Sugreeva did not know what to say or how to thank Rama. On an impulse he started to adore and extol Raghava "It is doubtless that you will burn down everything when you are angry, like the blazing sun at the end of an yuga, with these arrows of yours that are highly blazing, incisive and invaders on stealthy places.
"I feel that you should be made aware of all the relevant aspects about Vali, like as to how impetuous he is, as well as to how strong, brave,courageous etc. he is. After hearing about him you may decide the course of action against him.
"Every day before dawn Vali hops from western ocean to eastern, as well as from southern to northern for offering water oblations to the rising sun.
"For exercise he climbs high mountains and sometimes rends their greatest peaks and volleys them up and catches them, as though they are play balls. He used to personally fell many sturdy trees of diverse origins by his mighty hands.
"Let me tell you about the amusing anecdote about one rakshash called Dundubhi vis-à-vis Vali. The normal guise of that rakshash Dundubhi was that of a buffalo. His size was so huge like Mt. Kailash and his strength was said to be that of thousand elephants.
"Born quite strong, he enlarged his strength and allied capabilities by the boons bestowed on him. This made him headstrong and more evil-minded. He fancied to establish that he was the most powerful in all the worlds.
"He thought that the lord of rivers, namely the Ocean was considered as the most strong. By beating him (Ocean) in a duel he (Dundubhi) will be acclaimed as the most powerful. The Ocean diplomatically declined by saying
'I am not capable to give you a fight as I am not more competent than you. However, there is one who is not less strong than you and you may fight with him. He is the one who gives sublime shelter for sages and the father-in-law of Shankara. He is well-know by the name Himavan, the king of mountains, and he embodies great cascades, cataracts, and caves, and he alone is capable to accord a matchless happiness to you in the form of a fight.'
"Dundubhi was happy to note that the great ocean was afraid of him. Then he went to Himavan like an arrow darted from a bow. There Dundubhi started to blare discordantly and boisterously. He also started to toss very huge rocks resembling white elephants, severally. Then the gentle and delightful Himavan looking like a silver cloud came out and told the rakshash 'My dear fellow why are you bothering me? I am just a shelterer of sages. I am not used to fight and I have never fought with anybody.'
Dundubhi grew more arrogant to hear the submissive words of Himawan. The rakshash shouted disdainfully at Himawan 'Whether you are incapable to fight with me, or not venturing me as you are scared of me is not my concern. Tell me who can really give me a very combative fight.'
Himavan thought for a while and replied Dundubhi with a smile 'Oh, my dear fellow, you better try Vali. He is Indra's son. He is said to be brave and glorious. He is now ruling the pompous city Kishkindha. He is said to be highly intelligent one besides being very strong and has fought many duels. I understand that nobody has defeated him.'
Dundubhi then came straight to Vali's city Kishkindha in the guise of a buffalo with sharp horns that was awe-inspiring. At the gateway of Kishkindha he bellowed clamorously like a war-drum as though to quake the earth. He started uprooting the trees around there, scooping the earth with hooves, and insolently goring the gateway with horns like a goring elephant.
"Vali who was resting in his palace chambers with his courtesans became intolerant to hear that noise. He came out followed by his ladies, like the moon with stars. Seeing the cause of the nuisance was Dundubhi, Vali asked him the reason for causing the disturbance. He also threatened Dundubhi with dire consequences if he did not go away immediately.
"Dundubhi retorted 'I was told that you are quite valiant and strong, but I now see you shouting at me hiding behind the skirts of ladies. If you are really as strong and mighty as I have been informed, come out and fight with me. If you do not have the guts then continue to hide behind the ladies and unrestrainedly delight yourself till morning in your voluptuous gratifications and bear up my rage for this night, oh, coward. Also embrace all the vanaras and bequeath appropriate endowments to them, and you may bid adieu to all your people as the king, as you may not see them later. Look at the Kishkindha city for the last time tonight, and make someone very capable as in charge of the city, and also rejoice with the females till sunrise as there is no tomorrow to you.
"'To kill you now will be a child's play for me. But, I, being a highly honorable person, hereby spare you because you are drunk and do not possess any weapons. At dawn, I am going to kill you.'
