by Vanamali
From this moment onward, Hanuman enshrined Rama as the Lord of his heart. He accepted him alone as the supreme Lord. His mind and intellect were totally surrendered to him.
This life of selfless service and single-pointed devotion to his Master hastened his spiritual unfoldment. In the devotional literature of the world, Hanuman’s bhakti to Rama has no parallel. He will ever remain the purest and most exalted bhakta the world has ever known. Valmiki says that even a very casual mention of the name of Rama was enough for his eyes to well up with tears of profound joy and for his palms to fold before him.
Lakshmana now said to Hanuman, “Know us to be the sons of the great king Dasaratha of the land of Kosala. This, my brother, is his eldest son Rama, and I’m his brother Lakshmana. Just at the time when he was going to be anointed king of the land, he was disinherited of his sovereignty by some unpardonable trick of destiny and came to live in the forest with me and his consort Sita. She is a veritable Lakshmi and deserves to live in a palace adorned with all jewels and comforts. However, she chose to follow him to the forest. Unfortunately, a rakshasa whose name is not known has abducted her and taken her to his stronghold. We have come here in search of her. We were told by the great sage Shabari that we should enlist the support of a monkey chief called Sugriva who would be able to help us in our search.”
He added that Sugriva’s name had also been told to them by a giant called Kabandha whom they had released from a curse.
“We are indeed happy to hear that you are Sugriva’s minister. By the pleading of such an envoy, all the objects of the sovereign in whose service he happens to be employed will be accomplished. My noble brother is the ruler of this land but by a cruel fate he has been forced to take on the life of a mendicant, and we will be happy to accept help from your master Sugriva in order to find his consort.”
Hanuman said, “The noble Sugriva is in the same predicament as your brother. He has been deprived of both his throne and his spouse by his brother, exiled by him, and forced to take refuge on this hill. He will certainly help you to find Sita.”
Lakshmana now turned to his brother and said, “Brother, it looks like we have arrived here at the right time and the right place to meet the right person. Let us go with him and meet Sugriva.”
Hearing the story of Rama’s selfless renunciation of the throne, Hanuman’s initial admiration turned into great respect and love. He realized that Rama was no ordinary person but a great being, worthy of veneration.
Rama willingly agreed to meet Sugriva, but Hanuman knew that the brothers would be unable to scale the impossible slopes of Rishyamukha, so he resumed his monkey form and bowed before the two brothers.
As soon as Hanuman assumed his simian form, Rama noticed the glittering earrings and remarked on them to Lakshmana, who was quite puzzled because he could not see them. However, Hanuman heard him and remembered his mother’s words that only the one who would be his master would be able to see the earrings. He was thrilled and knew that the instinctive feelings that had welled up in him at the sight of Rama had been right.
His heart overflowed with joy. He took the two brothers on either shoulder and jumped with them up the hill to the peak where Sugriva was sitting with his other ministers.
Placing Rama and Lakshmana down before Sugriva, he said, “I would like to present to you Rama, the scion of the race of Ikshvaku, and his brother Lakshmana, who are both sons of the emperor Dasaratha. In order to keep his word to his wife, Kaikeyi, the king was forced to banish Rama to this forest. He came accompanied by his brother and his wife. Unfortunately, his wife was stolen by some rakshasa, and he has come here seeking your aid in finding her.”
Sugriva, who had been suspiciously watching their approach, now came forward with outstretched arms and clasped Rama’s hands in his own, saying sweetly, “I’m indeed honored that you have come to me to seek my aid. Let us clasp our hands in friendship and take an oath to help each other. If you promise to help me kill my brother Vaali and restore my wife and throne, I shall surely swear to help you to find your wife!”
After hearing Sugriva’s story, which resembled his, Rama said, “Dharma is the law of civilization, based on duty, not desire, which ensures social stability. He who upholds dharma is an arya, or noble, and he who does not is a rakshasa. Vaali is an animal, a barbarian who is no different from Ravana. Both believe that might is right. Both have become kings by force, and they do not respect the sanctity of marriage. If civilization is to be established, people like Vaali and Ravana need to be destroyed.”
