RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI PART II (5)

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Om Sri Sai Ram

 

RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI – PART – II [5]

The Rama Story, Stream of Sacred Sweetness

As told by the Divine Lord Himself in the present Avatar as Bhagawan

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Chapter 4(a)

An Ally Accepted

 

Thus, Rama and Lakshmana fulfilled the deep yearnings of Sabari and

filled her departing soul with bliss. They continued their journey

through the forest, moving like twin lions, talking about the

devotion and immeasurable dedication of the aged aspirant, Sabari.

Traveling fast, they approached the Rishyamuka mountain Range. Amidst

the hills of that range, Sugriva was residing as a refugee, with his

Ministers and Courtiers. Sugriva espied the two brothers, nearing the

hills and was astonished at their noble mien and mighty stride. They

appeared to be Divine. Sugriva was ever on the watch for strange

faces nearing his habitat, for, he was afraid, his elder brother,

Vali, might torment him, even in his present home, by sending

emissaries of death or distress. He had his eyes on all lines of

access to his craggy residence. He was frightened at the gait and the

glory of the two strangers; he was anxious to know quickly who they

were and what their mission was. So, he called Hanuman to his

presence and said, " Mighty hero! Have you noticed those two effulgent

personalities? Do not delay any longer; go, inquire who they are and

why they have come and from where. Bring me all the news you can

gather. If by some chance they happen to be persons sent by Vali,

give me a signal. I shall be watching for it - bend your head low

over your chest. That will do. I shall immediately arrange to give up

this hill for another. "

 

Sugriva gave him various directions and suggestions to meet all

contingencies. Hanuman hurried towards the strangers by leaps and

bounds; reaching their presence, he fell at their feet in great

reverence. He said, " O Shining Ones! You arouse deep wonder and

curiosity in me. Your charming forms are attracting my mind with a

strange yearning. You look so tender and innocent. Indeed, you are

not mere men. Of that, I am convinced. I guess you are the Divine

pair Nara-Narayana, come down on earth. Won't you tell me why you are

going through this jungle, with no others to serve or guide you? "

Hanuman questioned them in great humility and reverence.

 

Rama appreciated the devotion and humility of Hanuman. There was a

smile on his face when he replied, " We are the sons of Emperor

Dasaratha, ruler of Ayodhya. We entered the forest. This is my

brother, Lakshmana. My name is Rama. My wife too came with me into

the forest; but, while we were residing at Panchavati some Rakshasa

carried her away when both of us were absent from our cottage. Now,

we are moving around in this area, searching for her, intent on

knowing her whereabouts and on regaining her. " Rama spoke to Hanuman

without any inhibitions, the plain facts which could explain their

presence near their range of hills. He said, " Well! I have given you

my antecedents and story. I like to know about yours, too. " Hanuman

realized that the brothers were his own Overlords; so, he fell at

their feet once again to pay respectful homage. Rising up, and

standing before them on one side, shedding streams of tears in sheer

joy and devotion, he could not speak at all.

 

At last, gathering courage, and standing with folded arms, he said in

a faltering voice: " Lord! I am a stupid ignoramus; that is the reason

why I questioned you so; pardon my audacity and my foolishness, O,

Monarch of Monarchs! You are asking me to tell you my antecedents and

present condition, as if you are ordinary mortals who can know them

only when told. Is this just? I could not know who you were, bound,

as I am by the Delusion which you yourselves spread over us. Lord!

You are mighty and unconquerable. How can the servant be on a par

with the Lord and Master? All beings are overcome and deluded by your

strategy and plan! I desire to make a declaration, for which my Lord

is witness. I know no other activity than adoring my Lord. When the

servant is fostered and guarded by his Lord, why should he fear? The

might of the Lord is the shield of the servant " Saying so, Hanuman

assumed his real form. Rama was fined with delight at the sight of

Hanuman; he embraced him, " You are as dear to me as Lakshmana is. " He

drew Him to himself and fondled him lovingly stroking his head and

gently touching his forehead and face. He said, " Hanuman! I shower my

Love most on those who serve me and who deem that service as the

highest means of liberation " . At this, Hanuman said, " Lord! Sugriva,

the Ruler of the Vanaras hordes, has drawn upon himself through

various circumstances, the enmity of his elder brother Vali and he

has been driven out of his kingdom as an exile into this forest where

he has taken residence. He too is your servant. He deserves your

affection and blessings. Confer Grace on him and release him from the

disgrace he is now immersed in. He has the capacity and authority to

send millions of monkeys all over the world to seek and find Sita. He

is the Monarch of Monkeys. He can achieve victory in that

undertaking. " Hanuman detailed the manifold excellences and

capabilities of Sugriva, and persuaded Rama to seek his friendship.

When Rama decided on that step, Hanuman offered to carry them on his

shoulders, right to the top of the mountain range where Sugriva was.

 

Sugriva was delighted at the sight of Rama and Lakshmana. Sugriva

understood the reasons why Rama had come into the forest and to him.

They both sympathized with each other and appreciated each other's

distress. They felt bound by common bonds of comradeship. Sugriva

fell at the feet of Rama and Lakshmana, and offered reverential

hospitality. Rama assured Sugriva that he would destroy his fear and

remove his distress, for, he was the embodiment of compassion itself.

