The Slaying of Vali

Shloka 1 (kishkindha.16.1)

तामेवं ब्रुवतीं तारां ताराधिपनिभाननाम् । वाली निर्भर्त्सयामास वचनं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥ 16.1 ॥

tāmevaṃ bruvatīṃ tārāṃ tārādhipanibhānanām | vālī nirbhartsayāmāsa vacanaṃ cedamabravīt || 16.1 ||

While Tara, her face like the lord of the stars, was still speaking thus, Vali angrily silenced her and spoke these words.

Shloka 2 (kishkindha.16.2)

गर्जतोऽस्य सुसंरब्धं भ्रातुः शत्रोर्विशेषतः । मर्षयिष्यामि केनापि कारणेन वरानने ॥ 16.2 ॥

garjato'sya susaṃrabdhaṃ bhrātuḥ śatrorviśeṣataḥ | marṣayiṣyāmi kenāpi kāraṇena varānane || 16.2 ||

"For what reason, O lovely-faced one, should I tolerate this frenzied roaring of him — my own brother, yet now especially my foe?"

Shloka 3 (kishkindha.16.3)

अधर्षितानां शूराणां समरेष्वनिवर्तिनाम् । धर्षणामर्षणं भीरु मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥ 16.3 ॥

adharṣitānāṃ śūrāṇāṃ samareṣvanivartinām | dharṣaṇāmarṣaṇaṃ bhīru maraṇādatiricyate || 16.3 ||

"For valiant men who never retreat in battle and are never overwhelmed, O timid one, enduring a taunt is worse than death itself."

Shloka 4 (kishkindha.16.4)

सोढुं न च समर्थोऽहं युद्धकामस्य संयुगे । सुग्रीवस्य च संरम्भं हीनग्रीवस्य गर्जितम् ॥ 16.4 ॥

soḍhuṃ na ca samartho'haṃ yuddhakāmasya saṃyuge | sugrīvasya ca saṃrambhaṃ hīnagrīvasya garjitam || 16.4 ||

"I am not able to bear, in single combat, the raging bluster of dull-throated Sugriva, so eager for a fight."

Shloka 5 (kishkindha.16.5)

न च कार्यो विषादस्ते राघवं प्रति मत्कृते । धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च कथं पापं करिष्यति ॥ 16.5 ॥

na ca kāryo viṣādaste rāghavaṃ prati matkṛte | dharmajñaśca kṛtajñaśca kathaṃ pāpaṃ kariṣyati || 16.5 ||

"Nor need you fear on my account that Raghava will do me any wrong — how could one who knows righteousness and remembers kindness ever commit such a sin?"

Shloka 6 (kishkindha.16.6)

निवर्तस्व सह स्त्रीभिः कथं भूयोऽनुगच्छसि । सौहृदं दर्शितं तावन्मयि भक्तिस्त्वया कृता ॥ 16.6 ॥

nivartasva saha strībhiḥ kathaṃ bhūyo'nugacchasi | sauhṛdaṃ darśitaṃ tāvanmayi bhaktistvayā kṛtā || 16.6 ||

"Go back now with these women — why do you keep following me again? You have already shown me your affection and devotion fully."

Shloka 7 (kishkindha.16.7)

प्रतियोत्स्याम्यहं गत्वा सुग्रीवं जहि सम्भ्रमम् । दर्पं चास्य विनेष्यामि न च प्राणैर्वियोक्ष्यते ॥ 16.7 ॥

pratiyotsyāmyahaṃ gatvā sugrīvaṃ jahi sambhramam | darpaṃ cāsya vineṣyāmi na ca prāṇairviyokṣyate || 16.7 ||

"I shall go myself and fight Sugriva — set aside your alarm. I will crush his pride too, but I will not take his life."

Shloka 8 (kishkindha.16.8)

अहं ह्याजिस्थितस्यास्य करिष्यामि यदीप्सितम् । वृक्षैर्मुष्टिप्रहारैश्च पीडितः प्रतियास्यति ॥ 16.8 ॥

ahaṃ hyājisthitasyāsya kariṣyāmi yadīpsitam | vṛkṣairmuṣṭiprahāraiśca pīḍitaḥ pratiyāsyati || 16.8 ||

"Since he stands ready for combat, I will indeed give him just what he desires: battered by blows of trees and by my fists, he shall go back roughed up."

