Sugriva roars out his challenge to his usurping brother Bali

Outside the palace of Kiskindha, Sugriva roars out his challenge to his usurping brother Bali, so that the very birds fall out of the sky in fright, while Rama and Laksmana and the other monkeys look on from the right. On the left is the monkey king’s palace, from which Bali, his queen Tara and ministers have emerged on hearing the uproar. Tara advises him not to fight, but to no avail. Bali and his party all wear human costume, except for turbans, while Bali himself wears a crown.

Sugriva then fights Bali but looks as if he might lose. Rama keeps his promise to assist his ally by shooting Bali himself. The dying Bali reproaches him for this apparently underhand action, but Rama reminds Bali that he had basely assaulted Sugriva’s wife and hence deserved death.

Original publication: first year of the reign of his successor Maharana Raj Singh (1652-1680)