superior to Rama? READ HERE!)
LORD RAMA DID NOT GO ON EXILE PERMANENTLY; HE TEMPORARILY WENT TO THE FOREST AS REQUESTED BY HIS FATHER. This was done as a son.
He showed humbleness to His father as expected from a son.
HE WENT TO DEFEAT RAVANA WHO HAD ABDUCTED THE QUEEN OF AYODHYA! He did this as a kshatriya as it is the duty of a kshatriya to protect the queen.
He showed courage to Ravana as expected from a kshatriya.
Thus, As kshatriyas, both Rama and Pandavas acted with courage in .
As Sons too, both Rama and Pandavas were humble to King Dasarath and Kunti devi.
Whereas, Pandavas are humans and Kshatriyas. Not avatars. So, they acted as Kshatriyas by fighting the war.
If you deeply note the background of happenings in both Ramayana and Mahabharatha, you can infer the following:
(1) Rama acted as an obedient son who will not refuse to obey the orders of the parents. So, He left the palace when He was asked to do go in exile for 14 years in the forest. He did not leave keeping the country insecured. He entrusted the countr y to His brother Bharatha. So, He didn’t escape from his duties as kshatriya leaving the country unprotected.
(2) Just because he obeyed the orders of His father and left the palace, He did not escape from fighting the war with Ravana.
(GLORIES OF LORD RAMA (RAMACANDRA) FROM SCRIPTURES! READ HERE!)
(3) But, both Rama and Pandavas did not start the war first. Rama sent the messenger Hanuman to advise Ravana to release Sita Devi to avoid war. In Mahabharatha, Krishna Himself spoke to Duryodhana and his camp to spare atleast a small piece of land for Pandavas.
(4) In both the cases, the efforts by Rama and Krishna to peacefully end the issues failed since Ravana and Duryodhana were greedy and refused to solve the issues through peaceful means.
(5) Therefore, only as the last resort, both Rama and Pandavas decided to fight the wars with Ravana and Duryodhana camps.
(6) Therefore, both Rama and Pandavas acted similarly in avoiding the war and the death of kiths, kins and soldiers.
(7) It is the practice even now. Countries first take steps to solve the issues between them through peaceful means and through the international forums like United Nations. When they fail, they start wars.
(Why Krishna and Pandavas did not protect Draupati immediately? READ HERE!)
(8) So, Rama showed different bhawas when He approached His gurus, relatives, parents, friends, enemies, etc. Pandavas might have been aggressive in their normal life. But, when there was a threat for their rights, Lord Rama and the Pandavas had to fight the war.
Both Rama and Pandavas never failed to discharge their duties as Kshatriyas.
So, the comparison made by you seems to be weak.
Ok, Whom to follow? Rama or Pandavas?
Both. Both acted to defeat adharma and establish dharma.
Learn from the both.
Learn how to obey our parents, how to lead a disciplined life and from Lord Rama.
Learn how to be a surrendered devotees to the Lord from the Pandavas since they were fully dependant on Krishna and acted as directed by Him.
(Pandavas didn’t get moksha; Ravana, Kamsa, Sisupal & Hiranya got. Why? READ HERE!)
Both these qualities we can learn from Lord Rama and the Pandavas.
And, in case there is an issue with your family members or friends, first try your best to solve the issues through frank discussion. Only as a last resort, go to the court to settle the issue.
But, do not start a war with them to kill them. We are not kshatriyas. The kshatriyas do not get sin if they kill their enemies in the war field. But, if we kill someone, it is seriously sinful. Even if the kshatriyas kill their wife in their homes, it is also sinful. The immunity is only in the war field, not in the personal life.
This is the lesson we have to learn from Lord Rama or Pandavas.
Of course, if we follow these qualities, our life will be like a life in Vaikunta even on earth.
Hope you are clear.
(Where did the Kings killed In Kurukshetra war go after death? READ HERE!)