Ravana and Vali

Rama said to the sage - Where did he go from there.
Agastya said - Always ready for combat, Ravana roamed around. One day in Kishkindhya, he went to Vali's palace and asked for a fight. The people asked Ravana to flee else he would get killed. They said Vali was not present and had gone to perform his evening prayers.
Ravana went towards the southern sea where Vali was deep in meditation. Vali opened his eyes and saw Ravana there. Vali said It seems that your death has brought you here.
Vali wrapped his tail around Ravana and those rose to the sky. Ravana kept shouting asking to be released, but Vali did not care. He kept jumping from mountain to mountain, with Ravana being dashed against the rocks. Vali jumped towards the eastern sea and offered his prayers, Ravana still tied. From there, Vali went to the northern sea and offered his prayers. Ravana was nearly dead. With Vali visiting all the seas, he kept dipping his tail in the waters and Ravana was drinking the waters of the seas.
Going back to his palace, Vali asked Ravana if he wanted more.
Ravana begged for forgiveness and becoming friends with Vali, he left from there.

Last rites of Vali

A chariot came down the heaven and the soul of Vali left for heaven, on that chariot. Tara broke down and started beating her head with hands and cried away. She said she wanted to go along with her husband. With great difficulty, her maids held her back. Hanumana tried consoling Tara. He said With the blessings of Rama, Vali has gone to his own land. Do not get angry on Sugriva. It was Vali's destiny. Bring up Angada as the ideal prince. All is yours. Do as you please.
Tara said the husband was the ultimate for a pious wife, and she was nothing without her husband.
Sugriva was also crying. Rama tried consoling Sugriva. He said Do not grieve. What has happened, was to happen. Get the best of sandalwood and agarwood. Light up the pyre and burn the body of Vali.
Lakshmana asked Hanumana to get the necessary items needed for the last rites.
Hanumana got many precious gems and clothes. The body of Vali was clad in the clothes and was laid on the pyre, on the banks of river Pampa. The pyre was lit. Slowly Vali's body burnt. Tara kept crying.  

Vali dies

In her palace, Tara heard that Vali had fallen in battle. Taking Vali, Tara rushed out, not bothering to dress properly. On the way, she saw Vali's ministers walking away. She asked them where they were going. They said : O Queen. You begged Vali not to go and fight. He did not listen to your wise words. Vali was killed, shot by Rama. Go back, and make Angada the king.

Tara said, If Angada wants to be king, I will let him go. All I want now, is to go and join my husband.

Tara reached the spot where Vali was lying. She saw Rama and Lakshmana sitting on the ground, near Vali, their bows and arrows lying on the ground. All were quiet, sitting with their heads bent down.You defeated great kings and today you lie defeated by Rama. I tried stopping you but you did not listen. You are the light of my life. With you leaving, what does Tara have to live for? Sugriva did this for the kingdom.

Turning to Rama, Tara said, You are from the dynasty of Raghu. Why did you kill my husband, while hiding behind trees. If you had killed him in face to face, I would not have been so hurt. All say you are kind. You have shown your kindness in a weird way. You the grief of losing a spouse, so why did you give me the same grief? My husband did not curse you, but I will curse you, and my curse will come true. Know for sure, that you will rescue Sita and bring her back to Ayodhya. Sita will not stay for ever with you, and she will leave you and go to the heavens. The way you made my cry, so will Sita make you cry when she leaves. You will loose your own life, after Sita goes. My curse will come true. The way you killed my husband; in another life the same person will kill you, hiding behind bushes.

Vali the said slowly, Tara, I have said may harsh words to Rama. I die because of the sin committed by Ravana, when he abducted Sita.
Turning to Sugriva, Vali said, I have had been cruel to you. Take over the kingdom. Take care of Angada, who grew up in luxuries. Be a father to Angada in my absence. I hand over Angada to you. Rama's arrow burns me. My life will soon leave. I had a garland from Indra. I give that to you, Sugriva.
Vali then said to Angada, Take care of Sugriva. Be heroic and let Sugriva be proud of your achievements like I was. Do not do anything that will bring shame.

Saying this, Vali died.

