Part 5

Having bathed, Rfima, Sit! and Sumitri's son went to their own asylum from the banks of the Godavari. Arriving at the asylum, Raghava along with Lakshmana, performing his morning devotions, entered the cottage. And honored of the Maharshis Rama happily dwelt in that cottage; and seated with Sita that mighty-armed one looked like the Moon in conjunction with Chitra. And he carried on various converse with his brother Lakshmana. As Rama was thus seated with his mind engrossed in that talk, A Rakshasi came to that region at her will. And that one named Surpanakha, sister unto the ten-necked Rakshasa, coming upon Rama, saw him like a celestial, having a leonine chest, mighty-arms, and expansive eyes resembling lotus leaves, with the powerful gait of the elephant, wearing a head of matted locks, with a resplendent countenance, bearing regal marks. And beholding Rama dark-blue like the lotus, and becoming like Kandarpa himself, and resembling Indra, the Rakshasi was maddened with desire. Rama was graced with a beauteous countenance, that Rakshas had a hideous face; Rama had a slender waist, she had a huge abdomen; he had expansive eyes, she had terrible eyes; he was gifted with an elegant head of hair, she had coppery hair; Rama was of a dear presence, she was of an unsightly presence; Rama had a sonorous voice, she had a hedeous voice; Rama was youthful, the Rakshasi was an old hag; Rama had mellifluous accents, she had harsh accents; Rama was ever abiding by justice, she was unruly; Rama was handsome, she was ugly. That Rakshasi being wrought up with passion addressed Rama saying "Wearing matted locks, and equipped with bows and arrows, why hast thou along with thy wife come to this region haunted by Rakshasas? It behoveth thee to say what the object of thy visit is." Thus accosted by the Rakshasi, Surpanakha, that subduer of his foes from sincerity of disposition began to relate everything:--"There was a king named Dacaratha endeued with the prowess of a celestial. I am his eldest son known among men by the name of Rama. This is my younger brother (named) Lakshmana, (ever) serving me. This is my wife, known by the name of Sita. Commanded by my father and mother, I in obedience to their mandate, desirous of acquiring religious merits, have for the purpose of securing righteousness, come to this forest for dwelling here. I also am anxious to know thee. Whose daughter art thou? And what is thy name, and what is thy lineage? Possessed of a captivating form, thou appearest to me as a Rakshasi. Tell me truly why thou hast come here." Hearing these words the Rakshasi, afflicted with lust, said, "Listen, O Rama. I will relate everything truly, I am a Rakshasi, capable of wearing shapes at will. My name is Surpanakha. Striking terror into the hearts of all, I range this forest alone. My brother is named Ravana.[21] Thou mayst have heard of him. And he that is given to long sleep --the mighty Kumbhakarna, the righteous Bibhishana, who never serves the Rakshasas, and the brothers Khara and Dushana renowned in conflict (are also my brothers). Rama, I have surpassed them all (in prowess). At first sight of thee, I approach thee, thou best of men, as my husband with (feelings of) love. I am endeued with power, and range about at will by virtue of my strength. Become my husband for ever and a day. What wilt thou do with Sita? Deformed and unsightly, she is not worthy of thee. I am fit for thee. Do thou look upon me as a wife. This unsightly grim unchaste and human one with a lean abdomen, will I devour up, along with this brother of thine. Then having thy wish, in company with me, thou wilt range the Dandakas, surveying the various mountain summits and forests." Thus addressed, Kakutstha having charming eyes, well skilled in speech, with a smile, began to speak thus.

[21] Another reading is: _my brother is named Ravana--a Rakshasa, and lord of Rakshasas. He is the son of Viasavan. Thou mayst have heard of him.--T._

SECTION XVIII.

