With fiery resolve, Vali spoke, his anger blazing, and seized the golden garland bestowed upon him by his father, Mahendra. Ready for battle, he confronted his mighty foe, Dundubhi, whose size rivaled a mountain. Gripping the asura by his horns, Vali—an elephant among monkeys—let out a thunderous roar and hurled Dundubhi with tremendous force. The clash was fierce. Vali struck Dundubhi down, his roar echoing mightily, and blood poured from the asura’s ears as he fell. Both were driven by anger and the desire to conquer; a terrible battle unfolded between Vali and Dundubhi. Vali, whose prowess matched Indra’s, fought relentlessly, using his fists, knees, feet, rocks, and trees as weapons. As the monkey and the asura exchanged blows, Dundubhi weakened, while Vali, the son of Indra, only grew stronger. Then, with a powerful lift, Vali threw Dundubhi to the ground, crushing him in the deadly fight. Blood flowed profusely from Dundubhi’s wounds as he fell, lifeless, to the earth. Vali, swift and mighty, lifted the unconscious body and, with a single motion, hurled it a full yojana away. As Dundubhi’s body was flung, drops of blood from his mouth were carried by the wind, falling towards Matanga’s hermitage. The great sage Matanga, witnessing the blood splatter upon his sacred ground, was angered and wondered who could be responsible. He exclaimed, “Who has touched me with blood by this wicked one? Who is this evil-minded, unrestrained, foolish person?” Stepping outside, Matanga saw the mountain-like buffalo lying dead. Using his ascetic power, he realized a monkey had done this, and he pronounced a great curse upon the offender. Matanga declared, “Entry is forbidden to him; if he enters, he will die—he who has defiled my hermitage, my refuge, with streams of blood. By hurling trees, these have been broken, and the demonic body shattered; if anyone fills my hermitage, extending for a yojana all around—if that wicked-minded one comes, he will surely perish. Any of his counselors who take refuge here must also leave; if they remain, I will curse them as well. In my forest, always protected as a son, for the destruction of leaves and shoots, and for the sake of fruits and roots—today is the limit. Tomorrow, if I see that monkey, he will become a mountain for many thousands of years.” Hearing Matanga’s words, the monkeys departed from the hermitage. Vali, seeing them leave, asked, “Why have you all, dwellers of the Matanga forest, come to me? Is all well with the forest-dwellers?” The monkeys explained the curse laid upon him, recounting all that had occurred. Upon hearing this, Vali approached the great sage and, with joined palms, begged for forgiveness. But Matanga, disregarding him, entered his hermitage, leaving Vali distraught and fearful of the curse. Thus, Vali never dared to enter the great mountain Rishyamuka, nor even to look upon it. Sugriva, knowing Vali’s inability to enter, wandered the great forest with his counselors, free from anxiety. Sugriva then showed Rama the heap of bones, shining like a mountain peak, which belonged to Dundubhi, cast down by Vali’s might. He pointed out the seven great sala trees with spreading branches, explaining that Vali could shake down the leaves of one by his strength. “Thus have I shown you, Rama, his unmatched strength; how will you be able to slay Vali in battle?” Lakshmana, laughing, asked Sugriva, “In what deed accomplished would you trust in Vali’s death?” Sugriva replied, “These seven sala trees—Vali once pierced each one, and not just once. If Rama splits these trees with a single arrow, then, seeing his prowess, I will believe Vali can be slain. Vali once lifted and hurled the bones of a slain buffalo two hundred bow-lengths with one foot.” Sugriva, his eyes bloodshot, meditated on Rama for a moment and continued, “Vali is a hero, proud of his valor, renowned for his strength and prowess; that mighty monkey is undefeated in battle. Even the gods find his deeds difficult; reflecting on them, I fled to Rishyamuka out of fear. Thinking of that unconquerable, unassailable, wrathful monkey king, I have not left Rishyamuka, O you. Anxious and suspicious, I wander the great forest with my devoted ministers, led by Hanuman.” Sugriva then declared with heartfelt trust, “I have found a praiseworthy friend, devoted to friendship; I rely on you, tiger among men, as one would on the Himalayas.