September 8 - Sargas 10 and 11 of Kishkindha Kanda.
A deeply distressed Sugriva tries his best to placate his brother and correct Vali's impression that Sugriva had coveted the crown in his absence.
अभिषिक्तो न कामेन तन्मेत्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि "I was crowned not by my wish but on the insistence of the anxious ministers and citizens. So you should forgive me."
सामात्यपौरनगरं स्थितं निहतकण्टकम् "With the help of ministers and citizens I have ensured the country is free from dangers and troubles in your absence. "
Sugriva explains again how he thought Vali must have been killed, after waiting for more than a year. The rush of blood convinced him that the worst had happened. Sugriva also offers with the utmost sincerity all the royal paraphernalia to Vali guaranteeing him that he has been only a trustee and will be most happy to remain always as Vali's faithful servant.
But Vali does not cool down one bit. He calls a big assembly of all citizens and ministers. He roundly scolds Sugriva and openly accuses him of an unholy greed for kingship. He explains how the battle had to be fought in that deep cave after searching for Mayavi which alone had taken a whole year. After he slew the rakshasa and his fellows, there was a flood of their blood that blocked his escape. Somehow he reached the exit but found it had been blocked with a huge rock by this evil Sugriva. He had to struggle to kick the rock repeatedly till it broke and he could come out.
Vali speaks in the sternest terms to all those who take Sugriva's side. He banishes him from the kingdom. Only four trusted lieutenants including the great Hanuman decide to leave with Sugriva. Vali takes away Sugriva's wife.
***
Sugriva is mortified with fear of Vali. He has been running all over the world finding no safe haven. At last, he has come here to hide in Rishayamuka which is safe from Vali's attack for a reason.
Sugriva volunteers information about Vali's might. Vali used, as a daily exercise, to fly to mountain peaks in the north, south, east, and west. He would uproot mountains and throw them up for fun.
***
Once a rakshasa called Dundubhi (uncle of Mayavi) became very arrogant after receiving boons that he would possess the strength of a thousand elephants. He started roaming the earth challenging people to a battle. He first went to the lord of the seas. He asked him to offer him a battle worthy of his prowess. When the lord of seas refused, saying he was unequal to Dundubhi, the rakshasa ridiculed him and asked who did he think would give him a fitting battle? The lord of the seas said perhaps Himavan, the father-in-law of Lord Shiva. Dundubhi gleefully flew to Himalayas and started breaking its peaks and destroying its forests. Himavan appeared and pleaded that long ago, Himavan had given up violence and he was now fully occupied with hosting great rishis who came to his snow peaks for tapas. So he would not offer a battle. When Dundubhi again teased him to suggest anyone else worthy, Himavan suggested the vanara king, and son of Indra, Vali. Vali was immensely powerful and intelligent too.
Dundhbhi's chosen form was that of a demonic buffalo with huge horns and even large sharp teeth. He landed in front of Kishkindha's main gate at night. He made a huge noise and damaged its entrance. Vali was as usual sporting with his women in his bed-chamber. He came out along with his women to find out what all the noise was about. When he saw Dundubhi, Vali told him that he well knew who he was and what was his arrogance about. Dundubhi ridiculed Vali. He told Vali to sport that night with his women to his heart's content, enjoy the pleasures of Kishkindha one last time, appoint his successor, and come out next day to die in the battle with Dundubhi.
***
यो हि मत्तं प्रमत्तं वा सुप्तं वा रहितं मृशम् ।
हन्यात् भ्रूणहा लोके तद्विधं मदमोहितम् ॥
Dundubhi tells Vali: "Anyone person who is drunk, heedless and unguarded, asleep, without weapons, or overcome by lust, should not be killed as his killer will incur the same sin as that of killing a foetus in the womb."
***
Vali sent away Tara, his wife, and other women. He said if he was drunk, it was only with the drink for battle readiness. He removed the golden necklace gifted to him by his father, Indra. He then simply grasped the two big horns of Dundubhi, and lifted him, and smashed him on the ground. They both roared as they battled fiercely. As Vali struck Dundubhi repeatedly with his fists, throwing rocks and trees at him, and kicking him with deathly blows, the rakshasa grew weak and succumbed to a Vali whose strength kept increasing. Finally, Dundubhi was crushed into a dead mass of bleeding flesh.
Vali lifted the bleeding body of Dundubhi and threw it a yojana away ( about 8 miles). Unfortunately, the drops of Dundubhi's blood spilled all over Matanga Muni's ashrama and incensed the sage. The sage came out and saw the carcass of Dundubhi. Matanga, by his spiritual vision, saw what had happened. The sage then cursed that Vali should never enter those premises as he had defiled it. If he did, he would die. Similarly, any monkeys aligned with Vali in any way would turn to stone if they intruded there.
Vali came to know of this curse from the monkeys who at once fled from Matanga's hermitage, and came to him. Vali was truly repentant and went and apologized to the sage, but to no avail.
That is why Rishyamuka is safe for Sugriva to hide from Vali. It is protected by Matanga's curse and kill Vali at once if he enters the area.
***
Sugriva also shows the huge mass of bones remaining there from Dundubhi's body. He says that Vali could denude a big saal tree of all its branches and leaves in just one stroke with his powerful hands. Sugriva now asks Sri Rama, "having heard all this, do you still think you can overcome Vali?"
Lakshmana smiles to hear this and asks Sugriva what proof would convince him of Sri Rama's power.
Sugriva suggests, " Can Rama even lift this Dundubhi's skeleton and hurl it a few hundred yards? "
***
Sri Rama's eyes turn red in anger. Sugriva concludes his story, saying that Vali has never been defeated in any battle. Even gods are afraid of Vali. That is why Sugriva's only course was to hide here.
***
Of course, Sri Rama was a great and reliable friend now. But then, Sugriva had not seen for himself Sri Rama's valour and so unsure if Rama would be able to face Vali.
Sri Rama smiled.
यदि न प्रत्ययोऽस्मासु विक्रमे तव वानर ।
प्रत्ययं समरे श्लाघ्यमहमुत्पादयामि ते ॥
"Oh Vanara (a hint of contempt here), if you have gained no faith so far in our valour, I shall now give you sufficient proof that will create immense faith in my prowess."
Having spoken thus, Sri Rama coolly and smilingly went to the skeleton of Dundubhi lying nearby, and, in an instant, with his toe flicked it ten yojanas ( about 80 miles) away.
But Sugriva said, " Oh Rama, remember Vali flung it at the end of a tiring battle when he was drunk so it fell only one yojana away. Now it is also much lighter as all the flesh has disappeared, and only the bones remain."
Sugriva then asked if Rama could pierce the huge saal tree nearby with a single arrow? That would establish Sri Rama's prowess indubitably...
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
