LEFT EYELIDS THROB

Raama clasped his hand and embraced him. Soon Hanumaan got together some faggots and kindled a fire. Circumambulating the flames Raama and Sugreeva swore mutual friendship: "Let us share our joys and sorrows." They vowed: "Let our friendship be eternal."

They cut down the branch of a tree and sitting on it, Raama and Sugreeva were engaged in cheerful talk and so, too, were Hanumaan and Lakshmana seated on another.  Sugreeva narrated the story of his life-how greatly he and his elder brother, the mighty Vaali, were once devoted to one another, and how malignant fate had through no fault of Sugreeva's made deadly enemies of them.

It bad comes about this way. Once a Raakshasa named Maayaavi came at midnight to the gate of Kishkindha, their capital, and vauntingly challenged Vaali to instant combat in pursuance of an ancient feud.

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]