September 11 - Sargas 16 and 17 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Vali summarily dismisses the caution advised by his queen Tara.
न च कार्यो विषादस्ते राघवं प्रति मत्कृते ।
धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च कथं पापं करिष्यति ॥
निवार्तस्व सह स्त्रीभिः कथं भूयोऽनुगच्छसि ।
सौहृदं दर्शितं तावन्मयि भक्तिस्त्वया कृता ॥
प्रतियोत्साम्यहं गत्वा सुग्रीवं जहि सम्भ्रमम् ।
दर्प चास्य विनेष्यामि न च प्राणैर्वियोक्ष्यते ॥
Vali is first irritated by Tara's advice. He tells her that being the supreme, undefeated, king of vanaras, he has none to fear in this world. He could not also ignore a battle cry, especially from his despicable brother.
"Dear Tara, you have no reason at all to fear anything untoward will happen to me from Rama. You have yourself described him to be a knower of Dharma and one's duty, so he will not do anything sinful.
"Tara, you please go back with the other women of the palace. Do not come with me. You have shown your devotion and concern for my well-being.
"I shall go and merely respond to Sugriva's battle cry. I shall remove his arrogance and beat him up, but his life will be spared."
A weeping Tara circumambulates Vali, prays for his safety and returns to the palace.
***
Vali sees a glowing Sugriva, radiant and ready. On seeing Vali, Sugriva roars that he will kill Vali with fists. Vali rushes and pounces on Sugriva. Sugriva rains a blow on him. Vali gives him a very powerful blow. A bleeding Sugriva looks and uproots a sala tree and thrashes Vali with it. Vali reels from the blow. Soon he recovers and the brothers go at each other with fists, kicks, throwing trees and rocks in fierce combat.
***
Valmiki says they were swift like the Garuda and radiant like the sun and the moon. Their duel was indeed gruesome and impressive. Slowly, Sugriva started losing his strength and Vali redoubled his strikes. Sugriva anxiously cast glances in the direction of Sri Rama.
Sri Rama decided that he had to act. He chose a sharp gold-tipped arrow with silver ornamentation. He set it to his mighty bow and, pulling it back up to his shoulder with a hissing sound that alarmed all creatures around, released it. It went straight and pierced Vali's heart. Vali fell to the ground, held in the throes of death.
***
Vali lay spreadeagled on the ground, bleeding profusely. Valmiki compares him to Indra's glorious flag, fallen to the ground.
Although life was ebbing away, Vali's lustre and splendour and radiance were undiminished, protected as he was by the golden necklace given to him by his father, Indra.
Sri Rama and Lakshmana approached Vali, lying on the ground, full of admiration for the warrior he was. Vali spoke with much feeling.
"Oh Rama, you are the son of a noble king, and your fame is rooted in goodness. What merit did you earn by striking me when I was engaged in fighting another?
"A king has to be righteous, truthful, just, and act appropriately. Although I was warned by Tara, I went by your reputation.
"What made you strike me with your arrow? We are denizens of the jungle living on fruits and roots. You are human and from a great lineage. But I think you are a prerender and an opportunist.
साम दानं क्षमा धर्मस्सत्यं धृतिपराक्रमौ ।
पार्थिवानां गुणा राजन् दण्डश्चाप्यपराधिषु ॥
"Kings should practice these - cultivating friendship by appeasement, or charity, or righteous acts, truthfulness, forbearance, and military prowess. They should also mete out just punishment to the culprits.
"You have displayed your unrighteousness and meanness by striking me. Men fight over land, wealth, or women. I have no quarrel with you on any of these three. Then why did you kill me?
"I cannot imagine you hunted me for meat although I belong to an animal species. Vanaras are not eaten by humans as their hairy coat and flesh make them unsuitable.
"I tell you, if only you had come face to face in a battle today with me, I would have sent you to Yama.
"And you chose unwisely to align with Sugriva to get your wife back. If only you had come to me, I would have brought Maithili Sita back to you in a day, after going and defeating Ravana in his den. It was so easy for me to bring back Sita after killing Ravana.
"Now, on my death, Sugriva will inherit the kingdom. That is only fair. But your killing me like this is most unrighteous and unjustifiable."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