With a smile, Rama jestingly addressed Surpanakha who had been ensnared in the noose of love, in soft words, saying, "Gentle one, I am already wedded; this is my beloved wife. To females like unto thee co-wife-hood is exceedingly miserable. This young brother of mine is good-looking, and is of an excellent character; he is graceful, and is still unwived. The powerful one is named Lakshmana. He hath not yet tested the pleasures of a wife's company, and is desirous of having a spouse. And he is youthful and of an inviting presence. He will become a fit husband for thee, considering this thy beauty. O thou of expansive eyes, seek this brother of mine as thy husband, even as the solar beam seeks Meru. (By doing so), thou O supremely beautiful damsel, wilt not have to fear a co-wife." Having been thus addressed by RAma, the Rakshasi intoxicated with lust, at once leaving Rama, spake unto Lakshmana, saying, "I am fit to be thy wife possessed of transcendental grace, having regard to this beauty of thine. And with me thou wilt happily range these Dandakas." Thus accosted by the Rakshasi, Sumitri's son, Lakshmana versed in speech, with a smile appropriately observed unto Surpanakha, "Why wishest thou to be the servant of me who am a servant myself?[22] O lotus-hued one, I am dependant on my noble brother, O thou of expansive eyes, be thou securing the _summum bonum_, with a joyful heart, become, O superbly beautiful wench, the younger wife of the noble one of great good fortune. Renouncing this frightful, unchaste, hideous, old wife possessed of a lean abdomen; he will devote himself unto thee. O paragon among damsels, O supremely charming lady, what man possessed of discernment, passing by such grace, would bear affection to a human female?" Thus accosted by Lakshmana, that hideous one having a lean abdomen being incapable of understanding jest, took his words as true. Thereupon as that subduer of enemies, the irrepressible Rama, was seated in the cottage in company with Sita, the Rakshasi, transported with lust, said unto him, "Forsaking this deformed, unchaste, horrible old wife of thine possessed of a lean abdomen, thou dost not regard me. To-day, thou looking on, I shall eat up this human female. And I shall, rid of a co-wife, happily range with thee." Having said this, even as a mighty meteor striketh Rohini, that one having eyes resembling live coals, waxing exceedingly enraged, rushed towards that (damsel) with the eyes of a doe. Thereupon, hindering the Rakshasi resembling the noose of death, as she was rushing on, the mighty Rama, growing wroth, said unto Lakshmana, "O Saumitri[23], what is the good of jesting with a base and wicked one? No use of doing it. Look, O amiable one, Vaidehi[24] is well nigh dead. It behoves thee, O foremost of men, to deform this frightful, unchaste Rakshasi of a huge abdomen, transported with lust." Thus desired the exceedingly strong Lakshmana, fired with wrath, taking out his sword, in the sight of Rama, cut off her nose and ears. Her ears and nose cut off, the terrible Surpanakha, uttering frightful cries, fled amain into the forest whence she had come. And being deformed, and covered with gore, the dreadful Rakshasi sent up many a roar, like clouds rumbling in the rains. And bleeding profusely, the grimvisaged Rakshasi, lifting up her arms, and roaring, entered the mighty forest. Then, having been deformed, (the Rakshasi) approaching, her brother of fierce energy, Khara, come to Janasthana, (seated surrounded by numbers of Rakshasas), fell down to the earth, even as the thunder-bolt bursts from the sky. Then that sister of Khara, bathed in blood, and deprived of her senses through fright, related ail about Rama's arrival at the forest along with Lakshmana and his own wife, as well as the circumstances connected with her being deformed.

[22] The text is difficult to render literally:--_Why wishest thou to be the female servant of me who am myself a male servant.--T._

[23] We are obliged to use this epithet as it is in order to prevent the too frequent recurrence of _Sumitra's son.--T._

[24] _Videha's daughter_. We retain this epithet also for the reason assigned above.--T.

SECTION XIX.

