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Vali Vadham 12

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Hari Krishnan • December 5, 2002 


Thus he became the king

Hanuman continued his narration of the Mayavi incident and the events that led - in fact forced - Sugriva to assume the kingship of Kishkindha.  Well, the narration remains the same as we saw in Valmiki in our last instalment till Vali gets into the cave, putting Sugriva on guard at the mouth.  'We waited for 28 long months,' says Hanuman.  It was a year, according to Valmiki, as was mentioned in the speech of Sastriyar that we had quoted in the penultimate paragraph of our last instalment.  But that is not a significant matter, affecting the events.  

'azhudhu azhungurm ivanai anbnin thozudhu irandhu' He (Sugriva) was weeping.  We bowed to him and begged of him out of love, 'nin thozhil idhu aadhalaal ezhudhu vendriyaai arasu seiga ena' and told him that it is your duty to govern.  Therefore, ye of victory, accept the throne and rule over Kishkindha.  'pazhudhu idhu endranan pariyum nenjinaan.'  (Sugriva) who was heart-broken did not accept it saying, 'it will not be right if I do so.'

Now there is no question.  Sugriva did not do anything.  It was Hanuman who was responsible for the suggestion to accept the throne.  It does not stop with that.  'endru thaanum av vazhi irum pilam sendru munnavan thEduvEn.'  So saying, Sugriva insisted that he would get into the cave in search of his elder brother.  'avar kondruLaan thanaik kola oNaadhu enin pondruvEn enaa pugudhal mEyinaan.'  In case I am not able to kill that slayer of Vali, I will die there itself, fighting him.  He then attempted to go into the cave.  

We stopped him from doing so; we pacified him; the wisest among us spoke to him and convinced him of the necessity that has arisen for Sugriva to take charge of the situation.  'adutha kaavalum arigaL aaNayaal koduthadhu uNdu ivan koNdanan kolaam.'  Therefore we forced him to assume kingship.  It was not that Sugriva desired for his brother's throne. 

Okay.  Then what happens to the part of the story that the mouth of the cave was sealed with a hillock?  Hanuman says that he and his team was responsible for doing so, absolving Sugriva of that act.  'anna naaLil Mayavi ap pilathtu inna vaayilOdu eydhum enna yaam,' (We thought that had Vali was killed) Mayavi would emerge out of the cave through its mouth and therefore, we 'ponnin maal varaip poruppu ozhithu veru kundru elam udan adukkinEm' brought almost all hills there, to the exclusion Meru alone, and sealed the mouth of the cave.  

So it was not Sugriva who sealed the cave.  It was Hanuman and others.  Sugriva is thus totally cleared of all allegations and accusations and of possible motives behind his move.   The fact that Hanuman is narrating the incident gives an added advantage.  If this very same narration is heard from the mouth of Sugriva, it would sound like the attempt of the accused, standing in a Court of Law, pleading 'Not guilty.'  More over, it would mean that he is not prepared to take responsibility for his act and is accusing his friends, advisers and counsellors for what happened, even though what he stated might be the truth.

Kamban wants the reader to understand that Sugriva is innocent and free from all kinds of accusations that he had been subjected to.  He is so threatened and dazed that he is not able to speak for himself.  For after all, a person in his position deserves the protection of Sri Rama, when he says, 'I surrender unto you.'



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