Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2481

c7.2481

Once upon a time a son called Bāli was born to Aruṇīdevī by Indra, and another son called Sugrīva was born to her by Sūrya. (See under Aruṇa). Both the boys were brought up in the Āśrama of sage Gautama. When they grew up, Indra handed them over to Ṛkṣarāja, and thus Bāli and Sugrīva came to Kiṣkindhā. At that time there was a very mighty Asura called Dundubhi. Finding no one fit to fight with, he challenged Varuṇa. Varuṇa directed him to Himavān, whose peaks he rent asunder, and played with. Then Himavān told Dundubhi that he was of a peaceful nature and that Bāli would be a match for him (Dundubhi). Accordingly Dundubhi fought with Bāli and got killed. Bāli cast away the corpse of Dundubhi. The blood oozing from the nose of Dundubhi fell on the body of sage Mataṅga who was engaged in penance on the peak Ṛṣyamūka. By means of his divine powers, the sage found out the origin of the blood contaminating his body, and cursed that Bāli would die the moment he set foot on the mountain.