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Shambuka
Shambuka (Sanskrit: शम्बूक, IAST: śambūka) is a character in some editions of the Ramayana. Some say that the character and his story are an interpolation which is not found in the original Valmiki Ramayana but in a later addition called Uttara Kanda.[disputed – discuss]
According to this version, Shambuka, a shudra ascetic, was killed by the god Rama (protagonist of the Ramayana) for attempting to perform tapas (austerities) in violation of dharma, resulting in the bad karma which caused the death of a Brahmin's son.
The story is regarded to be created at a later period. While the Uttara Kanda (including Shambuka's tale) is generally regarded as a later interpolation to the original epic, the Book is considered part of "ongoing Ramayana tradition" and part of the Valmiki Ramayana.
Shambhuka is alluded in the epic Mahabharata; his story retold in some versions of the Ramayana. In Jain literature, the story of Shambuka is different and he is Surpanakha’s son.
According to this story, when Rama was ruling Ayodhya, a Brahmin approached the court and told everyone that his young son has died due to the misrule of Rama. Rama immediately called a meeting with all his ministers and enquired about the cause of this. The sage Narada told him that this has happened due to a violation of a rule of tapas (austerities). Narada informed him that a shudra was performing tapas, which was prohibited in the age of Treta. So Rama went in search of the shudra and found the place where Shambuka was performing penance. After confirming that Shambuka is indeed a shudra, Rama killed him. The gods praised Rama for this act and congratulated him for protecting their interests and for not allowing shudra to attain heaven in person. Brahmin's son was also resurrected.
The Uttara Kanda - dated to post-Vedic period (3rd to 2nd century BCE) is regarded an interpolation to the original epic.
Shambuka is alluded in 12.149.61.62 in the epic Mahabharata (Principally compiled in 3rd century BCE–4th century CE), in a debate between a jackal and a vulture at a cremation ground. The jackal urges the family of a dead young boy to not abandon him at the cremation ground citing how Rama revives a dead Brahmin boy and slew the sudra Shambuka.
The Shambuka also appears in Raghuvaṃśa, an epic poem composed by celebrated Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa in 5th century CE; Uttaramacarita, a Sanskrit play composed by Bhavabhuti in 7th century CE and the 15th century Sanskrit text Ananda Ramayana. Rama's killing of Shambuka is also mentioned in verse 749 in prabandham 'Perumal Thirumozhi' (sung by Kulasekara Alvar) of Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 verses composed by the 12 Alvars. The legend is also covered in the Ramavataram written by Tamil poet Kambar in the 12th century.
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Shambuka
Shambuka (Sanskrit: शम्बूक, IAST: śambūka) is a character in some editions of the Ramayana. Some say that the character and his story are an interpolation which is not found in the original Valmiki Ramayana but in a later addition called Uttara Kanda.[disputed – discuss]
According to this version, Shambuka, a shudra ascetic, was killed by the god Rama (protagonist of the Ramayana) for attempting to perform tapas (austerities) in violation of dharma, resulting in the bad karma which caused the death of a Brahmin's son.
The story is regarded to be created at a later period. While the Uttara Kanda (including Shambuka's tale) is generally regarded as a later interpolation to the original epic, the Book is considered part of "ongoing Ramayana tradition" and part of the Valmiki Ramayana.
Shambhuka is alluded in the epic Mahabharata; his story retold in some versions of the Ramayana. In Jain literature, the story of Shambuka is different and he is Surpanakha’s son.
According to this story, when Rama was ruling Ayodhya, a Brahmin approached the court and told everyone that his young son has died due to the misrule of Rama. Rama immediately called a meeting with all his ministers and enquired about the cause of this. The sage Narada told him that this has happened due to a violation of a rule of tapas (austerities). Narada informed him that a shudra was performing tapas, which was prohibited in the age of Treta. So Rama went in search of the shudra and found the place where Shambuka was performing penance. After confirming that Shambuka is indeed a shudra, Rama killed him. The gods praised Rama for this act and congratulated him for protecting their interests and for not allowing shudra to attain heaven in person. Brahmin's son was also resurrected.
The Uttara Kanda - dated to post-Vedic period (3rd to 2nd century BCE) is regarded an interpolation to the original epic.
Shambuka is alluded in 12.149.61.62 in the epic Mahabharata (Principally compiled in 3rd century BCE–4th century CE), in a debate between a jackal and a vulture at a cremation ground. The jackal urges the family of a dead young boy to not abandon him at the cremation ground citing how Rama revives a dead Brahmin boy and slew the sudra Shambuka.
The Shambuka also appears in Raghuvaṃśa, an epic poem composed by celebrated Sanskrit poet Kālidāsa in 5th century CE; Uttaramacarita, a Sanskrit play composed by Bhavabhuti in 7th century CE and the 15th century Sanskrit text Ananda Ramayana. Rama's killing of Shambuka is also mentioned in verse 749 in prabandham 'Perumal Thirumozhi' (sung by Kulasekara Alvar) of Naalayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 verses composed by the 12 Alvars. The legend is also covered in the Ramavataram written by Tamil poet Kambar in the 12th century.