Vali and Sugriva: The Fall of Vali

Sugriva told his story. "Vali is my elder brother and was king of Kishkindha. I served him. One night an asura named Mayavi came to the city gate and challenged him. Vali ran after him, and I after Vali. The asura went into a cave. Vali said, 'Wait at the mouth. I will kill him and return.'"

"I stood there for a year. Then I heard roaring inside, and a stream of blood ran out of the cave. I did not hear my brother's voice. I thought he had been killed. So that the asura should not come out, I closed the cave with a rock and came home weeping. The ministers set me on the throne."

"Some days later Vali returned, alive. He believed I had shut him in the cave out of greed for the kingdom. I laid the crown at his feet, but he would not listen. He drove me out in a single garment and took my wife, Ruma. Since then I have fled across the earth."

Ram said, "The man who took his brother's wife will die by my arrow today."

The test of strength

Sugriva had his doubts. Vali's strength was boundless: before sunrise he would visit all four oceans for his prayers. Sugriva showed the mountain-like skeleton of the asura Dundubhi, whom Vali had killed and flung a yojana away. Ram flicked it with his toe and it landed ten yojanas off. Then Sugriva showed seven sal trees. Ram loosed one arrow. It passed through all seven trees and the hill behind them, and returned to his quiver. Sugriva laid his head on the ground.

The first and second fights

Sugriva went to the gate of Kishkindha and roared his challenge. The brothers closed. Ram stood behind a tree with his bow but did not shoot: the two were so alike in form, dress and movement that he could not tell them apart. Sugriva fled beaten and said bitterly, "After your promise you nearly had me killed." Ram explained, and Lakshmana hung a garland of flowers around Sugriva's neck.

Sugriva challenged again. This time Vali's wife, Tara, caught his hand. "One who has just been beaten is back at once. He must have found help. Angada has heard that Ram, a prince of Ayodhya, has become his friend. Sugriva is your brother. Make him heir and give up this feud." Vali would not listen.

The fight was terrible. When Sugriva's strength began to fail and he started looking about him, Ram released his arrow. It struck Vali in the chest, and he fell like the banner of Indra.

Vali's questions

Vali saw Ram and spoke harshly. "You are called righteous. I was not fighting you; I was fighting another. Why did you strike me from hiding? What harm had I done you? Had you asked me about Sita, I would have brought Ravana to you in a day with a rope round his neck."

Ram answered calmly. "Vali, this whole earth is under the house of Ikshvaku, and by Bharata's command we uphold dharma. A younger brother is like a son. You kept your living brother's wife in your house. The punishment for that is death, and to punish is the work of a king. One whom the king has punished is freed of his sin and goes to heaven. I gave Sugriva my word, and I do not break my word."

Vali was silent for a while. Then he folded his hands. "You are right. I do not fear for myself. I have one son, Angada. He is still a boy. Look on him as your own."

He called Sugriva to him, took from his neck the golden garland that Indra had given him, and handed it over. "Brother, it was not in our fate to enjoy happiness together. Keep Angada as your own son. And never set aside Tara's advice; what she says comes to pass." To Angada he said, "Son, obey Sugriva now." And his eyes closed.

Tara clung to her husband's body and wept. Sugriva wept too. "I no longer want a kingdom for which my brother was killed." Ram's eyes were wet as well. He comforted them all, and Vali's rites were performed with the honour due to a king.