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Baali
[V-Raamaayan, 1/5/17,    V-Raamaayan, 4/6/11-18]

Baali was the elder son of Riksh Raaj from Indra. (Read the story of his birth in V-Raamaayan, 7/16/37) Riksh Raaj was the son of Brahmaa. He had a younger brother also, Sugreev, Sun's son. His wife's name was Taaraa and his son's name was Angad. When he was born, Indra gave him a golden necklace for his victory. Brahmaa gave him Var that whoever will fight with him face to face, half of the opponent's strength will be depleted. That is why nobody could win him.

He was very brave and powerful. He was so powerful that he used to offer oblations to Devtaa in very early hours of the morning in four oceans on four sides of the globe by his swinging from one ocean to other. He was mightier than Raavan. (see "Baali and Raavan" below)

Both brothers loved each other very much, but somehow a misunderstanding developed between them and Baali abducted Sugreev's wife Roomaa and banished Sugreev from his kingdom. Sugreev started living on Rishyamook Parvat with his four Vaanar ministers - Hanumaan, Nal, Neel and Taar, as Baali could not come there (see "Baali and Dundubhee" below). Hanumaan was his important, very intelligent and brave minister.

Later Raam and Lakshman came searching Seetaa and met Sugreev. Both became friends and both told their stories (see "Baali, Maayaavee and Sugreev" below). Raam promised Sugreev to have his wife and kingdom back, which He fulfilled. After getting his wife and kingdom back Sugreev helped Raam throughout in searching Seetaa till getting Seetaa back from Raavan.

Sugreev said - "How can I believe that you can kill Baali with one arrow, because I know Baali's power and strength, but I don't know yours. I am not doubting your powers, but at the same time I do not want to put your life in risk for me." Raam asked - "How will you be convinced that I can kill Baali, I will do the same for your satisfaction" Then Sugreev told Raam the  story of Dundubhee (see "Baali and Dundubhee" below) and said - "If you will pierce only one Shaal tree, I will be convinced; besides these are Dundubhee's bones. Baali threw them one Yojan far only with his toe."

Then Raam took out His bow and pierced all the seven Shaal trees in one time, besides His arrow, after piercing those trees went to a mountain top, then to the seventh Lok below Pritbvi, and came back to His quiver. Sugreev was greatly astonished seeing this. Then Raam just touched the pile of Dundubhee's bones with His big toe and it fell 10 Yojan far from that place. Now Sugreev got fully convinced that Raam could kill Baali.

Raam asked Sugreev to invite Baali for a fight. Sugreev went to Kishkindhaa to fight with Baali, but since both looked same in their style and appearance, Raam could not take chance to kill Baali. Sugreev had to run away from there and hide in Rishyamook Van. He was very angry at Raam but when Raam explained the reason, he cooled down.

Next time Raam sent him to fight by putting a Gaj flower garland in his neck, so that He can recognize Sugreev. When Sugreev challenged Baali next time, Baali's wife Taaraa got suspicious and envisioned danger for her husband's life. She requested him not to fight with his younger brother, to return his wife, and extend friendship with him.

[This text in green has been taken from Valmiki Ramayan. Although it is not referenced in this Raamaayan text, but this may enhance the knowledge of readers]

Comment: Here the three stanzas (19, 20, 21) for which very lengthy commentary has been rendered; of which some points are detailed here. Taaraa is elucidating the whole being of Raam as gathered by her from her son Angad. The second foot of verse 19 starts with the words 'nivaas vriksha...' a habitable tree...and if it be asked why Raam is compared with a tree, then it is said that tree requires no formalities like 'may I come in...' or 'rights of admission reserved...' etc., as with any other house or habitation, for taking hold of its shade. A tree first gives its shade to the traveler who seeks it and then affords its fruits or flowers satisfying the basic needs of the needy. So Raam is such a tree that protects and nourishes, should anybody seek his grace.

Next is 'saadhunaam...' for polite supplicants he is the ultimate course. Taaraa is saying indirectly that Baali is not at all polite in treating Sugreev either as crown prince of Kishkindhaa or as his own younger brother. As such Baali cannot supplicate to Raam at this stage for his impoliteness to Sugreev and to Rooma, wife of Sugreev, which is intolerable to Raam, and hence Baali should not confront Raam. 'aartaanaam...' used for anguished supplicants in earnest Raam is the ultimate recourse. Baali may dismiss this idea saying that 'if Raam is the ultimate course for the polite supplicants, I have my recourse to other supreme lords, i.e., none other than Lord Indra...' And for this Taaraa is supplementing her thought in saying, 'yashasah cha ek bhaajanam...' by grace Raam is the only ultimate abode, where Indra and others are but penultimate. Hence as long as Raam is standing guard to Sugreev, Sugreev cannot be trivialized.

