4.11. rAma offers himself for a test!

Hari Om.

Let us begin the eleventh sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

Asked by rAma about the reason for brotherhood turning into bitter enmity, sugrIva recounted in detail the story of vAlI ‘s valour and arrogance. He was provoked by a sworn enemy called mAyAvI and unable to resist his anger, vAlI gave him the chase till the demon escaped in to a giant burrow. sugrIva out of his affection for his elder brother followed vAlI. Asking sugrIva to stay put at the entrance, vAlI went inside and didn’t return for a year. sugrIva heard the roars of the demons from inside and was apprehensive that his brother was no more. In order to contain mAyAvI’s might, he closed off the mouth of the burrow with a boulder and dejected, went back to kishkindhA. Since a kingdom sans king was vulnerable, the ministers and the citizens crowned sugrIva. Meanwhile, a triumphant vAlI returned after slaying mAyAvI and was livid that sugrIva usurped his throne. He bullied him, heaped insults in the middle of friends and banished him from the kingdom having usurped his wife ruma. In banishment, vAlI tormented sugrIva and forced him to roam all over the earth. rAma heard this account of the injustice that vAlI meted out to sugrIva and immediately declared that soon, his unerring, golden arrows shall be unleashed on vAlI and he shall be alive only as long as he is not spotted by rAma. sugrIva was delighted with this assurance. Onwards…

sugrIva narrates vAli’s prowess. Pic from here.

The assuring words of rAma enhanced the delight and combative zeal of sugrIva. He felicitated rAma and eulogized him – “Indeed, armed with these blazing and sharp arrows capable of causing fatality, your anger can turn to ashes the entire world like the blazing Sun at the end of time.

असंशयं प्रज्वलितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्मर्मातिगैश्शरैः।

त्वं दहेः कुपितो लोकान्युगान्त इव भास्करः4.11.2।।

Listen carefully about the combative spirit, valour and the courage of vAlI and then decide how you want to go about it. Before the Sun rises, vAlI would go over from the western to the eastern seas and from the southern to the northern and (to perform ablutions) feel no fatigue at all. He would ascend giant mountains, break their peaks, fling them into the air and catch them. He demonstrates his valor by choosing to break robust trees in the forest with his vigour.

Once a mighty demon by name dundubhI resembling the peak of mount kailAsa, intoxicated by his strength and deluded by the boons he had earned, possessing the strength of a thousand elephants, prodded by death accosted the repository of jewels and the lord of rivers, the ocean and challenged him for a combat.

ऊर्मिमन्तमभिक्रम्य सागरं रत्नसञ्चयम्।

मह्यं युद्धं प्रयच्छेति तमुवाच महार्णवम्4.11.9।।

Then the righteous and strong samudra rose and told him, that he was not capable of fighting the war-hardened dundubhI and that he shall tell him about someone who can offer him a fight. You may go to the himavAn, the mighty mountain, father-in-law of lord Sankara, who is replete with caves, forests and streams and refuge of the ascetics, he can delight you in a combat.

शैलराजो महारण्ये तपस्विशरणं परम्।

शङ्करश्वशुरो नाम्ना हिमवानिति विश्रुतः4.11.12।।

गुहाप्रस्रवणोपेतो बहुकन्दरनिर्दरः।

स समर्थस्तव प्रीतिमतुलां कर्तुमाहवे4.11.13।।

Knowing that samudra was scared, dundubhI with the speed of an arrow released from the bow at once reached the mountain himavAn and began to smash the large elephantine boulders and throw them down and roared loudly. Then the gentle and pleasant looking himavAn, standing at the top of the mountain in the form of a brilliant white cloud told him that he was not well versed in combat and that he was the refuge of ascetics and therefore he ought not be troubled.

Hearing his pleading, dundubhI was raging in anger and asked him if he was incapable or was not getting into action due to fear of him, he may suggest who would want a combat with him. The mountain himavAn was aghast that someone could try to force the issue thus and still spoke skillfully and said, O righteous dundubhI, there lives in the brilliant kishkindhA, a vAnara by name vAlI who is learned and illustrious, is mighty like indra. He is skilled in combat and can be match for you like namuchi was to indra.

तं शीघ्रमभिगच्छ त्वं यदि युद्धमिहेच्छसि।

स हि दुर्धर्षणो नित्यं शूरस्समरकर्मणि4.11.23।।

If you are desirous of a combat, you may soon go to him. He is difficult to conquer and an expert warrior. Listening this, dundubhI, seething with anger, at once descended upon kishkindhA, the city of vAlI. Bearing the form of a buffalo with menacingly sharp horns, he appeared like a terrible water bearing rain cloud in the rainy season that was set to unleash deluge. That dundubhI let out a terrifying roar like a giant trumpet (dundubhI) which was reminiscent of an earthquake.

