Vali Vadham 8

[Guest guest]

The point of ambush

 

 

That is why, Right Hon'ble Srinivasa Sastriyar, commenting on this scene

observes thus. "On the other hand, it is very interesting to see how at the

very first talk between Rama and Sugriva, Lakshmana says to Hanuman on behalf of

his brother. 'My brother and I are seeking asylum at the hands of Sugriva. My

brother, having been a wealthy man, distributed all his wealth before he left

Ayodhya, and he attained great fame. Having been himself the protector of the

world, he now seeks the protection of Sugriva. Rama, on whose favour the world

used to wait, has now come to the very door of Sugriva, asking for his favour or

prasada.'

 

"Many other slokas may be quoted. It shows the perfect contrast between the

attitude of Sugriva and Vibishana when they approached Rama. Rama sought the

protection of Sugriva and Vibishana sought the protection of Rama. That settles

everything. In every respect therefore Sugriva was the equal of Rama and each

needed assistance from the other. They were therefore on a similar or

co-ordinate footing."

 

There are several points that are adduced against Rama, in killing Vali. The

above is one point that deserves our attention when studying the Vali episode.

Another is the idea of killing Vali with a single arrow, ambushed behind a tree.

There was no such idea, initially, says Sastriyar. He points out this Sloka

when the accord of friendship was reached. "I shall dispose of the notorious

Vali, who has wrested your wife. Infallible are these sharpened shafts of mine,

glorious as the sun. Covered (at the end) with the feathers of buzzard and

provided with a momentum, and shining brightly like the thunderbolt of the

mighty Indra, (the lord of paradise), these arrows with pointed heads and

straight joints will descend like angry serpents on that Vali of immoral

conduct. See Vali struck down today on earth like scattered mountain with

pointed shafts resembling venomous serpents."

 

He points out the use of plural, arrows. Initially it was Rama's idea to kill

Vali in a straight fight and that is why he speaks about the use of 'arrows'

instead of 'arrow.' But things take a different shape, when Sugriva is not able

to believe in Rama's prowess and puts him to test, once by asking him kick the

skeleton of Dundhubi over a distance of 'two hundred bows' length.' Rama did

so. But Sugriva was still not convinced. He says that doesn't set his mind at

rest. Vali did the very same thing, of kicking the carcass of Dundhubi to an

equal distance. But Vali was drunk at that time, and that would have limited

the power of his kick. More over, this was a mere skeleton now what Rama

kicked, whereas it was a freshly killed body, full with the weight of flesh and

blood. He then puts Rama to another test, that is, to shoot an arrow through at

least one of the seven sal trees. Rama pierces all the seven sal trees with a

single arrow.

 

At that point of time, a delighted Sugriva tells Rama, "Who is the man that can

stand in front of your and fight you? There is no man who can do it, because

you have done all this, destroyed so many things with a single arrow."

 

Sastriyar emphasises here. "The single arrow idea comes in now, as between them

in conversation. I want you just to lay hold of these little points. They are

not little, because we are puzzled to find out the mentality of Sri Rama and we

cannot go and ascribe to him all sorts of dishonourable motives. Let us

therefore remember that now for the first time, the idea of a single arrow comes

in, the idea of how much can be exercised by a single arrow when it is directed

properly by Sri Rama."

 

This is another point that deserves our attention.