Hanuman immediately lit a fire. He had Rama and Sugriva stand on either side and forge a pact of friendship with the blazing fire as witness. They worshipped the fire with flowers and went round it three times, swearing to help each other. After this, they clasped each other in their arms and swore eternal friendship.
Sugriva broke off a flower-laden bough and placed it on the ground as a seat for Rama, and Hanuman did the same for Lakshmana.
Now that they were comfortably seated, Sugriva narrated his pitiful tale to Rama and begged him to kill Vaali who had insulted him and treated him so unfairly.
Rama smiled and said, “My arrows, sharp like the fangs of a serpent, will descend on your brother and finish him off in no time. So have no fear.”
Sugriva now told Rama, “I have heard from Hanuman how the rakshasa has stolen your beloved spouse. Rest assured that wherever he might have hidden her, in the bowels of the earth or the vaults of heaven, I shall deliver her to you. Therefore, cast away your grief, for you shall surely get your beloved back! I think she must have been abducted by Ravana. In fact, I feel that it was she who was being dragged away in his aerial vehicle.”
Rama was amazed to hear this and eagerly asked him to narrate the tale.
Sugriva said, “While Hanuman and I were sitting on this mountain with four others, we saw an aerial vehicle passing overhead. I think it was Ravana who was inside. He was carrying a most beautiful woman in his arms. She was wriggling and crying out loudly, ‘Rama! Lakshmana! Save me! Save me!’ Seeing us standing below, she tore off a piece of her upper garment, tied her jewels in it, and dropped it down without Ravana noticing. We have kept it safely, and I will show them to you, and you will be able to know if they belong to your wife.”
Rama was greatly excited when he heard this and asked Sugriva to show it to him immediately. Sugriva went into the cave where they lived and brought out the bit of cloth and gave it to Rama. Rama opened the scarf and saw his beloved wife’s jewels inside. He pressed them to his bosom. Tears started to flow from his eyes, and he could no longer speak. At last, he controlled himself and turning to Lakshmana, he showed the jewels to him and said, “Lakshmana, don’t you recognize these jewels as belonging to the princess of Videha?”
Lakshmana replied, “I do recognize her anklets, which I used to see every time I bowed at her feet, but my eyes never went beyond that to her neck.”
“O Sugriva!” said Rama. “Do you know where that wretch has carried away my queen? His end is approaching fast, for I shall surely follow him and kill him.”
Sugriva said, “I’m not sure where his abode is situated, even though I know that he is the mighty king of Lanka, but I swear to you that my monkeys will discover his whereabouts and recover Sita. It ill-befits a noble soul like you to give way to your grief like this.”
At that moment far away in Lanka, Sita felt her left eye tremble by itself and the same thing happened to Vaali in Kishkinda, and Ravana’s ten left eyes also trembled. This is considered to be a good sign for females and a bad omen for males.
Hearing this, Rama checked his grief and listened to the sad tale told by Sugriva about the injustice that had been done to him by his brother. He assured him that he would kill Vaali. However, Sugriva was not quite convinced, for he knew his brother’s amazing powers and feared that the slender Rama would not be a match for him.
Falteringly, he spoke. “I realize that you have great strength, but constant harassment
has made me timorous. I’m not sure if you can beat the mighty Vaali in combat. Actually, he is so powerful that once he even subdued the mighty Ravana.” He went on to tell Rama about this feat.
Once the mighty night wanderer, Ravana desired to conquer the heavens and bring Indra, the king of the gods, to heel. He called his eldest son Meghanatha and told him his wish.
Meghanatha said, “O Father! Why do you hesitate to ask me such a thing? You have only to say one word and you know that I shall obey you. Come, let us go to Indra’s heaven and capture him.”
Thus the two of them went to Indra and challenged him to a fight. Indra was a bit reluctant since he was not sure of the outcome; however, since he could not refuse, he agreed. Very soon it became apparent that Ravana was going to be defeated. His son Meghanatha immediately stepped into the fray and effortlessly subdued Indra. He tied him and threw him before his exultant father. It was after this feat that Meghanatha got the new name of Indrajit (conqueror of Indra). Ravana took Indra back to his stronghold and tied him to a pole in the middle of the courtyard for all to see. He then looted the heavens and reveled in his greatness.
