Rāmāyana |Kiṣkindha Kaṇḍa| Chapter 16

16. Vali is Shot by Rāma

[Vali justifies himself assuring that Rāma, the follower of Dharma would not hurt him. He promises Tara, that he would not kill Sugrīva. He goes out and fights with Sugrīva. Seeing that Sugrīva is weakening, Rāma shoots a great arrow at Vali. Vali is hit and falls down.]

When Tara who was having a face like that of lord of stars was speaking, Vali berated her words and spoke thus. 16.1

"Oh blessed lady, that brother is an enemy and is roaring with excitement and for what reason should I tolerate him?" 16.2

"Oh coward, For the invincible heroes who would not turn back in a war, tolerating an insult is worse than death." 16.3

"I am not able to tolerate, desiring to fight a war and that Sugrīva is shouting like one with a bad neck and creating a great commotion." 16.4

"Do not become sad about what Rāma will do against me, because being a follower of Dharma and one who is thankful, how can he commit a sin against me?" 16.5

"Go back along with other ladies and why are you following me? You have shown your interest in me, Oh Tara and you have shown sufficient devotion towards me." 16.6

"I will go and fight with Sugrīva accepting his challenge and you may leave out your anxiety as I will not kill him but only destroy his pride." 16.7

"In the battle field I will do whatever I desire with him, I will hit him with my fist as well as trees and hurt him and he will run back with his injuries." 16.8

"That cruel minded would not be able to tolerate my fast pace in war. Oh Tara you have tried to help me and exhibited your love towards me." 16.9

"I am making a promise on my soul that I would return from the war with people and I will return after winning over my brother." 16.10

The lady with a sweet speech Tara embraced Vali, went slowly round him in Pradakshina while she was weeping modestly. 16.11

Then she who was an expert in Mantras wished him well, went back extremely to his private apartments along with other ladies. 16.12

When Tara and other ladies entered in their own houses, Vali preparing to go from the town hissed like a serpent. 16.13

That greatly lustrous angry Vali breathed heavily, moved his sight all over the place wishing to see his enemy. 16.14

Then he saw the very cultured, gold complexioned Sugrīva standing there glowing like fire. 16.15

When he saw the greatly valorous Sugrīva standing ready for a battle, he tied his loin cloth tightly and went in to steep rage. 16.16

That valorous Vali tied his cloths tightly and went towards Sugrīva with a clenched fist, waiting impatiently for a fight. 16.17

Sugrīva also clenched his fist and advanced even more eagerly towards Vali wearing a golden necklace. 16.18

Then Vali eyes reddened with anger told Sugrīva who was an expert in war and was advancing swiftly to pounce on the enemy. 16.19

"The fist of mine in which my fingers have been tightly packed would hit you with great speed and take away your life, so move away. 16.20

When Vali told like this Sugrīva replied "My fist will hit on your head and take away your soul." 16.21

When Sugrīva was approaching him in great speed Vali hit him with his fist and like a water fall from a river Sugrīva vomited blood. 16.22

Sugrīva moved freely from there, uprooted a huge Sāla tree and hit him on the limbs of Vali, who looked like a mountain hit by a thunderbolt. 16.23

Hit by the huge Sāla tree, Vali was shaken up like a heavily loaded ship full of caravan travelling in the sea. 16.24

Both of them with terrible strength, fierce in appearance seeking the weak points in the other advanced towards each other, striking at the enemy. They were as fast as Garuda and grew like the Sun and Moon in the sky. 16.25

Vali grew in strength and in valour but the greatly valorous Sugrīva the son of Sun God slowly weakened. 16.26

With his pride and strength crushed by Vali, Sugrīva became less valorous and anguished at Vali for having shown his comparative smallness. 16.27

Both of them fought the battle with branches and the tops of trees and with their nails that were as hard as tips of thunderbolts, fists, knees, legs and feet like the demon Vritara fought against Lord Indra. 16.28-16.29

Those monkeys who lived in the forest hit each other like a cloud hitting another cloud and produced great noise and also showing each other's blood stains. 16.30

Then Rāma saw the king of monkeys looking here and there, again and again and observed that Sugrīva was losing his strength. 16.31

Then Rāma seeing that the king of the monkeys was in great distress and that hero searched for a suitable arrow to kill Vali. 16.32

Then he stringed an arrow which looked like a snake, then pulled that bow which was like the coming of the wheel of the God of death. 16.33

By hearing the twang of the bow the winged and feathered birds were greatly disturbed and started flying in different directions possibly thinking that deluge in the clearing. 16.34

When the great arrow was released by Rāghava, it went with sound of a thunderbolt, flashing lights similar to lightning and it hit the chest of Vali. 16.35

That greatly lustrous king of monkeys who was proud of his valour was hit speedily by that arrow and fell on the earth. 16.36

Vali fell down unconscious losing his entire lustre, like the flag of Indra hoisted on Aswathi day and thrown out after Indradwaja celebrations. 16.37

That best among men released the best among arrows decorated by silver and gold and which was like the death at the time of deluge, which was shining, which was meant to kill the enemy and looked like the third eye of Lord Shiva. 16.38

Then dampened by the blood flowing like water, just like an Asoka tree full of flowers standing on a mountain, the son of Indra fell unconscious, like the flag of Indra which was thrown out on the ground after the festival. 16.39

This is the end of Sixteenth Sarga of Kiṣkindha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.