Why is this quatrain of Tulsidas Ji controversial?Dhol Ganwar…

Hello and welcome back to the Ram series. We have been exploring the stories of Ram for quite some time. Today, I want to discuss a controversial quatrain from the Sundarkand section of the Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas ji, which has led to much misunderstanding and criticism.

The quatrain in question is: “Dhol Gawar Shudra Pashu Nari Sakal Tadna Ke Adhikari.” Many interpret this to mean that drums, the uneducated, Shudras, animals, and women deserve to be beaten or punished. This superficial reading makes it seem like Tulsidas ji made a grave error, but the fault lies in our interpretation, not in Goswami ji’s writing.

Let’s delve into the true meaning. The context of this quatrain is during the incident in the Sundarkand when Ram and Lakshman are praying to the sea to give them a path to Lanka. The sea is not parting, so Lakshman and Ram consider using force.

Here, “Tadna” does not mean killing or beating. It means to understand or control. For instance, imagine Virat Kohli batting. After hitting two fours, he steps forward and hits a six on the third ball because he has judged or understood the bowler’s moves. “Tadna” in this context means having foresight or understanding.

In the quatrain:

• “Dhol” (drum): Tulsidas ji suggests you shouldn’t play a drum without tuning it properly.
• “Gawar” (uneducated/mad person): Approach cautiously until you understand their behavior.
• “Shudra”: Here, Tulsidas ji doesn’t refer to caste but to someone’s actions or character. Approach people only after understanding whether they do good or bad deeds.
• “Pashu” (animal): Be cautious around animals, as you don’t know how they might react.
• “Nari” (woman): Do not judge a woman’s character based on superficial observations; understand her fully before forming an opinion.

Tulsidas ji never disrespected women. He revered Mother Sita, Trijata, and Mother Kaushalya. Even Kaikeyi, who exiled Ram, was never insulted by Tulsidas ji. The quatrain emphasizes understanding and caution, not punishment or oppression.

This quatrain should be interpreted as an admonition to understand and know the true nature of things and beings before engaging with them. It’s a lesson in caution and foresight.

Please stop misinterpreting and blaming Tulsidas ji. Goswami ji was a great poet, blessed by divine vision, and he could not have made such an error. The mistake is ours in misunderstanding his words.

In this Ram series, I will continue to explore and clarify the meanings of such quatrains. Please keep watching my channel. And if you haven’t subscribed yet, please do so for more insightful content. Thank you, and Jai Shri Ram!