Know why Lord Ram killed Baali from hiding

New Delhi: Much has been written and debated about the killing of Baali by Lord Ram from hiding. While Ramayana depicts Baali as a great warrior, yet his killing and the objective behind such an act as a way of communicating Dharma is still eluding. Baali had been known as a good and pious vanara-king, but had been too outraged to heed his brother Sugriva after his brother had sealed the entrance to a cave in which he was fighting a rakshasa named Mayavi. Sugriva had mistaken the blood flowing out of the cave to be his brother's, blocked the entrance to the cave with a boulder and left for Kishkindha, assuming that his brother was dead. When Baali had emerged victorious over the rakshasa, he had found that the entrance to the cave was blocked. He journeyed back to kingdom to find Sugriva ruling in his place. Sugriva tried to explain the situation to Baali, he would not listen. Baali then nearly kills Sugriva, except that Sugriva was able to escape his grasp. When Baali chased Sugriva out of his kingdom, he also claimed Sugriva's main wife, Rumā. Sugriva fled into the forest where he eventually meets Rama and Lakshmana. Baali was famous for the boon that he had received, according to which anyone who fought him in single-combat lost half his strength to Baali, thereby making Baali invulnerable to any enemy. Ram encouraged Sugriv to challenge Baali for a duel and bring him outside Kishkindha. Accordingly a duel ensued wherein Baali assaulted Sugriv and chased him off. Sugriv asked Ram why he did not come to his rescue. Ram told that he could not make out difference between the two brothers for they were alike. Ram asked Sugriv to wear a flower garland as a mark of identification between the two brothers and again challenge Baali, so with that identification of garland he could aim his arrow at the other dueler. After encouraging Sugriv to challenge Baali for a second time duly wearing a flower garland as a mark of identification between the two brothers, Sugriv challenged Baali for duel. Baali came out only after pacifying Tara, his wife, who deterred Baali from going to fight a duel with Sugriv, as she doubted that Sugriv must had come with Ram. A fierce battle ensued between Baali and Sugriv, In the battle, Baali proved his might making Sugriva run for cover. At that instance, Ram hiding behind a tree injured Baali with his arrow. Ram faced the injured Baali. Baali told Ram if he was searching his wife he should have come to him for help and friendship. Whoever took Sita even if it is Ravan I would have defeated them and would have taken them at your feet and at your mercy. Baali argued with Ram, why he had to kill him in a cowardly way. Ram explained to him about the various purusharthas and granted him moksha. Baali was then convinced and also asked his son Angada to stand by Sugriv and assist Ram in the search of Sita.That's how the Vanara Sena came into the picture.