Kishkindha Kaanda
130 - Sugriva apprizes Sri Rama of his woes; the latterís vow to kill Vali; Sri Rama expatiates on the characteristics of a friend
Chaupais
Description
"My lord, Vali and myself are two brothers. The affection that existed between us was past all telling. Once upon a time, O lord, the son of the demon Maya, who was known by the name of Mayavi, came to our town (Kiskindha). At dead of night he called out at the gate of the town. Vali could not brook his enemy's challenge to a bout and sallied forth to meet him. But when he saw Vali coming, he took to flight. I too had accompanied my brother. The enemy went and entered the cave of a big mountain. Then Vali gave instructions to me, "Await my return till a fortnight. If I do not return, then take me as slain." When I had waited there for a month, O slayer of Khara, a copious stream of blood issued from the cave. I, therefore, concluded that the demon had slain Vali and that he would come and kill me too. Accordingly I blocked the mouth of the cave with a rock and fled away. When the ministers saw the town without a master, they forced me to accept the throne. Meanwhile Vali, who had killed the enemy, returned home and saw me (installed on the throne), he nursed a grudge against me in his heart. He gave me a most severe beating as he would an enemy, and robbed me of all that I had