The Brothers Clash, Sugriva Flees, and Rama Marks Him with a Garland
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 8
Doha 8 · Movement 1 of 2
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Vali leaves Tara and strides into battle, his great pride reducing Sugriva to a blade of grass. The brothers collide beneath a storm of threats, fists, and thunderous roars. Vali's blows fall like thunderbolts. Sugriva, shattered and bewildered, tears himself from the combat and runs back toward the protection whose promise had given him courage.
He cries to compassionate Raghubira that this opponent cannot be his brother. This is Kala himself. Rama answers with the calm truth that stopped his bow. The brothers are identical in form, and amid their turning bodies he could not loose an arrow without risking the friend he had sworn to protect.
Rama lays his hand upon Sugriva. Pain leaves the battered body, and its strength becomes adamantine like the thunderbolt. Around Sugriva's neck Rama places a garland of flowers, a bright sign by which the two forms can never again be confused. Vast strength enters the exile, and he returns to the struggle. The battle rises anew while Raghuraya watches from the shelter of the trees.
Rama's flower garland turns recognition itself into the mark of protection.
Read the passage from the Manas
अस कहि चला महा अभिमानी। तृन समान सुग्रीवहि जानी।। भिरे उभौ बाली अति तर्जा । मुठिका मारि महाधुनि गर्जा।। तब सुग्रीव बिकल होइ भागा। मुष्टि प्रहार बज्र सम लागा।। मैं जो कहा रघुबीर कृपाला। बंधु न होइ मोर यह काला।। एकरूप तुम्ह भ्राता दोऊ। तेहि भ्रम तें नहिं मारेउँ सोऊ।। कर परसा सुग्रीव सरीरा। तनु भा कुलिस गई सब पीरा।। मेली कंठ सुमन कै माला। पठवा पुनि बल देइ बिसाला।। पुनि नाना बिधि भई लराई। बिटप ओट देखहिं रघुराई।।
Saying this, the greatly arrogant Bali set forth, dismissing Sugriva as no more than a blade of grass. The two clashed together. Bali threatened fiercely, struck with his fists, and thundered with a tremendous roar. Then Sugriva, stricken and helpless, fled. The blows had fallen on him like thunderbolts. 'O gracious Raghubira,' he cried, 'I told you before: this one is not my brother. He is Kala, Death itself!' Rama replied, 'You two brothers are identical in form. It was that confusion alone that held back my arrow.' Then Rama touched Sugriva's body with his own hand. At once his frame became hard as vajra (diamond), and all his pain vanished. He placed a garland of flowers around Sugriva's neck and sent him forth again, bestowing immense strength upon him. Once more the battle raged in many ways, while Raghurai watched from behind the trees.