Ramayana, Krishna Dharma, ch. 2.11:

...Sugriva, with his vanity shattered, began fearfully looking about for Rama. He was becoming weaker and weaker. From behind the bush Rama saw His chance. Vali stood over his collapsed brother, his arms upraised. Rama swiftly placed an arrow on His bow, releasing it with a sound resembling a crash of thunder. The arrow sped like a streak of lightning and hit Vali on the breast, sounding like another thunderclap.

Vali fell to the ground like a hewn tree, uttering a great cry. He lay unconscious with his body bathed in blood. Although struck by Rama’s powerful arrow, the monkey did not die, as he was wearing a gold chain Indra had given him. By Indra’s blessings that chain was capable of preserving the life of whoever wore it. Lying there with his scattered garments and shining ornaments, and the glowing arrow of Rama protruding from his chest, Vali looked like a colorful banner suddenly dropped to the ground.

Rama and Laksman slowly approached the mortally wounded monkey. Vali opened his eyes and looked up at Rama, who was smiling at him. The fallen monkey spoke with difficulty. “You are famous for Your truth and virtue, O Rama. How then have You committed such an abominable act? What was my crime that I should be punished in this way? I did not attack You. Indeed I was engaged in fair combat with another. Why then have You killed me, remaining concealed at a distance?”

Vali accused Rama of irreligion, saying that He only posed as a virtuous person. This heinous deed surely proved Him to be otherwise. He had lost control of His mind and senses, overcome by desire and swayed by sentiment. Out of friendship for Sugriva, He had abandoned righteousness. 

Gasping for breath, Vali went on, “I cannot understand why You have acted in this way, O Rama. What did You have to gain by killing me, a mere monkey living in the forest on wild fruits? The scriptures condemn the eating of monkey flesh or the using of their skins. There was no reason to slay me. I have done You no harm at all. Surely this act will be condemned by all holy men and You will go to hell.”

Vali censured Rama at length, speaking passionately. After some time he closed his eyes and fell back exhausted. He felt regret. Why had he not listened to Tara? She had tendered him wise advice. By ignoring her he had reaped the results of his impetuosity. The arrow in his chest burned like fire. Vali was shocked. How could the virtuous Rama have perpetrated such a vile deed?

Rama waited for Vali to regain a little strength. When the monkey again opened his eyes, Rama said, “O Vali, you clearly do not understand righteousness and religion. This entire earth belongs to the descendants of Manu, having been bequeathed to them by that great deity and speaker of religious codes. Bharata now rules this world and We, his brothers, are His servants. It is thus Our duty to roam the earth, promoting virtue and punishing the wicked. You, O proud monkey, are indeed wicked.”

Rama then explained to Vali rules of morality. The younger brother should be regarded as one’s own son, and his wife as one’s daughter-in-law. Vali had therefore been guilty of a great sin in punishing the sinless Sugriva and co-habiting with Ruma, Sugriva’s wife. The scriptures prescribed death as the punishment for one who has illicit sexual relations with his own daughter or a wife of his younger brother. There was no doubt that Rama’s punishing him was just. 

Rama continued to address the pain-stricken Vali. “You are now freed from the sinful reaction which would have sent you to hell. A person punished by the king is released from all sins and ascends to heaven, but if the king fails to punish a sinner, then he himself incurs the sin. O Vali, you should not grieve, for you have been fortunate to receive the proper punishment, making you eligible for the higher planets after death. Nor did I act wrongly by remaining concealed. Since you are a monkey, this was the appropriate way to kill you. Just as when hunting the king shoots arrows at animals while hidden from view, so I shot you.”

Vali could not argue. He had always felt remorseful for the way he had treated Sugriva, but had denied those feelings, remaining fiercely antagonistic toward his brother. Now he had finally received the result. All creatures had to accept the fruits of their own acts alone. No suffering or happiness came other than as a result of one’s former acts. Understanding this, Vali accepted Rama’s words as true and gave up his anger and grief. With difficulty he replied, “How can a dwarf argue with a giant? O Rama, You are the best knower of all religious principles. I am justly punished. Please forgive my harsh words spoken earlier out of sorrow and confusion. I have certainly strayed from the path of virtue.”

Vali feared that after his death his brother Sugriva would be antagonistic to his son Angada. He begged Rama to establish a friendship between the two monkeys. Rama assured Vali that Sugriva would rule the Vanaras with righteousness, treating Angada like a younger brother.

Vali lost consciousness, his life all but ended. At that moment Tara ran out of the city crying for her husband. She saw the monkeys who were Vali’s followers running about in all directions, seized with fear of Rama. Tara stopped some of them and asked them why they were fleeing.

“See there your mighty husband struck down by Rama’s arrow,” they replied. “Death in the form of Rama is bearing him away. Leave quickly with us, for soon Sugriva will take over the city and drive us out, assisted by Rama’s deadly arrows.”

Tara looked around and saw Vali lying on the ground. Nearby Rama leant on his great bow. With a wail she ran toward her fallen husband, beating her breast and head. She fell at Vali’s feet. The lordly ape resembled a mountain struck down by Indra’s thunderbolt. Crying out, “My lord!” she rolled about in agony. Angada also came there and dropped to the ground at his father’s feet, overwhelmed with grief. 

