We had seen the introduction to Kishkindha Kanda and the first meeting of Ram and his biggest follower Hanuman in the first few chapters. The introduction of Hanuman to Ram and Lakshmana is itself a fascinating episode. The learned scholar Hanuman makes his first and best impression upon Ram by way of his articulation and elucidation of the situation while quietly praising the duo. These kinds of acts are going to be the routine for Hanuman where his devotion for Rama makes him do wonders. As mentioned, this is all detailed in the next book ‘Sundara Kanda’ where his epic deeds will come to the fore. As the name speaks, this is also going to be the most beautiful book of Ramayana, where the story around ardent devotee Hanuman is told. Before reaching there, we can look at the intermittent episodes which lead to that point through the empire of other Vanaras. With the arrival of Hanuman and the story set in the backdrop of the Vanaras, the real tale is going to be fascinating, leaving an impression on everyone alike. Hanuman took Rama and Lakshmana to Sugriva after his introduction and bringing happiness to Rama by way of his conduct. He acts as a messenger to God, acting on His behalf from henceforth. Hanuman also dissipates the fear of other Vanaras including Sugriva who tremble at the sight of two mighty men. We can see how an oath of friendship is taken between Rama and Sugriva and how they both help each other in next many chapters.
In chapter 5, Hanuman carries Rama and Lakshmana to Sugriva, and advises him to befriend Rama. Accordingly Rama and Sugriva take the oath of friendship before an altar of fire and Rama assures to eliminate Vali the vice, from the face of earth.
At the Malaya Mountain Hanuman told Sugriva of Rama and Lakshmana, " Rama, immensely wise and firm in his valour, has arrived, with his brother Lakshmana. For Rama, truth is his valour. Rama is Dasharatha’s son and has been born in the lineage of the Ikshvakus. He is devoted to dharma and therefore acts in accordance with his father’s instructions. That is the reason the great-souled one controls himself and resides in the forest. A rakshasa has abducted his wife and he has come here, seeking refuge with you. There was one who performed royal and horse sacrifices and offered oblations into the fire, donating hundreds and thousands of cows as dakshina. He performed austerities and was truthful in speech, ruling the world. Rama is his son. Because of a woman, he now solicits refuge with you. The two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, desire your friendship. You should receive them and honour them, because they deserve to be worshipped.”
Hearing Hanuman’s words, Sugriva was delighted in his mind. He lost his anxiety and gave up his terrible fear of Raghava. Taking human form, Sugriva hurried to meet the princes of Ayodhya. Spellbound by the handsome form of Rama he said, "Hanuman has told me of your unrivalled knowledge of dharma and of your compassion and valor without compare. I am honored to be your ally and I offer you my hand in friendship. Holding Sugriva's hand firmly, Rama hugged him affectionately. Circumambulating the fire lit by Hanuman, they sealed their friendship, with Agni as their witness. Sugriva's eyes filled with tears of joy as he said, "we are now friends and from now on your happiness is my happiness and your sorrow will be mine". An unshakable confidence replaced Sugriva's dread and disquiet. Words came out in a rush as he poured out his tale of woe, "Tricked by my brother, and having lost my wife, I now live in fear enduring a life of sorrow in this fort like forest. Save me from my brother Rama and rid me of my fear". Rama promised that his arrows like incensed serpents would soon strike Vali, making him crumble to earth like a mountain" As the pact of friendship was being sanctified on the plateaus of the Malaya mountains Sita's lotus like left eye throbbed, as did Ravana's flame-red left eye and Vali's golden hued left eye. An omen that spelt auspiciousness to women and doom to men.
In chapter 6, after befriending Rama, Sugriva promises him to bring back Sita from whatever place she is held captive. He informs that he has seen Sita travelling overhead in the sky while being abducted. He also says that the lady while being abducted has dropped her ornaments wrapping in her upper cloth at their place atop the mountain. Then Sugriva shows the ornaments to Rama asking him to identify them. Rama recognises the ornaments and the upper cloth of Sita, and angered at the scandalous act of abduction he avows to eradicate that demon along with his clansmen
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Happy that he had Rama's support, Sugriva was sure that his trouble would soon end. Aware of Rama's purpose in visiting the dense, forbidding forest devoid of all human habitation he said, "I know that Sita was stolen and Jatayu was slain by Ravana. Just as Lord Vishnu restored the Vedas, so shall I get back Sita. The abductors shall pay for their evil and the inescapable consequence will be as deadly as the consumption of poisonous food. Even if she is in depths of the ocean or in the expanse of the sky, Sita will be found. I have seen her being stolen and heard her cries of distress". Sugriva then fetched the little bundle of jewels that Sita had dropped while being carried away. Looking at them Rama was moved to tears and felt faint. He showed them to Lakshmana who recognized only the anklets, as he worships Sita's feet every day. He had no knowledge of the other ornaments. Rama asked Sugriva, "Where do you think Ravana has hidden Sita? Where is he who by stealing her provokes my wrath and invites his own death? Tell me Sugriva, and I shall destroy him this very moment".
