Vali (Ramayana)


Vaali, also known as Bali, was king of Kishkindha in the Hindu epic Ramayan. He was the husband of Tara, spiritual son of Indra, biological son of Vriksharaja, the elder brother of Sugreev and father of Angada. He was killed by Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. Vaali was invincible during Treta Yuga. Vaali defeated some of the greatest warriors like Ravana. Vaali was blessed with the ability to obtain half the strength of his opponent. Hence, Rama killed Vaali by hiding behind the trees. However, during first attempt, Rama could not recognize which one is Vaali and which Sugriva due to their similar looks. Thus, during the next attempt, Sugriva wore a garland of red flowers and went to battle with Vaali. This time, Lord Rama could recognize which was Vaali and shot an arrow that killed him.

Early life

Vaali was the husband of Tara. As one myth goes, fourteen types of gem or treasure were produced from the churning of the ocean during the time of Kurma Avatar. One gem is that various Apsaras were produced and Tara was an Apsara produced from the churning of the ocean. Vaali who was with his father Indra, helping them in the churning of ocean, took Tara and married her.
Vaali was very courageous. This can be understood from the fact that, when Tara tried to stop him and begged him not to go to fight Sugriva, by saying that it is Lord Rama who is helping Sugriva and has come to Sugriva's rescue; Vaali replied to Tara that even if he is fighting against God he cannot ignore a challenge for a fight and remain quiet. He adds that even if the caller for the fight had been his own son Angada, he would still go to fight.

Vaali's boon

Vaali was granted a boon by Lord Brahma after sitting in penance. Vaali asked Brahma to for a boon such that in any duel, Vaali's opponent would loses half his strength to Vaali. Brahma granted the boon happily. Already Vaali was extremely powerful with his power almost equal to 70,000 elephants. Thus Vaali became invincible. It is said that no one could defeat Vaali in head-on battle.

War with Ravana

comes to know about Vaali and his strengths through Narada. Hearing Narada praising Vaali, Ravana became extremely arrogant and went to Kishkinda. There Vaali was in meditation. Ravana challenged Vaali to come and fight. First Sugriva fought with Ravana and was defeated. Ravana then reached Vaali and challenged him. Vaali and Ravana then fought a fierce battle. Vaali defeated Ravana and tied him with his tail. Vaali then arrested Ravana. Vaali started carrying Ravana under his armpit for years. Ravana could not bear the insult and asked Vaali for friendship. Immediately Vaali released Ravana, thus demonstrating that Vaali was the greatest and most powerful being on the Earth.

Rama meets Sugriva

Wandering in the forest with his brother in search of his wife Sita – kidnapped by the rakshasa king Ravana, Rama meets rakshasa Kabandha and kills him, freeing him from a curse. The freed Kabandha advises Rama to seek the help of Sugriva to find Sita.
Continuing on his journey, Rama meets Hanuman and is impressed by his intelligence and skills as an orator. This also boosts Rama's confidence in Sugriva. Sugriva tells him the story of how Vaali became his enemy. In Sugriva's version, he is entirely innocent and Rama believes him.
Sugriva is very scared of Vaali and he is full of doubts that Rama could kill him. He tells him many remarkable stories of Vaali's power. As proof, he shows Rama a hole in a saal tree which Vaali had made in one shot. When it is Rama's turn, he penetrates seven saal trees in a row with one arrow. After going through the trees, the arrow even makes a strike on a huge rock and splits it into pieces. Sugriva is happy and says, "O Rama, you are great."
Rama asks Sugriva to challenge Vaali and bring him outside Kishkindha. As Rama explains later, for 14 years he cannot enter a city. Moreover, Rama does not want any unnecessary bloodbath of Vaali's army with whom he wants to maintain friendly relations. Despite this, killing Vaali would not be impossible for Rama as Sugriva and Vaali were identical twins. Just a few days before, Rama had killed Khara and Dushana and their army of 14,000 rakshasas.
Sugriva formed an alliance with Rama. Rama had been travelling the length of India in search of his kidnapped wife, Sita. Sugriva asked Rama's help in return for his help in defeating Ravana and rescuing Sita. The two hatched a plan to topple Vaali from the throne.
Sugriva challenged Vaali to a fight. When Vaali sallied forth to meet the challenge, Rama emerged from the forest to shoot and kill him with an arrow from behind a tree.
The dying Vaali told Rama, "If you are searching for your wife you should have come to me for help and friendship. Whoever took Sita, be it Ravana himself, I would have defeated them and would have brought them to your feet, to your mercy."
Vaali asked the following questions:
Rama makes the following replies to Vaali:

After Vaali's Death

After death of Vaali, Sugriva recaptures his kingdom and regains his wife Ruma. Angada, son of Vaali and his wife Tara, is made Yuvraja, or the crown prince.
Rama's slaying of Vaali had a special significance. At the beginning, Vaali argued with Lord Rama, why he had to kill him in a cowardly way. Rama explained to him about the various purusharthas and showed him his Vishvarupa and how everything was pre-ordained according to the Kala-chakra and granted him moksha. Vaali was then convinced and also asked his son Angada to stand by his uncle Sugriva and assist in the divine work of Lord Rama.
It is also said by ISKCON that Rama promised Vaali to give him a chance to avenge his unjust murder. Vaali was reincarnated as a hunter and archer Jara in Mahabharata. Jara was the cause of the death of Shri Krishna when he struck his feet by an arrow taking them to be a deer.
Vaali's son, Angada, joined Lord Shri Rama's army and was given important responsibilities in Rama's war against Ravana.
captures the scene of Vaali's death. Tara his wife, Angada his son, his brother Sugreeva and other Vanaras are lamenting his death.