30. VALI

The perfect man takes a false step, apparently commits a moral slip, and we ordinary mortals stand puzzled before the incident. It may be less an actual error of commission on his

part than a lack of understanding on ours; measured in Eternity, such an event might stand out differently. But until we attain that breadth of view, we are likely to feel disturbed

and question the action. Rama was an ideal man, all his faculties in control in any circumstances, one possessed of an unwavering sense of justice and fair play. Yet he once

acted, as it seemed, out of partiality, half-knowledge, and haste, and shot and destroyed, from hiding, a creature who had done him no harm, not even seen him. This is one of the most controversial chapters in the Ramayana.

The characters in the drama that follows are Vali, Sugreeva, Hanuman, and Rama. The action takes place in the mountainous forest regions of Kiskinda, a kingdom ruled and inhabited by monkeys. In the Ramayana, the participants are not only human beings but many others from

God's creation, intelligent, cultured, and with their own achievements of spirit as well as physique: Jambavan was a bear, Jatayu was an eagle, Lakshmana—Rama's brother—

was himself a human incarnation of the Great Serpentwas himself a human incarnation of the Great Serpent Adisesha in whose coils Vishnu rested. Whatever might be the form and shape, when they spoke and acted, their physical appearance passed unnoticed.

Kiskinda was peopled and ruled by what might broadly speaking be named a monkey race; but they were beings endowed with extraordinary intelligence, speech, immeasurable strength and nobility, and were of godly parentage too.

Rama, in his desperate quest of Sita, was journeying southwards and crossed the frontiers of Kiskinda. Although he was an incarnation of Vishnu, the Supreme God, in human form, as we have seen, he was subject to human limitations of understanding and the despairs arising

therefrom. Following Sita's trail by hearsay and hints, he and Lakshmana arrived on the frontiers of Kiskinda. Their entry was not unobserved. The companion and helper of Sugreeva, ruler of the monkey clan, was Hanuman, who will later take his place in the Ramayana as a major character.

Hanuman, watching for intruders, noticed Rama and Lakshmana far off on the mountain path. Assuming the shape of a young scholar, he went down and remained hidden behind a tree on their path. When they approached, he observed them closely and reflected within himself. "So

noble-looking! Who are they? They are clad in tree bark, hair matted and knotted, ascetics. But they bear enormous bows on their shoulders. Ascetics armed like warriors or warriors clothed in ascetics' robes? But they still look like—like whom? They appear to be incomparable beings. No way of judging by comparison. Are they gods?—but they look so human." Hanuman, unable to contain himself, stepped up before them and announced, "I am the son of Vayu and

Anjana. I am called Anjaneya (or Hanuman), I am in the service of my chief, Sugreeva, who is the son of the sun god.

I welcome you to our kingdom on his behalf." Rama whispered to his brother, "Don't be misled by his appearance. He looks like a youthful scholar, but he must be possessed of great powers!" And then he said, "Please guide us to your chief." Now Hanuman asked, "Whom shall I have the honour of announcing?" While Rama paused, Lakshmana stepped in to say, "We are the sons of Dasaratha, the late King of Ayodhya." He narrated briefly their history and explained why they were here rather than at the palace in the capital city.

On hearing the story, Anjaneya prostrated himself at the feet of Rama. Rama said, "No, you are a man of learning and I am only a warrior and you should not touch my feet,"

whereupon Hanuman (or Anjaneya) said, "I assumed the scholar's form only for the purpose of coming before you," and resumed his real stature and the form of a giant monkey.

He then left them, to return later accompanied by Sugreeva. Rama, at the first sight of Sugreeva, felt an instinctive compassion and also felt that this was a moment encounter, a turning point in his own life. Sugreeva, sensing his sympathetic attitude, seized this occasion to mention his

difficulties in a general way. "Through no fault of mine, I suffer exile and privations."

"Have you lost your home and are you separated from your wife?" When this question was asked, Sugreeva, too overwhelmed to speak, remained silent. Whereupon Hanuman stood up and told his story.