Indra’s pitiable state was reported to Brahma by the sage Narada. It was Brahma who had given many boons to Ravana and made him invincible, so he felt a bit guilty. He went to Lanka and made Ravana release Indra. The latter was most ashamed of the whole affair and crept back to heaven hoping that the other gods had not heard of this shameful episode.
However, Narada came there soon afterward and told him of a way by which he could get even with Ravana. “Your son Vaali is the one person who can humble Ravana’s pride,” he said. “Leave it all to me. I’ll see that justice is done!” So saying, Narada departed to Lanka, where he was welcomed by Ravana. There he fanned the flames of Ravana’s pride by telling that there was a monkey called Vaali, who was Indra’s son, who went about telling everyone that he would get even with the person who had humiliated his father! Ravana was indignant at this and swore to kill this impertinent monkey. He was all set to go to Vaali armed with all his weapons and accompanied by an army. Narada laughed to see these preparations and said, “He is only a monkey. You don’t need all these weapons and army to subdue him. All you need is a rope. You can creep up behind him and tie him up before he knows what’s happening!”
So Ravana desisted from taking his army and weapons and went in search of Vaali. Narada, who didn’t want to miss the fun, offered to accompany him. They crossed the southern sea and found Vaali deep in meditation on the shore, since, as we know, he was in the habit of jumping from sea to sea every morning to do his morning ablutions and prayers.
Seeing his enormous frame, Ravana was a bit daunted, but Narada egged him on and told him to creep up behind, catch his tail, and then bind him without difficulty. Now, a monkey’s tail is his greatest strength, and Vaali’s tail was very special. In fact, he had been named Vaali because of the extraordinary length and strength of his tail. Vaal is the Sanskrit word for tail.
Ravana crept up from behind and caught his tail. Vaali did not stir from his prayers but simply caught hold of Ravana’s hand in his tail. Then Ravana put out his other hand and that also met with the same fate. Very soon, Vaali had bound Ravana’s whole body in his tail, and he continued uninterruptedly with his prayers! Narada thought it expedient to leave the place as fast as he could.
Vaali’s tail had wound tightly round Ravana’s whole body, holding him in a fierce grip so that only his face was to be seen. Keeping Ravana thus bound in his tail, Vaali went from ocean to ocean, and each time he had a dip, Ravana was submerged again and again in the salty water! This went on for many months. At last his son Indrajit became anxious about his father’s whereabouts and was all set to go and fight with Vaali. Again, Narada arrived on the scene and told him not to confront Vaali since the latter had really no enmity with Ravana but was waiting for Indrajit to present himself, as he was the one who had bound his father. Narada told Indrajit that Vaali would definitely kill him if he went. He advised him to wait patiently until Vaali released Ravana of his own accord.
As foretold, Vaali grew tired of having Ravana hanging on his tail and released him. Ravana was completely subdued and begged his pardon. Vaali agreed on condition that he and his son would not go and make a nuisance of themselves to his father Indra in heaven. In return, Vaali promised that he would never make war against Ravana nor side with those who wanted to conquer him.
This was the story told to Rama by Sugriva, since he wanted to make Rama understand Vaali’s great strength. He also added that Vaali had a boon that he would automatically get half the strength of anyone who confronted him. This is one of the reasons that Rama chose to kill him from behind a tree.
Every arduous task in the world,
Becomes easy thanks to your grace.
HANUMAN CHALISA BY TULSIDAS
Aum Sri Hanumathe Namaha!
Aum Shooraaya Namaha!
10
Pranadeva
The Killing of Vaali
Aum Hanumathe Rudravataraaya,
Ramasevakaaya,
Ramabhakti tatparaaya,
Ramahridyaaya,
Lakshmana shakti nivaranaaya,
Lakshmanarakshakaaya,
Dushta nigrahanaaya,
Ramadhutaaya, namo Namah!
