Śri Maha-ganapataye namah

We discussed that Vali entrusted wife Tara and son Angada to Lord Rama’s care and that he gifted his gem-studded chain to Sugriva. It was an emotionally charged scene. Initially he had accused Srirama and now he was glorifying the Lord. Realization dawned in him and it wiped away all the impurities from within him causing in him an upliftment (Uttama stithi) that led to liberation (Uttama gati). Truly he was exceedingly fortunate!

He, who was wriggling due to the excruciating pain caused due to being pierced by an arrow, now began to extol the Lord. ‘O Lord, undoubtedly I too am Your dear devotee. Please forgive me for these sinful deeds’. Vali, who was thus exclusively meditating upon the Supreme Lord, left his gross body and merged into Him.

Sugriva was now engulfed in sorrow. ‘Why did my brother, who inherently was of noble character, develop this wicked, impure thought process that led to his fall?’ He now began to lament his brother’s death. ‘I cannot live without my brother. I triggered his death in the hands of Srirama. I led him to that state wherein he abused the Lord himself. I therefore am to be blamed for this misfortune. It is incorrect to state that Srirama killed Vali. I was responsible for Him aiming the arrow at Vali. I am unsure whether this deed of mine will be condemned by the world or appear praiseworthy in the eyes of the Lord. Why then should I aspire to live? Why doesn’t the life-force fly away from this body of mine? Why am I still alive?’ – he wept.

Tara too was inconsolable. ‘O Rama, using your arrow please kill me. I am here standing before you. Without my husband, I do not seek to live’- she was weeping uncontrollably.

At that moment, Srirama personally consoled them all. He imparted the knowledge of the Supreme to them in order to bring them out of their grief. He explained to them about the Self (atma), the Supreme Self (Paramatma) and of the reasons behind this repeated cycle of births and deaths. He explained to them the distinction between righteous and unrighteous conduct (dharma-adharma), of the subtle rules of righteous conduct (sookshma dharma) and the gross rules of righteous conduct (sthoola dharma). The knowledge He was imparting to them at that time also subtly entered into Vali who was just then travelling away from his gross body.

In the past, there was a custom of reading the sacred text Garuda Purana at the time when the life-force would travel away from the person who lay dying. The intent behind this practice was to enable the soul (of the deceased) to travel to higher planes and towards liberation. Furthermore, it was aimed at instilling proper knowledge in the relatives of the deceased so that they could cope with the loss and resume their life’s journey with faith and courage. After all, the relatives cannot accompany the deceased on his journey to the other planes. They need the required courage to complete their remaining life on earth.

Upon listening to this supreme advice, Sugriva and other relatives felt consoled. All of them were truly fortunate to have heard the Supreme Essence directly from the Lord’s mouth! The teaching given by the Lord to them at that time was truly astonishing and wonderful.