And, Sugriva too promised to sacrifice everything, even his own life,

in the service of Rama. The vow of everlasting friendship was

solemnized with ritual Fire as witness. For, Fire is present as

warmth and light in the heart of every living being; fire that is

present in the inner consciousness can burn away any wavering or

waywardness that might affect the vow. In fact, Fire or Agni (the

subtle Divine Effulgence and Illumination which is the core of Fire)

is the chief element in the Ramayana. Rama was born of the nectarine

gift brought by the God of Fire from out of the sacrificial altar

Sita was wedded to Rama with Agni as the Witness. Agni destroyed

Lanka. It was in Agni that the Reality, the principle of Sita was

kept in deposit while Ravana took her to Lanka, and it was from Agni

that she was again redeemed, when the war with Ravana ended in

victory for Rama. The implication is that the heart of Rama was

cleansed and rid of alloy with each contact with Agni. For, Rama is

the symbol of Jnana or the Supremest Wisdom. He is the symbol of the

Supreme Morality, too. So, the pact with Sugriva was affirmed and

sanctified by invoking Agni (Fire) as the Witness. Lakshmana sought

to deepen faith and tighten the bond, by relating to Sugriva the

Truth of Rama and the mission on which he had come.

 

He told him also of Sita and her Divinity. She was the daughter of

the King of Mithila, he said, and so she can be won and her blessings

secured, only by untiring Mathana, or Churning, or Sadhana. Listening

to him, Sugriva shed tears of contrition. He said, " Master! One day,

while I was engaged in exchanging counsel with my ministers, I heard

the cry, 'Rama! Rama!' from the sky, from within the Pushpaka

chariot, which we saw flying through space. While we were watching

this strange scene, she threw a bundle tied in cloth down to where we

stood. It was a bundle of jewels and so, we have preserved it intact

and safe. It is very likely that the Rakshasa called Ravana has

carried her away. For there is no iniquity that Ravana has not

committed so far. " Sugriva gnashed his teeth in anger at the monster

whom he suspected as having done this foul deed. Rama asked that the

bundle of jewels be brought. At this, Sugriva himself rose and

proceeding to the cave where he had hidden it, he carried it to the

Presence and placed it before Rama. The cloth in which the jewels

were bundled was a part of the fiber cloth, which his stepmother had

thrown towards Sita, so that she might wear it while in exile as a

recluse in the forest. Recognizing it as such, Lakshmana shed tears.

Seeing him overcome, Sugriva and Hanuman also became sad. Rama

loosened the knots and undid the bundle; he showed the contents to

Lakshmana in order to confirm whether the jewels were those of Sita

herself. Lakshmana declared that he could not identify them all, for,

he had never raised his eyes and looked at Sita. " I have seen only

the toe-rings that sister-in-law wore; for I used to prostrate at her

Feet every day. Yes. These are the toe-rings she wore; I can

vouchsafe for that. While moving through the jungles, I used to

follow her and walk on her footsteps. You know that you always walked

in front and I followed behind Sita. I was walking, watching her feet

and so, I know these rings quite well. " Sugriva and Hanuman looked on

wistfully at the brothers, when they acted their roles and were

deeply moved at the sight of the jewels dropped by Sita. Sugriva

could not bear it any longer. He said, " Lord! Do not give way to

sorrow. This day itself I shall set on foot plans to discover where

Sita is, and for destroying the wicked Ravana. I shall bring Sita

back and make you both happy. This is my plighted word, my sacred

promise. "

 

Rama expressed great satisfaction at this promise. He said, " Tell me

in detail the reason why you are residing in this forest and not in

your capital. " At this, Sugriva described consecutively and in clear

concise terms, as beads are strung on a string to form a garland or

rosary, who his parents were, which his real place of residence was,

what were the reasons for the enmity that grew between himself and

his elder brother etc. Rama felt that the story of Sugriva was more

or less a kin to his own, especially the separation from the wife and

the exile from the Kingdom. He felt that Sugriva was upright and

just, and that Vali deserved punishment since he had carried away his

brother's wife, a crime which the code of monkey morals will not

excuse.

 

Rama asked Sugriva to tell him the story of his birth. Sugriva

replied, " Yes. I seek to place at your feet the chronicle of the

origins and fortunes of my entire clan. Once upon a time, Brahma, the

Creator, created a monkey form. It was endowed with great might; but

it was ever wayward in movements and activities. So, Brahma named it

Ruksharaj; when it demanded to be told where it should reside, Brahma

directed, 'Live in the forest, for, there you can move as your

waywardness dictates. And, when you catch a Rakshasa, kill him and

save the area from his misdeeds'. Ruksharaja migrated to the southern

region and followed Brahma's instructions. One day, the monkey

Ruksharaja went to a lake to slake its thirst and when it dipped its

face on the surface of the clear water, it saw its image in the lake.

It was much concerned, for, evidently there was an enemy hiding in

the lake, lying in wait for him! It roamed all round the shore of the

lake, eager to catch the enemy when it popped out of the waters. The

enemy inside the lake roared when he roared, gnashed its teeth when

he did so; it echoed, reflected, all noise and all gestures. Unable

to control himself any longer, Ruksha jumped into the lake to

strangle his rival. That jump transformed him into a female! Struck

with amazement, she came on shore; and turning to the Sun, she prayed

for Grace. She also prayed to Indra, with great mental anguish.

