Vali Vadham 17

[Guest guest]

The examiner examined

 

Home page line: When the Lord puts everyone to test, Sugriva had the luxury of

putting Him to test.

 

The suggestion to test Rama's strength and be satisfied for himself comes from

Hanuman. As we saw earlier, the 'maraa mara pareekshai' or the sal tree test

was the second test that Sugriva asked Sri Rama to go through, in Valmiki

Ramayana. When Sugriva expresses his misgivings about Rama's ability to kill

Vali, "Lakshmana heartily laughing, said, 'On what feat being accomplished

should you believe that Vali can be disposed of (by Sri Rama)?" (Valmiki

Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, Canto 11, Sloka 69) Valmiki's Sugriva starts by

saying, "In the past Vali pierced these seven sal trees one after another and he

did so more than once (even) later. If Sri Rama too should (be able to) split

one of these trees with a single arrow, I shall consider Vali killed on

witnessing Sri Rama's prowess. I shall deem him killed even if lifting with his

single foot the bones of the buffalo made short work of by Vali, Sri Rama should

(be able to) throw them by his might to a distance of two hundred bows (or eight

hundred arms) length, O Lakshmana!"

 

Do either this or that was the first request. Either you pierce one of the sal

trees with a single arrow or kick the skeleton of Dundhubhi as Vali did. When

Sri Rama kicked the skeleton of Dundhubhi, he was still not satisfied. That was

because Vali could do so when he was drunk, the drink taking a considerable

portion of his strength away. Rama was sober. And drinking could never be

attributed to Rama; but that is a different question altogether. More over,

when Vali kicked the mortal remains of Dundhubhi, it was a freshly killed

buffalo, full of warm blood and flesh, the rigor mortis not having been set in

as yet. Therefore, the carcass that Vali kicked was undoubtedly heavier than

what Rama kicked, a mere heap of bones.

 

Therefore Sugriva wants Rama to prove himself by undergoing the second test as

well. Even a school student of these days would resist his teacher if he goes

back on his words uttered in the beginning that it would be sufficient to

undergo either one of the tests and on successful completion of the first, the

teacher expresses dissatisfaction and asks the student to undergo the second one

as well. But Rama didn't mind. He did that too.

 

But the way Kamban builds up the relationship between Sri Rama and Sugriva

doesn't allow him these choices. He makes Hanuman therefore to suggest to

Sugriva that if at all he wanted to see for himself, he could ask Rama to

perform the 'maraa mara pareekshai' that is the second and accepted test that

Valmiki's Sugriva asked Rama to go through. That is the first test in Kamban.

Okay. If only that satisfies your mind, why unnecessarily ask Him to undergo

two tests? Give him the test on whose result you think you can rely on.

 

On Hanuman's suggestion, Sugriva returned to Rama and told him. 'Ega veNdum in

neri.' Please go with us this way. 'ena inidhu koNdu Egi,' so saying he took

Rama (to the seven trees). 'maagam neendana kurugida nimirndhana marangaL aaga

aindhinodu irandin ondru uruva nin ambu pOgave,' If only your arrow pierces

through one of these seven trees whose branches vie with the sky, 'endhan

manathu idar pOm enap pugandraan' it would set my mind at rest.

 

The condition that it should be pierced with a single arrow is not explicit.

That reduces the tone of the demand and makes it sound like a humble request

instead, just for the sake of putting his own mind at rest. Rama smiled.

'anantha sakthikku kattup paduvadhilE varuthamillai,' said Bharati. The

Infinite Might (Omnipotent) is only too ready to be bound down.