Seeing his sister deformed, and covered with blood, fallen on the ground, the Rakshasa, Khara, fired with wrath asked her, saying, "Arise! Leave off fear and amazement. Tell me plainly by whom thou hast been thus deformed. Who is it that with his finger-end hath by way of sport hurt a black venomous snake that was innocent? He that coming in contact with thee hath to-day drunk virulent poison, winding a fatal noose round about his neck, knoweth it not through ignorance. Endowed with strength and prowess, ranging about at will, wearing shapes at pleasure, and resembling the destroyer himself, going to whom hast thou come by this condition? Who among the gods, Gandharbas or creatures or the high souled saints is of such mighty energy as to have deformed thee? In this world I do not see him that would do me wrong. Even as a crane afflicted with thirst appropriated milk mixed in water (leaving the latter out), so by means of fleet and life destroying shafts will I among the immortals take the life of that chastiser of Paka, the thousand-eyed mighty Indra. The frothy blood of whom, having his marrow pierced (by me) and slain by me in battle, doth the Earth wish to drink? Tearing off flesh from the corpse of whom slain by me in conflict, shall the birds so joyfully feed on it? Him, whom I shall wrong mightily, neither the gods, nor the Gandharbas, nor the Picachas[25], nor the Rakshasas, will be able to rescue in fierce encounter. Recovering by degrees thy sense, it behoves thee to tell me what individual it was of execrable character, who by his prowess, hath humbled thee in the forest." Hearing these words of his brother, who was under the influence of extreme rage, Surpanakha. with tears in her eyes, said, "Tender, and endowed with beauty, possessed of youth and gifted with great strength, with expansive eyes resembling white lotuses; clad in bark and dark dear-skins, subsisting on fruits and roots, having their senses under control; leading an ascetic life and a Brahmacharya mode of existence; there are two sons of Dacaratha the brothers Rama and Lakshmana resembling the Sovereign of the Gandharbhas and marked with signs betokening royalty. I cannot ascertain whether they be celestials, or human beings. And between them I saw there a youthful female furnished with grace, and having a dainty waist; adorned with every kind of ornament. And it is on account of this female that I have like one unchaste and uncared for, have come by this condition at their hands. Nor I wish in the midst of encounter to drink the frothy blood of that crooked one as well as those two slain (in battle). Let this my prime wish be crowned there with fruition. Her and their blood will I drink in dreadful conflict." As she said this, Khara wrought up with boundless passion, said, "Two human beings accoutred in arms, and wearing bark and dark deer-skins have in company with a female entered this deep Dandaka forest. Do ye return, after slaying them, as well as that wicked one. And this sister of mine will drink their blood. Ye Rakshasas, even this is my sister's dear desire. Repairing thither, speedily accomplish this, bearing them down by your native might. Seeing those two brothers slain by you. this one, exceedingly rejoiced, will drink their blood in the field." Thus commissioned, those fourteen Rakshasas set out there like clouds driven by the winds, accompanied by Surpanakha.

[25] A kind of foul spirits.--T.

SECTION XX.

