PDE Ramayana: Lakshmana and Shurpanakha

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

Reading Guide. Shurpanakha does not appreciate being laughed at and rejected; she attacks, and she also tells her brother Khara about what has happened. You will read two versions of this part of the story: first, a prose account which tells about the confrontation between Surpanakha and Lakshmana and also the revenge of the rakshasas; next, you will read Dutt's verse version of just the first scene, when Surpanakha goes after Sita and Lakshmana attacks her.

Image: The illustration shows the gruesome moment when Lakshmana uses his sword to cut off Shurpanakha's nose. If you look at the full-size painting, you will see that it tells the story from right to left: on the right, Lakshmana confronts Shurpanakha, and then on the left he attacks her.

Source. The prose portion comes from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), and the verse portion comes from Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899). [400 words]

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Shurpanakha | 29. Lakshmana and Shurpanakha | Battle with Khara

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Shurpanakha at once departed from Rama and went and found Lakshmana, who jested with her. Then the enraged rakshasa woman sprang towards Sita in jealous anger, but Rama thrust her back. Like to lightning, Lakshmana leapt forward with his sword and cut off the ears and nose of the evil-hearted Shurpanakha, whereat she shrieked and fled away, wailing like to the storm wind. The rocks answered back her awesome cries.

Shurpanakha hastened to one of her brothers who was named Khara, and when he saw her disfigured and bleeding, he cried, “None but a Celestial could have done this deed. This day will I drink the blood of Indra as a crane drinks milk and water.”

Then Shurpanakha related what had taken place and said, “Rama and Lakshmana attacked me to protect the woman Sita, whose life-blood I desired to drink. I entreat thee to bring her to me now.”

Khara called upon fourteen rakshasas and commanded them to capture the three royal hermits who dwelt in Dandaka jungle. They hastened away and Shurpanakha went with them, but soon she returned wailing because Rama had slain the rakshasas with celestial arrows.

Khara immediately called upon his brother Dushana, saying, “Assemble an army of fourteen thousand rakshasas and bring my weapons and my chariot with white horses for, verily, this day I must kill the hateful Rama.”

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Wrath of unrequited passion raged like madness in her breast;
Torn by anger strong as tempest thus her answer she addrest,

"Are these mocking accents uttered, Rama, to insult my flame?
Feasting on her faded beauty dost thou still revere thy dame?

"But beware a raksha's fury and an injured female's wrath:
Shurpanakha slays thy consort, bears no rival in her path!"

Fawn-eyed Sita fell in terror as the raksha rose to slay,
So beneath the flaming meteor sinks Rohini's softer ray,

And, like Demon of Destruction, furious Surpanakha came;
Rama rose to stop the slaughter and protect his helpless dame.

"Brother, we have acted wrongly, for with those of savage breed,
Word in jest is courting danger — this the penance of our deed.

"Death perchance or death-like stupor hovers o'er my loved dame;
Let me wake to life my Sita; chase this female void of shame!"

Lakshman's anger leaped like lightning as the female hovered near.
With his sword the wrathful warrior cleft her nose and either ear.

Shurpanakha in her anguish raised her accents shrill and high,
And the rocks and wooded valleys answered back the dismal cry.

Khara and the doughty Dushan heard the far-resounding wail,
Saw her red disfigured visage, heard her sad and woeful tale!

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Shurpanakha | Lakshmana and Shurpanakha | Battle with Khara

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Lakshmana cuts Surpanakha.

PDE Ramayana: Battle with Khara

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

Reading Guide. As promised, Khara, having been driven back by Rama once already, now mounts another attack.

Image: In the illustration below, the rakshasa general Khara looks decidedly un-human with his curving horns and strange three-clawed feet.

Source. Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913). [200 words]

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Lakshmana | 30. Battle with Khara | Ravana

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Evil were the omens as the army marched to battle. Jackals howled and birds screamed at dawn; the sky was blood-red, and Rahu endeavored to swallow the sun and caused an awesome eclipse: a headless horror appeared in mid air.

The arrows of Rama emitted smoke, and he said to Lakshmana, “Hasten with Sita to a secret cave in the mountains and protect her there. I will battle with the demons alone.”

