Why Rama punished a person in Penance? The story of the killing of Shambuka

The killing of Shambuka appears in the Valmiki Ramayana, Book 7, the 'Uttarakanda' [Final Chapter], sargas 73-76. Crucial 3 scene-setting sargas are presented.

(73) When Rama is reigning as a virtuous king, a humble aged Brahmin comes to him, weeping, with his dead son in his arms. He says that Rama must have committed some sin, or else his son would not have died. (74) The sage Narada explains to Rama that a Shudra is practicing penances, and this is the cause of the child's death. (75) Rama goes on a tour of inspection in his flying chariot, and finds an ascetic doing austerities, and asks who he is.

"(76) Hearing the [inquiring] words of Rama of imperishable exploits, that ascetic, his head still hanging downwards [as part of his austerities] answered: — 'O Rama, I was born of a Shudra alliance, and I am performing this rigorous penance in order to acquire the status of a God in this body. I am not telling a lie, O Rama, I wish to attain the Celestial Region. Know that I am a Shudra and my name is Shambuka.' As he was yet speaking, Raghava [Rama], drawing his brilliant and stainless sword from its scabbard, cut off his head. The Shudra being slain, all the Gods and their leaders with Agni's followers, cried out, 'Well done! Well done!' overwhelming Rama with praise, and a rain of celestial flowers of divine fragrance fell on all sides, scattered by Vayu. In their supreme satisfaction, the Gods said to that hero, Rama: — 'Thou hast protected the interests of the Gods, O Highly Intelligent Prince, now ask a boon, O beloved Offspring of Raghu, Destroyer of Thy Foes. By thy grace, this Shudra will not be able to attain heaven!'" (583-84)

Source: http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/mmt/ambedkar/

At that very moment the Shambuka’s death, Brahman boy in distant Ayodhya began to breathe again.

Or if you like comics, think of Shambuka as Norman Osborn, the villain in the Spiderman movie. In each case, a wicked person on the cusp of attaining a powerful thing was fought by the hero. But Shudra is not wicked person but lowest ranking class (fourth Varna) in India(http://www.everyculture.com/South-Asia/Sudra.html). Today Sudras commonly are self-employed farmers, but they may also be found in all walks of modern life. They number several hundred million, and they include hundreds of castes in every part of the country.

A racial justification for this state of affairs is implied in the earliest Sanskrit writings. Ancient systems were bit rigid for equal learning for lower castes. If you were a Shudra and you are taking risk of death for education in the ancient times. It is difficult especially for women. There is a failure in distinguishing cleanliness in external and internal(holiness) in Hinduism, resulted rigid untouchability caste system in India.

Bhagavad GITA: 4.13 The four Varna or divisions of human society, based on aptitude and vocation, were created by Me. 

Bhagavad Gita 3.35 -It is far better to discharge one’s prescribed duties, even though faultily, than another’s duties perfectly. Destruction in the course of performing one’s own duty is better than engaging in another’s duties, for to follow another’s path is dangerous.

Brahma-Sutras 1-3-38 -And because of the prohibition in the Smrti of hearing and studying (the Vedas) and knowing their meaning and performing their Vedic rites to Sudras, they are not entitled to the Knowledge of Brahman.

Sutras 34-38 of Brahma-Sutras disqualify the Sudras for the Knowledge of Brahman (Supreme Reality) through the study of the Vedas. But it is possible for them to attain that Knowledge through the Puranas and the epics (Ramayana and the Mahabharata)

Social stratification exists in every culture in the world. There isn't a single society without it. 

In ancient India harmonious caste-based society was achieved by firm social structures. Brahmin don't own property. No corruption. Kings surrounded by powerful counsel of ministers. Vaisya did business. Sudra serves all upper castes.

*Why Rama punished a person in... - Navaneet Pandurangan | Facebook

Homo Sapiens: Innovations in Money

What made humans create money? 

Homo sapiens are adept at inventing imaginary concepts like money, superbeings, and belief systems, fostering unparalleled collaboration. Monkeys can collaborate only in fingerful numbers, but humans, with their imaginary creations, can collaborate in planetful numbers.

Humans invented belief systems, allowing large groups to share a common set of morals and beliefs, enhancing great human collaboration.

Money, his next imaginary system, transcends various belief systems, cultures, and religions, connecting all humans. Sapiens turned paper into an 'I owe you' dollar note. On a dollar bill, you'll find 'Federal Reserve Note' and 'This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private'. For monkeys, a coconut for a banana makes sense; paper does not. But humans use special paper as money to sell a banana and buy pepper with the same paper in a shop. As long as everyone agrees and honors the paper, it makes sense as money in human imagination. Before paper, there were barter system, commodity money, and metal money.

Bitcoin is a modern invention akin to 'unbreakable money,' a transition from physical to digital currency, akin to shifting from ritual to virtual/spiritual reality. More powerful than any government note, Bitcoin is virtual, with no physical form like the concept of Brahman in Hindu philosophy - neither form nor formless. Just as Brahman eludes definition, Bitcoin defies the conventional understanding of what currency should be – an ethereal presence, both everywhere and nowhere at once.

Unlike centralized government-issued paper currency, Bitcoin is decentralized, beyond any single government's control. If governments try to challenge it, draws strength, becoming more robust against these attacks (like the character Vali in the Ramayana, who gains half of his opponent strength). In the face of opposition, Bitcoin, too, adapts, like Mahishi taking many copies of herself to storm the Svargaloka/celestial world/heaven in Ayyappan mythological story.

Though invisible, Bitcoin's transactions are invincible, due to 'proof of work.'

Bitcoin encompasses thousands of years of monetary history, blockchain technology, cryptography, decentralization, Proof of Work (PoW), digital scarcity, trust in technology, investment psychology, supply and demand, inflation, monetary policy, open-source development, communication network, network consensus, game theory, philosophy, energy, software, legal frameworks, and financial innovation.

Governments might be compelled to embrace or replicate Bitcoin's methodology. It's nearly impossible to counterfeit, and its high divisibility allows for micro-transactions. It's accessible to the unbanked population, offering transparency and the ability for public auditing, reducing fraud and corruption. It also supports smart contracts within its ecosystem. You can send the money to remote parts in a remote continent who doesn't even have bank account. It is too difficult to accomplish with a fiat currency.

Bitcoin, limited to 21 million coins, creates 'digital gold,' an evolution of the gold standard used by civilizations like the Varna, Sumerians, Minoans, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, who valued gold for its rarity and used it extensively.

Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous, conducted using public addresses (a string of alphanumeric characters) rather than personal information like names or physical addresses. Every Bitcoin transaction is recorded on a public ledger and the transactions are linked to Bitcoin addresses, not directly to personal identities. Bitcoin transactions are traceable and permanently recorded on the blockchain without a identify disclosure. The system relies on cryptographic principles to secure transactions. With additional tools, users can further obfuscate the link between Bitcoin transactions and their real-world identities.

Bitcoin's immutability ensures the integrity of every transaction, offering zero-cost transactions even for large amounts, like a $2 billion transfer in August 2023.

El Salvador's decision to adopt Bitcoin aims to assist its 70% unbanked population and manage remittances, which comprise over 20% of its GDP, a path also followed by the Central African Republic.

Every individual on our planet has the potential to explore the wealth trillions of stars and planets in the universe. Learn how to swim and sail safely in the ocean of wealth/money. You cannot drink all the ocean of wealth but enjoy your shared journey in the ocean of wealth.