"Hearing that Vali laughed that rakshash off. Then he discharged all the females, and told Dundubhi 'Drink and rejoice with females will no way inhibit my strength or capabilities. Consider this drunkenness of mine as the toast of a gallant fighter in this deadly fight.'
"Saying so the enraged Vali adjusted the golden chest-pendant (which was given to him by his father Mahendra) around his neck on to his chest and steadied himself for the fight. Then Vali came out and took effortlessly that mountain-similar Dundubhi by horns, and booming highly he whirled and bumped him onto the ground. Vali repeatedly whirled and thrown him onto the ground. Blood gushed out copiously from the ears, nose and mouth of Dundubhi. Somehow Dundubhi managed to revive. The fight between them was very gruesome. Vali who was similar to Indra in his fortitude fought with that rakshash with his fists, knees and feet, and as well as with boulders and trees. After quite some time it became very clear that Vali was gaining over that rakshash.
Comment.
Indra, the father of Vali had given Vali the goldern chest pendent. Whenever Vali wears it, half the strength of his opponent would be transferred to Vali. Hence, the strength of Dundubhi was depleted now. And the same was transferred to Vali.
End Comment.
"In that unto death fight Dundubhi was lifted up and repeatedly pounded on the ground. In that process blood flirted out copiously from all the nine holes of his body. Shortly after that Dundubhi died.
"Looking at the dead body of Dundubhi with derision, Vali lifted the carcass of that rakshsh and swayed it with his hands and hurled him away in a single flick. While flying blood drops oozed from the mouth of the dead body and fell in the hermitage of the sage Matanga.
"Sage Matanga was enraged to see the blood drops falling in his hermitage. He came out of his hermitage to find out how, why and where from the blood fell in his hermitage. He saw the mountainous buffalo lying on ground lifelessly. Blood was oozing out from all the holes of that animal. He realized from his ascetic power that it was Vali who tossed the cadaver of that buffalo.
"Highly infuriated, the sage released the curse on Vali to the effect that the whole of the Mt. Rishyamuka which was the sheltering wood of his (i.e. the sage), would be out of bounds for him who caused it stained with squirts of blood, and if he entered this place peradventure or otherwise, fatality would embrace him. By his hurling the body of this rakshash the trees were also completely destroyed. This angered the sage more. He, therefore, added a clause to his curse that he ( i.e. the person responsible for this, to wit, Vali) ought not to set his foot within a distance of one full yojana around this hermitage, and if that evil-minded one placed his foot then the main clause of the curse would take effect. He further added an additional clause to the effect that all of his (i.e. Vali's) friends who were dependent on his (i.e. the sage's) woods shall not live here and they should depart from it pronto.
"Still not pacified, the sage added yet another clause to his curse that 'This forest of mine is always protected like my own son, and if the vanaras of Vali set foot on this forest for further destruction of leaves or sprouts, or for the fruits and tubers of this forest, or for any other reason, they too will be covered by this curse of mine. And today is the day of limit and any vanara is seen here from tomorrow, will be petrified for many thousand years to come.'
All the vanaras, who were subservient to Vali and living in that forest left immediately for Kishkindha. Seeing and learning from them the curse of the sage Matanga, Vali approached the sage and requested him to withdraw his curse.
"The sage did not relent. As such Vali cannot set his foot on this mountain. He does not even wish to look at it.
On learning the inaccessibility of this forest to him I heaved a sigh of relief and moved here in this great forest along with my followers.
"This huge heap of bones that is shining forth like a mountaintop is that of Dundubhi, which Vali once hurled without any difficulty. Also these are the seven enormous sala trees full with their branches, and Vali is capable to make each of them leafless to display his vigour, of course, one at a time.
"Oh, Rama, I am apprising all this to you so that you would know how strong Vali is. Now knowing the strength of Vali, will you be able to exterminate him?"
Lakshmana was amused by this misgiving of Sugreeva. He, with a smile asked Sugreeva "What would you like Rama to perform which will instill confidence in you as to the capability of Rama?"
Sugreeva replied "Vali used to agitate each of the trees, one after the other, on many occasions. If Rama can rend one tree out of the seven with only one arrow, then I can construe that Rama is not less competent than Vali. Lakshmana, if he lifts and kicks the skeleton of this dead buffalo by the might of his foot, and makes it fall at a distance of at least two hundred bow-lengths, then all the inhibitions in my mind about the strength of Rama would vanish."
