Sugriva, filled with delight, spoke to Rama in gentle, auspicious words, his voice trembling with both joy and affection. He confessed, “I wander in fear on this great mountain Ṛṣyamūka, deprived by my brother, my wife taken from me, and deeply afflicted. Terrified and sunk in anxiety, my mind disturbed in the forest, I have been wronged by my brother Vali and have become his enemy, O Raghava. Vali, who terrifies all the worlds, is the cause of my fear; I am without support, and you ought to show favor to me.” Hearing Sugriva’s plea, Rama, the illustrious descendant of Kakutstha, renowned for his righteousness and devotion to virtue, replied with a gentle smile. He said, “A friend is one who repays kindness; one who does harm is marked as an enemy. Today itself, I will slay the one who took your wife. Here are my mighty, sharp arrows, adorned with gold, born from the forest of Kartikeya, blazing with power. Fitted with vulture-feathered shafts, resembling Indra’s thunderbolt, well-jointed and keen-pointed, they are like angry serpents. Behold, your brother Vali, your enemy who has committed evil, will be struck down by these arrows and scattered like a mountain shattered.” Sugriva, hearing Rama’s words, felt incomparable joy and exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!” He continued, “Rama, I am overcome by grief; you are the refuge for those afflicted by sorrow. Considering you a friend, I lament before you. By the giving of hands, you have become my friend, with fire as witness; you are dearer to me than life itself, and I swear this by truth. Taking you as a friend, I speak openly; the sorrow within me always weighs down my mind.” Having spoken thus, Sugriva’s eyes filled with tears, his voice choked with emotion, and he could not speak aloud. Yet, in Rama’s presence, Sugriva summoned his courage and restrained the sudden surge of tears, like a river held back. He checked his tears, wiped his beautiful eyes, and sighed deeply. Then, radiant once more, he spoke again to Raghava: “Long ago, O Rama, Vali cast me out from my own kingdom. After speaking harsh words, I was driven away by his superior strength. He took my wife, who is dearer to me than my own life, and all my friends have been bound and imprisoned by him. That wicked-hearted one has made many efforts to destroy me, O Raghava, and I have slain many monkeys whom he sent against me. Because of this suspicion, O Raghava, even seeing you, I did not approach, for in fear everyone is afraid. Only these companions of mine, with Hanuman at their head, are with me; thus, even in great distress, I am able to sustain my life today. These affectionate monkeys protect me on all sides, always accompany me wherever I go, and remain with me wherever I stay. This, O Rama, is the summary; why should I tell you the full account? My elder brother Vali, famed for his strength, is both my enemy and my brother. Even after his destruction, my sorrow would only be wiped away afterward; my happiness and very life depend on his downfall. This, O Rama, is the end of my sorrow, as told by one afflicted by grief; whether in sorrow or happiness, a friend always seeks refuge in a friend.” Hearing Sugriva’s words, Rama spoke: “I wish to hear the true cause of your enmity. For, O monkey, once I have heard the cause, I will act promptly, considering both strength and weakness. Indeed, my anger grows strong upon hearing of your humiliation, swelling in my heart like the rush of water in the rainy season. Speak freely and without fear, while I string my bow; for I have already set my arrow, and your enemy is as good as destroyed.” Thus addressed by the noble son of Kakutstha, Sugriva, together with his four monkey companions, felt incomparable joy. His face beaming with delight, Sugriva began to recount to Lakshmana’s elder brother the true cause of the enmity. He began, “Listen now, O Rama. Vali is my elder brother, a destroyer of foes, always highly regarded by our father and formerly by me as well. When our father passed away, the ministers, considering him the eldest, made him the lord of the monkeys and ruler of the kingdom, with the highest approval. While he ruled the great kingdom inherited from our father and grandfather, I always remained bowed, like a servant, at all times. There was a powerful being named Māyāvi, the elder son of Dundubhi; he had a great enmity with Vali because of a woman, in the past. One night, while everyone was asleep, Māyāvi came to the entrance of Kiṣkindhā, roaring fiercely in anger and challenging Vali to battle. My brother, though asleep, heard his terrifying roar; Vali could not tolerate it and immediately sprang out with speed. Driven by anger, he rushed out to kill that foremost asura, though he was restrained by the women and by me, who humbly pleaded with him. But shaking us all off, that mighty one went out; then, out of friendship, I too went out together with Vali.