Shloka 9 (kishkindha.16.9)

न मे गर्वितमायस्तं सहिष्यति दुरात्मवान् । कृतं तारे सहायत्वं दर्शितं सौहृदं मयि ॥ 16.9 ॥

na me garvitamāyastaṃ sahiṣyati durātmavān | kṛtaṃ tāre sahāyatvaṃ darśitaṃ sauhṛdaṃ mayi || 16.9 ||

"That malign-hearted one will never withstand my pride and my speed. Enough, O Tara — you have offered your counsel and shown your affection for me."

Shloka 10 (kishkindha.16.10)

शापितासि मम प्राणैर्निवर्तस्व जनेन च । अलं जित्वा निवर्तिष्ये तमहं भ्रातरं रणे ॥ 16.10 ॥

śāpitāsi mama prāṇairnivartasva janena ca | alaṃ jitvā nivartiṣye tamahaṃ bhrātaraṃ raṇe || 16.10 ||

"I adjure you by my very life — return now together with your attendants. I shall come back once I have easily defeated that 'brother' of mine in battle." So Vali said to Tara.

Shloka 11 (kishkindha.16.11)

तं तु तारा परिष्वज्य वालिनं प्रियवादिनी । चकार रुदती मन्दं दक्षिणा सा प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ 16.11 ॥

taṃ tu tārā pariṣvajya vālinaṃ priyavādinī | cakāra rudatī mandaṃ dakṣiṇā sā pradakṣiṇam || 16.11 ||

Tara, ever sweet of speech and wise in counsel, embraced Vali, and softly moaning, walked around him in reverence.

Shloka 12 (kishkindha.16.12)

ततः स्वस्त्ययनं कृत्वा मन्त्रविद् विजयैषिणी । अन्तःपुरं सह स्त्रीभिः प्रविष्टा शोकमोहिता ॥ 16.12 ॥

tataḥ svastyayanaṃ kṛtvā mantravid vijayaiṣiṇī | antaḥpuraṃ saha strībhiḥ praviṣṭā śokamohitā || 16.12 ||

Then that hymn-knowing Tara, wishing him victory, having performed the rites of blessing, entered the inner apartments with the other women, overcome by grief.

Shloka 13 (kishkindha.16.13)

प्रविष्टायां तु तारायां सह स्त्रीभिः स्वमालयम् । नगर्या निर्ययौ क्रुद्धो महासर्प इव श्वसन् ॥ 16.13 ॥

praviṣṭāyāṃ tu tārāyāṃ saha strībhiḥ svamālayam | nagaryā niryayau kruddho mahāsarpa iva śvasan || 16.13 ||

When Tara, with her women, had entered her own chambers, the enraged Vali strode out of the city, hissing like a great serpent.

Shloka 14 (kishkindha.16.14)

स निःश्वस्य महारोषो वाली परमवेगवान् । सर्वतश्चारयन् दृष्टिं शत्रुदर्शनकांक्षया ॥ 16.14 ॥

sa niḥśvasya mahāroṣo vālī paramavegavān | sarvataścārayan dṛṣṭiṃ śatrudarśanakāṃkṣayā || 16.14 ||

That deeply enraged and swift Vali, sighing heavily, cast his gaze in every direction, eager to sight his enemy.

Shloka 15 (kishkindha.16.15)

स ददर्श ततः श्रीमान् सुग्रीवं हेमपिङ्गलम् । सुसंवीतमवष्टब्धं दीप्यमानमिवानलम् ॥ 16.15 ॥

sa dadarśa tataḥ śrīmān sugrīvaṃ hemapiṅgalam | susaṃvītamavaṣṭabdhaṃ dīpyamānamivānalam || 16.15 ||

Then that glorious Vali saw Sugriva, golden-tawny of hue, his garment girded tight, standing his ground and blazing like fire.

Shloka 16 (kishkindha.16.16)

तं स दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुः सुग्रीवं पर्यवस्थितम् । गाढं परिदधे वासो वाली परमकोपनः ॥ 16.16 ॥

taṃ sa dṛṣṭvā mahābāhuḥ sugrīvaṃ paryavasthitam | gāḍhaṃ paridadhe vāso vālī paramakopanaḥ || 16.16 ||

Seeing Sugriva standing right before him, that mighty-armed and utterly enraged Vali too bound his garment tight.

