Bali Vijayam - Kalloor Nilakandan Namboodiripad(1776 to 1835)                                                              BACK

This is a small story with a lot of humour based on Uttara Ramayana, a part of the past story of Ravana as told to Rama by the sages. Ravana tells the story of his sword as an Elaki Attom (almost a Soliloqy with Narada nodding his head occasionally).

Ravana is resting on his Laurels. Not only he has defeated the gods, but his son Meghanada has brought Indra tied up to Lanka and he let go Indra only because Brahma made a personal request to him.

Narada, ever the trouble maker, comes to visit Ravana and Ravana tells him all this and how happy he is. The clever Narada agrees fully but says that there is one person who doesn't respect him. In fact this person says that grass and Ravana are equal to him. Ravana laughs when he hears that it is a monkey called Bali. However he likes to go for a fight.

Ravana wants to take his sword while going but Narada says this is not necessary to catch a monkey. A good rope is more appropriate. Ravana agrees but asks Narada whether he knows how he got the sword. Narada is ready to listen and Ravana explains at length how he went in his plane and the plane struck Kailasa and how he juggled with the mountain, how Shiva and Parvathi were fighting at that time and how the shaking mountain reunited them and how Shiva blessed him and gave him the sword. He keeps the sword safely in a vault and both go off to meet Bali.

Bali is sitting in the seashore when they approach. They don't go staight at him but turns around and go through a side. Bali notices but acts as if he did not notice. On seeing the huge figure of Bali, Ravana is truely afraid. He doesn't know how to approach this new enemy. Narada tells him that after all he is only a monkey and better catch him by the tail and drag him. As soon as Ravana catches the tail his hand is caught, so he tries with other hands and he is fully caught. Narada leaves the scene laughing.

A year passed and ultimately Bali notices Ravana caught in his tail and releases him with a good advise to behave properly henceforth.

Ravana is Kathi vesha. Bali is Red Beard. Narada is Minuku.