Did Tulsidas promote a society with caste violence?

Question

In Ramcharitmanas Sunderkand Paath Chaupai Part 59, Tulsidas writes:

ढोल गवाँर सूद्र पसु नारी। सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी॥3॥

This is translated as "Drums, the illiterate, lower caste, animals and women deserve a beating to straighten up and get the acts together." The mention of drums clearly refers to physically hitting.

But some people try and cover this up by fabricating translations which make no sense as per the dictionary, as per linguistics and as per Tulsidas himself. In another verse he wrote:

उर ताड़ना करहिं बिधि नाना। रोवत करहिं प्रताप बखाना।

She beat her chest in many ways and weep and praise the majesty of Ravana. Here the meaning of ताड़ना is again clearly physically hitting.Tulsidas also wrote:

सापत ताड़त परुष कहंता। बिप्र पूज्य अस गावहिं संता।

Here the word ताड़त (a different form of ताड़ना) is used to refer to beatings. This verse means a Brahmin should be respected even if his conduct is not good, and he curses, beats people, or speaks harshly

Did Tulsidas promote a Hindu society with caste violence?

Answer 1

This verse is found in the Sundarkanda, Doha 58, Verse 3 of Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas.

First thing first. This is said not by Lord Rama. This is told by the Ocean.

The second thing, "taran" does not mean physical beating. Women are highly respected in Hindu Society. No Hindu scripture says all women deserve beating as your translation suggests. On the contrary, you will find so many verses in Hindu scriptures that say never physically beat a woman. So your translation is wrong as it is not consistent with the Hindu views of life.

Also, you must understand that we use figurative speeches a lot. If a wife says to her husband - I made this dish with lots of love that does not mean that love is an ingredient of that dish. You cannot understand the real meaning of a word in isolation, you have to understand it in that specific context. This is especially so if you are reading poetry. When reading poetry, you must also read between the lines!

What the verse means is the following. This translation is from Gita Press Edition.

The god presiding over the ocean clasped the Lord's feet in dismay. "Forgive, my lord, all my faults. Ether, air, fire, water and earth - all these, my lord, are dull by nature. It is Maya (Cosmic Nature) which brought them forth for the purpose of creation under an impulse from You; so declare all the scriptures. One would attain happiness in life only by remaining where he has been placed by the Lord. My Lord has done well in giving me a lesson; but You have fixed certain limits for everyone. A drum, a rustic, a Sudra, a beast and a woman - all these deserve instructions. By the Lord's glory I shall be dried up and the army will cross over; but this will bring no credit to me. Your command, however is inviolable; thus declare the Vedas, I shall do at once what pleases You."

As you see what the ocean tried to convey is that he initially did not allow Rama to cross the ocean because he is dull. He needed instruction like all dull person needs to comprehend something and do it properly as required. In that context, to make his position relatable he gave that metaphor. Yes, a metaphor, nothing more than that.

Even if you see the meaning of tarana in isolation, it could mean thrashing, as well as admonition etc. Not just thrashing. Depending on the context, it could be thrashing or admonition etc.