Sugreeva noticed that Rama's eye-corners became red with anger. With a view to pacify Rama, he continued
"Vali is a mighty vanara, an intrepid one, who esteems his own intrepidity, and one who is well renowned for his might and tenacity, and in combats he is an undefeated one. Some of his deeds could not be emulated even by gods. In view of that I took shelter in this Mt. Rishyamuka. Concluding that the lord of vanaras Vali to be an unconquerable, unattackable, unsympathetic one I am not leaving this Mt. Rishyamuka. I am moving about these forests along with earnest ministers like Hanuman and other significant ones, only because I am disconcerted and sceptical of him. I chanced upon a laudable and true friend in you, oh, Rama, the patron of friends, hence I take shelter in you, oh, tigerly man, for you are the final resort for those seeking salvation, like Mt. Himavan. I know the might of that mighty and malicious brother of mine, and oh, Raghava, I am not quite aware of your might.
"Definitely I am not examining, demeaning or intimidating you. Vali's macabre exploits caused cowardice in me. It is definite, oh, Raghava, your word, courage, and physique denote some sublime radiance in you, as with ash covered fire."
Rama smilingly replied "As you are unable to confide in the intrepidity and the capability of ours, I shall ingrain commendable confidence in you with some demonstration."
Rama, then casually flipped the skeleton of Dundubhi with his big toe, and flicked that withered body of the rakshash with his big toe to a ten yojana distance without lifting his foot.
Seeing this, Sugreeva said "Oh, friend, at that time when my tired and tipsy brother Vali tossed this body it was unspoilt, wet with blood and full with flesh. Raghava, now this body is sleazy, without flesh, also rendered into a strawy condition. I agree that even in such a condition it must be quite heavy and you flipped it using only you big toe of your left leg. This demonstrates that you are now energetic.
"As the carcass is now much lighter than when Vali hurled it, I am not able to assess your might vis-a-vis that of Vali.
"I will be satisfied about your might if you could rip off this one sala tree with a single arrow. After seeing you doing this all my inhibitions about your capability would vanish."
===========================================================
"I feel that you should be made aware of all the relevant aspects about Vali, like as to how impetuous he is, as well as to how strong, brave,courageous etc. he is. After hearing about him you may decide the course of action against him.
"Every day before dawn Vali hops from western ocean to eastern, as well as from southern to northern for offering water oblations to the rising sun.
"For exercise he climbs high mountains and sometimes rends their greatest peaks and volleys them up and catches them, as though they are play balls. He used to personally fell many sturdy trees of diverse origins by his mighty hands.
"Let me tell you about the amusing anecdote about one rakshash called Dundubhi vis-à-vis Vali. The normal guise of that rakshash Dundubhi was that of a buffalo. His size was so huge like Mt. Kailash and his strength was said to be that of thousand elephants.
"Born quite strong, he enlarged his strength and allied capabilities by the boons bestowed on him. This made him headstrong and more evil-minded. He fancied to establish that he was the most powerful in all the worlds.
"He thought that the lord of rivers, namely the Ocean was considered as the most strong. By beating him (Ocean) in a duel he (Dundubhi) will be acclaimed as the most powerful. The Ocean diplomatically declined by saying
'I am not capable to give you a fight as I am not more competent than you. However, there is one who is not less strong than you and you may fight with him. He is the one who gives sublime shelter for sages and the father-in-law of Shankara. He is well-know by the name Himavan, the king of mountains, and he embodies great cascades, cataracts, and caves, and he alone is capable to accord a matchless happiness to you in the form of a fight.'
"Dundubhi was happy to note that the great ocean was afraid of him. Then he went to Himavan like an arrow darted from a bow. There Dundubhi started to blare discordantly and boisterously. He also started to toss very huge rocks resembling white elephants, severally. Then the gentle and delightful Himavan looking like a silver cloud came out and told the rakshash 'My dear fellow why are you bothering me? I am just a shelterer of sages. I am not used to fight and I have never fought with anybody.'