In chapter 7, Sugriva consoles Rama soothingly and advises him to come out of his frenzy emotion at the loss of Sita, which is not befitting to a person like Rama. Rama recovering from his emotional state, promises Sugriva to be truthful to his word in alleviating the fear of Vali for Sugriva. And Sugriva also promises to make all his efforts to search for Sita.
Sugriva could no longer bear Rama's sorrow. He broke down and in a voice choked with grief he said, "I do not know where that sinner Ravana lives, nor do I know of his courage, competence or caste but I give you my word that I shall find her. Please do stop grieving Rama, it does not befit you. Courage and not cowardice is your nature. I am only a Vanara and I too have lost my wife but I neither weep nor despair. How can you with your intelligence and strength give up courage, the hallmark of the mighty? Neither calamities, separations, nor even the fear of death should shake the brave". Sugriva tried consoling Rama in many ways. He said that the strong took stock of the situation and dealt with it sensibly, refusing to fall prey to despair "only the ignorant get lost in their misery". He warned Rama, "do not give up the resolution that strength demands. I implore you to pull yourself back from the brink of despondency. A man who gives up without a fight sinks like an overloaded ship. Forgive my sermon Rama, I do not want to preach but my friendship goads me to give you courage". Wiping his tears Rama embraced Sugriva and told him to look for Sita. He also promised to kill Vali and crown him. Rama's words cheered Sugriva and his companions, who were now sure of their victory.
In chapter 8, Sugriva gives a report to Rama about his plight for fear of Vali, who made his own brother an enemy and abducted Sugriva's wife. Rama asks Sugriva to inform him about the real cause of enmity, so that he can decide correctly. Sugriva narrates his woeful condition.
Sugriva felt that the gods had indeed been kind to him by sending Rama as his ally. Profoundly moved and happy he said, "A friend like you is a gift from the gods. There is no virtue that you do not possess. Born of the race of the Ikshvaku, brave noble and invincible you are a true friend, with whose support I can win lordship over the land of even the gods. I also merit homage from my friends and kinsmen for having you as my ally. I do not want to brag of my own qualities but you will know me to be worthy of you. The unswerving love of magnanimous souls like you is as eternal as the fearlessness of the mighty. Friends regard their wealth, be it gold, silver ornaments, jewels or clothes as common property. Rich or poor, happy or sad, guilty or innocent a friend alone is one's refuge and for the sake of a friend one sacrifices not only happiness but also life itself. Beholding Rama as he sat amidst the fruit, flower and foliage of the Malaya Mountains, his serenity, profundity and stunning beauty overwhelmed Sugriva.
There was a tremor in his voice and words floundered as he tried to talk, "Rama" he said, "deceived by my brother, robbed of my wife, assaulted by fear and uncertainty, I live on these mountains. Savior of all beings that you are, save me who am like an orphan". Rama said that it was imperative to help a friend and ward off an enemy. He promised that his deadly arrows would soon destroy Vali. Trying to curb his sorrow Sugriva said that Vali had not only banished him but had imprisoned his friends and was forever making attempts on his life. He confessed that if he still lived it was because of Hanuman and the others who protected him at all time. Rama listened quietly as the unhappy king of the Vanara's poured out his troubles. "Rama as our friendship has been sanctified in the presence of fire you are dearer to me than my life. I want you to know of my anguish that ever haunts me. Vali is my brother and my enemy and his death alone will free me of my fears and my sorrow". When Sugriva fell silent, Rama asked, "Tell me Sugriva, of your enmity with Vali and what caused it? Your exile infuriates me, consider your enemy dead the moment I string my bow. Never in vain do they who have offered me love and friendship seek my help." Rama's words brought great relief to Sugriva and his companions.
In chapter 9, Sugriva reports the incident that sparked off the indignation and ire of Vali towards Sugriva. Sugriva describes to Rama about the strength and heartless nature of Vali, with a kind of indirect portrayal of his enemy's capabilities.