Through the Grace of Surya (the Sun) she got a son, that is, Sugriva,

myself; and through the Grace that Indra bestowed on her, she got

another son, Vali, my brother. Immediately after the birth of the two

children, she became once again, Ruksharaja! Ruksha took the two

babies with him and approached Brahma for instructions. He related to

Brahma his entire story so that He could recollect the facts of his

decision thus: " 0 Vali and Sugriva! Go into the regions of the South

and establish yourselves in Kishkindha. The Lord of all the Worlds,

the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe, He who is known by many Names

will take birth as Rama, as the son of Emperor Dasaratha of the Raghu

Dynasty; he will come into the forest according to his father's

command; he will engage himself in many superhuman achievements; he

will also behave like an ordinary mortal. During his wanderings, he

will arrive at Kishkindha where you are and form friendship with you.

Seek the fortune of securing his Darshan, hearing him speak and

touching his feet. Your lives will be rendered blessed thereby. "

 

" We listened to the Voice of Brahma addressing us thus. We were

delighted at the prospect that lay before us. We did not undertake

any Japa, austerity, ritual or Yajna; all our talents and

accomplishments were the direct result of the Grace that Brahma

showered on us that day. When that Voice ceased, we offered homage in

our minds to Brahma and reached Kishkindha. We destroyed the

rakshasas who infested the forests there. One day, a Rakshasa named

Mayavi, the son of Maya, proceeded against us in order to wreak

vengeance against us. He besieged us at midnight and created

tremendous confusion. My elder brother could not tolerate even one

moment the audacity of the foe. Vali rose and fell upon him with all

his might; and Mayavi fled in terror. Mayavi hid himself in a cave,

and Vali pursued him to the very last. I was also engaged in the hot

pursuit of the wicked Rakshasa, close behind Vali. As he entered the

cave where Mayavi had taken shelter, Vali directed me, 'Brother! I am

going into this cave to kill the enemy; watch the entrance and remain

here, lest he escape'. When I asked him how long, he replied, 'Even

fifteen days and nights! Keep close watch that long. And, if I do not

emerge on the sixteenth day, you may take it that he has killed me;

you can then return'. I waited and watched for full thirty days; by

that time, the smell of blood emerged from the cave, a smell that I

inferred was that of my brother's blood. I feared that Mayavi might

emerge alive from the cave; so I placed a huge boulder at the mouth

of the cave and knowing that it was foolish to wait any longer, I

returned home. I gathered my companions and well-wishers and

consulted them about the next step. We felt that Mayavi who could

kill the redoubtable Vali must indeed be a formidable enemy and so, I

spent the days in perpetual fright.

 

" The inhabitants of the capital realized that they must have a leader

in these hard times when they were beset by foes on all sides. They

pleaded that since Vali had died, I must step into his place. I had

no inclination to accept the authority, but they forced me into it.

Shortly after, within about two or three days, Vali returned to the

capital; he had slain Mayavi and rid the land of that vile foe. On

finding me holding the position of ruler, Vali was filled with

uncontrollable anger; he inferred that I had shut the exit of the

cave with a boulder to prevent him from coming out alive, and that I

had deliberately sought the position that was thrust on me. He

decided to wreak vengeance on me for this. He began treating me as

the lowest of the low and to impute motives for even the slightest

fault or mistake. He deprived me of all powers and positions and

looked down on me as if I were less than a menial of his household.

He forced me out of the family home. He took my wife into his

custody. One day, determined to destroy me, he fought with me

ferociously. I could not stand up to his prowess; so, I left

Kishkindha and took refuge here. Vali insisted that those who

supported me or befriended me should not stay behind and so, they

have also joined me at this place. My wife tried hard to come back to

me; but, however much she tried, he did not allow her to come away.

He treated her as his own wife. " Sugriva's eyes were streaming tears

as he related his sad story. Rama consoled him and sympathized with

the plight. He assured him once again that he would protect him from

harm and guard him against evil.

 

Sugriva said, " I am residing on this hill, helplessly, for, this is

the only place where my vengeful brother, Vali, cannot come; there is

a curse laid on him by a sage which effectively prevents him from

entering this region. Or else, I would have died at his hands long

ago. "

 

Rama inquired, " Friend! How did he incur that curse? " Sugriva

explained, " Master! Dundubhi, the brother of Mayavi, was a mighty

hero. No one could equal him in valor and physical strength. He

reveled in confrontations with mountains and the sea, in sheer joy at

demonstrating his might! One day, while he was exulting on his daring

exploits, standing in front of a mountain peak that he had

pulverized, he heard an unseen Voice announce: " Dundubhi! Do not

allow your head to swell so! Beware! There lives one who is mightier

than you. He is gaily wandering on the shores of the Pampa Lake,

assuming leadership and asserting his power. His name is Vali'. When

these words fell on his ears, Dundubhi changed himself into a

formidable buffalo and rushed into Kishkindha, where the Pampa Lake

is situated. He ploughed the earth with his horns and bellowed his

way through hill and dale, parading in lofty pride his impregnable

power. His fury was getting wilder at every step; he cast terror all

around. When he dug his horns into the earth, huge trees rolled

uprooted on the ground. His ferocity quaked all hearts. While he was

thus invading his region, like Rahu venturing to swallow the Moon,

Vali perceived him, and, that very instant, he fell upon him. The two

strange-looking foes struggled for victory, like wild tuskers

entangled in mortal combat. The fight lasted more than six hours!

