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Vali Vadham 53

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Hari Krishnan • December 22, 2002 


Why weaker of the two?


Let's now take up the question of why Rama chose a comparatively weaker ally, Sugriva, who did not have any means of helping him when they entered into friendship.  Sugriva was fleeing away from Vali from place to place and did not possess any great physical power, nor an army, nor access to the portals of power.  His only blessing at that time was Hanuman, who was always with him.  But even Hanuman was not of very great help at that time, for he was under the spell of the curse that Rishis pronounced on him to stop his mischief at a very tender age, that made him unaware of his own strength, until at a very later date when Jambavan reminded him of it.  The point is Hanuman was respected more for his wisdom, communication skills and other knowledge oriented faculties of his rather than physical might, before Jambavan reminded him of his strength.

Otherwise, he would not have also been fleeing all over the world along with Sugriva, even though he was more powerful than Vali in many respects.  He had boons from almost all the celestials and the Trinity, was blessed with immortality and was supreme of all monkeys, including Vali.  Why did he not fight with Vali and vanquish him there and then?  This question is asked by Sri Rama himself, in the Uttara Kanda, after his coronation, when Agastya visits him.

"Sri Rama then interrogated the sage having his abode in the southern quarter; and full of humility, with joined palms, He addressed the following significant words to him: "Incomparable indeed was the aforesaid might of Vali and Ravana.  The might of the aforesaid two warriors was, however, not equal to Hanuman; such indeed is my opinion.  Heroism, cleverness, strength, firmness, sagacity, prudence and prowess and power have taken up their abode in Hanuman.  Â…Â…Â… I wonder wherefore, when hostility sprang up (between Sugriva and Vali), Vali was not consumed as a tree (by fire) by Hanuman with a desire to please Sugriva.  I think, Hanuman was not conscious of his own might in that he (simply) watched Sugriva (now the supreme ruler of the monkeys), who was dearer to him than his life, suffering hardships in exile." (Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, Canto 35, Sloka 1-3, 11-12)

Sage Agastya replies to this question as follows.  "What you say regarding Hanuman is true, O jewel among the Raghus!  None else is equal to him in might, speed or intelligence.  An imprecation was, however, pronounced on him in the past by asceticsÂ…" (Ibid, Sloka 15, 16)  And then Agastya narrates the story of Hanuman.

Just think of it. It was Hanuman who suggested to Sugriva that they could be safe in Rishyamuka Parvata, remembering that Vali could not enter there.  But it takes him a long time before he thinks of this solution.  Had he suggested this at the beginning itself, it would have saved poor Sugriva and his friends (including Hanuman himself) from running everywhere and being beaten repeatedly everywhere by Vali.   Amnesia.  That's the answer.  

Therefore, Sugriva was very, very weak when Rama made friends with him.  Even his only source of strength, his closest friend Hanuman, who had grown with him from boyhood like fire and wind, was of not much use at that time.  Sugriva does mention to Rama that Vali had defeated Ravana (in Valmiki Ramayana) and Hanuman gives this piece of information in Kamban, to Rama.  

What then stopped Rama from seeking the friendship of Vali who was far superior, who was in power and who had the army at his disposal, and most of all who had already defeated Ravana?


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