In reply to Rama's question Sugriva said "In the days gone by, Vali my older brother was held in great esteem by my father and me. After my father, the ministers crowned his first-born son Vali as king of the Kishkinda and I served him with utmost reverence, at all times. While Vali ruled Kishkinda, there lived a Rakshasa named Mayavi, the son of Dundubhi. One day a quarrel arose between him and Vali over a woman. Mayavi arrived at the gates of the Vanara kingdom and challenged Vali to battle. Resenting the arrogant intrusion Vali rushed out disregarding me and the women of the palace, who tried to stop him. For the love of a brother and not willing to let him go alone, I followed him. Sugriva went on to say that Mayavi spotting the brothers coming after him had grown fearful and had fled. They had raced on the hunters and the hunted, along a path well lit by the rising moon. All of a sudden the fleeing enemy had dived into a grass-covered hole in the ground. Asking Sugriva to wait Vali had gone after his prey. "I waited outside patiently as weeks and months went by without any sign of Vali. A whole year passed and not once did I desert my post. Fraught with anxiety I even feared for my brother's life. Just then out of that hole had gushed blood, red and foaming, followed by blood curdling yells. They seemed like Vali's cries of pain. Deeming him dead, stricken with sorrow and dread I left, blocking the hole with a huge boulder the size of a mountain, to prevent Mayavi from coming out. Offering tearful libations to my brother I returned to Kishkinda. Though I did my best to keep Vali's death a secret the ministers pried it out of me and installed me on the throne of the land of the vanaras. But soon on a fateful day my peace was shattered. Vali having destroyed Mayavi had come to Kishkinda to destroy me, his brother". Softly and with great pathos Sugriva continued, "seeing me on the throne Vali's eyes turned red with fury. When he abused my ministers and imprisoned them though I had the power to restrain him, my respect for him held me back. All I could think of even then was to welcome him! But Vali refused to relent in spite of my meekness and humility in touching his feet with my crown. Vali neither blessed me nor changed his provocative stance. He spewed venom as he tried to prove a crime that had never been committed."
In chapter 10, Sugriva informs Rama that Vali could not be appeased in spite of repeated requests as he is resolved to accept Sugriva as an enemy. Vali banishes Sugriva from the kingdom with the same thinking.
Sugriva went on to say "When Vali stormed into Kishkinda a passion lit his eyes, his haughty tread shook the earth and his savage fury permitted no tolerance! He watched with disbelieving indifference as I pleaded my innocence and begged him to accept me and be my protector. Even my offer to serve him and bear his royal canopy was met with disdain! He refused to believe that I had stood guard a whole year until the dreadful cries of pain had emanated from the cave, when I left sorrowfully deeming him dead!" "I even offered to give back the realm that I was holding in trust, protecting it against wars and enemies. I neither coveted the throne nor consented to the crowning. It was all thrust on me by the Vanaras of Kishkinda and the ministers, who did not want the kingdom to be without a king. But since you are here you alone who are worthy of worship should be the ruler." Vindictive and hostile Vali had called for his subjects and his ministers to denounce Sugriva. Piling undeserving blame upon him, Vali refused to believe that he was never betrayed. He told his audience that it had taken him a year to track down Mayavi and kill him in the labyrinthine mazes below the earth! And that when he had tried to get out, the way was blocked."I called out for Sugriva, but I was only calling for a brother who was no longer there! Deserting his post to usurp the throne, Sugriva had mercilessly sealed the cave! Because his greed for the kingdom was greater than his love for me". Vali had then thrown Sugriva out of the country. When Sugriva had finished narrating his woes Rama voiced his support saying " these deadly arrows of mine which travel with the speed of wind will unerringly find their target. Vali will live only so long as I do not see him and your sorrows will soon end". Sugriva gratefully worshipped Rama as feelings of joy and hope, so long alien to him, surfaced once again.
This concludes chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of Kishkindha Kanda where we had seen Hanuman carrying Rama and Lakshmana to Sugriva and his companions. A pact of friendship is formed before a well-lit fire between Sugriva and Rama. Sugriva, immediately told about his memory of Sita’s abduction and brought Sita’s ornaments, wrapped in a cloth which she dropped near the Vanaras. Rama fell in a faint and was inconsolable upon recognizing them. Sugriva tries to restore and assures him to help locating Sita in any part of the world. He then narrates his own abject miserable state – a tale of his enmity with his own powerful brother Vali. After giving the entire account, he also got the soothing words from Rama about ending his woes by destroying the enemy. Rama and Sugriva, the two men in exile, after forming a pact, gets under the bottom of each ones story and seeks to help each other. This help being rendered and the initiation of battle between Vali and Sugriva can be seen in subsequent chapters.
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