Shloka 17 (kishkindha.16.17)

स वाली गाढसंवीतो मुष्टिमुद्यम्य वीर्यवान् । सुग्रीवमेवाभिमुखो ययौ योद्धुं कृतक्षणः ॥ 16.17 ॥

sa vālī gāḍhasaṃvīto muṣṭimudyamya vīryavān | sugrīvamevābhimukho yayau yoddhuṃ kṛtakṣaṇaḥ || 16.17 ||

That powerful Vali, his cloth bound fast, raising his fist, went straight toward Sugriva, his moment for battle come.

Shloka 18 (kishkindha.16.18)

श्लिष्टं मुष्टिं समुद्यम्य संरब्धतरमागतः । सुग्रीवोऽपि समुद्दिश्य वालिनं हेममालिनम् ॥ 16.18 ॥

śliṣṭaṃ muṣṭiṃ samudyamya saṃrabdhataramāgataḥ | sugrīvo'pi samuddiśya vālinaṃ hemamālinam || 16.18 ||

Sugriva too, mounting in fury, raising his own clenched fist, came on, taking aim at gold-garlanded Vali.

Shloka 19 (kishkindha.16.19)

तं वाली क्रोधताम्राक्षः सुग्रीवं रणकोविदम् । आपतन्तं महावेगमिदं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 16.19 ॥

taṃ vālī krodhatāmrākṣaḥ sugrīvaṃ raṇakovidam | āpatantaṃ mahāvegamidaṃ vacanamabravīt || 16.19 ||

Vali, his eyes red with fury, an expert in battle, spoke thus to Sugriva who was swooping upon him with tremendous speed:

Shloka 20 (kishkindha.16.20)

एष मुष्टिर्महान् बद्धो गाढः सुनियताङ्गुलिः । मया वेगविमुक्तस्ते प्राणानादाय यास्यति ॥ 16.20 ॥

eṣa muṣṭirmahān baddho gāḍhaḥ suniyatāṅguliḥ | mayā vegavimuktaste prāṇānādāya yāsyati || 16.20 ||

"This great fist of mine, tightly clenched with fingers set firm — once I hurl it at you with full force, it will depart only after taking your life."

Shloka 21 (kishkindha.16.21)

एवमुक्तस्तु सुग्रीवः क्रुद्धो वालिनमब्रवीत् । तव चैष हरन् प्राणान् मुष्टिः पततु मूर्धनि ॥ 16.21 ॥

evamuktastu sugrīvaḥ kruddho vālinamabravīt | tava caiṣa haran prāṇān muṣṭiḥ patatu mūrdhani || 16.21 ||

Hearing this, Sugriva, in high fury, answered Vali: "Let this fist of mine, which shall take your life, fall upon your very head!"

Shloka 22 (kishkindha.16.22)

ताडितस्तेन तं क्रुद्धः समभिक्रम्य वेगतः । अभवच्छोणितोद्गारी सापीड इव पर्वतः ॥ 16.22 ॥

tāḍitastena taṃ kruddhaḥ samabhikramya vegataḥ | abhavacchoṇitodgārī sāpīḍa iva parvataḥ || 16.22 ||

Rushing forward in an instant, Vali struck him; and Sugriva, thus struck, streamed blood like a mountain pouring down its torrents.

Shloka 23 (kishkindha.16.23)

सुग्रीवेण तु निःशङ्कं सालमुत्पाट्य तेजसा । गात्रेष्वभिहतो वाली वज्रेणेव महागिरिः ॥ 16.23 ॥

sugrīveṇa tu niḥśaṅkaṃ sālamutpāṭya tejasā | gātreṣvabhihato vālī vajreṇeva mahāgiriḥ || 16.23 ||

But Sugriva, unhesitating, tore up a Sala tree by his own strength and struck Vali's limbs with it, as a thunderbolt strikes a great mountain.

Shloka 24 (kishkindha.16.24)

स तु वृक्षेण निर्भग्नः सालताडनविह्वलः । गुरुभारभराक्रान्ता नौः ससार्थेव सागरे ॥ 16.24 ॥

sa tu vṛkṣeṇa nirbhagnaḥ sālatāḍanavihvalaḥ | gurubhārabharākrāntā nauḥ sasārtheva sāgare || 16.24 ||

Shattered and reeling under the blow of that tree, Vali swayed like a ship on the ocean, overladen with cargo and crowded with merchants, about to founder.

