Reading Notes: PDE Ramayana, Part C

Part C

Sugriva and Rama

Web Source: Blog Spot

• Sugriva and Vali were fighting a demon
• The demon retreated into a hole located beneath the earth and Vali chases after it
• Vali gives Sugriva specific orders to guard the mouth of the hole until he returns
• Vali then pursues the demon and left Sugriva guarding this hole for an entire year
• Sugriva sees blood coming from the hole of the cave, which is accompanied by loud cries and determines that his brother was killed
• Sugriva then returned to Kishkindha to rule in place of his brother
• To everyone's surprise, Vali was not dead and was successful in killing the demon
• Sugriva unfortunately covered the mouth of the hole, which caused difficult for Vali who was trying to get out of the hole
• Vali returned to Kishkindha and did not believe Sugriva's story, but instead accused him of wanting the throne and kingdom for himself
• Rama heard this debacle and came to avenge Sugriva 
• Tara, wife of King Vali and mother of Angada, pleads with Vali to not fight Sugriva
• Tara tries to persuade Vali to not fight Sugriva by saying that there is no love like a brother's
• Vali and Sugriva did go into battle with each other
• Their conflict is described as conflict with the sun and the moon
• As they were fighting, Rama was nearby and hiding behind a bush
• During the scuffle, Sugriva becomes badly beaten
• At this time, Rama emerges and kills Vali with his bow
• Tara and Sugriva mourn the loss of Vali
• Sita is approached by Ravana who tries to convince her to leave Rama for him with riches
• She refuses, so Ravana threatens her life and gives her two months to become his new wife or he will have her tortured and killed
• Sita then seeks out Hanuman, who she has never met before
• Sita was afraid of meeting Hanuman at first because she thought it was Ravana trying to deceive her
• Hanuman proved it was him and consoled her saying that she is forever to remain with Rama
• Ravana sends rakshasas to capture Hanuman, however, each one fails 
• Eventually Indrajit discovers that weapons can not be used to capture Hanuman, but binds him instead

Bibliography:

Ramayana Online: Public Domain Edition

Authors:  Manmatha Nath Dutt, Romesh Dutt, Gould, Griffith, Hodgson, Mackenzie, Nivedita, Oman, Richardson, and Ryder

Web Source: Ramayana Online