Dundubhi grew more arrogant to hear the submissive words of Himawan. The rakshash shouted disdainfully at Himawan 'Whether you are incapable to fight with me, or not venturing me as you are scared of me is not my concern. Tell me who can really give me a very combative fight.'
Himavan thought for a while and replied Dundubhi with a smile 'Oh, my dear fellow, you better try Vali. He is Indra's son. He is said to be brave and glorious. He is now ruling the pompous city Kishkindha. He is said to be highly intelligent one besides being very strong and has fought many duels. I understand that nobody has defeated him.'
Dundubhi then came straight to Vali's city Kishkindha in the guise of a buffalo with sharp horns that was awe-inspiring. At the gateway of Kishkindha he bellowed clamorously like a war-drum as though to quake the earth. He started uprooting the trees around there, scooping the earth with hooves, and insolently goring the gateway with horns like a goring elephant.
"Vali who was resting in his palace chambers with his courtesans became intolerant to hear that noise. He came out followed by his ladies, like the moon with stars. Seeing the cause of the nuisance was Dundubhi, Vali asked him the reason for causing the disturbance. He also threatened Dundubhi with dire consequences if he did not go away immediately.
"Dundubhi retorted 'I was told that you are quite valiant and strong, but I now see you shouting at me hiding behind the skirts of ladies. If you are really as strong and mighty as I have been informed, come out and fight with me. If you do not have the guts then continue to hide behind the ladies and unrestrainedly delight yourself till morning in your voluptuous gratifications and bear up my rage for this night, oh, coward. Also embrace all the vanaras and bequeath appropriate endowments to them, and you may bid adieu to all your people as the king, as you may not see them later. Look at the Kishkindha city for the last time tonight, and make someone very capable as in charge of the city, and also rejoice with the females till sunrise as there is no tomorrow to you.
"'To kill you now will be a child's play for me. But, I, being a highly honorable person, hereby spare you because you are drunk and do not possess any weapons. At dawn, I am going to kill you.'
"Hearing that Vali laughed that rakshash off. Then he discharged all the females, and told Dundubhi 'Drink and rejoice with females will no way inhibit my strength or capabilities. Consider this drunkenness of mine as the toast of a gallant fighter in this deadly fight.'
"Saying so the enraged Vali adjusted the golden chest-pendant (which was given to him by his father Mahendra) around his neck on to his chest and steadied himself for the fight. Then Vali came out and took effortlessly that mountain-similar Dundubhi by horns, and booming highly he whirled and bumped him onto the ground. Vali repeatedly whirled and thrown him onto the ground. Blood gushed out copiously from the ears, nose and mouth of Dundubhi. Somehow Dundubhi managed to revive. The fight between them was very gruesome. Vali who was similar to Indra in his fortitude fought with that rakshash with his fists, knees and feet, and as well as with boulders and trees. After quite some time it became very clear that Vali was gaining over that rakshash.
Comment.
Indra, the father of Vali had given Vali the goldern chest pendent. Whenever Vali wears it, half the strength of his opponent would be transferred to Vali. Hence, the strength of Dundubhi was depleted now. And the same was transferred to Vali.
End Comment.
"In that unto death fight Dundubhi was lifted up and repeatedly pounded on the ground. In that process blood flirted out copiously from all the nine holes of his body. Shortly after that Dundubhi died.
"Looking at the dead body of Dundubhi with derision, Vali lifted the carcass of that rakshsh and swayed it with his hands and hurled him away in a single flick. While flying blood drops oozed from the mouth of the dead body and fell in the hermitage of the sage Matanga.
"Sage Matanga was enraged to see the blood drops falling in his hermitage. He came out of his hermitage to find out how, why and where from the blood fell in his hermitage. He saw the mountainous buffalo lying on ground lifelessly. Blood was oozing out from all the holes of that animal. He realized from his ascetic power that it was Vali who tossed the cadaver of that buffalo.