Finally, Vali gave a mortal blow to Dundubhi; staggering with pain,

he fell dead on the ground, like a mountain peak reeling to the

ground during a violent earthquake. The impact was so unsettling that

giant trees too lay flat on the ground along with him! Vali was so

intoxicated with success that he tore the corpse apart and threw the

halves far into the distance, one to the south and other to the

north. But, one bleeding mass of flesh and bone fell on a hermitage,

showering a rain of blood over the holy area, which polluted the

ascetics peacefully engaged in meditation and recitation of sacred

hymns. It was the hermitage of the great saint, Matanga. He had gone

to the river for his ritual bath. When he returned, he noticed drops

of blood all over the place and soon came near the half-corpse of a

terror-striking monster. He could not contain himself. His disciples

and pupils, yearning to be bathed in bliss, were bathed in blood. His

forbearance gave way; he halted a moment wondering who could have

dared commit such a sin; his anger could not be kept under restraint;

it did not allow him to look back or peer into the future. He

pronounced a terrible curse! " If that vicious, sinful Vali approaches

this hill or even casts his eye on this hill, may his head be broken

in two " . That was the imprecation he uttered. Scared by that curse,

Vali is keeping away from this hill; he cannot approach this place or

even look upon it. Emboldened by this circumstance, I am living here,

unhampered, robbed of my wife and deprived of my kith and kin " .

Sugriva related his plight to Rama, with nothing held back.

 

Rama was disturbed by the story of the wickedness of Vali which was

tormenting Sugriva since long. He could not listen any more to the

list of his atrocities. Rama could not tolerate unrighteous acts; he

would not relish the description of vice. He comforted Sugriva and

assured him that Vali could not escape punishment for relying solely

on physical strength and material power ignoring the strength and

power that one should earn through righteousness and devotion to God.

He vowed that with one arrow he would fell Vali to the ground and put

an end to his wicked life, even if all the fourteen worlds oppose the

fulfillment of the vow. He said, " Do not cast your looks upon the

face of a person who is unaffected by the sorrows of his friend, or

by the absurd boast of his enemy. Do not choose a friend merely to

win some temporary gain, or to satisfy some urgent desire, or to

plunge into some foul behaviour. Friends must have deep love towards

each other; he who has no love filling his heart, moving his mind or

lighting up his face can only be a bad undesirable 'friend'. The

hearts of such false friends will be crooked and contaminated. A wily

servant, a greedy, miserly and evil-minded wife or husband, a false

friend - these four make life painful, as when pierced by spears and

spikes. Therefore, o Sugriva, do not grieve. I shall come to your

rescue, to the fullest extent of my physical, verbal and mental

capabilities. What does it matter how strong Vali is? You are not

aware of your own strength; you are bewildered by your estimate of

his strength that is all. That is at the bottom of your doubts and

fears. Well. Perhaps, you desire to be assured of my powers, before

you develop confidence and courage. Ask me to accomplish any task so

that your faith in me can take deep root. I shall demonstrate my

strength and fill your heart with courage. When that is done, I shall

fight with Vali and destroy him " .

 

Rama gently stroked the back of Sugriva, in order to induce him to

trust him and be rid of fear and anxiety. Sugriva was eager to see

the prowess of Rama; he also wanted some prop for faith. He

said, " Rama! Once upon a time, I and my brother agreed to test our

strength and skill on a line of seven giant palm trees, trying to

fell them one after the other, shooting a single arrow right through

all of them. I felled only three; but, my brother Vali hit five and

they all rolled on the ground. His capacity had that maximum measure.

To defeat Vali, one should have strength beyond his. I am most eager

to find out whether you have that extra might and to see how many

palm trees you can fell with one arrow " .

 

Sugriva and his courtiers then took Rama to a place where seven

mammoth palms were piercing the sky in a row. They asked him to

attempt to shoot them down; they talked among themselves that since

those monstrous trees were four or five times huger than the five

that Vali felled, Rama must be considered strong enough to overpower

Vali even if he felled two of these giants. Looking at that row, Rama

smiled and calling Sugriva near him, he told him, " Sugriva! These

palms are in my eyes the weakest and tiniest " . Then he fitted an

arrow on his bow; he felled all the seven; his arrow carried all the

fallen palms up a mountain that was in the distance, blasting the

rocks on the way!

 

Sugriva was overwhelmed with wonder and devotion. He prostrated at

the feet of Rama, exclaiming, " Rama! A hundred Valis could not have

achieved this feat. I am indeed fortunate; I have no more worries in

life, since I have secured your friendship! Though I am estranged

from one Vali, I have today got a hundred-fold Vali as my thickest

comrade! Pardon my mistake. I am ashamed that my small-mindedness

persuaded me to test your powers in this manner. O! I am indeed lucky

that I am blessed with the friendship of God Himself, in this form.

My tale of woe has ended this day. Hope has dawned in my heart that I

can soon regain my Kishkindha; I am really happy that I can again

live happily with my wife and children. I am only tossed in doubt

about when and how soon it can happen - within minutes, or hours or

days. Of course, that depends on the will of Rama, on His Grace. It

will be fulfilled the moment He decides " .

