Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/434

372 who went up close and roared with all his might. Báli, on hearing him, sprang up in a fury, but his wife clasped his feet in her hands and warned him: "Hearken, my lord, Sugríva's allies are two brothers of unapproachable majesty and might, the sons of the king of Kosala, Lakshman and Ráma, who would conquer in battle even Death himself."

Said Báli: "Hearken, timorous dame; Raghunáth is kind and the same to all; even if he kill me, he will still be my lord."

So saying, he sallied forth in all his pride, thinking no more of Sugríva than of a blade of grass. The two joined combat; and Báli with a furious leap struck him a blow with his fist, which resounded like a clap of thunder. Sugríva at once fled in dismay; the stroke of his fist had fallen upon him as a bolt from heaven. "What did I say, O merciful Raghubír; this is no brother of mine but Death himself." "You two brothers are so much alike that for fear of mistake I did not shoot him." He then stroked Sugríva's body with his hands and his frame became as of adamant, and all his pain was gone. Next he put on his neck a wreath of flowers and sent him back with a large increase of strength. Again they fought in every kind of way, while Ráma, watched them from behind a tree.

When Sugríva had tried every trick and put forth all his strength and had given up in despair, Ráma drew an arrow and struck Báli in the heart, Chaupái. Struck by the shaft, he fell in dismay to the ground. Again he sat up and saw the Lord standing before him, dark of hue, with his hair fastened up in a knot on his head, and his eyes inflamed as they were when he fitted the arrow to his bow-string. Again and again as he gazed upon him, he laid his soul at his feet and accounted his life blessed: for he recognized his lord. Though his heart was full of affection, the words of his mouth were harsh, as he looked towards Ráma and said: "You have become incarnate, sire, for the advancement of religion, and yet you take my life, as a huntsman would that of a wild beast. I forsooth am an enemy and Sugríva a friend; yet for what fault have you killed me, my lord?" "Hearken, wretch; a younger brother's wife, a sister, a daughter-in-law and an unwedded maid are all alike: whoever looks upon one of them with an evil eye may be slain without any sin. Fool,