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.

Sugriva is convinced that Rama can kill Vali

Vali started throwing rocks and uprooting trees, threw that at the buffalo. Not affected, the buffalo rushed towards Vali. Vali held the buffalo by its horns and lifted it up. As if he was rotating a potter's wheel, Vali swung the buffalo by its horns in the air and then released it. The buffalo dashed its head against the ground and died. Vali then kicked the carcass of the buffalo.
The carcass, spilling blood all over, landed in the ashrama of the rishi Matanga, which was on the Rishyamukha mountain. The sage was angry and he quickly went and cleaned himself. He then put a curse saying - Whoever flung the carcass, if that person ever comes to Rishyamukha mountain, he will be calling his death.
When Vali heard this, he bowed down to the sage from a distance and decided never to go there.

Ending his tale, Sugriva said to Rama, as Vali knew of the curse he did not come to the mountain, which is why Sugriva and his friends had taken refuge there.

Rama said he would help Sugriva, by killing Vali.

Sugriva then said Vali was very strong and wise. He could travel at lightning speed. His strength was immense. He could throw a peak of mountain in mid air and catch it back.

Rama said he would be able to kill Vali.

Sugriva said Vali had kicked the carcass of Dudunbhi and it was lying there. Vali had made it fly a mile. Rama gently kicked the skeleton of the buffalo, and it went flying a hundred miles.

Sugriva said when Vali had kicked the carcass, it had flesh and blood. Now it was just a light skeleton.

Sugriva said he would tell more of Vali's strength. Ravana had once come to fight and defeat Vali. Vali was meditating then on the banks of the ocean. Ravana attacked Vali from behind. Without opening his eyes, Vali bound Ravana by his tail. He kept dunking Ravana in the ocean, using his tail.
When Vali finished his prayers, Ravana who was still tied to the tail, asked for forgiveness.

Rama said he had promised to help Sugriva, and he would do so.

Sugriva then pointed out to seven palm trees standing in a row. He said if Rama could pierce all seven with a single arrow, then he would be convinced that Vali would die in Rama's hand.

Rama, with a smile took out a arrow and with his right hand, released it. The arrow pierced the trees and then went down into the ground. Then taking the form of a swan, the arrow came back to Rama and taking back its own form, it entered Rama's quiver.

Sugriva was convinced, Rama would be able to kill Vali.

Manthara hears the news

Ayodhya was lit like Amaravati, Indra's capital. Colorful flags were flying everywhere.
While everything seemed perfect, it was not so.

Ages ago there was an apsara called Dundubhi who had been born as Manthara. She was hunchbacked. She was cunning, vile and ugly. She was forever scheming. She had been sent from the heavens to find a way to send Rama to the forests. She had come along with Kaikeyi, at part of her dowry and she stayed since then, in Ayodhya.

Manthara came to see what was happening, why the people were celebrating. She heard from the people that Rama had been made the crown prince and the formal crowing was to happen next when Dashratha would hand over the kingdom to Rama.

Hearing this, Manthara went straight to Kaikeyi. Kaikeyi was resting, when Manthara entered her chamber.

Blind Sage's curse

The bling sage and his wife were in their hut. Suddenly the left eye of Sindhu's mother started throbbing. She asked her husband - things don't seem correct. Sindhu should have been home long back.
The husband said maybe Sindhu did not get something close by so he went deep into the forest to get fruits and water.
Dashratha approached the hut with Sindhu's body. He stepped over dry leaves, which made some noise.
Thinking their son had come, they both said Son you are late today. Do give us some fruits and water to drink.
The king did not know what to do. With the body in his arms, he stepped back a step.
The sage said, You are playing with your blind parents, do come out and talk to us.
He started meditating and realized what had happened to his son.
With watery eyes, Dashratha laid down Sindhu's boy.
The sage said Welcome Dashratha, Killer of my son. I do not know what to say except that you will also die when your son leaves you. We will give up our body, grieving for our son. May you also die grieving thus.
While the sage cursed him, the king felt joy. He would eventually become a father. Addressing the sage, the king said - What you have said has come to me as a boon. Let me die after I see my son. Your curse has come to me as a boon.
The sage meditated and realized that Narayana will be born in the house of Dashratha. He said - Go King, you will have four sons. You will die of grief when your sons leave you. Let me tell you how I lost my eyes. Once the sage Trijata came to my ashrama. He had elephantiasis and both his legs were swollen. Reluctant to touch his feet, I closed my eyes and touched them. Trijata blessed me to be like that, and from that day I lost my vision. My wife had also done the same, and she also lost her vision. My curse will act like a boon for you. I have a coconut with me which I had gathered in the forest. Mix this in the holy offering and you will be blessed with sons. Please bring Sindhu close to me. Let me touch him.

The king kept Sindhu on the ground the sage couple started running their hands over Sindhu's body. Taking the name of Narayana, he gave up his body. His wife, devoted to her husband, also left her body.

The king went to the banks of the river, and lit a pyre. There he laid the sage couple and Sindhu and lit their pyre. He then left for his kingdom.

Having killed a brahman, the king instead proceeding homewards, went to his Guru, Vashistha's ashrama. Vashistha was not there, but his son Vama was. The king told him what had happened. Vama said take the name of Rama three times and you will be free. Free of guilt and sin, the king went home.

In the evening, when Vashitha came home, Vama told him what had happened. Vashistha said taking the name of Rama once will liberate one from the killing of a million (Ramayana says Koto or Crore, ten million)  brahamans. As my son you did not pay heed. Go live the life of a Chandala.

Vama asked, how would he be free. His father said, Rama will be born as son of Dashratha. One day he will meet you on the banks of Ganga. When his feet touch you, you will be freed.

Taking the name of Guhaka, Vama began roaming in the forests.