 

Sugriva knew that Rama alone could help him and that Rama alone had

to be relied upon. He prostrated at Rama's feet and said, " Rama! Your

Will, your Compassion, they are my sole refuge. When are you

intending to put an end to my sorrows? " Rising again from his seat,

Sugriva declared, " Listen, Rama! So long, I had labeled Vali as my

greatest enemy, and shivered in fear of him. Now, I find he is my

greatest benefactor. For fear of him, I took residence on this

mountain range; since I was here, I could notice your arrival and

meet you and be blessed by this friendship! Therefore, Vali is the

root cause of all these developments. He is, indeed, my

benefactor " . " Rama! We fight with another person while in a dream; we

hate him to the utmost; we adopt all methods to ruin him; but, as

soon as we awaken and rise from bed, we know that the hatred and the

struggle were false and baseless. Your Darshan has awakened me from

my dream. While in that dream, I hated Vali and interpreted all his

actions as inimical to me; I fought with him, in my ignorance. Now

that I have seen you and had the benefit of listening to your

counsel, I have risen, conscious from my dream. The touch of your

holy feet has imparted the vision of Truth. My long fostered hatred

and envy, greed and egoism, my enmity towards Vali and my plans for

vengeance, these made me weaker and weaker. I was sunk in my single-

minded yearning for a favourable moment to pay off old scores. This

was the Thapas, the austerity, that granted me your Grace; I got you

and my agony was reckoned as asceticism, my anger was transformed

into love. Lord! Bless me, pour Grace on me. I have no more desire to

regain my kingdom. My wife and children have their careers marked out

for them by destiny; what can I do to change the course of events? I

shall no more worry about them. Enough for me if you confer on me the

joy of serving you and being with you, in your presence, for the rest

of my life " .

 

When Sugriva prayed in this strain, Rama tenderly stroked his head

and said, " Son! The words you utter are indeed true. Kingdoms and

power, joy and grief, anger and anxieties, properties and privileges,

good and bad, are all of the stuff of which dreams are made. The

proximity to God, the God-Principle in you, that alone is real. But,

remember, my vow, my word, can never prove false. Whatever might

happen, I shall grant you the kingdom; you cannot escape the

responsibility of ruling over it. You cannot evade the fight with

Vali which must take place tomorrow. Come, get ready " .

 

Chapter 4(b)

An Ally Accepted

 

Rama rose. Both he and Lakshmana moved forward, armed with bow and

arrow, with Sugriva by their side. Hanuman and others were permitted

to remain in that hill-residence itself. Sugriva was given necessary

instructions, while on the way; at last, he was directed to go

forward alone, and shout a challenge in front of the main gate of the

City. Following this command given by Rama, Sugriva stood before

Kishkindha City and shouted so fiercely that the walls of the fort

shook, and the earth quaked in fear. No sooner did that call fall on

his ear than Vali rose from his bed as a cobra does when it is

trodden upon, and came out, ready to fight and put Sugriva to flight.

He knew it was his brother who had challenged him to combat.

 

At this, Tara, Vali's wife, clasped his feet and reminded him of the

words spoken by his own son some days earlier. She said, " Lord! The

brothers who have sought his help are no ordinary men. They are

endowed with mighty powers. Sugriva, who was in hiding all this time,

has come now with new confidence and courage. He has even dared

challenge you. He would not venture to do so without looking before

and after. He must have received conviction about their capabilities

and won the promise of their assistance. The princes, Rama and

Lakshmana, have Divine Powers; it is not propitious that you enter

into battle with them. " Listening to her pathetic importunities, Vali

burst into a jeering laugh. " Cowardly woman! " , he said, " It is said

that Rama is equal-minded. If that is true, he will certainly look

upon both of us with an equal eye. Moreover, I have not done him any

harm, have I? In spite of this, if Rama kills me, well, I shall

believe my birth and years of life have been fulfilled thereby! " Tara

was happy on the one hand that he had such an outlook; on the other

hand she could not entertain for a moment the idea of separation from

her lord. So, she pleaded again, " Lord! It is considered a bad omen

when a woman objects. Do not rashly accept the chal1enge. " But, Vali

set aside all her pleadings. " When battle calls, no one cares for

omens. Either the enemy should die or one's own life should end. " So

saying Vali pushed Tara aside and rushed towards the main entrance to

the Fort roaring in terror-striking rage.

 

He saw only Sugriva there; so, he jumped on him and both began a

heavy fight with their fists, inflicting hammer-blows on each.

Sugriva could not bear the rain of fierce hits; he felt a desire to

flee; Vali with many a kick and pull, caused such agonizing pain that

Sugriva managed to escape, leaving Vali victor! Vali retired into the

Fort, patting his thighs exultingly. Rama and Lakshmana followed the

fleeing Sugriva. When they reached the hill-resort, Sugriva fell at

the feet of Rama, his heart heavy with the burden of disappointment,

despair, pain and fear. He said, " Lord! I do not understand why you

caused this disgrace to me. I proceeded on this venture, buoyed up

with a huge pile of hope that you would come to my rescue. All the

while, I was watching for the Moment when your arrow will hit Vali

and finish him. But, that event never happened. I could not bear the

weight of those blows; so, I had to take the shameful course of

fleeing for sheer life. My brother is a mighty hitter; I could not

stand those blows. "

 

Rama consoled him and said, " Sugriva! Don't grieve. Listen to the

reasons. You are so like each other, so indistinguishable one from

the other, so much the same in appearance and attainments, that I

could not take correct aim at him. " Those words had a deep inner

meaning, too. They meant that Vali too was devoted to His Feet. " He

too is my votary. He has yearned for My Grace as much as you have. "

