Yuva Bharati – March 2018

Yuva Bharati / March 2018 / 25

SRI RAMA

AND SUGRIVA -

FRIENDSHIP

SEALED

WITH FIRE

AS WITNESS

Finding a common cause with his host Sugriva, Sri Rama embraced him.

Sugriva extolled the virtues and righteousness of Sri Rama. “It was an honour and

a gain that the prince of Ayodhya had sought amity with me, a (mere) monkey,”

thought Sugriva.

Seeing that the moment was most opportune, Hanuman rubbed two logs and

raised a fire, worshipped it with flowers and placed it between Sri Rama and

Sugriva. The allies went round the fire affirming their friendship and mutual help.

Sugriva told Sri Rama “Since you are now a friend beloved of my heart, our

woes and joys are one (Valmiki R/4/5/17)''. The allies then sat together. Hanuman

presented a bouquet of Sandalwood blossoms to Lakshmana (Valmiki R/4/5/19-

20).

Sugriva told Sri Rama how his elder brother Vali had dethroned him, usurped

Sugriva's wife Ruma and had mercilessly exiled him. Sugriva found a safe haven

in Rishyamuka hill, a place out of bounds for Vali because of Sage Matanga's

curse. The pact was that, if Sri Rama could dispose of Vali and restore the

throne of Kishkindha to Sugriva, the entire resources of Kishkindha state would

be pressed into service to trace Sita. Sugriva recalled that some monkeys had

recovered from the hills a bundle of jewels tied in a silk cloth, dropped from the

skies by an elegant lady carried off by an ogre. The lady should have been Sita

herself and the ogre Ravana.

Sri Rama recognized the jewels and the cloth as unmistakably belonging to Sita.

He lapsed into a fresh bout of sorrow, despondency and nostalgia.

Wiping his tears, Sri Rama promised Sugriva that he would kill the wicked Vali

and restore to Sugriva what rightly belonged to him.

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