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 in the Puranas also. E.g., the story of Lord Rama killing Shambuka and many other stories are mentioned in the Padma Purana (Section 1, Ch. 35). So if we raise questions about the authenticity of the Uttara Kanda, then the stories in the Puranas also become doubtful. Also, then many questions arise about the later life of Lord Rama and the goddess Sita.

Therefore, if someone wanted to insert something into the Ramayana, that person had to insert it into the Puranas also, which seems impossible.

Therefore, we can say that Uttara Kanda is authentic, but we can’t be sure if it is 100% accurate or not.

Why Did Lord Rama Kill Shambuka?

There are three most probable reasons behind this. To see what are those, let us first read the story.

Background of the Story:

The reign of Lord Rama is known as Rama Rajya. It is believed to be the best rule in human history. In it, the people of all Varnas followed their duties assiduously. There was no untimely death of any citizen. All the people were happy and satisfied. No one died of hunger or disease. People used to have a long lifespan. Therefore, when a Brahmin’s 14-year-old son died, it was a shock for everyone.

The Death of a Brahmin’s Son:

One day, a Brahmin, bearing his dead child in his arms, came to the gate of Lord Rama’s palace, weeping and crying out again and again.

He said, “What sin did I commit in a previous existence that I have been constrained to witness the death of my son? Never before have I witnessed or heard of such a dreadful thing as, in Rama’s reign, for people to die prematurely. Rama must have committed a serious fault since, in his kingdom, children succumb. The evil conduct of a king brings about the premature death of his subjects.”

Thus, he blamed Lord Rama for the death of his son. Lord Rama was extremely alert about his duties toward his subjects. He even abandoned his beloved wife for them. Therefore, he immediately called his ministers, brothers, and his guru Vashishta. Sage Vashishtha called eight learned Brahmins among whom Sage Narada was also present.

Lord Rama informed them about the untimely death of the Brahmin’s son and asked them what could be the reason behind it.

Sage Narada informed him that in the Satya Yuga, only Brahmins can practice asceticism; in the Treta Yuga, Brahmins and Kshatriyas can do so; in the Dvapara Yuga, all the Varnas except Shudra can do it; only in the Kali Yuga all the Varnas, including Shudra can practice asceticism. He also told him that the Yuga they were living in was Treta and there was a Shudra in his kingdom who had undertaken a severe penance. As it was against the Varnashrama Dharma, that was the cause of the death of that child. He also told him, “You should investigate the happenings in your kingdom and put down evil wherever it is practiced, so righteousness may flourish, man’s life be prolonged, and the child be revived.”

Lord Rama Finds and Kills Shambuka:

Upon hearing the words of Sage Narada, Lord Rama said to Lakshmana, “Go and console that leading Brahmin and cause the body of the child to be placed in a jar of oil with precious unguents and fragrant salves so that it is covered and does not suffer decomposition. Act in such a way that the body of the child does not dissolve or decay.”

 Then he left Ayodhya in the Pushpak Vimana in search of the ascetic. After searching for a long time, he found an ascetic, hanging head downwards, practicing an extremely rigorous penance on the bank of a lake on the side of the Shaivala Mountain.

On this, Raghava approached the ascetic and said:—

“O Ascetic, I am Rama, the son of Dasharatha. What is the purpose of your penance? Is it heaven or some other object? What boon do you seek through this hard penance? I wish to know what you desire in performing these austerities, O ascetic, may prosperity attend you! Are you a Brahmin or an invincible Kshatriya? Are you a Vaishya, one of the third caste, or are you a Shudra? Answer me truthfully!”

The ascetic replied, “O highly illustrious Rama, I am born in the race of Shudras; and intending to reach the region of the celestials with my body, I am going through these austere penances. O Kakuthstha, I shall never utter a falsehood since I am willing to conquer the region of gods. I am a Shudra and my name is Shambuka.” (Uttara Kanda 7.76)

The Shudra ascetic having said this, Lord Rama took out of scabbard a beautiful sharp sword and chopped off his head. And that Shudra being slain, Indra, Agni, and other celestials praised him again and again and showered flowers.

The Son of the Brahmin Brought Back to the Life:

The propitiated gods told him to ask for a boon because he had protected their interest. After all, if Shambuka was not dead, he might have tried to win over heaven.

Lord Rama requested the gods to resuscitate the Brahmin’s son, who had died an untimely death because of his fault.

Gods granted his wish, and the child was brought back to life.

Why did Lord Rama Kill Shambuka and not Imprison Him?

Now the question arises, instead of just preventing him from doing so, why did he kill him directly? There could be two main reasons behind this.

1. Shambuka knowingly or unknowingly committed a crime that caused the death of a child. Therefore, he had to be punished. Also, Sage Narada told him to do so.

Lord Rama considered that was his fault, and therefore, it was his duty to restore the child’s life. The only way he could do that was by killing Shambuka.

2. Shambuka was doing penance to conquer heaven. Therefore, it was necessary to stop him from doing so. Gods would have been angry with Lord Rama and his people if he had not done so even after knowing the motive of Shambuka.

3. Another speculation behind the killing of Shambuka is that he wanted to get killed by Lord Rama so that he could attain salvation. Therefore, he deliberately violated dharma to get Lord Rama’s attention.

If he had just stopped or imprisoned him, it would not have set an example for others. Other people might have started doing the penance, which could have caused more problems in his kingdom.

According to some translators and scholars, Shambuka was not trying to conquer heaven, but he just wanted to go to heaven in that body. But if it was so, then why were the gods happy after his death? Therefore, it is obvious that he wanted to conquer heaven. Even if we assume that he was just trying to go to heaven in his physical body, it was against the rules of heaven.

The Plot of Indra?

After reading this story, one thought that popped up in my mind was that it could also be a plot of Indra because he goes to any extent to protect his throne. Indra may have found out about Shambuka doing a severe penance to win heaven, but he could not kill him because he was severely punished for doing so earlier. Also, Shambuka was a citizen of Lord Rama’s kingdom who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Therefore, it is quite possible that he killed the son of the Brahmin knowing that Lord Rama would have to kill Shambuka to restore the child’s life. (Also, we should not forget it was Sage Narada who advised Lord Rama to do so. Sage Narada always tries to protect the interests of gods.) Thus, Indra achieved his goal without any problem.

Why was Lord Rama not Punished for Killing Shambuka?

We know that when Lord Rama was reborn as Lord Krishna, he died at the hands of Jara, who was Vali in his previous birth. Because Lord Rama had killed Vali treacherously, Lord Krishna had to die at the hands of Jara. But there is no such incidence afterward that mentions that Lord Rama was punished for killing Shambuka. It proves that he did not do any wrongful act by killing him. He was only doing his duty.

It is a misconception that he killed him only because he was a Shudra, but there were other reasons, such as Shambuka was either trying to conquer heaven or to go to heaven with his physical body, which was wrong in any case. Because of his mistake, an innocent boy had lost his life, and there was no other way to get him back to life.

In some articles on the Internet, it is mentioned that Shambuka was a kid, but it is not true because he was doing penance for a long time. Hence, he was an adult person.

Therefore, Lord Rama was not punished for killing Shambuka but was rather praised and rewarded for following his Dharma.