But, Sugriva could not grasp the hidden import of the declaration. He

prayed, " Knowing so much, could you not discover who Vali was and who

Sugriva was? I cannot believe your words. I do not know the reason

why you could not. Perhaps, you wanted me to display my ability to

the utmost. If that was your intention, I could have taken note of it

from the beginning itself; what really happened was, I was so

confident that you would bring about his downfall, that I took the

fight rather easy, and in a light-hearted manner. "

 

Rama drew the down-hearted, dispirited Sugriva to his presence and

consoled him profusely. He passed his Divine hand over the body of

Sugriva, so that the pain disappeared in a trice. The wounds and

contusions were instantaneously healed. Sugriva was overwhelmed with

surprise. He exclaimed, " Rama! Your hand can achieve anything; it

contains everything. Creation, Preservation, Destruction, all three

are subservient to Your Will. I have no desire to rule over this

kingdom. Compared to the joy Your Grace can confer, that joy is

nothing at all. "

 

Rama did not pay heed to his words. He said, " These words of yours

are but reflections of passing thoughts. You spoke like this when you

had a vision of my Power and Glory. I do not attach much value to

them, for, I care more for feelings that rise in the heart. There are

many great devotees who forget everything when they experience the

Sport and Supreme Might of God, and believe that there is nothing

higher than God. But, after some time, or when their mental cravings

do not bear fruit, they develop doubts even about what they

experienced or saw! These are the veils that hide, the curtains that

distort the truth in the minds of those with weak faith. I know how

it all happens and so I do not attach much value to these sentiments.

You have to get ready to confront your brother once again. " Thus,

Rama forced Sugriva into the fray.

 

Sugriva had no liking for the fight, but he was certain that this

time Rama would keep his promise and kill Vali. He walked boldly on,

with confidence in his heart. Rama got some wild flowers and had them

strung as a garland, which he put round Sugriva's neck. What Rama

meant was: Vali had already told Tara that Rama looked upon all as

equal. It was this 'equal' sight that prevented him from killing

Vali. " Now, I have put this garland of flowers round his neck to show

that my love towards Sugriva is greater, and so, I can with justice,

deal with Vali differently. Sugriva has a garland extra, indicating

that he wears the symbol of Divine Love. Love needs no reason for its

flow; it comes from no selfish urge. "

 

Thus encouraged and filled with heroism, Rama and Lakshmana persuaded

Sugriva to shout the challenge again at the gate of Vali's Fort. They

hid themselves behind a tree that was nearby. When Vali rushed out

eager for the fight, and when the earth quaked under the weight of

his impact, Sugriva was frightened; he prayed to Rama with all his

heart to come to his succor soon, and went forward to meet his foe.

To justify his own attainments and capacity, Sugriva fought to the

best of his ability. When his strength gave way, and the first signs

of exhaustion appeared in him, he called out 'Rama' just once. Rama

has as his favorite task the guarding of his devotees. So, when he

heard the call, he placed an arrow on his bow and shot it straight

into the proud heart of Vali. Vali swung round helplessly and slid

until he fell flat on the ground. At that moment, Rama came near Vali

and granted him the Divine vision of Himself.

 

Though struck by the fatal shaft, Vali rose and assumed a sitting

posture; he was strong and courageous beyond compare! With folded

palms, he cast his lingering looks on that cloud-blue complexion,

those lotus-petal eyes, and shed streams of tears in his ecstatic

exhilaration. He could scarce contain his joy; he exclaimed " O Rama!

Being such a divinely auspicious embodiment of beauty, being the very

Lord of all Creation, why had you to perform this questionable act?

Had you but told me, and then, killed me, I would have been extremely

happy to die. Would I have refused to render you the good that

Sugriva could? No. No. This has been thus done, not without some

justifiable reason. For, the Lord would never undertake any task

without just reason. Seen from the outside, the task might appear

contrary to our idea of Divinity; but, with the inner view, the fact

that it is based on Truth would become evident. I know that the deeds

of the Lord should not be interpreted from the common worldly point

of view. The Lord is above and beyond the Gunas, attributes that

limit and regulate human conduct. So, His deeds can be understood

correctly only when viewed from a position unaffected by emotion,

passion, or prejudice. Acts done with perfect equanimity can be

understood only by perfect equanimity. If you are swayed by

characteristics and attributes, you would naturally see only kindred

characteristics and attributes, even when they are absent! " Vali was

endowed with a very clear intellect. So, he argued thus and

said, " Rama, I know full well your prowess and skill. You can with

one arrow destroy not only this Vali, but the entire Universe. You

can create the Universe again. Nevertheless, I desire to learn from

you the sin for which you have killed me. Please identify for me the

error I was responsible for. You have come upon earth in human form

in order to re-establish Righteousness, haven't you? What is the

meaning and purpose of this action - hiding behind a tree, like a

common hunter, in order to kill me " .

 

Rama graciously sat by the side of the dying Vali and said, " Vali!

