Search:
Bhakti List Archives

Vali Vadham 17

From the Bhakti List Archives

Hari Krishnan • December 10, 2002 


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) 

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.
 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



--------------------------------------------------------------
           - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
To Post a message, send it to:   bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com
Group Home: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bhakti-list
Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/
 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/