Śri Maha-ganapataye namah

The five Vanaras had to spend 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. Nevertheless, the pain of the humiliation undergone by them in Vali’s hands coupled with the pain of separation from their wives tormented them badly.

Vali did not permit the wives to accompany their husbands. To add to their misery, in accordance with the rules applicable to the vanaras, he declared that they were henceforth his wives. What to say of their agony? The vanaras who had accompanied Sugriva, therefore, lamented that they had to leave behind their wives in Vali’s kingdom. Under no circumstances could they visit their families. In fact, they dared not step beyond the limits of the Rushyamukha mountain. They could come down to the Pampa lake situated at the bottom of the mountain, relax there and return back.

Unlike the other four vanaras, Hanuman was free from the agony of separation from wife and from other royal comforts. Our dear Lord, therefore, with absolute dedication, executed the duties perfectly in accordance with the time and situation.

Among them all, Sugriva was the most dejected. In accordance with the rules of dharma, his brother should have lawfully allowed his wife to accompany him when he was being exiled from his kingdom. Instead of abiding by this righteous rule, Vali held back Sugriva’s wife in his custody.

The rule of righteous conduct (dharma) for vanaras differs from the righteous rules applicable to humans. The righteous conduct of the vanaras declared that in the event the elder brother died, the younger brother could, along with the wealth of the elder brother, accept the elder brother’s wife as his own and protect her. In fact, it was the duty of the younger brother to take care of her. In the event the younger brother predeceased his elder sibling, the elder brother had no right over the younger brother’s wealth or property.

In the past, when Vali was presumed dead in the cave, Hanuman and other ministers persuaded Sugriva to accept not only Vali’s kingdom but also his wife. Vali’s extremely chaste wife Tara, who was also supremely learned, consented to this as it was per their righteous conduct.

There was yet another significant reason for Hanuman and other ministers to persuade Sugriva towards accepting the kingdom and wife of Vali. Angada was the son of Vali and Tara. However, being a minor, he had not yet obtained the eligibility to ascend the throne.

Just as vehicle license is issued only after the person completes the mandated age, in accordance with the vanara rules, only after the vanara completed the mandated age, he could ascend the throne. As Vali’s son Angada was a minor, Sugriva was eligible for the throne. The elders determined that Angada would be handed over the throne and the responsibilities of the kingdom once he attained the prescribed age.

Jaya Guru Datta