You know that selfish ends do not motivate my deeds. Give up your

wrong notion that I sought and secured the friendship of Sugriva in

order to search the whereabouts of Sita. Why, you yourself said just

now that I have assumed this human form for the purpose of re-

establishing righteousness on earth! Now, tell me, if I simply

witness the wrong, the unjust and vicious deeds of yours, what would

you call it? Service or dis-service to the world? Righteous or

unrighteous? The brother's wife, the sister and the daughter-in-law

are all three equivalent in status to one's daughter. To cast sinful

eyes on them makes one a heinous sinner. No sin affects one when such

a sinner is killed.

 

" How unjust was it for you to infer that Sugriva closed the entrance

of the cave with the evil intention of killing you! You said you

would come out at the end of fifteen days, at the most, and asked him

to wait at the mouth of the cave until then. Yet, he waited there,

anxiously awaiting you, for one full month! Finally, when he was

assailed by the smell of blood, he was grieved that his brother was

killed by the ogre; he hesitated to enter the cave, for to the ogre

who destroyed you, Sugriva would certainly be no match. When he

placed the boulder up against the mouth of the cave, his intention

was to prevent the ogre from coming out, and to see that he is

confined within that cave itself. The citizens pressed on him the

rulership and he had to accede to their wishes. What crime had

Sugriva committed when he acted thus? You did not stay to inquire. He

never disobeyed your commands and directives, even to the slightest

extent; for he loved you and revered you. He adheres strictly to the

path of Truth. But, you treasured in your heart vengeance against him

for no reason at all; your overweening pride drove him into the

forest. When you sent him out, you should have allowed his wife too

to go with him. Instead you chose her to be your wife, the person

whom you should have treated as your own daughter. Do you call this a

sin or don't you? There is no sin more heinous than this. Besides,

you occupy the position of the ruler of this region. You have to

protect and foster your subjects. How can you punish those who commit

crimes when you yourself revel in the same crime? 'As is the King, so

are the subjects', says the proverb. The people will be such as their

rulers are. Therefore, what you have done becomes more heinous and

more reprehensible. Doesn't it? "

 

Thus, Rama out of His infinite love clarified to Vali the crimes and

sins he had committed. Vali listened with attention and thought over

what he heard. At last, he realized his error, and said, " Lord! My

cleverness has failed to make you pronounce my acts as right. Now

hear me! I am not a sinner at all. Had I been a sinner, how could I

be floored by an arrow from the Lord's own hands, and how could I

pass my last moments looking on the Face of Divinity and listening to

the sweet words of the Lord? " Rama was highly pleased at these words

spoken with such high wisdom, out of the depths of love and devotion,

delight and dedication. Then Rama wished to announce to the world the

genuine spirit of renunciation that Vali had at heart. He

said, " Vali! I am restoring you to life. I am freeing you from the

obligation of old age and senility. Come. Have your body back again " .

He placed His hand on the head of Vali. But, even while He was

blessing him so, Vali intervened with a prayer, " Ocean of Compassion;

Give ear to my appeal. However many attempts one might make

throughout life, at the moment when breath deserts us, death cannot

be avoided. At that moment, even the sovereign sages do not get Your

Name on their tongues! Unique good fortune I have secured now, here,

when I pronounce Your Name, look on Your Form, touch Your feet and

listen to Your Words. If I miss this chance and let it slip away, who

can say how long I may have to wait for these again? Continuing to

breathe, what great achievement will I accomplish? No. I do not wish

to live any longer " .

 

" Lord! Even the Vedas, the Source of all Knowledge, speak of you as

only 'Not this' 'Not this'; thus they proceed, until they declare

finally, 'This' 'This' I have now secured in my grasp; shall I let it

slip? Is there in this world a fool who would give up the Divine Wish-

Fulfilling Tree that he has in his grasp for the sake of a wild weed?

This Vali, born out of a mental resolution of Brahma Himself, endowed

with strength of body and sharpness of intellect and renowned for

these qualities, cannot yield to the temptation of clinging to the

body as if it is real and valuable. No. If I yield, I will become the

target of infamy. Why elaborate? When there is no self-satisfaction,

what do other types of satisfaction matter? Lord! As a result of Your

Darshan and Your words, I have overcome all sense of duality and

distinction. I have acquired the Vision of the One, apart from all

the rest. The mass of 'consequence' I had earned through my sins has

been destroyed; let the Body which is burdened with the Consequence

be destroyed along with it. Do not allow another body appear to bear

the burden " . Vali declared his determination to give up his breath

and called his son to his presence. He said: " This fellow grew up

until now as the lust-born son of this body. He is strong, virtuous,

humble and obedient. Now I wish You would foster him as Your Love-

deserving Son. I have placed him in Your hands. " With these words he

placed the hands of his son in the hands of Rama. Rama drew Angada,

the son, near Him, and blessed him, with great love. Pleased at the

acceptance, Vali shed tears of joy; his eyes were fixed on the Divine

Face before him. His eyes slowly closed in death. Will an elephant

worry or take any notice of flowers that fall away from the garland

round its neck? With the same unconcern, Vali too allowed his breath

to slide away from him.

