KISHKINDHA KANDAM
Mutual help is the mark of friendship. Sugreeva stood in need of redemption from banishment and persecution. Further his wife has to be restored to him. His plight was identical with that of Rama in being empireless and bereft of wife. Mutual sympathy was therefore spontaneous. Each was in a position to help the other. Rama agreed to redress the wrongs that Vali had done to Sugreeva his younger brother. But before he launched out into action he wanted to know the cause of the trouble between the two. An undertaking must be backed by truth and righteousness. Sugreeva presented the case saying one demon known as Mayavi once attacked Kishkinda. Both Vali and Sugreeva rushed out to vanquish the offender. Mayavi ran away chased by the brothers. Finding a large cave the enemy entered into it for safety. Vali instructed the brother to keep watch at the mouth of the cave while he pursued the demon in the den. Sugreeva kept vigilant watch for one full year. A rumble resembling the voice of Vali was heard from within the cave. Subsequently blood was flowing out. Sugreeva thought that the asura had slain Vali. So he rolled a big rock and covered the cave to prevent the enemy from coming out. Pressed by the ministers Sugreeva assumed the throne of Vali. But actually what happened within the cave was that Vali managed to kill Mayavi. When the victor wanted to come out he found the mouth blocked. With great difficulty he pushed aside the boulder and came out with boiling anger. To add to his bitterness he found Sugreeva occupying his throne. Explanations were all rejected. Sugreeva's wife was forcibly taken possession of and he was banished from the kingdom. It was possible for Rama alone to set right this tragedy.
Rama assured Sugreeva that he would put an end to Vali's tyranny and that he would regain for him his wife and kingdom. But the later had his own doubts about the strength of the former compared with that of Vali. The monkey despot would every day jump to the four oceans for his morning ablutions. He could toss and play with a huge rock as if it were a tiny ball. He would uproot the huge trees in the forest with the ease of removing seedlings. Dundhubi was an asura in buffalo form. He had the strength of thousand elephants. No power on earth could contest with him. That demon fell foul of Vali, and challenged him for a fight. It was accepted. At the first round the buffalo demon was caught hold by the tail, whirled round like a sling and dashed to the earth. Nose bleeding, he rose to pierce Vali to death with his horns. But the horns were caught hold of, the head thrust violently to the ground and the body crushed like a pumpkin. Dundhubi was done to death. The huge corpse was lifted and flung far off. Drops of the dripping blood fell on Matanga Maharishi and polluted him while the dead body was whizzing through air. The polluted Maharishi spelt a curse, "He who is responsible for his pollution shall not enter this asrama; if he does, his head will crack." It was because of this curse Vali kept aloof from the precincts of the Matanga asrama. It therefore served as the asylum to Sugreeva.
Vali could with no strain uproot a saal tree and strip it of all leaves by a mere jerk. Rama and Lakshamana took this detailed account as a warning to them that Vali was a monkey of no mean valour. Sugreeva silently and politely expected some kind demonstration of Rama's prowess. Dundubhi's mound like skeleton was lying there. With a smart fillip of the toe Rama made it fly far off in the air before falling to the ground. Sugreeva appreciated it; but compared with Vali's throw of the three times heavy carcass, this act paled into insignificance. Piercing a saal tree with an arrow would be a better performance, thought Sugreeva. Rama did accordingly. The shaft whized through not one, but seven saal trees, touched the earth and returned to the arrow case fastened to Rama's shoulder! Sugreeva was amazed. No power on earth or in heaven could vanquish Rama. Friendship with him solved all life problem. Then the plan of encountering Vali was decided on.
All the three, Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva were to go to Kishkindha. The deprived and banished brother was to draw the aggressor into a combat. When it was in full swing Rama was to stay in ambush and discharge the death arrow on Vali. Accordingly Sugreeva made the war cry. Vali heard it and hastened in fury from his fortress.The duel began between the two brothers dragged on. Sugreeva glanced this side and that for Rama's promised help. But no help came.His strength was declining. He managed to snatch himself away from the grip of Vali and flee for life to Rishyamukha. In a while Rama and Lakshmana also made their appearance there. The failure of the plan was discussed. Sugreeva compained that he was left in the lurch if not betrayed.
Rama pleaded he was in a fix. Vali and Sugreeva were so much alike in appearance that it was difficult for him to distinguish the one from the other. He suggested a second challenge assuring death to the enemy. Lakshmana had put a flower garland on the neck of Sugreeva to mark him out from his brother. On the morrow in right time, Sugreeva hastened to Kishkinda, kept his allies hidden in a strategic spot and raised the war cry with a voice louder than that on the previous day. It touched Vali to the quick. He resolved this time not to have any brotherly consideration. He had put on the gold chain amulet gifted to him by Indra. With a terrific face he sprang to the door way. Now Tara the the sagacious of Vali instinctively intervened. She implored, "Lord, please pay heed to my prayer. The man who narrowly escaped death at your hand yesterday defies you today with an increased vigour. It indicates he has enlisted the help and protection of an invincible ally of tried valour. Our son Angada told me last night of the presence in this locality of Rama and Lakshmana, the princes of Ayodhya, young men of exemplary prowess. It seems Sugreeva has sought their help. After all, he is your brother. I beseech you; please call him in and become reconciled with him." Vali's face was aglow with anger. He thundered, "Am I to cringe in response to a defiant challenge? Will a warrior compromise with a foe who calls him to battle? Rama knows Dharma. He will not interfere in this domestic quarrel. Sugreeva is a nuisance to me. I shall teach this impudent fellow a lesson for life and return." Vali emerged from the fort like an angry tiger. The war ensued. The brothers fought valiantly. When Sugreeva was at the point of waning, a deadly arrow pierced the chest of Vali.
He fell like a clean cut forest tree. Vali also told that before he closed his eyes he would like to have a glance at the hero who aimed at him the fatal arrow. Rama and Lakshmana presented themselves graciously. Vali also asked Rama why he aimed at killing him when he was fighting with his own brother. Rama explained that it was not fair on Vali's part to try killing his own brother, who should be protected by him and also no evil or wicked person can escape from Rama. Vali in a very low tone and pain said Rama that he is supposed to be very kind hearted and then how was it possible for him to kill the monkey King. Rama was very clear in saying that animals are hunted by man without forewarning. But they do not come under that category for Vali is highly educated. Vali mistook Rama that he did this base act of pretension to back up with a wrong man like Sugreeva, only to acquire the Kishkinda kingdom. But however the magnanimous Rama did not speak anything in self defence, instead Lakshmana explained the position and happenings. Lakshmana explained Vali that Rama has voluntarily renounced his vast empire and taken to asceticism in order to redeem their father from the guilt of false promise. Rama also assisted the talking by saying that Vali and Ravana are equally bad for both did the same blunder of taking away someone's else wife. The only difference was that Ravana has stolen Sita and Vali has plundered Sugreeva's wife. Death is to be inflicted for the second rate offence of stealing another man's wife. But death is awarded for the greater offence of plundering another man's wife. Vali closes his eyes, reflects for a while and says to himself that his beloved wife Tara warned him, but he ignored her advice.