"Highly infuriated, the sage released the curse on Vali to the effect that the whole of the Mt. Rishyamuka which was the sheltering wood of his (i.e. the sage), would be out of bounds for him who caused it stained with squirts of blood, and if he entered this place peradventure or otherwise, fatality would embrace him. By his hurling the body of this rakshash the trees were also completely destroyed. This angered the sage more. He, therefore, added a clause to his curse that he ( i.e. the person responsible for this, to wit, Vali) ought not to set his foot within a distance of one full yojana around this hermitage, and if that evil-minded one placed his foot then the main clause of the curse would take effect. He further added an additional clause to the effect that all of his (i.e. Vali's) friends who were dependent on his (i.e. the sage's) woods shall not live here and they should depart from it pronto.
"Still not pacified, the sage added yet another clause to his curse that 'This forest of mine is always protected like my own son, and if the vanaras of Vali set foot on this forest for further destruction of leaves or sprouts, or for the fruits and tubers of this forest, or for any other reason, they too will be covered by this curse of mine. And today is the day of limit and any vanara is seen here from tomorrow, will be petrified for many thousand years to come.'
All the vanaras, who were subservient to Vali and living in that forest left immediately for Kishkindha. Seeing and learning from them the curse of the sage Matanga, Vali approached the sage and requested him to withdraw his curse.
"The sage did not relent. As such Vali cannot set his foot on this mountain. He does not even wish to look at it.
On learning the inaccessibility of this forest to him I heaved a sigh of relief and moved here in this great forest along with my followers.
"This huge heap of bones that is shining forth like a mountaintop is that of Dundubhi, which Vali once hurled without any difficulty. Also these are the seven enormous sala trees full with their branches, and Vali is capable to make each of them leafless to display his vigour, of course, one at a time.
"Oh, Rama, I am apprising all this to you so that you would know how strong Vali is. Now knowing the strength of Vali, will you be able to exterminate him?"
Lakshmana was amused by this misgiving of Sugreeva. He, with a smile asked Sugreeva "What would you like Rama to perform which will instill confidence in you as to the capability of Rama?"
Sugreeva replied "Vali used to agitate each of the trees, one after the other, on many occasions. If Rama can rend one tree out of the seven with only one arrow, then I can construe that Rama is not less competent than Vali. Lakshmana, if he lifts and kicks the skeleton of this dead buffalo by the might of his foot, and makes it fall at a distance of at least two hundred bow-lengths, then all the inhibitions in my mind about the strength of Rama would vanish."
Sugreeva noticed that Rama's eye-corners became red with anger. With a view to pacify Rama, he continued
"Vali is a mighty vanara, an intrepid one, who esteems his own intrepidity, and one who is well renowned for his might and tenacity, and in combats he is an undefeated one. Some of his deeds could not be emulated even by gods. In view of that I took shelter in this Mt. Rishyamuka. Concluding that the lord of vanaras Vali to be an unconquerable, unattackable, unsympathetic one I am not leaving this Mt. Rishyamuka. I am moving about these forests along with earnest ministers like Hanuman and other significant ones, only because I am disconcerted and sceptical of him. I chanced upon a laudable and true friend in you, oh, Rama, the patron of friends, hence I take shelter in you, oh, tigerly man, for you are the final resort for those seeking salvation, like Mt. Himavan. I know the might of that mighty and malicious brother of mine, and oh, Raghava, I am not quite aware of your might.
"Definitely I am not examining, demeaning or intimidating you. Vali's macabre exploits caused cowardice in me. It is definite, oh, Raghava, your word, courage, and physique denote some sublime radiance in you, as with ash covered fire."
Rama smilingly replied "As you are unable to confide in the intrepidity and the capability of ours, I shall ingrain commendable confidence in you with some demonstration."
Rama, then casually flipped the skeleton of Dundubhi with his big toe, and flicked that withered body of the rakshash with his big toe to a ten yojana distance without lifting his foot.
Seeing this, Sugreeva said "Oh, friend, at that time when my tired and tipsy brother Vali tossed this body it was unspoilt, wet with blood and full with flesh. Raghava, now this body is sleazy, without flesh, also rendered into a strawy condition. I agree that even in such a condition it must be quite heavy and you flipped it using only you big toe of your left leg. This demonstrates that you are now energetic.
"As the carcass is now much lighter than when Vali hurled it, I am not able to assess your might vis-a-vis that of Vali.
"I will be satisfied about your might if you could rip off this one sala tree with a single arrow. After seeing you doing this all my inhibitions about your capability would vanish."
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