Rama speaks to Vali

Rama said to Vali :
Listen quietly to what I will now say. You are a great, brave and fierce warrior. You have cursed me enough. If there is something else, please do say that too. The animals that graze on grass are killed by kings, but harm did those animals do to the kings? The kings also hunt fishes in the water, but did the fishes ever harm them? If in front me, I hear someone having coveted another's wife, that is grave sin. Your sins are gone, now that are shot by me. Stop lamenting and go peacefully to heaven. I have given my word to Sugriva, his enemy is my enemy too. You are born of Indra. Leave this body and go to heaven taking your true form .

Vali said I have said many harsh words to you. Forgive me for that. Take care of Angada and Sugriva. If you give the kingdom to Sugriva, please make sure that Angada gets what he deserves. Be like a father to both Sugriva and Angada. My wife, Tara, daughter of Sushena is at home. Please ensure that Sugriva does not disrespect her. 

Vali asks Rama for a reason

Vali was writhing with pain on the bare ground. Rama went near Vali. Like a hunter goes near the deer, once he has shot it, so did Rama go near Vali. Looking at Rama, Vali, in great pain, said;

Tara told me many times not to go and fight. I did not listen to her. You are born in a royal family. Is this what you learnt there? You are aware of the category of animals that are hunted, and you would be aware that a vanara does not fall in that category. When then, O Rama, did you do this? My meat is not edible. My skin will not help you. My head will not make a trophy in your room. So Rama, did you hurt me, when I never ever hurt you. You belong to the dynasty of Raghu and are known to be correct and righteous. All say, Rama is compassion himself. Is this how you show compassion? Are you roaming in the forests in the guise of mendicant, thinking whom to kill next? I was fighting with my brother. Why did you intervene? I have never heard of two parties fighting and a third party benefiting from that. If you had come in a face to face combat with me, I would have killed you with one slap. You would have thought it would be tough to defeat me, which is why you attacked me from behind. I had problems with Sugriva and it was our fight. Why did you come in the middle? How will you show your face in the society? If it was for getting Sita, you should have told me. One jump, and I would have fetched Sita for you. Ravana had come to fight me and he went back defeated and ashamed.

Thus Vali kept addressing Rama.

Vali falls

Rama asked Sugriva to challenge Vali again. He asked Lakshmana to give Sugriva something that would set him apart from Vali. Lakshmana made a garland out of flowers and put that around Sugriva's neck.

They started again, Rama and Lakshmana following with their bows in their hands.
On their way, they saw a forest full of banana trees. Rama asked whose banana grove was it. Sugriva said this grove belonged to seven sages who used to meditate there.

On their way, Sugriva said Please do not fail this time. My promise is there. I will help you get back Sita.

Rama said you are decked with a garland that will distinguish you from Vali. Do not worry. Vali will die today.

Going to the gates, Sugriva called out to Vali again. Vali heard the call and got ready to go out.

Tara, wife of Vali, was a wise woman. She asked Vali not go for the duel. She said Do not go. Who has heard of a person who got beaten up and has come back again, so soon. I see ill omens, so I request you not to go. Sugriva must have some help from someone which is why he is back so soon. Let Sugriva call you. Do not go. Dashrastha was the king of Ayodhya. His sons are in this forest. Sugriva must have taken their help to kill you. Sugriva is your brother after all. Forgive him and rule along with him, as in the earlier days.

Vali asked Tara not to say such things. He said When I went to kill Mayavi, Sugriva locked me inside the tunnel and fled. As you are appealing, I will not kill Sugriva. I will make sure he learns a lesson and never returns again.

Tara said Rama is a great warrior and it would not be possible to escape his arrow, if he is there to help Sugriva.

Vali said What have I done to Rama, that Rama will kill me. Rama is righteous and upholds truth. He will not attack me, without any reason. If Rama does come to help Sugriva, I will make sure I teach Rama also a lesson he will not forget.

With tears in her eyes,Tara let Vali go. When Vali stepped out he saw Sugriva alone.
They began fighting. Vali being stronger, took control. One slap from Vali, and Sugriva fell on the ground. Seeing Sugriva fall, Rama took out his arrow and fitted it on his bow. He released the arrow. Travelling like lightning, the arrow went and pierced Vali in his chest.

Vali fell down. He was in pain and he knew he was dying. He shouted out 'Who did this'.

