One of the most controversial questions about Lord Rama is “Why did Lord Rama kill Shambuka?” There are many speculations about it that range from the authenticity of the Uttara Kanda to the specific reason behind the slaying of Shambuka. This article tries to find an answer to this question. This story is mentioned in the Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, Book 7, Chapters 73-76. The Authenticity of Uttara Kanda: Some scholars believe that Uttara Kanda is not written by Sage Valmiki but is an interpolation, but there is a problem with this assumption. The stories in the Uttara Kanda are found…