Lakshmana did as his brother commanded. Then Rama girt on his glowing armor and, armed with a celestial bow and many arrows, he awaited the coming of his enemies. When the rakshasas appeared, they quailed before him because he appeared like to Yama at a Yuga end, but Khara drove on in his chariot, urging his followers to attack; they followed him roaring like a tempest, and they appeared like to black tremendous clouds rushing towards the rising sun.

Thousands of weapons were showered against Rama, who began to discharge flaming arrows which swept among the rakshasas like fire in a sun-dried forest, so that many were mangled and slain. Still Khara and his brother continued to attack, but Rama seized a great celestial weapon and slew Dushana and scattered the demon army in flight.

Khara sought to avenge his brother's death, but Rama drew his bow and shot a blazing arrow which consumed him instantly. So was the battle won, and Sita came forth from the cave and embraced her heroic husband and kissed him.

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Lakshmana | Battle with Khara | Ravana

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Rama defeats Khara.

PDE Ramayana: Shurpanakha and Ravana

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

Reading Guide. After Rama defeats Khara and the rakshasas in the forest, Shurpanakha goes to Lanka to tell her brother Ravana, King of Lanka, what has happened.

Image: The depiction of Ravana below is an oleograph from the Raja Ravi Varma Press; you can see a flipbook of other illustrations from Ravi Varma here: Ramayana Oleographs.

Source. The Iliad of the East: The Ramayana, by Frederika Richardson Macdonald (1886).  [800 words] This selection is from a new book — Frederika Richardson's Ramayana, a literary English adaptation of Valmiki's Sanskrit poem. As you will see, it is lively and fun to read. You might want to read some more of Richardson's book later in the semester.

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Battle with Khara | 31. Shurpanakha and Ravana | Maricha

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Ravana reclined, his numerous eyes half closed, in an ecstasy of voluptuous enjoyment, when he was disturbed by a stir and confusion among his obsequious courtiers. Looking up in angry astonishment, he perceived his sister, the vindictive Shurpanakha, her garments torn and soiled, her tawny hair streaming, wild and disheveled, and her face bespattered with blood. She forced her way through the startled rakshasas and, rushing forward to the monarch's feet ,smote her breast and sought to speak but, choked by her violent emotion, fell on her face and lay there, mouthing and struggling in vain for breath. Then the dreadful Lord of the Rakshasas leapt to his feet and, snatching Shurpanakha up from off the ground, shouted, his eyes flushing crimson with rage, "Speak! Who has dared molest the sister of Ravana, the victor of the deathless gods? Dost hear me? I command thee, speak!"

Then Shurpanakha broke into a hoarse, derisive laugh. "Who has dared?" she said and stood before him, clutching her heart with both her hands as though she feared for very fury it might burst ere she had spoken. "Brother, whilst you stretch your limbs on softly cushioned ottomans like some mawkish saint tasting celestial beatitude, the name of rakshasa is made the laughing-stock of the Three Worlds! In the country of Janasthana, the crows feast on the corpses of our warriors! The anchorites and pious hermits wander at their ease through the wood of Dandaka and laugh at the memory of its terrors. Khara is dead, and Dushana, and Trishiras, the hero with the three heads! They sought to avenge my wrongs and to destroy the audacious warrior who dared to mutilate me thus, and they perished in this just cause — they and fourteen thousand warriors. And now, perchance, you will ask once more, who has dared do this? Oh, not the armies of the deathless gods, not the gandharvas, nor the rishis, nor the danavas, but a man! One Rama, an exiled youth, now dwelling with his brother and his bride, in the vale of Panchavati!"

Ravana dashed his monstrous hand down upon the couch, and the golden frame was shivered, and jewels sprang from it, like glistening tears of pain! "Who is this Rama?" he asked, with intense slowness of utterance, and his low, deep voice was like the mutterings which precede the tempest. "How great is his strength? What weapons has he? To what race does he belong? And why does he dwell in the vale of Panchavati?"