Alternately, it is again as said later in Geetaa at 7-16 that 'chaturvidhaa bhajante maam...four kinds of devotees worship me...' Those four are: 
(1) One who is seeking knowledge [saadhoonaam, those that are interested in salvation, kaivalya kaamuk, like Raajaa Pareekshit.] 
(2) Two seeking of material gains [aapannaanaam, those that seek the material gains that were not there previously to them, also called arthaardhee, like Sugreev, Dhruv] 
(3) Three who is distraught [aartaanaam, those that are in anguish like Gajendra, the Elephant caught in water by crocodile in gajendra moksh] And 
(4) Fourthly the one who is a wise person, yashasah, gyaanee, gloriously enlightened one, like Shuk Dev Jee, Sanakaadi Muni, Naarad Jee, Pitaamah Bheeshm, Prahlaad etc] And this wise one is impossible to exist and if he is there 'he is my soul'...gyaanee tu aatmaiva me matam...' Geetaa 7-18. For all these four kinds of people Raam is ...ek bhaajanam, the only recourse.

Next is Gyaan, Vigyaan Sampatti. Gyaan is a privy to the materialistic, worldly, kingly affairs. Vigyaan is the knowledge derived from the scriptures, providentially profound, or through 'karmaadhaaraya, gyaanah cha asau vigyaanaa sampannah cha...' corporeally he is the knowledge, and spiritually he is Gnostic as well. Hence he is the phenomenon of the Supreme Being in maintaining Dharm. 

In order to maintain that Dharm Raam is now observant of his father's orders '...nideshe niratah pituh'. This pursuit of father's orders is but one of the many other attributes of his Dharm, and that alone is said here as secondary attribute, 'upa lakshan'. Hence in pursuing his Dharm Raam may eradicate A-Dharm of Vali, insofar as Baali's misdemeanors towards Sugreev and his wife Roomaa. 'Gunaanaam aakaarah', with his auspicious merits he is a Great Mine. Usually these Gun of Vishnu are six, as per Vaishnavites' classification, stating them as 'Shadgun sampatti', which are Aishvarya, Veerya, Yashas, Shree, Gyaan, and Vairaagya. And there are many more in the depth of the soul of Raam hitherto unexcavated. So are the innumerable auspicious elements, 'dhaatoonaam shailendro...', the elements that neither subdivide nor shake him off his Himaalayan personality, in the pursuit to establish Dharm.

But Baali said - "You are a fool. If Raam is there to help him, I don't think He is so unjust that He will kill me without any reason; or if at all He will kill me like that then it is good for me because I will go to Swarg because of being killed by Him. And if I will win I will rule this country for thousands of years."

Thus Baali came out of his palace and fought with Sugreev. This time Raam could not make any mistake and He killed Baali with one arrow only. [When Raam knew about the Var of Brahmaa to Baali, He honored it and He did not go face to face to him (V-Raamaayan, 4/11/27 and V-Raamaayan, 4/13/31). The same thing happened when Meghnaad tied Hanumaan with Brahm Astra, he also did not try to untie it.]

[The following all green texts are taken from Valmiki Ramayan's respective Sarg] [4/17]
Baali's killing is a puzzle from the viewpoint of Imperial politics and Dharm. Hence Baali questions logically about it even at his dying stage. The questions are as below: (1) By killing one who is facing away, what worth is achieved by you?; (2) You have not punished the wrongdoer; (3) Killed one who is combating with another and an unvigilant one; (4) In your country or city I did no misdeed; (5) Non-guilty being is hurt; (6) Fruits, tuber eating being is killed; (7) No dispute of land, gold or silver; (8) Your primary aspiration is to kill without probing into good or bad; (9) How will you face criticism by scholars?; (10) Unnecessary killers are hell-goers; (11) Un-wearable is my skin uneatable is my flesh; (12) Five kinds of five-nailed animals are usable by humans; (13) I would have brought back Maithilee in one day.

For all these questions Raam answers in next chapter and speaks as to how justified is this elimination, to Baali and to all of us.

Valmiki Ramayan's [4/18]
Explanation to Baali's question (13) "I would have brought back Maithilee in one day..." is interesting to read, that is why it is given here. Any truce between Baali and Raam is an impossible and improbable proposition. Why, because what Raam wanted was only the "search for Seetaa..." not to bring her to his fore. Elimination of Raavan had to be done by Raam only, for which Seetaa had to be located first. If a truce got struck between Baali and Raam, Baali straightway went to Raavan and asked for Seetaa. Raavan for sure refused to yield her. Then a combat must have ensued between Raavan and Baali. But Baali could not combat one-to-one in a duel and he could not encounter the magical war of Indrajeet or Kumbhkarn. Then all the Raakshas would have eliminated Baali. And thus the epic had concluded haphazardly.

Other way round if, Baali sought the help of Raavan and his military, all would come down on a handful warriors like Raam, Seetaa, Sugreev and Hanumaan etc, and the whole of monkeys force will be with Baali, and these few warriors will be uprooted down mercilessly. Above all, Raam had already promised Sugreev to eliminate Baali, the abuser of tradition, and faulting of Raam on the word accorded is blameful. Hence the simplest formula 'friend's enemy is my enemy too...' worked well and Raam followed that only.

When Baali blamed Him to kill from a hiding, He preached him and sent him to His Lok. When Taaraa did a lot of lamenting for her husband, He preached her also.