Then the grim Surpanakha, coming to Raghava's asylum pointed out to the Rakshasas those brothers in company with Sita. And they saw the mighty Rama seated in the cottage in company with Sita, and ministered unto by Lakshmana. And seeing her, as well as the Rakshasas who had come, Rama remarked unto his brother, Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, "O Sumitra's son, do thou for a while guard Sita. I shall slay these that have come to this asylum here." Hearing these words of Rama versed in the knowledge of self, Lakshmana honored his speech by saying, "So be it." And the righteous Raghava strung his mighty bow decked with gold; and addressed the Rakshasas, saying, "We that have entered into this untractable forest of Dandaka in company with Sita are the sons of Dacaratha, the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. Why do you intend to do injury unto us. Subsisting on fruits and roots, having our senses under control, carrying on asceticism and leading a Brahmacharya life, we are passing our days in the forest of Dandaka. It is to destroy you, wicked, and troublesome that I equipped with the bow have come here at the desire of the saints. Stay there content you should not move further. If you have a care for your lives, desist, ye rangers of the night." Hearing those words of his, those fourteen grim Rakshasas bearing darts in their hands, exceedingly enraged, with their eyes reddened, breathing high spirits, harshly said unto the sweet-speeched Rama, having his eyes reddened, whose prowess they had not seen before, "Having excited there our lord, the high-souled Khara, it is thou that shalt lose thy life no later than this day, being slain by us in battle. What power hast thou, being one, to stay before us many, in the field,--what shall I say of thy coping with us in conflict? In consequence of the _parighas_, darts, and _pathifas_ discharged by our arms, thou wilt surely lose thy life, along with thy prowess, and this bow which thou pressest with thy hand." Having said this in wrath, those fourteen Rakshas uplifting their weapons and daggers rushed towards Rama and discharged darts at the invincible Raghava. Thereupon Kakutstha by means of shafts decked with gold, cut off those fourteen darts of theirs. Seeing this, that exceedingly energetic one, waxing highly enraged, took out fourteen _narachas_, whetted on stone, resembling the sun. And even as Satakratu hurls the thunderbolt, Raghava drawing his bow and taking his aim at the Rakshasas, let go those shafts. And those Rakshasas, their breasts pierced with vehemence, and themselves bathed in blood, fell down to the earth, like snakes dropping down from an ant hill. And with their breasts pierced, they, dripping with blood, deformed and deprived of their lives, lay on the ground like trees whose roots have been severed. Seeing them fallen on the ground the Rakshasi, beyond herself in wrath, approaching Khara, with her blood a little dried up, again in distressful guise threw herself on the earth, like a plant exuding gum. And in presence of her brother, she set up a mighty roar; and then her face grown pallid, she dropped tears, emitting cries. Seeing those Rakshasas slain in battle, Surpanakha again hastened (to her brother), and the sister of Khara, related detail the slaughter of those Rakshasas.

SECTION XXI.

Seeing Surpanakha again lying on the ground, Khara in anger spake out unto that one, who had come to bring on evil, saying, "I had but recently commissioned for thy behoof those heroic Rakshasas living on flesh. Why then dost thou again weep? Bearing regard and attached unto me, and ever engaged in my welfare, they, assailed by others, are incapable of being slain; nor do they not obey my orders. What can it be? I would hear of the occasion owing to which again, crying 'Ah lord,' thou rollest on the earth like a serpent. Why dost thou beweep like one forlorn, while I thy lord, am living? Arise! Arise! Do not fear, cast off thy stupor." Thus addressed, and consoled by Khara, that irrepressible one, wiping her eyes, spoke unto Khara, "Having had my nose and ears cut off, I had come hither, covered with blood; and thou hadst consoled me. And thou also hadst despatched fourteen heroic Rakshasas, for my behoof, for slaying the terrific Raghava along with Lakshmana. But all those, bearing ill will (towards Rama), bearing darts and _pathsas_ in their haads, have been slain in conflict by means of weapons penetrating into the vitals. Seeing those possessed of great speed, in a moment laid low on the ground,--as well as (witnessing) Rama's mighty deed, great fear hath taken possession of me. O ranger of the night, I am afraid, and agitated, and cast down. I have (at length) found in thee a refuge, seeing fear on all sides. Wilt thou not rescue me who am sinking in this ocean of grief, having sorrow for its alligators and affright for billows? And these Rakshasas, living on flesh who had arrived at that place, have been slain by Rama with sharpened shafts. If thou hast any kindness for me as well as those sons of Rakshasas and, O ranger of mght, if thou hast strength and energy to cope with Rama, do thou kill this thorn of the Rakshasas, who hath set up his dwelling in the forest of Dandaka. If thou do not to-day slay that destroyer of foes,[26] Rama, I shall banishing shame, give up my life in thy very presence. Meseems, thou backed by thy forces[27] art incapable of staying in battle before Rama in high encounter. Thou plumest thyself on being a hero; but art really none such. Prowess hath been falsely attributed unto thee. Go off from Janasthana without delay, along with thy friends. O Stainer of thy line, do thou in battle slay those fool-hardy ones. But if thou fail in slaying those human beings, Rama and Lakshmana, then how canst thou void of strength and of slender prowess, stay here? Overcome by the energy of Rama thou shalt speedily meet with destruction. Dacaratha's son Rama, is endued with energy. His brother is possessed of high vigour by whom I have come to be deformed." Having thus bewailed long, that Rakshasi, possessed of a spacious abdomen, through sorrow, became bereft of her senses before her brother, and excercised with great grief cried, striking her abdomen with her hands.