धारयन्माहिषं रूपं तीक्ष्णशृङ्गो भयावहः।

प्रावृषीव महामेघस्तोयपूर्णो नभस्स्थले4.11.25।।

ततस्तु द्वारमागम्य किष्किन्धाया महाबलः।

ननर्द कम्पयन्भूमिं दुन्दुभिर्दुन्दुभिर्यथा4.11.26।।

Approaching the gate of the city, dundubhI uprooted several trees and threw them away. He scratched the earth violently with his hoofs and dashed the city gate with his horns like a might-intoxicated elephant. vAlI heard this annoying ruffle from his inner chambers and emerged along with his women folk akin to moon rising surrounded by stars! He briefly asked – ‘O mighty dundubhI, I am aware of you, why are you blocking the entrance of our city? Go and save yourself’.

Responding to him, dundubhI sneered in anger – ‘don’t speak so in the presence of women. O warrior, come to the battlefield and thee shall know my prowess. Or, I can hold my anger until the morning. Go back, embrace your women and sport with them, give them great gifts and spend the night with your kin. Have a good look at kishkindhA and appoint a king and then come in the morning and I shall destroy your conceit. It is improper and would be equal to feticide to kill someone who is intoxicated like you or is sleeping or is all by himself unarmed’.

यो हि मत्तं प्रमत्तं वा सुप्तं वा रहितं भृशम्।

हन्यात्स भ्रूणहा लोके त्वद्विधं मदमोहितम्4.11.36।।

Listening to the boasting of dundubhI, vAlI smiled wickedly, sent away his women folk led by his wife tAra and sneered back -‘do not consider me drunk, in fact, this drink shall serve me well as a warrior’s drink and be ready for the combat if you are not afraid of it’.

Saying so, vAlI removed the garland given by his father indra and put it aside and jumped to into the arena and took the demon dundubhI who was in the form of a buffalo by horns, letting out a loud roar, struck down the huge bodied demon. Then, holding him by the horns, vAlI twirled him round and struck him down on the earth. The buffalo demon bled from his ears. The buffalo and the vAnara fought bitterly trying to out smart each other and ascertain their victory. As both of them fought valiantly, soon, the ability, valor and courage of dundubhI dwindled while those of vAlI enhanced by the minute as he fought using his knees, limbs and with boulders and trees. Lifting up the huge dundubhI, vAlI struck him down on the earth and with that impact, the huge bodied dundubhI’s life forces left him and merged in the elements.

व्यापारवीर्यधैर्यैश्च परिक्षीणं पराक्रमैः।

तं तु दुन्दुभिमुद्यम्य धरण्यामभ्यपातयत्।।4.11.45।।

युद्धे प्राणहरे तस्मिन्निष्पिष्टो दुन्दुभिस्तदा।

पपात च महाकायः क्षितौ पञ्चत्वमागतः4.11.46।।

Still seething with anger, vAlI lifted the bleeding dead body of the buffalo and threw him away to a distance of one yOjana and as he did so, drops of blood from the mouth of dundubhI were scattered over the hermitage of sage matanga.

Sage matanga was angry to see the blood dropped in his hermitage and came to out to see whose childish and mischievous act this could be. He saw the huge dead body of dundubhI and by virtue of his ascetic vision, he divined that it was the work of the vAlI and he cast a terrible curse on vAlI for this act and said, ‘he who has contaminated my hermitage with blood shall not enter this region and if he does so, he shall die. He who has broken the trees of this forest that I have tended to like my own son will cease to exist if he steps within one yOjana from my hermitage. Not only he, whoever of his kin and counsellors who are here may also leave within a day from here or else when I see them tomorrow they will turn into a mountain for thousands of years’.

Listening to the terrible curse cast by the sage, the vAnaras fled from the forest and went and passed the message onto vAlI. He enquired as to why the vAnaras of the matanga forest have come to see him and if all was well. They apprised him of the terrible curse that sage matanga spelt on them as well as him. Remorsefully vAlI ran with folded hands to sage matanga and apologized to him. However the sage did not entertain his prayers and without obliging entered into the hermitage. vAlI became quite scared of the curse spelt by the sage and from then on whether he likes it or not, avoids coming here to the mountain of RshyamUka.