Shloka 25 (kishkindha.16.25)

तौ भीमबलविक्रान्तौ सुपर्णसमवेगितौ । प्रयुद्धौ घोरवपुषौ चन्द्रसूर्याविवाम्बरे ॥ 16.25 ॥

tau bhīmabalavikrāntau suparṇasamavegitau | prayuddhau ghoravapuṣau candrasūryāvivāmbare || 16.25 ||

Those two — of terrifying might and prowess, swift as the great eagle Garuda, awesome of form — clashed with each other in the sky like the sun and moon.

Shloka 26 (kishkindha.16.26)

परस्परममित्रघ्नौ छिद्रान्वेषणतत्परौ । ततोऽवर्धत वाली तु बलवीर्यसमन्वितः ॥ 16.26 ॥

parasparamamitraghnau chidrānveṣaṇatatparau | tato'vardhata vālī tu balavīryasamanvitaḥ || 16.26 ||

Each intent on slaying the other, watchful for any opening — of those two, Vali, endowed with strength and valour, began to gain the upper hand,

Shloka 27 (kishkindha.16.27)

सूर्यपुत्रो महावीर्यः सुग्रीवः परिहीयत । वालिना भग्नदर्पस्तु सुग्रीवो मन्दविक्रमः ॥ 16.27 ॥

sūryaputro mahāvīryaḥ sugrīvaḥ parihīyata | vālinā bhagnadarpastu sugrīvo mandavikramaḥ || 16.27 ||

while the mighty son of the Sun, Sugriva, began to fail; his pride broken by Vali, Sugriva's onslaught grew feeble.

Shloka 28 (kishkindha.16.28)

वालिनं प्रति सामर्षो दर्शयामास राघवम् । वृक्षैः सशाखैः शिखरैर्वज्रकोटिनिभैर्नखैः ॥ 16.28 ॥

vālinaṃ prati sāmarṣo darśayāmāsa rāghavam | vṛkṣaiḥ saśākhaiḥ śikharairvajrakoṭinibhairnakhaiḥ || 16.28 ||

Distressed on account of Vali, Sugriva turned his gaze toward Raghava — while the two fought on with branch-laden trees, with mountain-peaks, and with claws sharp as thunderbolt-edges,

Shloka 29 (kishkindha.16.29)

मुष्टिभिर्जानुभिः पद्भिर्बाहुभिश्च पुनः पुनः । तयोर्युद्धमभूद्घोरं वृत्रवासवयोरिव ॥ 16.29 ॥

muṣṭibhirjānubhiḥ padbhirbāhubhiśca punaḥ punaḥ | tayoryuddhamabhūdghoraṃ vṛtravāsavayoriva || 16.29 ||

with fists, with knees, with feet, and with arms, again and again; a fight terrible as that between Vritra and Vasava broke out between them.

Shloka 30 (kishkindha.16.30)

तौ शोणिताक्तौ युध्येतां वानरौ वनचारिणौ । मेघाविव महाशब्दैस्तर्जमानौ परस्परम् ॥ 16.30 ॥

tau śoṇitāktau yudhyetāṃ vānarau vanacāriṇau | meghāviva mahāśabdaistarjamānau parasparam || 16.30 ||

Those two forest-ranging vanaras, drenched in blood, fought on, menacing each other with great roars, like two thunderclouds.

Shloka 31 (kishkindha.16.31)

हीयमानमथापश्यत् सुग्रीवं वानरेश्वरम् । प्रेक्षमाणं दिशश्चैव राघवः स मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ 16.31 ॥

hīyamānamathāpaśyat sugrīvaṃ vānareśvaram | prekṣamāṇaṃ diśaścaiva rāghavaḥ sa muhurmuhuḥ || 16.31 ||

Then Raghava saw Sugriva, lord of the vanaras, faltering, and glancing again and again in every direction.

Shloka 32 (kishkindha.16.32)

ततो रामो महातेजा आर्तं दृष्ट्वा हरीश्वरम् । स शरं वीक्षते वीरो वालिनो वधकांक्षया ॥ 16.32 ॥

tato rāmo mahātejā ārtaṃ dṛṣṭvā harīśvaram | sa śaraṃ vīkṣate vīro vālino vadhakāṃkṣayā || 16.32 ||

Then, seeing the lord of monkeys thus distressed, the mighty, radiant Rama, that hero, reached for an arrow, intent on slaying Vali.

