Śri Maha-gaṇapataye namah

Vali entered the court to find his younger brother Sugriva seated on the throne. The sight of Sugriva on the throne was enough to convince him of the conspiracy against him. He was convinced that he had read the situation correctly.

In a mad rage, he rushed towards Sugriva seeking to slay him. Prime minister Hanuman tried to intervene and convince Vali of Sugriva’s good intention. Hanuman tried in various ways to instill sense into Vali,- ‘All this is the outcome of my advice. Sugriva was unwilling to sit on your throne. I had to force him to occupy that position’. However, Vali was in no mood to listen to any reasoning.

When wisdom depletes in the person, any advice given- be it by learned elders or loving youngsters- all fall on deaf ears. At such difficult conflicting times, in reality, we must respect those who are trying to make us see light. However, in our stupidity, we abuse and accuse even our well-wishers. Even if you are mad in rage, learn to respect the elderly person who has come to offer your advice. ‘You are not my well-wisher. You had colluded to harm me’- we accuse.

In this instance, Vali was in a similar frame of mind wherein he was not open to any reasoning. Hanuman, the learned scholar, tried his best to pacify him. ‘O King! Do not misunderstand Sugriva. You have been our king and will continue to remain so. He ascended the throne at my behest’. But Vali would not be convinced.

Sugriva, who feared for his life, failed to recollect Hanuman’s capacities and powers. As Sugriva had ascended the throne upon his advice, Hanuman accepted moral responsibility and hence relinquished his position as the Prime minister. He totally supported Sugriva and stood by him.

Upon being thrashed by Vali, Sugriva ran away from the kingdom and sought refuge in the Rushyamukha mountain. Hanuman and the other ministers who stood by Sugriva accompanied him to the Rshyamukha mountain.

The curse of Matanga Maharishi ensured that Vali would never set foot on this mountain. We discussed previously that Vali had hurled Dundhubhi’s corpse on this mountain on account of which Maharishi Matanga had cursed Vali that his head would be shattered into bits if he ever dared to set foot on this mountain. This curse turned into a boon for Sugriva and his troupe at this hour of need.

Vali cared not about the other ministers who had accompanied Sugriva, but, as he considered Hanuman’s services as essential for him, he repeatedly sent requests asking Hanuman to return. Hanuman, however, refused to oblige to Vali’s request. He took total responsibility for Sugriva’s downfall and was determined to set right his life. He was willing to undergo hardships but then considered it necessary to be by Sugriva’s side at this crucial juncture. He agreed to return if and only if Vali was willing to accept Sugriva. ‘You must accept that Sugriva is faultless and that the entire fault was mine’- said Hanuman. Vali, however, was unrelenting in his stand and Hanuman, therefore, refused to return.

This turn of events led to Sugriva and his troop of five Vanaras to spend many many years on the Rushyamukha mountain living close to Maharishi Matanga’s ashram. As this area was filled with many fruit trees, they faced no scarcity of food.

Jaya Guru Datta