Vali Vadham 29

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The killing of Vali

 

 

The fight resumed and soon Sugriva lost his ground. Sugriva was bleeding from

his ears though his eyes were spitting fire with anger. It was however becoming

unbearable for him. 'dhikku nOkkinan sengadhirOn magan' He looked in the

direction of Rama, as vital energy was flowing out from his wounds. 'eduthup

paaridai etruvan patri endru' I will lift him above and strike him on the earth

'iLaval kadith thalathinum kazhuthinum than iru karangal maduthu' (so thinking,

Vali lifted Sugriva above him by) placing a hand on the waist of his younger

brother and another on his neck. 'meek koNda Vali mEl' (Vali stood with

Sugriva lifted) over his head and on him, 'kOl ondru vaangi, thoduthu naaNodu

thOL uruthu iraaghavan thruandhaan' Rama drew an arrow, strung it in his bow,

bent the bow with his (muscular) shoulder and let it loose.

 

Vali wanted to strike Sugriva over the ground and lifted him above his head by

his waist and neck. When he did so, his chest was fully exposed for Rama's

view, with the movements of Sugriva stilled for a while. Rama shot his arrow on

Vali, without wasting time. It went through his chest 'kadhaliyin kaniyinaik

kazhiyach chErum oosiyin sendradhu' like a needle that goes through a banana

fruit.

 

The next moment the valiant Vali fell on the ground. 'veyyavan tharu madhalayai

midal kodu kavarum kai neghizhndhanan' His hands lost their grip over Sugriva

'negizhindhilan kadung kaNai kavardhal' but they gripped the arrow that bore

through his chest, in an attempt to stop it. His eyes rolled all over the place

to see who could have aimed this powerful arrow on his chest. So looking, he

would try to pluck the arrow with his hands. As it had already bore deep into

his chest, he could not grip it with his paws. He used his teeth, nail, tail,

hands and legs to pull it out. He could succeed in drawing it out a little that

so that the name engraved on its other end was visible. And what did he see!

 

'mummai saal ulagukku ellam moola mandhirathai' (He saw) the 'moola mantra' of

all the three worlds. 'thammayE thamarkku nalgum thanip perum padhathai' one

that gives itself unto those who seek Him. The name Rama was written on the

arrow. Vali laughed aloud. 'The very lineage of Sun - to which Rama belonged -

has lost its name with the birth of this Rama,' he thought. 'veLgidum.' He felt

ashamed for Rama. 'magudam saaikkum.' He would tilt his head to a side as if

in deep contemplation. 'vedipadach chirikkum.' Laugh like thunder. 'uLgidum.'

Think it over and over again. 'idhuvum thaan Or Ongu aramO endru unnum.' 'Is

this (aiming an arrow at me from hiding) is also a high form of maintaining

Dharma', he would ponder.

 

When Vali was lying on the ground, looking all around, Rama came out and walked

towards him with his mighty bow in his hand, with Lakshmana following him.

'vaaimayum marabum kaathu man uyir thurandha vaLLal thooyavan maindhanE,' he

addressed Rama. O sire! The son of the great king who stood for truth and gave

his life up because he did not want to go back on his words! 'nee bharadhan mun

thOndrinaayE' (what a shame) that you were born before Bharata (as his elder

brother).

 

The poetry of Kamban just races ahead. One can actually feel the heat rising

from Vali's disappointed heart if one reads the verses aloud. Let the plaintiff

speak for himself now.