Sugriva challenges Vali

Rama then asked Sugriva to call Vali. He would kill Vali and make Sugriva then king. Sugriva along with Hanumana, Jambuvana, Nala, Nila, Rama and Lakshmana went near the main gates of Kishkindhya. Rama and Lakshmana hid themselves behind trees. Rama asked Sugriva to call out to Vali. When Vali came, Rama would kill him.

As decided, Sugriva called out to Vali. Vali came and a wrestling match started among the two. Rama was ready with an arrow in his hand. He wanted to use the arrow but he was confused. The two brothers looked so alike, that he was not sure if he would be able to kill the right vanara.

In the wrestling match, Vali easily took control and Sugriva, not able to withstand the blows of Vali, fled from there. He went to Rishyamukha mountain and started nursing his wounds.

Rama went there. Sugriva was sitting there with his head bent down. He said to Rama, if you had decided to not kill Vali, why did you make me go through this pain. I had said earlier, Vali was stromg and killing him would not be an easy task.

Rama said that was not the case. Both the brothers were alike in shape and clothes and he was afraid, if he shot an arrow, he would kill the wrong brother. If there was something that would distinguish Sugriva from Vali, then he would not have any difficulty.

Dudunbhi challenges Vali

Rama asked Sugriva how was he staying so close to the kingdom, knowing that Vali could anytime and catch him. Surgiva then said he would tell about Rishyamukha mountain.

Dudunbhi, when he heard that his brother had been killed, became wild with anger. In his buffalo form, he attacked the kingdom. He first went to the ocean and challenged it to a duel. The ocean told him to go fight with the Himalayas. The Himalayas asked him to go and fight with Vali.

Dudubhi went to Vali and called out to him for a duel. He went to the gardens of Vali and started destroying it. The buffalo saw Vali come there accompanied by women. He said I do not wish to fight you. I pardon you. Go away. Come again in the evening.

Vali  sent the women away and told the demon he had invited his death by coming there. He said he would pardon the buffalo, if he left in peace.

Dudubhi then began attacking Vali.

Sugriva narrates his story

Sugriva said he had no idea who that was that was carrying away Sita, nor did he know in which direction that chariot had gone. He said whatever be the place, he would help Rama get back Sita. He asked Rama to leave aside the grief. He said he had promised around the fire that he would help Rama get back his wife, and he would stick to his promise.

He said he would do what Rama said.

Rama said he was sure Sugriva would be able to help him rescue Sita. He said if there was some help Sugriva wanted from him, he would also get that.

Sugriva then said he would tell his story. He asked the vanaras to gather fruits and log of wood. The wood was spread around and Rama and Sugriva sat on that. Sugriva offered the fruits to Rama. Sugriva then said he was hiding from his brother Vali, who had taken over his kingdom and wife. Rama said he would help Sugriva by killing Vali. Rama then asked why had Vali behaved in that manner.

Sugriva said - There was a Vanara king called Akshaya. When he died, Vali, being the elder was crowned the king. Vali shared the throne with Sugriva. Things were very fine and the two brothers were happily sharing the duties of the king. This went on till one day, when two demons arrived there.

Mayavi and Dudunbhi were two demon brothers. Taking the form of buffaloes, they attacked the kingdom. Mayavi came first and attacked in the night,  and the two brothers, Vali and Sugriva chased the buffalo. In the light of the moon, they saw the demon enter a tunnel. Vali asked Sugriva to guard the mouth of the tunnel while he went inside to follow and kill the demon. Sugriva asked Vali not to go, but Vali did not listen and went inside the tunnel.

For months Vali travelled inside, chasing the demon. When he finally caught the demon, there was a lot of noise coming. Sugriva thought Vali was in pain. Thinking Vali had been killed, Sugriva closed the mouth of the tunnel with a big boulder.

When Sugriva went back to the court and told all, what had happened, the ministers crowned Sugriva the king. Sugriva, grieving for Vali, performed his last rites and sat on the throne.

A few days later, after killing the demon, Vali returned. He thought Sugriva had tricked him and he started abusing him.
Sugriva said what had happened was due to his ignorance, but Vali refused to listen to him. Vali threatened to kill Sugriva, and fearing for his life, Sugriva fled.