01Driven out of Kishkindha
Sugriva, son of Surya, was the younger brother of Vali, king of the vanaras at Kishkindha. One night the asura Mayavi challenged Vali, fled into a cave, and Vali went in after him, telling Sugriva to wait at the mouth. A year passed. Then blood and froth came pouring out and no sound of Vali; Sugriva, sure his brother was dead, sealed the cave with a rock and went home, where the ministers crowned him. Vali came back alive, saw a usurper on his throne, and would hear nothing. He drove Sugriva out and took his wife Ruma. Sugriva hid on Rishyamuka, the one hill Vali could not enter.
02Friendship sworn by fire
Hanuman kindled a fire between two pieces of wood, and Rama and Sugriva walked round it, sworn friends. Sugriva brought out the bundle of ornaments a woman had dropped from Ravana’s chariot. To be sure of Rama’s strength he showed him the skeleton of the buffalo-asura Dundubhi, which Rama kicked ten yojanas with his toe, and a row of seven sala trees, which one arrow pierced. At the first duel Rama could not tell the brothers apart; at the second Sugriva wore a garland of gajapushpi flowers, and Rama killed Vali. Crowned, Sugriva spent the monsoon in pleasure and forgot his promise until Lakshmana came to the gates in anger.
03In the war
Ashamed, he sent the vanaras to the four quarters with a description of every land, river and mountain on the way, and gave them a month. In Lanka, the first time he saw Ravana standing on the city gate, he leapt straight across and wrestled him alone, and came back bruised; Rama scolded him for risking everything. Kumbhakarna knocked him senseless with a mountain peak and carried him off under his arm. Sugriva woke in the giant’s grip, tore off his ears and nose with nails and teeth, and sprang free. At the end he made Angada king of Kishkindha and followed Rama into the Sarayu.