 

The inhabitants of Pampa Town gathered in sad groups as soon as they

heard the news of Vali's demise. His wife, Tara, came to the place,

accompanied by her retinue; she fell upon the body and lost

consciousness. The agonizing wail of Tara was so poignant that stones

melted in sympathy. When she recovered consciousness, off and on, she

looked on the face of her lord and cried in utter grief. " In spite of

all the protest I made and the arguments I used, to stop you, you

rushed forward to this doom. The wife should ever be vigilant about

the security and happiness of her lord; there is no one more

concerned about the welfare of the husband than the wife. Others,

however eminent, will always have some little egoism mixed in the

advice they give. Lord! On account of the mischief of Destiny, my

counsel could not prevail. Lord! How am I to foster and bring up this

son? Will those who killed you desist from harming your son? Who will

guide us now? How did your mind agree to leave us behind and proceed

to the next world? For whose sake must I continue this life? "

 

Then, Tara turned to Rama and poured out her heart. " You sent my dear

Lord, my very breath, to the next world. Do you want us, who are left

behind, to live at the mercy of strangers? Is this the right thing

for a noble person, a person devoted to right conduct, to be proud

about? Is it appropriate? If you do not desire our progress, if you

have no wish to alleviate our sorrow, then, kill me and my son; the

arrow that killed the mighty hero will not quail before a weak woman

and a stripling lad. Let us join him in his journey " . She fell at the

feet of Rama and wept in inconsolable anguish. Rama said, " Tara! Why

do you weep so? You are a heroic wife; do not behave in this manner,

for, it brings your role into infamy. Be calm. Control yourself. The

body is a temporary phase; it is contemptible. Vali himself regarded

this body as debased! Its fall, its end, might happen any day, it

cannot be avoided. It is but an instrument to achieve the Supreme

Goal and if that end is not kept in view and attained through it, the

body is but a lump of coal whose destiny is the fire. Weeping for

Vali as this body is foolish, for, the body is here. Do you then weep

for the Atma that was in this body? That Atma is eternal; it cannot

die or decay, diminish or disintegrate. Only those who have not

realized the Atma principle suffer from the delusion that the body is

themselves; until then, even the most learned are led into error.

Being enamored of the body as if it is you is 'ignorance'; being

aware of the Atma, which you really are is 'wisdom'. Getting the

knowledge of the Atma is as precious a piece of good luck as getting

a diamond in the dust. The Atma is the gemstone embedded in this mass

of flesh. The body carries urine and faeces, bad odors and bad blood;

pests and problems pester it. Its decay cannot be arrested; it must

die some day. The achievement that one can realize through it is its

justification. That is the crown of human life. Your husband has

achieved many heroic and honourable victories through his body. While

ruling this kingdom, he protected and promoted his servants and

faithful followers as if they were his very breath. He destroyed the

Rakshasas. He had deep devotion towards God. But, he inflicted injury

on his brother. Besides that sin, he did not commit any other. His

death at my hands was the consequence of that sin. Therefore, believe

that it too has been washed away. Now, you have no reason to grieve.

 

When Tara heard these words of counsel and consolation, wisdom dawned

in her mind and she was calmed. Rama said that there should be no

more delay. He asked Tara to go back and have the funeral rites for

Vali performed by Sugriva. He advised Sugriva to bring up Angada with

love and care. When the rites were over, he sent Lakshmana into the

Capital City, and had Sugriva installed on the throne. Hanuman and

others too entered the City and helped him as friends and followers,

to carry on the task of government successfully. As soon as he

assumed the reins of office, Sugriva called together the elders and

leaders of the community; he ordered them to make all proper

arrangements to seek and find the whereabouts of Sita. He asked them

to initiate all steps necessary for the purpose. Sugriva was not

happy that he became the ruler and was honoured by that

responsibility; he was, on the other hand, sad and morose, because he

had been the cause for the killing of his brother. " Alas! Anger leads

one to perpetrate the direst of sins; it breeds hatred, and murders

love. Shame on me! To what depths have I fallen, since I allowed

anger and hatred to enter my heart; my heart is torn in anguish by

the words of adoration Vali addressed to Rama. I never realized, even

in my dreams, that Vali had such a deal of devotion and dedication in

him. Ah! His wisdom is boundless. His furious anger did not allow

that wisdom to express itself! Yes. Anger suppresses the divine in

one; lust and anger drag life into disaster " . Though much depressed

by these thoughts, Sugriva learned the guidelines of government from

Lakshmana. He prayed to Rama that He should enter the City and bless

him and his subjects. But Rama said that he had to live in the

forests only and not enter any town or city. Otherwise he would be

disobeying his father's wish.

 

Sugriva held a conference of leaders and announced that, since the

season was late autumn, rains were imminent and the monkey hordes

would be hard put to it to move about in the cold and in the storm,

So, he suggested that as soon as the autumn passed, they must set

about the task of searching for the place where Sita was. He

presented this information to Rama and Lakshmana also. Rama realized

the truth of these statements and he acceded to the proposal. The

brothers retired to the Rishyamukha Hill and took residence there.

 

The rains started soon; it poured as if potfuls were emptied from the

sky on every square inch of space! It became a hard task for

Lakshmana to procure, in time, even tubers and fruits for sustenance!

They could not come out of the shelter of the hermitage. Sunlight was

scarcely to be seen. Rama spent the time in administering valuable

counsel to Lakshmana. " Lakshmana! " , he would say, " when a wicked son

is born, the code of morality will be corroded. When a cyclone starts

its career, the clouds shudder in fear. The company of bad men is the

prelude to the disappearance of wisdom. The company of good men makes

wisdom blossom. " Thus, they spent their days, learning and teaching,

matters concerned with Wisdom and its acquisition and preservation.

 

TO BE CONTINU