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Vali Vadham 29

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Hari Krishnan • December 14, 2002 


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.  


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