Following Dharma

Sarah Scheidel
ENGL 2200

The Ramayana of Valmiki is an epic tale based entirely upon the respect and recognition of following dharma.  The epic hero, Rama, is a nearly perfect human being who represents all that is good and obedient in the Hindu religion.  However, as a human, Rama does have a single weakness: his wife.  Rama obeys his father when the king is forced to sentence his son to exile and strip Rama of his kingship.  Rama does not fight back, but he accepts the course that has been laid out for him by the universe.  When Rama's wife, Sita, attempts to be dutiful and follow her husband to the forest, Rama refuses and asks her to remain in the city.  He believes that the forest will be harmful to Sita, his dear wife whom he adores.  According to dharma, women are supposed to cater to their husbands and stay by their sides.  Rama goes against dharma when he tells Sita to remain behind in the city.  This is the only time thus far that Rama has failed to adhere to dharma.  His wife, on the other hand, has complied with dharma; she serves her husband well and insists on going away with him into exile because that is her duty as a Hindu wife.  I consider Sita to be an epic hero because even though she is a city girl that has become accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, she is immediately willing to give it all up to adhere to dharma and her duty as the wife of Rama.  Thus far, she has not failed to obey dharma.