Dharma and Disability in the Ramayana : A Philosophical Inquiry

The Valmiki Ramayana is respected as the Ādikāvya or first epic in Indian literary tradition. It offers a thoughtful examination of human values, emotions, and ethical dilemmas through the life of Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Rama lives in the world as a normal human being. The concepts of Dharma and Satya are central to its narrative, which Rama wants to teach to humanity through his life and endeavors. The text has been a subject of critical examination across generations through various philosophical, devotional, and critical literary lenses. Among so many disciplines of examination, disability studies examination seems relatively least explored. Even in the little exploration, disability studies unveiled an insightful mode of reading of the Ramayana. Manthara is often the most cited disabled figure in the epic; however, this article focuses on other characters, namely Jatayu, Kabandha, and Sampati. Their physical impairments are infrequently foregrounded in mainstream interpretations of disability studies. Through closely reading these characters, the article argues that their embodiment of dharma transcends their physical limitations, positioning them not as tragic or villainous figures but as moral agents whose actions contribute meaningfully to the epic’s ethical framework. In doing so, the research challenges conventional readings that equate disability with weakness or deviance, and it offers a more affirming view grounded in dharmic philosophical inquiry.