Vali's Death

 Vali's Death

Hidden amid the trees, Rama took aim and felled the fierce Vali. As the Vanara king lay dying, he accused the prince of not following the rules of dharma. He could not have been further from the truth.

The two brothers, terrible and strong, advanced towards each other. Sugriva uprooted a sala tree and swung it at Vali, striking him like thunder upon a mountain. He retaliated, and the fierceness of his attack broke Sugriva's pride. At that moment, Rama shot an arrow at Vali's chest, and as it found its mark, he collapsed like a felled tree. Vali was like the moon, dislodged from the sky and no longer illuminating the earth. Even if he had fallen, Vali did not lose his splendour, as the necklace that Indra had bestowed upon him held it in place.

"Why did you kill me?"

Rama and Lakshmana walked up to the fallen Vali. He saw them and said, "You are known as one who is engaged in the welfare of people, firm in your vows. Taaraa told me of your alliance with Sugriva, but I was convinced that you would not kill me when I had been challenged by another.

Your adherence to dharma is well known. I now know that you are as vicious as a pit covered in twigs. I never harmed you or your realm.

Why kill me when I am faultless?" So, accusing Rama of abandoning the path of dharma, Vali fell silent.

The dharma in the act

And so, on Vali's deathbed began a debate on dharma, and Rama pointed out Vali's chief crime, for which he had to be punished

Rama said, "It is right to kill a man who acts with desire towards his daughter, sister, or younger brother's wife.

You acted this way towards Sugriva's wife, Ruma. Also, my love for Sugriva is the same as that for Lakshmana.

I gave him my word, how could I ignore that?" Vali eventually accepted Rama's words and, joining his hands in salutation, said, "Act towards Sugriva and my son, Angada, as you would towards Lakshmana and Bharata. Protect them. Instruct Sugriva so that his behavior with Taaraa is not harsh."

Rama consoled him as he said, "Having received your just punishment, you are devoid of blemishes and have established yourself in your natural state, which is in consonance with dharma."

Taaraa's grief

Taaraa heard that Rama had shot Vali, who lay dying, and rushed to be by his side.

She chastised his retinue who had fled fearing Rama's anger. She ignored their advice to consecrate Angada and said, "What do I have to do with the kingdom or with life when Vali, the tiger among Vanaras, leaves us? I will follow him as well." She sat beside her mighty husband and cradled his body. Sugriva, seeing Taaraa and Angada in such a state, mourned his dying brother as well. Taaraa lamented, "Your strength and valour remained undefeated in battle. Get up now, go to y well-appointed bed. Or is it that as a king you love the earth even more than myse that you do not abandon he even when I ask you to? Ho does my heart not split into thousand pieces?

"Angada, look at your father with care, for to see him shall become impossible. Sugriva, enjoy your kingdom without any agitation, for your enemy your brother, lies slain."

Hanuman consoled her, "The good or bad acts a being performs return to bear their fruit. And what is there to be grieved, and by whom, in this body that is as ephemeral as a bubble? The existence of all beings is impermanent.

Do not grieve, for Vali has attained the realm of those who are triumphant in dharma." He told her to take solace in her son who would soon be consecrated and said, "The Vanaras and these realms look upon you as their overlord."

Vali, whose breath was slowing, asked Sugriva to rule well and take care of Angada. He said,

"You are Angada's protector. Follow Taaraa's advice, and make sure you fulfil your promise to Rama."

He breathed his last and Taaraa lamented, "Look, royal glory does not abandon you even when your breath has ceased, even as the sun's rays do not abandon the great mountain as it sets."

Rama said, gently, "The departed soul does not attain peace and happiness through the pain of grief that the family experiences."

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