Epics of India Storybook

Applause and cheers filled the throne room. King Vali had just pronounced a judgement in a difficult legal dispute: both parties, as well as the crowd, found his judgement good and wise. Queen Tara smiled: she felt blessed to live in a peaceful kingdom, filled with happiness and security.

A loud shout from outside interrupted the jubilation. “Oh, my brother Vali! Come out! Face me now in battle—if you dare. The gods have heard my plea: they will judge between us, making the righteous one the victor!”

King Vali rose from his throne and started towards the door. Queen Tara pulled him aside, warning him not to go out. “Be kind to your brother, and return him his wife.”

King Vali replied, “Sugriva tried to kill me and steal my throne. He does not deserve my kindness. Oh wife, get out of my way now.”

But Queen Tara would not move. She feared what would happen to her husband. She had spoken with Ruma, Sugriva’s wife, these many years that Sugriva had been exiled. She believed Ruma: Sugriva had not attempted to kill Vali. Queen Tara knew that Sugriva alone had waited and wished for Vali’s return. Sugriva would surely kill Vali, if his claims were true about the gods judging between them.

She loved her husband, of course, but she was more concerned about safety for the kingdom and for herself. The kingdom had nearly collapsed without Vali; the council had pressed Sugriva to take the throne and attempt to bring stability. Even then, only Vali’s return restored order. Could Sugriva protect the kingdom like Vali? Would the people would even accept him if he killed their beloved king?

“Sugriva would not ordinarily dare to come your way,” she said to Vali. “I fear he must have some mighty support that encourages him to challenge you.”

“Dear wife, if all the creatures in all the worlds opposed me, I could wipe them out. Only some senseless creature would offer support to my brother.”

It became obvious to Queen Tara that Vali would not listen to her, in spite of her continued attempts. So she tied Indra’s golden garland over his shoulders, in hope of bringing him added strength and fortune. Vali ran out of the palace like the golden sun rising over a hill at dawn. His brother stood facing the palace, wearing a garland of white flowers.

The two monkeys wrestled all over the clearing in front of the palace. They were moving so fast that they both looked the same; only by the color of their flowers could one distinguish between them. They scratched and tore and gashed each other, drawing blood. They tried to coil their mighty tails and press the life out of each other. The golden-garlanded monkey gained the advantage. Vali pinned Sugriva down and began pounding what remained of his life out of him. Queen Tara watched with anxiety. Would Vali achieve victory? Had Sugriva and Ruma been lying all this time, had Sugriva indeed tried to steal the throne? Her nerves began to calm.

Her thoughts and the battle were suddenly interrupted: Vali suddenly stopped pounding Sugriva and fell over backwards. He had been shot with an arrow from the woods. Queen Tara rushed from the palace down to Vali. She stood beside him and helped him sit up. He pulled out the arrow for his chest and studied it intently before speaking.

“Rama!” he shouted. “How could you do this? The gods had judged rightly in this matter, declaring me the victor—but you have now interfered with justice. Who will wear the badge of virtue in this world, when you have thrown it away so lightly?” He cursed Rama with all his remaining strength, and then collapsed in death.

Rama stepped out from behind a tree. Unaware that Vali had died, Rama defended his actions. “Sugriva sought my friendship and asked for help. I help the weak destroy evil wherever I see it, and so I felt it my duty to help him.” Lakshmana too stepped forward and gave an answer.

Queen Tara’s tears splashed on her husband’s face. She gazed intently at him. He had been a strong and just ruler. She looked around at the crowd and saw anger and restlessness in their eyes. She knew her world would soon collapse: with any provocation the crowd would erupt into revolt. They would destroy Sugriva, the palace, and the kingdom without hesitation.

She whispered parting words to her fallen husband and stood to face the crowd. She did the only thing she could think to do. “King Vali confesses to me that he sees the error of his ways,” she shouted to the crowd. “With his last breaths, he repents of his sins against Sugriva and begs you, his faithful subjects, to follow his brother as your rightful king.”

Though she did not believe these words, she continued, “The gods have used Rama as their instrument to perform their judgement in this matter. Long live King Sugriva the Just and Rama the Righteous One!” The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. “King Vali was wise, and Sugriva is wiser!” they said. They began to chant the name of their new king: “Long live King Sugriva!”

Queen Tara glanced over at Rama for the first time; he looked back softly at her. Did he know that she had lied to the kingdom, that she had transgressed Dharma to save herself? Would her actions even matter to him, since he obtained his desired outcome?