[26] Another reading is _that enemy of mine.--T._

[27] Some texts--(Rama) _equipped with the bow.--T._

SECTION XXII.

On being thus taunted by Surpanakha, Khara spoke these sharp words in the midst of the Rakshasas, "Arising from this thy humiliating censure, my wrath is beyond compare. I can not bear it, like salt-water cast on a sore. From my prowess I count not Rama who is a human being possessed of a frail life--him who slain by me shall to-day in consequence of his misdeed give up existence. Restrain thy tears, and remove thy fear. I shall despatch Rama along with his brother to the abode of Yama. Thou shalt, O Rakshasi, quaff on the ground the hot blood of Rama of evil life, slain by my axe." Overjoyed on hearing the words that dropped from Khara's mouth, she again through fickleness extolled that foremost of Rakshasas, her brother. At first reprimanded by her and then praised, Khara spoke unto his general, named Dushana, saying, "Do thou, O gentle one, array fourteen thousand of those Rakshasas, gifted with furious vehemence, ever following my wish, who never turn away from the field; who are hued like unto purple clouds, who revel in cruelty,[28] and who are elated (in consequence of their prowess). And thou gentle one, do thou at once bring my car as well as my bows, and pasty colored arrows and scimitars, and darts, and various whetted javelins. O thou versed in warfare, for slaying this haughty Rama, I go in the very fore-front of the high-souled Paulastyas.[29] As he said this, Dushana brought his great car hued like the sun, yoked with excellent steeds of various colors. And thereupon in a passion Khara ascended that car resembling a peak of Meru, embellished with burnished-gold, furnished with golden wheels, open; having its pole studded with lapises; surrounded with fishes and flowers and trees and stones, and the sun and the moon and gold, and auspicious articles; and swarms of birds, and stars; having streamers and swords; garnished with bells; and yoked with superb coursers. And beholding that mighty army consisting of cars and arms and pennons, Khara as well as Dushana, said unto that multitude of Rakshasas, "March forth!" And then uttering tremendous roars, rushed out with great vehemence four and ten thousands of those terrible Rakshasas equipped with clubs and _pattisas_ and darts and sharpened axes, and scimitars and discuses,--shining beautifully in their hands and saktis and dreadful _parighas_ and innumerable bows, and maces, and _mushalas_ and _vajras_ fearful to behold, griped fast. And those following the will of Khara issued out of JanasthSna. Seeing those Rakshasas of dreadful forms rushing out, Khara's car remaining a little away (from the press), proceeded after a short space. Then taking the permission of Khara, the charioteer drove at speed those powerful steeds decked in shining gold. And driven with speed, the car of Khara--slayer of foes--filled all directions with its rattle. And Khara, fired with wrath, and having piercing voice, hastening to destroy his enemy like the Destroyer himself, again urged his charioteer with roars, like a mighty cloud showering down stones.

[28] The North-West Province's text has some additional _sloka_:--_Dreadful, wearing forms at will, possessing the pride of the lion, having large mouth, high-souled, revelling in cruelty, endeued with strength, of fierce energy.--T_.

[29] _Lit.--Pulastya's sons_. The Rakshasas were commonly descended from _Pulastya.--T._

SECTION XXIII.