I bow to Hanuman, the messenger of Rama,
The avatara of Rudra, in the service of Rama,
Totally engrossed in devotion to Rama,
Ever keeping Rama in his heart,
Who saved Lakshmana and gave him back his powers,
And who is the destroyer of the wicked!
HYMN TO HANUMAN
Hanuman whispered to Lakshmana that Sugriva had told them this story only because he doubted Rama’s ability to kill him. He did not dare to ask him for a show of strength, but he would be happy if Rama showed some of his prowess. Lakshmana told Rama of Sugriva’s fears. Rama laughingly went up to the enormous skeleton of the demon Dundubhi, lifted it up with his toe, and flung it to a distance of about eighty miles! Sugriva was a little appeased by this feat, but he still spoke doubtfully.
“This carcass was filled with blood and flesh and ten times as heavy as it is now when Vaali lifted it and flung it here. Now it’s only a bare skeleton. I wonder if I could ask you to perform one more feat and thus assure me of your might. Vaali’s arrow could pierce a sal (ironwood) tree, which has a huge circumference, without any difficulty. Here are seven sal trees growing in a row. If you can pierce one of them and split it into two, my fears will be laid to rest once and for all.”
Rama smiled, and without a word he fitted his arrow to his mighty bow, known as the Kodanda. The arrow was gold-plated, thicker than a finger, half as long as a staff, marked with his name, decorated with the feathers of the fastest birds, and tipped with iron. The sal trees were as thick as turrets. The arrow flew from the bow and split not one tree but all seven trees, and then pierced the earth. It is said to have gone to the subterranean world and then returned to its own quiver!!
Sugriva couldn’t believe his eyes. He felt most ashamed at having tested Rama’s powers like this. He prostrated himself at his feet and begged his pardon for having doubted him.
Standing with folded palms before Rama, Sugriva said, “I am now fully convinced that you can kill even Indra, the king of the gods, if you so choose, so why not his son Vaali? Let us proceed straight away to Kishkinda and you can meet him face to face.”
They went through forests and mountains fragrant with sandalwood and came to a grove of most beautiful trees from which arose a fragrance of oblations being offered into the fire. Rama asked Sugriva what that grove was and to whom it belonged.
Sugriva said, “This hermitage belonged to seven sages known as Saptajanas. They used to practice severe penance here for many years. They slept on water and subsisted on air alone. They never stepped out beyond this grove. When the time came for them to depart from this world, they were given bodily liberation. However, thi
s grove is still sacrosanct. None dare enter it. One can hear music and ethereal voices singing from within. The perfume rising from sacred wood fires lighted during yajnas permeates the air, as you can see. Let us all bow from here to those glorious sages and obtain their blessings before proceeding.”
All of them bowed low in front of the holy place and then walked on. When they reached the outskirts of Kishkinda, Rama and the others concealed themselves behind the trees of the thick forest that surrounded Kishkinda.
Rama now told Sugriva to go forward alone and challenge Vaali for a duel. “I will stand aside unseen and shoot my arrow into him at the right moment.”
In light of the fact that Sugriva had told him about Vaali being able to take over half the strength of his opponent, Rama decided to shoot him from behind a tree. Another reason given for this strange act was that Rama feared if he confronted Vaali, he might refuse to fight with him, since he had no quarrel with Rama, and then he would not be able to keep his pledge to his friend Sugriva. So Rama told Sugriva to go and challenge his brother and he and Lakshmana would follow close behind him. Sugriva mentally prepared himself and boldly went to the gates of Kishkinda, bellowed loudly, and challenged his brother to a duel. Enraged at hearing his brother’s roars, Vaali got up with such force that the base of the cave sank and his eyes spat fire. Grinding his teeth in anger, he slapped his thigh and clapped his hands so that the sound echoed through the valleys. He charged out with such speed that the ornaments round his neck snapped and scattered their gems all around. Vaali came out of the cave looking like the morning sun rising over the horizon. He grabbed Sugriva, who was certainly no match for him, and bashed him to a pulp. With great difficulty Sugriva managed to extricate himself from Vaali’s iron grip and take to his heels. He ran all the way back to Rishyamukha before Vaali could finish him off.