Reading Guide. Tara grieves over the dead Vali, and even Sugriva weeps for his dead brother, as do the mahamatras, the high officials of the monkey kingdom. In this passage, the monkeys are also referred to as vanars; you can read more about the vanaras at Wikipedia.
Image: In the illustration you can see some figures who look more like monkeys while others who look more like men; the term vanar, while often translated as "monkey" in English, is something more than just "monkey."
Source. Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899). [200 words]
Vali's Death | 45. King Sugriva | Rainy Season
Tears of love the tender Tara on her slaughtered hero shed;
E'en Sugriva's bosom melted when he saw his brother dead,
And each vanar chief and warrior, mahamatra, lord and peer,
Gathered round the sad Sugriva, wet with unavailing tear!
And they girt the victor Rama and they praised his wond'rous might,
As the heavenly rishis gather circling Brahma's throne of light.
Hanuman of sun-like radiance, lofty as a hill of gold,
Clasped his hands in due obeisance, spake in accents calm and bold.
"By thy prowess, peerless Rama, prince Sugriva is our lord,
To his father's throne and empire, to his father's town restored.
"Cleansed by bath and fragrant unguents and in royal garments gay,
He shall with his gold and garlands homage to the victor pay.
"To the rock-bound fair Kishkindha do thy friendly footsteps bend,
And as monarch of the vanars consecrate thy grateful friend!"
Vali's Death | King Sugriva | Rainy Season