Tara lamented loudly. “Get up, O tiger among monkeys! Why do you not greet me? Come with me now and lay upon your excellent couch. The bare ground is no place for a king to lay. Alas, it is obvious that the earth is more dear to you than myself, for you lie there embracing her with your outstretched arms. What shall I do? Where shall I go? I am lost!”

Crying like a female osprey, the intelligent Tara thought how her husband had banished Sugriva and stolen his wife. Surely this was the fruit of those sinful deeds. How could she live now as a widow under the care of Sugriva, Vali’s enemy? What would happen now to her dear son Angada? Tara held Vali’s feet, who still lay unconscious and was barely breathing.

Hanuman gently comforted Tara. “This is the sure end of everybody, O gentle lady. All of us shall reap the results of our own deeds only, good or bad. As such, we gain nothing and do nothing for others by lamenting. Vali has reached the end of his allotted life span and will now rise to the higher regions. Do not grieve.”

Tara cried out in pain. She had no desire to live without Vali. Laying next to her husband she determined to fast until death, following the path taken by Vali.

As Tara sobbed, Vali opened his eyes and looked slowly about. Seeing Sugriva he spoke to him affectionately. “O brother, please forgive my evil acts against you. Destiny did not decree that we should share happiness together. Accept now the rulership of the monkeys. I shall soon depart for Yamaraja’s abode.”

Vali asked his brother to be kind to Angada. He also asked that Sugriva carefully protect Tara, always seeking her advice on important matters. Rama’s order should be closely followed and Sugriva should always seek to please him.

Sugriva, feeling despondent, nodded in assent to Vali’s instructions. Vali then took off his celestial gold chain and gave it to Sugriva. Turning to Angada he said in a whisper, “Dear son, I shall now depart from this world. Remain ever devoted to Sugriva’s service, seeing him as you do myself.”

With his eyes rolling in pain and his teeth exposed, Vali gave up his life. His head fell to the side as his last breath gasped out. A great howl of sorrow went up from the many monkeys who stood surrounding Vali. “Alas, our lord is gone! Who will protect us now? Who can equal Vali in strength and splendor?”

Tara and Angada embraced Vali’s body, wailing loudly. Sugriva was filled with remorse. He went before Rama and said, “I am a wretch who has caused the death of my own brother. Although he was always capable, my brother never killed me. But at the first opportunity I have had him slain. How can I take the kingdom now, stained as it is with Vali’s blood? How can I tolerate seeing Tara and Angada weeping bitterly on my account?”

Sugriva became overwhelmed by his feelings. He felt sure he would reap the terrible results of the sin of fratricide and indeed the killing of a king. Vali was noble and had ruled the monkeys with justice and compassion. Having killed him, Sugriva was not fit to himself become a monarch. Everyone would simply condemn him. His only recourse was to enter fire along with the body of his brother. Sugriva begged Rama’s permission to give up his life. The other monkeys could assist Rama in finding Sita.

Rama was moved to tears upon hearing Sugriva’s piteous lamentations. As He considered the monkey’s sorrowful words, Tara approached him and said, “O all-powerful one, I too shall enter the fire along with Vali. I have no desire for life without my husband. Surely he will miss me, even among the Apsaras in heaven, for I have always been his most devoted servant.”

Tara begged Rama to kill her with the arrow which had slain Vali. “O Rama, the wife is always considered one with her husband. Therefore you need not fear the sin of killing a woman. You will only be completing the task of killing Vali by taking my life. I cannot tolerate the pain of separation from my spouse. Surely You know only too well what that terrible pain is like.”

Rama looked compassionately at Tara, who had fallen to the ground. He consoled her most gently. “O wife of a hero, do not think in this way. This entire creation yields happiness and distress one after another for all created beings in accord with their destiny. Where will you go to avoid your fate? Be peaceful here; having duly mourned for your husband, you will soon enjoy as much delight under Sugriva’s protection as you did with Vali. Your son will become Prince Regent and you will be honored. All this is ordained by Providence. O Tara, the wives of heroes never lament as you are doing now.”

Rama instructed Tara according to the moral codes which applied to her race. On the death of her husband, she should accept his brother as her spouse and serve him as she had Vali. Tara became silent, gazing at Rama, who now turned to Sugriva to comfort him. 

Rama told Sugriva to take heart and attend to Vali’s funeral. The soul of the monkey king would not be helped by simply grieving for him. “The time for grieving must soon end and duties must be performed,” Rama said gravely. “Time controls everything. Vali has succumbed to all-powerful Time, going to the regions he has earned by his own acts. Now Time is urging you to perform your religious duties toward your brother.”

Sugriva stood looking at Rama. His mind was bewildered with grief and remorse. Laksman took hold of the monkey’s arm and told him to proceed with Vali’s cremation. Laksman gave detailed instructions to the confused Sugriva. Hearing the prince speak, Sugriva’s attendants ran to carry out his orders. 

Rama again spoke to the grieving Tara. “O Vanara queen, carefully consider whether or not this dead body of Vali was ever related to you. It is nothing but a collection of inert chemicals. The real person is the soul, not the body. In ignorance only do we form relationships based upon bodily considerations, calling others ‘husband,’ ‘son,’ or ‘friend.’” 

Rama explained that the soul is without designations. It is eternal and dwells for only a short time in the body. During our brief sojourn in our bodies we form so many illusory relationships, but all of these will undoubtedly be broken by the force of time. The soul’s real happiness lies in its relationship with God. Vali had now moved closer to that eternal relationship and no one need lament for him. ...