तस्याप्रवेशं ज्ञात्वाऽहमिदं राम महावनम्।

विचरामि सहामात्यो विषादेन विवर्जितः4.11.65।।

Relieved of my agony, I roam the forests of RshyamUka, safe in the knowledge that he cannot enter here. Look here, the giant skeleton of dundubhI, shining like a mountain even today.

Look at these seven giant sAl trees with their branches spread wide. vAlI would shake one tree and it would shed all the leaves at once. That is the peerless might of vAlI which I related to you O king rAma. How is it possible to vanquish him in the battle”?

lakshmaNa smiled at this [doubt laden] statement of sugrIva and asked as to what action will convince him that vAlI can be vanquished?

तथा ब्रुवाणं सुग्रीवं प्रहसन् लक्ष्मणोऽब्रवीत्।

कस्मिन्कर्मणि निर्वृत्ते श्रद्दध्या वालिनो वधम्4.11.69।।

Questioned thus, sugrIva said – “O lakshmaNa look at these seven sAl trees. vAlI used to shake each tree one by one and denude it of its leaves. If rAma can with one arrow uproot one sAl tree, I will consider vAlI dead looking at the prowess of rAma. Or, here is the skeleton of dundubhI who was thrown away one yOjana by vAlI. If rAma can cast it away with his foot by two hundred measures of his bow, I will consider vAlI dead”.

Having thus prescribed what to do to convince him, sugrIva went silent for a moment, reflected and resumed speaking to rAma –

“vAlI is not only valiant, he has vanquished many a valiant warrior. His might and combative spirit is not to be seen even in the gods. He is unconquered in war. Seeing all these, I am afraid of him and limit myself to the RshyamUka hills along with my confidantes and roam here in despair and doubt. O great man, in you have found a faithful friend and one who is well disposed towards a friend and I have sought refuge in you like one would in the himavAn mountain. However, what to do, I am aware of the might of my bad brother but have not seen your skills in war.

न खल्वहं त्वां तुलये नावमन्ये न भीषये।

कर्मभिस्तस्य भीमैस्तु कातर्यं जनितं मम4.11.80।।

However, please do not think that I am comparing you with him or insulting you or trying to scare you. Having seen the prowess of vAlI, I am filled with scare.

कामं राघव ते वाणी प्रमाणं धैर्यमाकृतिः।

सूचयन्ति परं तेजो भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्4.11.81।।

O rAma, your confident words indicate your courage and capability which is otherwise not conspicuous like fire covered with ash”.

Responding to the words of the diligent sugrIva, rAma smiles and said –

यदि न प्रत्ययोऽस्मासु विक्रमे तव वानर।

प्रत्ययं समरे श्लाघ्यमहमुत्पादयामि ते4.11.83।।

“If you are lacking in the belief of my valour, O vAnara, I shall generate an admirable conviction about in in you”.

Saying so, rAma, anembodiment of calm, with a remarkable ease, cast away the dry skeleton of dundubhI with his toes for a distance of ten yOjanas!

एवमुक्त्वा तु सुग्रीवं सान्त्वं लक्ष्मणपूर्वजः।

राघवो दुन्दुभेः कायं पादाङ्गुष्ठेन लीलया4.11.84।।

तोलयित्वा महाबाहुश्चिक्षेप दशयोजनम्।

असुरस्य तनुं शुष्कं पादाङ्गुष्ठेन वीर्यवान्4.11.85।।

Seeing the skeleton cast away with such ease, with lakshmaNa also in the earshot, sugrIva said again to rAma –

आर्द्रस्समांसः प्रत्यग्रः क्षिप्तः कायः पुरा सखे4.11.87।।

लघुस्सम्प्रति निर्मांस स्तृणभूतश्च राघव।

परिश्रान्तेन मत्तेन भ्रात्रा मे वालिना तदा4.11.88।।

क्षिप्तमेवं प्रहर्षेण भवता रघुनन्दन।

“O freind, rAghava, my brother vAlI was intoxicated, weary after the battle and yet threw away the fresh, fleshy corpse of dundubhI back then. However, it is dry, fleshless and light as a haystack which you have cast away now in delight. Therefore, it is impossible to estimate whether your valour is equal to that of vAlI or is more than his by this since there is a great difference in the weight of the dry skeleton and a fleshy corpse. So, O dear, that is indeed is unconvincing about your strength with respect to him. I shall be convinced if you can pick up your bow, string it, draw the chord long and split one sAl tree with a single arrow. This is not a test of your strength at all, O rAma. I have absolutely no doubt that you can accomplish it. Just do it for my delight.

Just like the Sun is most splendid among the splendorous, the himavAn is the greatest among the mountains, the lion is the best among quadrupeds, similarly you are the most valorous among men”!