Rama and Lakshman continued their search for Sita. Along the way, they found Rishyamook mountain where Sugriva lived with his minister Jambavan and associate Hanuman. Sugriv saw Rama and Laksman at the foothills.
He discusses with Hanuman as to whether they have been sent by his brother Bali. Hanuman disguises himself as a brahmin and approaches Ram and Laksman. Hanuman recognises Rama and surrenders himself to his holy feet.
He tells Rama that Sugriv had seen Sita’s abduction. Ram asked Sugriv why he was residing in the mountains instead of Kishkindha, Sugriv tells the story of how his brother Bali became his enemy.
Sugriv Explains How His Brother Bali Became His Enemy in Kishkindha Kand
“After the demise of our father, Bali was crowned king. There was a great enmity between rakshas Mayavi and Bali owing to some female. One night Mayavi arrived at the doors of Kishkindha and called Bali for a fight. On hearing the voice Bali did not tolerate and came out in all his anger to kill the demon. On seeing Bali and me coming from a distance, rakshas Mayavi ran away and he speedily entered in an un-enterable cavity under the ground, covered with grass Bali asked me to stay there on the alert at the entrance of the cavity and entered that cavity.
After staying at the entrance of the cave for one year and on seeing the blood that started to flow from out the cave and sounds of screaming rakshas came, but the screaming of Bali were unheard, Sugriv concluded in mind by the indications that Bali was dead and covered the cavity’s opening with a mountain similar boulder, returned to Kishkindha, and assumed kingship .
After killing Mayavi when Bali could not find any exit from the cavity as its mouth was closed , in anger he smashed hilltop and from there Bali exited that way and journeyed back to kingdom to find Sugriv ruling in his place. His eyes were reddened in anger and he concluded that his brother had betrayed him.
Sugriv tried to explain the circumstances under which he was made the King only to keep the kingless kingdom under control and now returning this custodial kingdom to Bali Sugriv was thrown out of the kingdom, Bali forcibly took Sugriv’s wife, Ruma, and the brothers became bitter enemies and owing to his fear ,Sugriv had entered this safest mountain Rishyamuka, which was impenetrable for Bali.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agquYZ5TBcU
Alliance Betwee Rama And Sugriva In Kishkindha Kand
Sugriv formed an alliance with Ram. Sugriv asked Ram’s help in return for his help in searching Sita. The two hatched a plan to topple Bali from the throne.
Sugriv was full of doubts whether Ram could kill Bali. (Sugriv told Ram that Bali had received a boon from Brahma, according to which anyone who comes before him will lose half his strength to Bali, thereby making Bali invulnerable to any enemy. Once Ravan called Bali for a fight when Bali was doing his regular Shiva Puja. He took Ravan in his tail and took him around all the world. Humbled, Ravan called for a truce. )
Sugriv told many unbelievable stories of Bali’s power. As a proof, he showed Ram a hole in a saal tree which Bali had made in one shot. When it was Ram’s turn, he penetrated seven trees of saal in a row with one arrow. After crossing the trees, the arrow even made a strike on a huge rock and splits it into pieces. Sugriv was happy.
Sugriv Challanges Bali For Battle
Ram encouraged Sugriv to challenge Bali for a duel and bring him outside Kishkindha. Accordingly a duel ensued wherein Bali assaulted Sugriv and chased him off. Sugriv asked Ram why he did not come to his rescue. Ram told that he could not make out difference between the two brothers for they were alike. Ram asked Sugriv to wear a flower garland as a mark of identification between the two brothers and again challenge Bali, so with that identification of garland he could aim his arrow at the other dueler.
After encouraging Sugriv to challenge Bali for a second time duly wearing a flower garland as a mark of identification between the two brothers, Sugriv challenged Bali for duel. Bali came out only on pacifying Tara, his wife, who deterred Bali from going to fight a duel with Sugriv, as she doubted that Sugriv must had come with Ram. A fierce battle ensued between Bali and Sugriv, In the battle, Bali proved his might making Sugriva run for cover. At that instance, Ram hiding behind a tree injured Bali with his arrow.
Ram faced the injured Bali. Bali told Ram if he was searching his wife he should have come to him for help and friendship. Whoever took Sita even if it is Ravan I had defeated them and would have taken them at your feet and at your mercy.
Bali argued with Ram, why he had to kill him in a cowardly way. Ram explained to him about the various purusharthas and granted him moksha.Bali was then convinced and also asked his son Angada to stand by Sugriv and assist Ram in the searc of Sita.
(It is also said, Ram promised Bali to give him a chance to avenge his unjust murder. Bali was reincarnated as the hunter and archer Jara in Mahabharata (Dwapar Yug). Jara was the cause of the death of Shri Krishna (the reincarnation of Shri Ram) when he struck his feet by an arrow taking them to be a deer.)
Sugriv Forgets His Promise After Crowned As King In Kishkindha Kandam
After death of Bali, Ram crowned Sugriv as king of Kishkindha and Angada, Bali’s son was made yuvaraj. Sugriv. regained his wife Ruma.
Sugriv soon forgot his promise and spent his time in debauchery which filled Ram with great anger. Ram asked Laksman to bring Sugriv to him. Laksman entered the royal court and threatened to burn the entire city to ashes Monkey Queen, Tara, convinced Sugriv to honor his pledge. Laksman brought Sugriv to Ram and upon seeing him, Sugriv fell at His feet and begged forgiveness.
Sugriv Get Ready With His Army To Search For Sita In Kishkindha Kand
Sugriv immediately ordered the gathering of the region’s bear and monkey community. Armies of bears and monkeys were dispatched north, south east and west to search for Sita. Ram knew that only Hanuman was really capable of finding Sita. He asked Hanuman to narrate the agony of separation to Sita.
Hanuman was joined by Angad, Nala, Kesari and Jambavan as well as many others as they head to the south. As the army approached the coast, Jambavan and Angad saw a cave by the shore of the ocean.
The cave was occupied by Sampati (who was actually Jatayu’s older brother.). There was a conversation during which Angad told that Jatayu died serving Ram and thereafter Sampati narated his story. (When he and his younger brother Jatayu, were young, used to compete as to who could fly higher. On one such instance Jatayu flew so high that he was about to get seared by the sun’s flames.
Sampati saved his brother by spreading his own wings and thus shielding Jatayu from the hot flames. In the process, Sampati himself got injured and lost his wings. As a result, Sampati was wingless) He told the monkeys that he was sure that Sita was captive in Lanka. The island was 400 hundred miles away and and added that whoever cross the vast ocean in one leap would accomplish the task.
Angad said he could cross ocean in one leap but he won’t be able to come back. While the discussion was on, Hanuman was seated in silence. When all the options ran out, everyone’s eye were sat on Hanuman. Jambavan reminded Hanuman about his extraordinary latent powers. Jambavan knew that Hanuman was the only one capable of the task. He also told Hanuman that he was born to accomplish the work of his master, Ram.
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