Shloka 33 (kishkindha.16.33)

ततो धनुषि संधाय शरमाशीविषोपमम् । पूरयामास तच्चापं कालचक्रमिवान्तकः ॥ 16.33 ॥

tato dhanuṣi saṃdhāya śaramāśīviṣopamam | pūrayāmāsa taccāpaṃ kālacakramivāntakaḥ || 16.33 ||

Then, fitting to his bow a shaft like a venomous serpent, he drew that bow taut, as Death draws taut the wheel of Time.

Shloka 34 (kishkindha.16.34)

तस्य ज्यातलघोषेण त्रस्ताः पत्ररथेश्वराः । प्रदुद्रुवुर्मृगाश्चैव युगान्त इव मोहिताः ॥ 16.34 ॥

tasya jyātalaghoṣeṇa trastāḥ patraratheśvarāḥ | pradudruvurmṛgāścaiva yugānta iva mohitāḥ || 16.34 ||

At the twang of his bowstring, the great birds took fright, and the beasts fled in terror, as though bewildered by the coming of an age's end.

Shloka 35 (kishkindha.16.35)

मुक्तस्तु वज्रनिर्घोषः प्रदीप्ताशनिसंनिभः । राघवेण महाबाणो वालिवक्षसि पातितः ॥ 16.35 ॥

muktastu vajranirghoṣaḥ pradīptāśanisaṃnibhaḥ | rāghaveṇa mahābāṇo vālivakṣasi pātitaḥ || 16.35 ||

Loosed by Raghava, that mighty shaft, roaring like a thunderbolt and blazing like a lightning-flash, struck Vali full in the chest.

Shloka 36 (kishkindha.16.36)

ततस्तेन महातेजा वीर्ययुक्तः कपीश्वरः । वेगेनाभिहतो वाली निपपात महीतले ॥ 16.36 ॥

tatastena mahātejā vīryayuktaḥ kapīśvaraḥ | vegenābhihato vālī nipapāta mahītale || 16.36 ||

Struck by the speed of that shaft, that radiant and mighty lord of monkeys, Vali, fell to the ground.

Shloka 37 (kishkindha.16.37)

इन्द्रध्वज इवोद्धूतः पौर्णमास्यां महीतले । आश्वयुक्समये मासि गतश्रीको विचेतनः । बाष्पसंरुद्धकण्ठस्तु वाली चार्तस्वरः शनैः ॥ 16.37 ॥

indradhvaja ivoddhūtaḥ paurṇamāsyāṃ mahītale | āśvayuksamaye māsi gataśrīko vicetanaḥ | bāṣpasaṃruddhakaṇṭhastu vālī cārtasvaraḥ śanaiḥ || 16.37 ||

Like the flagstaff of Indra brought down once the full-moon festival of the month of Ashvin is over, Vali, his glory gone and his senses failing, sank down slowly, his throat choked with tears, moaning in pain.

Shloka 38 (kishkindha.16.38)

नरोत्तमः कालयुगान्तकोपमं शरोत्तमं काञ्चनरूप्यभूषितम् । ससर्ज दीप्तं तममित्रमर्दनं सधूममग्निं मुखतो यथा हरः ॥ 16.38 ॥

narottamaḥ kālayugāntakopamaṃ śarottamaṃ kāñcanarūpyabhūṣitam | sasarja dīptaṃ tamamitramardanaṃ sadhūmamagniṃ mukhato yathā haraḥ || 16.38 ||

That best of men loosed that finest of arrows, adorned with gold and silver, foe-crushing and blazing, terrible as Time's ender at an age's end — like fire mixed with smoke issuing from the mouth of Hara.

Shloka 39 (kishkindha.16.39)

अथोक्षितः शोणिततोयविस्रवैः सुपुष्पिताशोक इवानिलोद्धतः । विचेतनो वासवसूनुराहवे प्रभ्रंशितेन्द्रध्वजवत् क्षितिं गतः ॥ 16.39 ॥

athokṣitaḥ śoṇitatoyavisravaiḥ supuṣpitāśoka ivāniloddhataḥ | vicetano vāsavasūnurāhave prabhraṃśitendradhvajavat kṣitiṃ gataḥ || 16.39 ||

Then, drenched in streams of blood, that son of Vasava sank senseless to the earth on the battlefield, like a fully-blossomed Ashoka tree brought down by the wind, or like the flagstaff of Indra, torn loose and fallen.