Rāmāyana |Kiṣkindha Kaṇḍa| Chapter 11
11. Rāma Throws Skeleton of Dundubhi
[Sugrīva describes the prowess of Vali. He tells how he threw the body of Dundubhi whom he has killed to one yojana distance. He also tells Rāma about the curse of sage Mātanga on Vali. Rāma throws the skeleton of Dundubhi to ten yojanas distance just by his toe. Sugrīva wants him to pierce one of the seven Sāla trees.]
When Sugrīva heard the words of Rāma, his joy and courage increased and he started praising Rāma in a worshipful manner. 11.1
"Without any doubt, if you become angry, by using lustrous sharp arrows which will pierce the vital parts, you can burn the world similar to Sin God burning the world before the deluge." 11.2
"Please hear with concentrated mind about his courage, valour and steadfastness from me and then you u decide as to what is to be done by you." 11.3
"Vali daily crosses oceans from east to west and from South to North before sun rise without getting tired." 11.4
"Vali would climb to the top of the mountains and he would toss huge peaks speedily upwards and then catch them." 11.5
"While Vali is exhibiting his strength he would brake many strong trees in the forest with vigour and speed." 11.6
"There was a buffalo called Dundubhi, who was shining like the Kailāśa mountain, who has the strength of one thousand elephants and greatly valorous." 11.7
"That wicked very huge bodied one proud of his valour and deluded by the power of boons that he obtained went to the ocean which is the Lord of all rivers." 11.8
"After reaching the sea with billowing waves and which had collection of gems wanting to fight a war with the ocean he told." 11.9
"Oh king, that strong ocean which was the soul of Dharma arose and told that Rākṣasa who was sent there by God of death." 11.10
"Oh expert in war, I am not capable of fighting with you and please hear so that I can tell you about the one who would engage you in war." 11.11
"The very famous king of mountains Himalayas is the abode of many sages in its great forests and is the father in law of Śankara. He has many great waterfalls and many cavers and caverns within him. He will be competent and give you incomparable pleasure in war." 11.12-11.13
"That great Asura understanding that the ocean is scared of him, went to Himalayas like a great arrow released from a bow and that Dundubhi then took elephant size rocks from that white mountain threw and broke them and roared." 11.14-11.15
"Then that Himalayas who was gentle took a a pleasing form like a cloud and sitting on one of its peaks told him." 11.16
"Oh Lover of Dharma Dundubhi, do not offer me any trouble, as I am the abode of sages doing penance, I am not suitable to war with you." 11.17
"Hearing the words of the wise king of mountains, Dundubhi who had red eyes due to anger spoke to him." 11.18
"You are not fighting with me either because you are not competent or you are afraid of me but you can please show me a valorous hero who would be ready to fight with me." 11.19
"That Himalayas who was skilful in conversation and a person of Dharma, on hearing the angry words of that great Asura, spoke angrily to him." 11.20
"There is a greatly wise monkey called Vali who is equal in valour to Indra and the Lord of the monkeys is living in Kiṣkindha which has unmatched lustre." 11.21
'He is very intelligent, greatly wise and an expert in war and he is capable of facing in one to one fight war like just like Indra gave to Namuchi." 11.22
"If you are interested in war speedily go to him, for he is difficult to face in war and would be ever ready for it." 11.23
"Hearing the words of Himalayas, the extremely angry Dundubhi went to the town of Kiṣkindha which was the place of Vali." 11.24
"He took the form of a terrifying bison with very sharp horns and looked like a water rich cloud in the sky of the rainy season and that very strong one reached the gate of Kiṣkindha and roared like a Dundubhi drum and shook the earth." 11.25-11.26
"Breaking the trees which were nearby and scratching the earth and digging the gate by his horns he looked like an elephant." 11.27
"Vali who had gone to his private apartments hearing that intolerable sound, jumped from where he is along with a woman and looked like a moon coming out along with the stars." 11.28
"Vali, the lord of the monkeys, who roams all over the forest, told Dundubhi in few words whose letters were clear." 11.29
