Rāma, guided by wisdom, was advised to offer reverent salutations to the venerable sages, along with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, focusing his mind and joining his palms in respect. It was said that for those who bow to these purified souls, misfortune never touches their bodies. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, accepting this counsel, approached the great sages and, with joined hands, offered their salutations. With their respects paid, the righteous brothers, accompanied by Sugrīva and the monkey hosts, continued their journey with joyful hearts. After traveling a long distance from the hermitage of the Seven Sages, they finally glimpsed the formidable city of Kiṣkindhā, ruled by Vāli. Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa, and the monkeys, their weapons ready and their brilliance heightened, approached the city, protected by the strength of the son of the lord of the gods, intent on the destruction of their enemy. Now begins the fourteenth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā section. All of them swiftly made their way to Kiṣkindhā, Vāli’s city, and concealed themselves among the trees, standing together in the dense forest. Sugrīva, whose neck was broad and who delighted in the woods, cast his gaze all around the forest. Seeing the city, he became greatly enraged. Surrounded by his retinue, he let out a terrible roar, challenging Vāli to battle, making sounds so fierce they seemed to split the sky. Roaring like a great cloud driven by the wind, Sugrīva moved forward, his gait proud as a lion and radiant like the rising sun. Upon seeing Rāma, Sugrīva spoke: “We have reached Kiṣkindhā, adorned with golden gates and covered by a net of monkeys. We have arrived at the city of Vāli, rich with banners and machinery. O hero, now fulfill the vow you made before—to slay Vāli. Fulfill that promise quickly, like Time itself that has arrived.” Thus addressed, the righteous Rāghava replied. Rāma, the destroyer of enemies, spoke: “This garland, called Gajasāhvaya, which Lakṣmaṇa placed around your neck as a sign of recognition—this garland entwined around your neck makes you shine even brighter, O hero. Just as the sun appears different in the sky when encircled by a garland of stars, so today, your fear and enmity arising from Vāli—With a single arrow, I will release my shot in battle. Show me, Sugrīva, the enemy who appears as your brother. Until Vāli, struck down, lies struggling in the dust of the forest, if he comes within my line of sight and turns back alive, then you may find fault with me. Yet, right before you, seven sala trees have been pierced by my arrow. Overcome by desire for righteousness, I will never speak falsely; I will fulfill my promise—cast aside your hesitation. Just as Indra brings forth a field of ripened grain with rain, so too, for the sake of this challenge from Vāli, the one adorned with a golden garland, Sugrīva, make that call by which Vāli will come forth—the one who boasts of victory and has been provoked by you before. Vāli, eager for battle, will emerge without delay; hearing that his enemies have been challenged, he will not tolerate it in combat.” Knowing his own strength, especially before women, Sugrīva, golden-hued, listened to Rāma’s words. He roared with a fierce sound, as if splitting the sky. At that noise, cows, terrified, lost their brightness and fled. Struck by the king’s offense, like noble women in distress, the animals ran swiftly, like horses broken in battle, and birds fell to the earth, as if their merit was spent like planets. Then, with a thunderous cry like a rain cloud, the son of the sun, his valor and brilliance increased, released his sound with urgency, like the lord of rivers stirred by the wind. Now begins the fifteenth chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, in the Kiṣkindhā Book. Vāli, intolerant of his brother, heard the roar of the great-hearted Sugrīva from within his palace. The roar shook all creatures, and Vāli’s pride vanished at once, replaced by great anger. His body, seized by rage and shining like gold, suddenly dimmed, as if the sun were stained. Vāli, with fangs and hands, eyes blazing like fire from anger, shone like a lake with blooming lotuses and stalks. Hearing that intolerable sound, Vāli leapt out, striking the earth with swift steps as if tearing it apart. Tara, his beloved, embraced him, showing affection and friendship, trembling and anxious, and spoke these words for his welfare: “O hero, restrain this anger that has arisen like the surge of a river; rise from your bed in the morning and cast it off as you would a garland that has been worn. You will engage in battle with him in the morning, O monkey; neither the multitude of your enemies nor any weakness is found in you, O hero. Your sudden advance does not please me just yet; listen, I will tell you the reason why you are being restrained. Previously, driven by anger, he challenged you to battle; but when you went forth and defeated him, he fled in all directions as he was being struck. Now, since you defeated and especially tormented him, his returning here to challenge you again arouses suspicion in me.” Thus, the stage was set for the fateful encounter between the brothers, with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa watching, ready to fulfill their promise.