Baali and Raavan
Baali was so powerful that he defeated Raavan too. When Raavan was freed from Sahastraarjun by his grandfather Pulastya Muni, he forgot that insult and again started wandering around for fighting. One day he came to Kishkindhaa Nagaree and expressed his desire to have a fight with Baali. 

At that time Taar, Baali's brother-in-law was standing at the gate. he told Raavan that if he wanted to die earlier then he could go to southern Sea coast because Baali had gone to do Sandhyaa on all the four coasts of sea, otherwise he could wait for him there only.

[This shows that Baali did not go to any riverside or lakeshore to do his daily chores, but to eastern ocean for his daily bath, then to southern sea to do Aachman - sipping water for self-purification, then western ocean to offer Arghya (water), and from there to other ocean for Jap, and Sooryopaasanaa (meditation and Soorya worship)]

Hearing Taar's words Raavan went there in his Pushpak Vimaan. He went near him very quietly to catch him but Baali had already seen him, so he caught him and put him in his armpit and carried him to other three seas. He released him only in Kishkindhaa and asked him as who he was. Raavan told him that he was Raavan. He came to defeat Baali but got defeated himself so he wanted to extend his friendship with him. Baali agreed as long as he did not ask any help from him in doing any unjust work.

Baali, Maayaavee and Sugreev
Baali and Sugreev were the sons of Indra and Soorya respectively from Risksh Raaj. Both loved each other very much. Being elder Baali was the king of Kishkindhaa Nagaree, and Sugreev was his working under him.

There was a Raakshas named Maayaavee (Maya Daanav's son and Mandodaree and Dundubhee's brother). He was very proud of his strength, so he was challenging here and there for fights. One day he came to Baali also. Baali accepted his challenge and came out for fight.

Since Sugreev was also very powerful and loved his brother, he also came out to fight. Seeing coming both brothers Maayaavee ran away. Baali and Sugreev followed him up to far. Then Maayaavee saw a cave and he entered in that deep and dark cave.

Baali wanted to follow him and kill him once for all, so he said to Sugreev - "You wait for me here. I am going to kill this Raakshas once for all. You wait for mr for one year, if I don't come out by then, you may go back and rule the country." And Baali went off in the cave. Sugreev waited at the mouth of the cave as Baali instructed him. Now the cave was very deep and complex. Baali took one year to find Maayaavee in that cave, and when he found him, a great fierce fight took place. After some time Baali killed him. A great stream of blood gushed out of the cave.

As one year was already passed and above that Sugreev saw the blood gushing out of the cave, he got frightened and thought that it was the blood of Baali, so he put a big heavy stone at the mouth of the cave to close it and came back to Kishkindhaa Nagaree. Seeing the throne empty, the ministers appointed him as the king of Kishkindhaa.

Later Baali returned after killing Maayaavee, and found Sugreev as the king of Kishkindhaa. Seeing Baali returned, Sugreev requested him - "I am still your servant as before. Please be happy with me. I was appointed the king just to save the country from brave enemies." But Baali didn't agree for this and said - "You wanted to be the king, so you were seeking an opportunity to get the throne. Today you got that opportunity, you thought to kill me by closing the door of the cave." And he abducted his wife and banished him.

Sugreev wandered here and there for some time but Baali's Vaanar were troubling him all the time. One day he came to know about Rishyamook Parvat and he started living there along with his four ministers. Here only he met Raam and Lakshman. Raam helped him to get his wife and kingdom back, and Sugreev, in turn, helped them to get Seetaa back from Raavan.

Baali and Dundubhee
There was one Raakshas named Dundubhee (in the form of buffalo), Maya Daanav's son and Mandodaree and Maayaavee's 's brother. He was also very powerful. He had the strength of 1,000 elephants. So once proud with his boon he went to Samudra with the desire of fight, but Sanudra directed him to Himvaan - the father-in-law of Shiv Jee, in turn Himvaan directed him to Baali - the son of Indra and king of Kishkindhaa, so he came to Baali to have a fight. Baali killed him and threw his body 100 Yojan far. 

While throwing his body, a few drops of blood fell in Matang Muni's Aashram (his Aashram was on Rishyamook Parvat). Matang Muni got very furious and asked - "Who is that wicked evil-minded who has done this to my Aashram?" He came out of the Aashram and saw a dead buffalo-like mountain dead fallen on the ground. He could know through his Tap power that this was done by Baali. So he said - "Whoever has done this, if he will ever enter this forest, he will be destroyed. He has destroyed my trees also, so he will not be able to enter this forest up to one Yojan around. And his ministers who depend on my forest, they should also not live here. They can go back comfortably, but if they stayed back here, I will give them Shaap too.  Even Vaanar of Baali's side will become stone for thousand years to come, if they will stay here."

So all Vaanar went away from that Aashram and told Baali the whole story. Baali asked forgiveness from the Muni but he didn't even look at him and went away. Since that day Baali or his any minister or his any Vaanar can come here [and thus Sugreev was living there with his four ministers safely there].