Sugriva Tells of the Cave, the Blood, and the Brother Who Became His Enemy
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 6
Doha 6 · Movement 1 of 2
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Sugriva begins with the love once shared between him and Vali, a brotherly affection beyond description. Then Mayavi, son of Maya, called at Kishkindha's gate in the middle of night. Vali rushed after the challenger, Sugriva followed, and the demon fled into a mountain cave. Vali ordered his brother to guard the entrance for a fortnight and assume him dead if he did not return.
Sugriva waited a month. When a heavy stream of blood flowed from the cave, he believed Vali slain and feared the demon would emerge to kill him. He sealed the mouth with a boulder and fled. The ministers found their city without a lord and forced the kingdom upon Sugriva. But Vali had killed Mayavi. He returned, saw his brother enthroned, and let suspicion turn old love into violence.
Vali beat Sugriva like an enemy, seized his possessions and wife, and drove him terrified through the worlds. Only a curse keeps Vali from entering Rishyamuka, yet fear still lives inside the refugee. As Rama hears the suffering of his servant, the vast arms of the compassionate Lord begin to quiver with readiness.
A stream of blood once divided the brothers, and now Rama's two arms answer the exile it created.
Read the passage from the Manas
नात बालि अरु मैं द्वौ भाई। प्रीति रही कछु बरनि न जाई।। मय सुत मायावी तेहि नाऊँ। आवा सो प्रभु हमरें गाऊँ।। अर्ध राति पुर द्वार पुकारा। बाली रिपु बल सहै न पारा।। धावा बालि देखि सो भागा। मैं पुनि गयउँ बंधु सँग लागा।। गिरिबर गुहाँ पैठ सो जाई। तब बालीं मोहि कहा बुझाई।। परिखेसु मोहि एक पखवारा। नहिं आवौं तब जानेसु मारा।। मास दिवस तहँ रहेउँ खरारी। निसरी रुधिर धार तहँ भारी।। बालि हतेसि मोहि मारिहि आई। सिला देइ तहँ चलेउँ पराई।। मंत्रिन्ह पुर देखा बिनु साईं। दीन्हेउ मोहि राज बरिआई।। बालि ताहि मारि गृह आवा। देखि मोहि जियँ भेद बढ़ावा।। रिपु सम मोहि मारेसि अति भारी। हरि लीन्हेसि सर्बसु अरु नारी।। ताकें भय रघुबीर कृपाला। सकल भुवन मैं फिरेउँ बिहाला।। इहाँ साप बस आवत नाहीं। तदपि सभीत रहउँ मन माहीं।। सुनि सेवक दुख दीनदयाला। फरकि उठीं द्वै भुजा बिसाला।।
O Lord, Bali and I are two brothers. The love between us was beyond all description. Maya's son, a demon called Mayavi, came to our city, O Prabhu. At midnight he called out at the city gates. Bali could not endure the enemy's challenge and rushed out. Seeing Bali charge, the demon fled. I followed close behind my brother. The demon entered a great mountain cave. Then Bali instructed me carefully. 'Guard the entrance for a fortnight. If I do not return, then know that I have been slain.' O Kharari, slayer of demons, I remained there a full month. A heavy stream of blood began flowing from within. Thinking Bali was dead and the demon would come out to kill me, I placed a boulder at the entrance and fled. The ministers, finding the city without its king, reluctantly gave the kingdom to me. Bali returned after slaying the demon and, seeing me on the throne, suspicion grew in his heart. He beat me mercilessly as though I were his enemy, and seized all my possessions and even my wife. O gracious Raghubira, in fear of him I have wandered distressed through all the worlds. He cannot come here because of a curse. Even so, dread never leaves my heart. Hearing his devotee's suffering, the Lord who is tender toward the lowly felt both his mighty arms quiver with readiness.