"Oh Dundubhi, for what reason are you blocking the door like this and roaring. Oh very strong one you are known to me, please save your own life." 11.30
"After hearing those words of the king of monkeys Dundubhi told with reddened eyes due to great anger." 11.31
"Oh valorous one, you should not talk in the presence of women, Start the war with me and then I will know your strength." 11.32
"Otherwise I will control my anger for this night and I will give you time to passionately indulge in love play for this night." 11.33
"Oh monkey, you can embrace them and give them whatever you want to give and oh king of monkeys you can also spend time with your friends." 11.34
"See Kiṣkindha properly assigns someone like you to be king of the city and play with ladies, for I am going to destroy your pride." 11.35
"He who kills an intoxicated one, heedless one, one who is sleeping or one without weapons and one who is passionately indulged in love is like a killer of unborn child in a womb." 11.36
"Then smiling mischievously, he sent away Tara and her servants and all other women and angrily he told the great Rākṣasa." 11.37
"Do not think that I am intoxicated and if you are not afraid of a war, my intoxication would help me in striking you as I have drunk a hero’s drink." 11.38
"After having angrily spoken like this and after removing the golden garland given to him by his father the Indra and stood ready for the war." 11.39
"Vali roaring like an elephant lifted Dundubhi who was like a mountain by his horns and stuck him down." 11.40
"Then Vali roared and threw the body of Dundubhi down, and blood started flowing from the ears of Dundubhi." 11.41
"Since both of them were agitated and angry and both were wishing to be victorious, a horrible war took place between Dundubhi and the monkey." 11.42
"Vali who has valour equal to Indra fought with fists, knees as well as stones and trees." 11.43
"The Monkey and the asura pounced upon each other in that fight and the power of Asura got reduced and that of the son of Indra increased." 11.44
"Vali lifted the asura Dundubhi who was failing in his efforts, courage strength and prowess, and hit him down on the ground and while being thrown down Dundubhi was crushed and the body got split in to five elements and he fell down dead." 11.45-11.46
"That strong Vali lifted that body which has lost its life by his hands and with speed hurled it to a Yojana distance." 11.47
"When the body was thrown in haste, drops of blood from the mouth of the body fell, which was scattered by the wind and fell on the hermitage of sage Mātanga." 11.48
"Seeing the drops of blood of a Rākṣasa that has fallen on him, that great sage became angry and started thinking about who might have done it?' 11.49
"Which bad soul has sprayed blood, instantly on me and that bad one who has done it must be evil minded and childish?" 11.50
"After saying this the great sage came out of his hermitage and saw before him the mountain like body of that buffalo." 11.51
"By the power of penance he understood that it was done by a monkey and he pronounced a great curse on Vali who hurled it." 11.52
"If he who polluted this hermitage by sprinkling of blood enters this place protected by me, then his death would take place." 11.53
"If he who broke trees in this place by throwing the body of the Asura, comes within one Yojana all round my hermitage clearly that evil minded person will not live." 11.54
"It is better that those ministers of his who are staying in my forest also go away with pleasure as soon as this pronouncement is made." 11.55
"If they stay back in the forest which has been looked after like a son by me and destroy its shoots and harvest the fruits and roots, definitely I would also curse them." 11.56-11.57
"I am giving them one day time and from tomorrow, if I see any such monkey, then he would be transformed in to a mountain and remain here for thousands of years." 11.58
"As soon as these words fell out of the mouth of the sage, they all came out of that forest and went and met Vali." 11.59
"Oh monkeys who live in the forest of Mātanga, why have you all together come to meet me? I hope all of you are safe." 11.60
"Then all those monkeys told all that happened and also about the curse given to Vali and the reason for that curse." 11.61
"When Vali heard all that was told by the monkeys, Vali went to the hermitage Of Mātanga and with saluted hands begged for his pardon." 11.62
