6. A King’s Redemption and the Path to Sita

Vali, still alive, blinked at Sugriva and spoke in a faint voice: “Sugriva, please pardon my misconduct. It was not destined for me to rule the kingdom in peace and cooperation with you. I had lost my senses. Now that I am about to die, you should become the king. My parting request is for you to treat Angada as your son. You must not do otherwise. He was the apple of my eye. He is a brave lad and will help you in everything. My wife, Tara, who is the daughter of the great hero Sushena, is extremely intelligent and wise. Seek her advice whenever you face a problem. The virtue of the necklace that Indra had presented to me will remain strong even after my death. You should wear it.”

Sugriva readily agreed to comply with Vali’s wishes, accepting the necklace as well. Subsequently, Vali called Angada to his side and advised him to regard Sugriva as his guardian and treat him with reverence. Vali further warned Angada against befriending Sugriva’s enemies, advising caution in choosing friends while also emphasizing the importance of true companionship. With that, Vali breathed his last.

Mourning and Regret

The Vanaras wept bitterly, singing the glories of their departed king, who had protected them from ferocious demons and other threats. Tara sat near Vali’s lifeless body and wailed while Nila removed the arrow from his chest. Angada prostrated at his father’s feet, and Sugriva expressed his regrets before Tara and Angada, remaining by their side for a while.

Then, turning to Rama, Sugriva said, “You kept your word and killed Vali, paving the way for my ascension to the throne. However, if Tara and the Vanaras continue to weep like this, how can I find peace? True, Vali harassed me greatly, and I desired his death. But now, I repent. It would be right for me to remain at Rushymuk instead of being crowned king. I believe I would find no solace even in heaven; Vali’s memory will haunt me. I would rather die alongside him. As for finding Sita Devi, the Vanaras can accomplish that task.”

A Plea for Union in Death

Tara too approached Rama and begged, “Will you please kill me with the same arrow you used to slay my husband? I must go where he has gone. I cannot find peace otherwise. Just as you suffer from being deprived of Sita, Vali would suffer without me, even in heaven. If you kill me, you will be free from the sin that may have come with killing Vali.”

Rama replied, “You are the wife of a great hero. Such weakness does not befit you. Your son, Angada, will be the crown prince. You will live as securely as you did during Vali’s reign.”

Preparing for the Final Farewell

Rama then turned to the Vanaras, saying, “Your wailing will not benefit the departed soul. Should you not rather engage in actions that would honor him?” Lakshmana reminded Sugriva that an impressive pyre must be prepared for Vali and a significant quantity of sandalwood procured. “Prepare Angada to light the pyre. You are to rule Kiskindhya from today. How can you afford to sit and shed tears? Arrange for flowers, clothes, ghee, oil, and incense. We also need a palanquin and bearers to transport Vali’s corpse,” he instructed.

The Vanara leaders acted promptly. Sugriva and Angada carried Vali’s body into the palanquin, covering the corpse with flowers. The Vanaras lined the road on both sides, showering flowers as the palanquin passed. A grand procession followed as they prepared the pyre on the sandy bank of a rivulet. Rama himself supervised all the rites accompanying the cremation.

The Responsibilities of Kingship

After bathing in the river, Sugriva approached Rama. All the Vanara leaders accompanied him, and Hanuman addressed Rama: “O great soul! It is due to your grace that Sugriva has obtained the throne. If you permit, he can now proceed to Kiskindhya. Much must be done for the coronation, and we would feel honored if you could perform the ceremonies yourself.”

Rama replied, “O Hanuman! I must live in the forest for fourteen years to honor the vow I made when leaving my kingdom. I should not dwell in any town during this period. You all should lead Sugriva with due honor to Kiskindhya, crown him king, and make Angada the crown prince. The monsoon is approaching, and the next four months would not be suitable for any expedition. Lakshmana and I will wait here. The caves are comfortable, and there is a beautiful lake nearby, abundant with lotuses. We must prepare for battle once the monsoon is over.”

A New Beginning

Following Rama’s instructions, Sugriva entered Kiskindhya, accompanied by the Vanaras. The first thing he did was seek out Tara to console her. The Vanaras arranged everything necessary for the coronation. Seated under a white umbrella studded with gold, upon a bejeweled throne, Sugriva was crowned king. Brahmins performed the rites in front of a sacred fire according to Vedic tradition, and the great Vanara leaders accepted him as their new king.

Sugriva declared Angada the crown prince, an act for which he was praised by all. Once the ceremonies concluded, Sugriva hurried to inform Rama, who was pleased to hear about everything. Sugriva then returned to Kiskindhya and lived happily.

Anticipation and Distrust

The cave where Rama and Lakshmana rested was situated on the Prasravana hill, flanked by a serene lake and a gentle river. The area was resplendent with nature’s beauty. Occasionally, the sounds of musical instruments and festival celebrations reached their ears from nearby Kiskindhya. However, Rama lived in sadness, anxiously awaiting the end of the monsoon to rescue Sita. He often gazed at the sky, longing towards Kiskindhya, feeling as though time passed slowly.

At last, the monsoon came to an end, but there was no news from Sugriva. It appeared he had forgotten his promise, lost in the luxuries of his position. Sugriva had delegated the administration to ministers and spent his days joyously, which pained Hanuman. One day, Hanuman told Sugriva, “Surely you have not forgotten your promise to your friend. A great person does not forget their comforts while working for the well-being of their friends. We must prioritize our mission to find Sita Devi. Do not delay any longer.”

A Call to Action

Hanuman’s words awakened Sugriva to his responsibilities. He called Nila and ordered him to gather Vanara soldiers within a fortnight. Any soldier who did not report would face punishment. Meanwhile, Rama waited on the hill and expressed his frustration to Lakshmana: “Sugriva promised to report once the monsoon ended. But where is he? Is he ignoring us? I hope we won’t need to assert our strength against him! I killed Vali alone and am ready to seek Sita without his help! Go and convey this to him.”

Filled with anger towards Sugriva, Lakshmana said, “He has obviously forgotten how he came to be king. I will not allow him to enjoy the throne for long. I will kill him and search for Sita Devi with Angada’s help.” As he prepared to leave for Kiskindhya, Rama stopped him, saying, “Lakshmana! Do not be rude to him. After all, he is our friend. He has merely delayed our actions. Be polite; perhaps he will realize his mistake.”