Shambuka
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The oldest mention of Shambuka occurs in the Ramayana of Valmiki, in the last book of the epic Uttara-kanda. After Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya and is crowned the king of Ayodhya, the death of a child occurs in the kingdom[citation needed]. He is told that calamities such as this occur when Dharma is not followed in a kingdom. Rama tries to find out the reason and comes to know that a person of the Shudra jati, called Shambuka is performing penance which he is not supposed to do according to the Varna system of rules prevailing in that period[citation needed]. He is executed, by beheading, personally by Rama[citation needed].
This incident is quoted often as an example of caste/varna-based cruelty and to condemn Rama as a heartless, blind follower of varna-based rules, not the benevolent king devotees purport him to be. However, during the time of the Ramayana, the caste system as it is known today did not exist, rather individuals might have belonged to separate Varna or Jati [1].
After revealing to Rama the reason for the death of the son, it is added that this is the result of the Shudra violating the rules of the caste system[citation needed].
Kalidasa (circa A.D 4) mentions the incident of Shambuka in Raghuvamsa without any comment, whereas Bhavabhuti (circa A.D 7) is clearly uncomfortable with the story in his UttaraRamaCharita[citation needed].
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