"The great sage went in to his hermitage without obliging him and due to the fear of that curse Vali was greatly perturbed." 11.63
"Due to the fear of that curse, Vali does not enter the great Riṣyamūka mountain and does not even like to see it." 11.64
"Knowing about the prohibition of his entry, Oh Rāma, I roam about in this great forest accompanied by my ministers without any fear." 11.65
"That shining skeleton lying on the mountain top is that of Dundubhi, which was thrown there by the vanity of Vali." 11.66
"You can also see seven huge Sāla trees full with their branches and Vali by his innate power can make them leafless one at a time." 11.67
"Oh Rāma, I am telling all this to describe about his matchless valour, then how is it possible for you to kill him in war?" 11.68
When Sugrīva told like this Lakṣmaṇa smilingly told, "by performing which act would you believe that we are capable of killing Vali." 11.69
Then Sugrīva told, "Earlier these seven Sāla trees used to be shaken one after another by Vali and agitate them." 11.70
"If Rāma can with one arrow remove all leaves of one of the Sāla trees by his arrow, then on seeing the valour of Rāma, I would conclude that Vali is definitely dead." 11.71
"Oh Lakṣmaṇa, if using one of his feet, he can kick the skeleton of the buffalo and make it fall at two hundred bow lengths, then I will have confidence in him." 11.72
When Sugrīva told like this the eyes of Rāma reddened and after thinking for a short time Sugrīva again spoke to son of Kākutstha clan. 11.73
"The strong monkey Vali is valorous and acknowledges valour and is famous for his strength and masculinity and he cannot be defeated in war." 11.74
"Seeing his acts which are difficult for even devas to perform, I became thoughtful and scared and I depended on living in Riṣyamūka." 11.75
"After thinking and concluding that he the king of monkeys cannot be defeated, cannot be conquered and cannot be attacked, I am not leaving Riṣyamūka." 11.76
"After suspecting problems, I am moving about in this great forest along with affectionate ministers lead by Hanuman." 11.77
"Oh Rāma who loves his friends, Oh tiger among men, in you I have got a trustworthy laudable and good friend, in whom I can depend upon like the Himalaya mountain." 11.78
"I do not know your power in war as your valour has not been seen by me, like I know about my malicious brother." 11.79
"I am not trying to measure you or insult you or intimidating you, but his gross exploits have made fear rise in my heart." 11.80
"Oh Rāghava, your voice, courage as well as physique seems desirable and indicate great radiance but it is not clear like an ember covered with ash." 11.81
Hearing these words from the great soul Sugrīva, Rāma with a smile told the following to the monkey. 11.82
"Oh monkey, if you are not able to have confidence in me, I will convince you of my power and valour in war." 11.83
That elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa who is very strong and valorous after comforting Sugrīva by saying this, playfully with his toe lifted the dried up body of Dundubhi and threw it to a distance of ten Yojanas. 11.84-11.85
Then Sugrīva seeing the body quickly again told to the elder brother of Rāma who was shining like a sun "the words told in front of the monkeys are really meaningful." 11.86
"Oh friend, At that time the flesh was wet and now it has become dried up without flesh and is like grass, Oh Rāghava, and at that time my brother Vali was intoxicated and tired and so you could fling it happily." 11.87-11.88
"And because wet state and dry state makes a lot of difference, I am not able to decide whether your strength of his strength is more." 11.89
"Oh dear one, I am still having doubt of your strength compared to his but if you are able to pierce one Sāla tree, I would be convinced." 11.90
"Get set your great bow which is like an elephant's trunk and draw the string up to your ear and release a great arrow." 11.91
"Oh Rāma if you pierce one Sāla tree by using your arrow, then I will not have any doubt. Enough of this thinking and please do this one favour to me and I tell this swearing upon me." 11.92
"Like the sun among things that are bright, Like Himalayas being the greatest mountain and like Lion is the greatest among those which walk with four feet, you are the most valorous among me." 11.93
This is the end of Eleventh Sarga of Kiṣkindha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.