32. DUNDUBI’S STORY

These are the bones of a monster named Dundubi; he was a powerful demon in the shape of a buffalo. He had sought out Vishnu and said, "I wish to engage you in a war." Vishnu directed him to Shiva as the appropriate person for such an expedition. Dundubi went to Mount Kailas and tried to lift it off with his horn. Shiva appeared before him and asked,

"You are shaking our foundation. What is your wish?"Dundubi said, "I want to fight forever. Please grant me that power." Shiva directed Dundubi to the chief of all the gods,

Indra, who said, "Go down to the earth and meet Vali. He is the only one who can fulfill your ambition."Accepting this advice, Dundubi came down and tried to destroy all this part of the earth, shouting foul challenges addressed to Vali. Vali attacked him. Their fight continued

for one year without a break. Finally Vali plucked Dundubi's horn off his head and gored him to death and, lifting him byhorn off his head and gored him to death and, lifting him by his neck, whirled him about and flung him high into the air; and the carcass flew through the sky, and fell down at this spot, where Sage Matanga was performing some sacred rites. The sage moved off after cursing Vali for defiling his prayer ground.

Rama ordered Lakshmana, "Push away those bones," and Lakshmana kicked the whole heap out of sight, restoring to the spot its original sanctity.

Sugreeva now said, "I must tell you this; long ago we saw Ravana carrying off Sita in the skies. We were attracted by her screams and as we looked up, she bundled her jewellery and threw it down. Perhaps to indicate the way she passed"—and Sugreeva placed before Rama a bundle of

jewellery. At the sight of it, Rama was grief-stricken. Tears came to his eyes and he swooned. Sugreeva revived him and promised, "I will not rest till I find where she is and restore her to you."

Rama grieved that he had not protected his wife—the ornaments reminding him again and again of his lapse."Even a common stranger when he see a helpless woman taunted or ill treated will give his life to save her but I have failed to protect my wife, who trusted me implicitly and

followed me into the wilderness; and I have failed her woefully." Thus he lamented, breaking down again and again.Then Sugreeva and Hanuman spoke encouraging words.

It was very moving to see a warrior and saviour in such a state of sorrow. Sugreeva and Hanuman elaborated the plan to trace Sita and recover her. Presently, the discussions grew into a council of war and they planned how they would set forth and search and not rest until Sita was found. Rama lamented, "Oh, human limitation that denies one the far-sight

to know where, in which corner of the world or the heavens,that monster is holding Sita."

Hanuman spoke practically at this point. "First thing is to vanquish Vali. Sugreeva must be firmly established in his seat. Then we can gather our army. We need a big army for

this task, as we must search simultaneously in every nook and corner and attack and overcome our enemy before rescuing the noble lady. So the first act to perform is to vanquish Vali. Let us go forth."

They went through forests and mountains, fragrant with sandalwood and other trees, and reached Kiskinda mountain. Rama said to Sugreeva, "You will now go forward alone and call out Vali for a fight. I will stand aside unseen and shoot my arrow into him at the right moment." Sugreeva had now full trust in Rama. He marched to the hilltop and shouted, "Oh, my brother Vali, come on, face me now in battle if you dare."

These words resounded through the silent forests and entered Vali's right ear while he slept. Vali sat up and laughed aloud. He got up with such force that the base of the mountain sank. His eyes spat fire, he ground his teeth in anger, slapped his thigh, clapped his hands, and the sound

he made echoed through the valleys. "Yes, yes, here I come,"shouted Vali rising from his bed. His voice resounded like thunder through the heavens, the ornaments around his neck

snapped, scattering the gems.

Tara, his wife, interceded at this moment, pleading,"Please do not go out now. There must be some extraordinary reason why your brother is behaving in this manner."

Vali shouted, "Oh, my wife, get out of my way now.Sugreeva is just crazy through desperation and loneliness.That's all. Nothing so serious as you fear. You'll see me come back in a moment, drunk with the blood of that brother of mine."

"He would not ordinarily dare to come your way but I fear now he must be having some mighty support, which encourages him to challenge you now. So be careful."

"Dear wife, if all the creatures in all the worlds oppose me,I can face them and wipe them out. That you know very well.You who have the elegance of a peacock and the voice of a

nightingale, listen, have you forgotten that whoever confronts me gives me half his strength—how can anyone escape me? It's only some senseless creature who would offer

support to my brother."And now Tara quietly mentioned, "Some persons who are

interested in our welfare have told me of a rumour that one Rama has moved into these parts, and he is Sugreeva's ally.Rama bears an invincible bow, and it has given new hope to

Sugreeva." "Oh, foolish creature, you are betraying a woman's intelligence and a gossiping tongue. You are uttering a blasphemy for which I would have killed anyone else. But I

spare you. You've committed a grievous error of judgement and speech. I know about Rama—more than you do. I have my own sources of knowledge about what goes on in the

world outside. I have heard of Rama as being one possessing integrity and a sense of justice; one who could never take a wrong step. How could you ever imagine that

such a person would ever take sides in a quarrel between brothers? Do you know that he renounced his right to the throne and undertook the penance of a forest life, all

because he wished to see his father's ancient promises fulfilled? Instead of uttering his name reverently, how can you slander him? Even if all the worlds oppose him, he needs no

strength other than his own "Kodanda," his great bow. Would he count on the support of a miserable monkey like Sugreeva—even if you assume that he expects to rescue his

wife through Sugreeva's help? One who has gifted away his birthright to a younger brother, would he ever employ his prowess to take sides in a family quarrel among strangers?

Stay here, my beloved, and don't move; within the twinkling of an eye, I will be back after disposing of the nuisance named Sugreeva."