September 9 - Sargas 12 and 13 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Hearing Sugriva's words, it was clear to Sri Rama that he had to instill confidence in Surgiva with regard to his own ability to counter the mighty Vali.
प्रत्ययार्थं महातेजा रामो जग्राह कार्मुकम् "To inspire Sugriva's confidence, Sri Rama took up his mighty bow."
स विसृष्टो बलवता बाणः स्वर्णपरिष्कृतः ।
भित्वा सालान् गिरिप्रस्थं सप्तं भूमिं विवेश ह ॥
सायकस्तु मुहूर्तेन सालान् भित्त्वा महाजवः ।
निष्पत्य च पुनस्तूर्णं तमेव प्रविवेश ह ॥
तान्दृष्ट्वा सप्त निर्भिन्नान् सालान् वानरपुङ्गवः ।
रामस्य शरवेगेन विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥
"Sri Rama released a golden-tipped arrow with tremendous force. That arrow went and pierced seven sala trees in a line, and went further on and pierced the earth too. Then in a moment, that arrow miraculously emerged from the earth and quickly went back and nestled in Sri Rama's glorious quiver."
"The supreme vanara Sugriva, beholding the lightning speed and might and efficiency of Sri Rama's arrow, and seeing how it split seven sala trees in one go, was simply awestruck."
Sugriva prostrated to Sri Rama, with his ornaments stretched on the ground, and paid his immense respect Sri Rama, who stood for righteousness as well as supreme mastery of all weapons। He said, "Oh, Sri Rama, now I know that you can defeat Indra and all the gods too with your arrows, what to speak of Vali!" Let us remember that Vali was Indra's son and derived his strength from Indra himself.
Sugriva expressed his total confidence that one who could split seven sala trees with a single arrow was assured of victory in a battle of any kind. He thanked his fortune for having found a reliable friend in Sri Rama. He beseeched Sri Rama to now get rid of Vali, his brother who had turned into his most hostile enemy.
Sri Rama smiled, embraced Sugriva, and on Sri Rama's instruction, they all went at once to Kishkindha. As Sri Rama and others hid behind a thick clump of trees, Sugriva girded up his loins and let out a terrific battle cry for Vali that pierced the skies.
Hearing this battle cry from Sugriva, Vali was enraged. He at once rushed out, like the sun rising from the west. (This Valmiki phrase bodes ill for Vali).
As Sri Rama watched, the two brothers struck each other with terrific blows of their palms, fists, and feet. They were like Mercury and Mars at war. They resembled the twin gods Ashwini.
Unfortunately, Sri Rama could not tell who was Vali, and who was Surgiva, He had his arrow ready in his raised bow, but he decided not to shoot the arrow. Vali thrashed Sugriva badly and Sugriva beat a hasty retreat to Rishyamuka. Vali pursued bleeding and mauled Surgiva up to the Matanga ashrama, but stopped short remembering the Muni's curse. He told Sugriva, "this time you have escaped!" and left.
When Sri Rama, Lakshmana, and Hanuman came back to Surgiva, he looked badly beaten and ashamed. Looking down at the ground, he said Sri Rama had displayed his prowess and instigated him to a battle with Vali, but instead of killing Vali, he had allowed Vali to beat up Sugriva badly. Alas, if Sugriva had known that Sri Rama would do nothing, he would not have stirred from Rishyamuka.
Sri Rama spoke calmly to Sugriva. "Listen, Sugriva, please cool down from your anger. You look so similar to Vali in your build, ornaments, movements, voice, and demeanour. You matched each other stroke for stroke. Therefore it was impossible for me to tell who is Surgiva and who is Vali. I dared not release the arrow lest I kill you instead of Vali."
त्वयि वीर विपन्ने हि अज्ञानाल्लाघवान्मया ।
मौढ्यं च मम बाल्यं च ख्यापितं स्यात् कपीश्वर ॥
"Oh Valiant Surgiva, the king of vanaras, if I had in haste or indiscretion released that arrow and brought you down by mistake, I would have gained great infamy for my childish act and stupidity."
"After all, along with Lakshmana and Sita, I have come to you for refuge. How could I allow myself to take such a risk of dealing a fatal blow to you!?"
"Well, nothing is lost yet. Dear Sugriva, please go and challenge Vali again to a battle. You will see this time that this single arrow of mine will bring down Vali to the ground in an instant. But this time, we will put some kind of identification mark on you so I know who Vali is and who you are. Lakshmana, kindly go and fetch a creeper full of the auspicious Gajapushpi flowers and let us put it as a garland around Sugriva's neck." Lakshmana promptly fashioned a garland of Gajapushpi flowers and put it round Sugriva's neck. Valmiki compares Sugriva with those flowers to a thick raincloud with a flock of white cranes flying in formation against it.
They all proceeded again to Kishkindha.
***
As the strong necked Sugriva and Lakshmana walked, Sri Rama, with his mighty bow and golden arrows, walked like the Sun god. Behind him came Hanuman, Nala, Neela, and Tara (this is a vanara chief, with the same name as Vali's wife Tara).
Valmiki chooses to describe in detail the mountains, forests, flowering trees, and beautiful animals and birds they saw along the way. The flowers looked like gems. The enchanting region attracted Sri Rama's great curiosity. He enquired of Surgiva what was this enchanting place? Sugriva replied that this was once the habitation of seven rishis called Saptajana. They lived only on air, and inhaled only once in seven days. They had performed unbelievable austerities for seven hundred years before leaving their bodies and attaining salvation. Their austerities had transformed this place into an enchanting garden with fragrances, auspicious musical sounds, and ever-flowering trees. But animals and birds avoided entering the garden as nobody who entered it could go out alive.
The place was sacred and Sugriva told Sri Rama and Lakshmana to bow down to the spirit of those rishis. Their blessings would ensure that they would not suffer any loss or come to any grief hereafter.
Sri Rama and Lakshmana bowed down reverently. They all then proceeded to Kishkindha.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
