Báli

Also known as: Brave Báli / King Báli · Family: Vánars · Role: king · First appears: Book I, Canto 1 · Nárad

The poem’s summaries tell of Báli’s death by an arrow from Ráma and Sugríva’s rise to the throne. In Book I, Báli is named as Indra’s child; in Book III, he defeats and expels his brother Sugríva. After their father’s death, the sages make Báli king. In Book IV, Sugríva recounts how Báli pursued Máyáví into a cave, leaving him outside; when Báli returned and found Sugríva ruling in his place, he banished him and took his wife, Rumá. Matanga curses Báli after he kills Dundubhi, keeping him from Rishyamúka.

In Book IV, Ráma pledges to help Sugríva recover his kingdom and wife. Their first fight ends when Ráma cannot tell the brothers apart and does not shoot; after Sugríva challenges Báli again, Ráma’s arrow strikes while they fight. As he lies dying, Báli accepts that Sugríva should reign, gives him the golden chain, and asks him to care for Angad: “O guard and keep him as thine own. Retain him ever by thy side, His father, helper, friend, and guide.” Tárá falls beside Báli’s body, and Sugríva and Angad help perform his funeral rites. In Book VI, Sugríva invokes Báli’s death as a warning to Rávaṇ.