Then Shurpanakha answered, "He is the son of Dasharatha, King of Ayodhya; his arms are long, and his chest is large as the mighty Indra's; in his eyes is a tranquil radiance, which makes one shrink. His garment is of the fibre of bark, and he has a black antelope skin thrown across his shoulders. He has a large bow, chased with gold; one does not see him bend it, nor adjust his arrows, but his shafts rush through the air like winged flames and beat down his enemies, as the hail destroys the harvest. He has with him a young brother, named Lakshmana; the insolence of this youth is unparalleled; he laughs in the thick of the fight and deals out gibes with death. Like Rama, he has one thought, one care, one vulnerable spot where those who loathe him may deal him a more painful blow than death! His honor and his brother's love are bound up in the woman who dwells with them — Sita, the youthful wife of Rama. The loveliness of this Sita... heavens! The execrable loveliness of this Sita! When I think of it — of the little pouting mouth, and smooth dimpled cheeks, and soft appealing eyes — by the Thirteen Gods! My fingers tremble to claw and tear this hateful beauty, and make it more hideous even than my gashed, distorted face. Death? It is over too soon by half! A man may be content to kill his enemy; a rakshasa prefers to torture him! You understand me? Carry off this Sita! For your very lust's sake, carry off this beautiful, accursed Sita!"

Once more the rakshasi flung herself at her brother's feet, but this time he laid his immense hand caressingly on her tangled head and said, "It sufficeth, Shurpanakha," and then he laughed. That was very terrible. Even the rakshasas exchanged appalled glances; the wind caught up the sound and rushed through the wastes of space wailing, "Ravana, the Scourge of the Three Worlds, has laughed! There will be cause of weeping for all living creatures soon!"

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Battle with Khara | Shurpanakha and Ravana | Maricha

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Ravana.

PDE Ramayana: Ravana and Maricha

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

Reading Guide. Remember Maricha? When Rama was younger, he went with Vishvamitra to fight rakshasas. At that time, he killed Thataka, but her son Maricha escaped with his life. Now Ravana will seek Maricha's help in his plan to abduct Sita.

Image: Not all artists attempt to show all ten of Ravana's heads and all twenty of his arms, but that is what you will see in the illustration below.

Source. Myths of the Hindus and Buddhists by Sister Nivedita (1914). [200 words]

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Ravana | 32. Ravana and Maricha | Golden Deer

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So Ravana took his chariot and fared along by the sea to a great forest to consult again with Maricha, who dwelt there in a hermitage practicing self-restraint. Maricha counseled Ravana not to meddle with Rama. "Thou wouldst get off easily," he said, "if Rama, once angered, left a single rakshasa alive or held his hand from destroying thy city of Lanka."

But Ravana was fey and boasted that Rama would be an easy prey. He blamed Maricha for ill-will toward himself and threatened him with death. Then Maricha out of fear consented, though he looked for no less than death from Rama when they should meet again. Then Ravana was pleased, and, taking Maricha in his car, set out for Rama's hermitage, explaining how Sita should be taken by a ruse.

Maricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and ranged about the wood near Rama's hut: its horns were like twin jewels, its face was piebald, its ears like two blue lotus-flowers, its sleek sides soft as the petals of a flower, its hoofs as black as jet, its haunches slender, its lifted tail of every color of the rainbow — a deer-form such as this he took! His back was starred with gold and silver, and he ranged about the forest lawns seeking to be seen by Sita.

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Ravana | Ravana and Maricha | Golden Deer

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Ravana and Maricha.

PDE Ramayana: The Golden Deer

Public Domain Edition: Ramayana

Reading Guide. Ravana's plan works: Sita is enchanted by the golden deer and, despite Lakshmana's misgivings, she urges Rama to go get the deer for her.

Image: The illustration below is a still from Nina Paley's contemporary animated film, Sita Sings the Blues. This is a free film which you can watch online; perhaps you will choose it as an option one week!

Source. The prose portion comes from Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913), and the verse portion comes from Ramayana, The Epic of Rama, Prince of India, condensed into English verse by Romesh Dutt (1899). [700 words]

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Maricha | 33. The Golden Deer | The Chase

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Maricha assumed the shape of a golden deer with silvern spots; its horns were tipped with sapphire and its eyes were like to blue lotus blooms. This beautiful animal of gentle seeming grazed below the trees until Sita beheld it with wondering eyes as she came forth to pluck wild flowers. She called to Rama, saying, “A deer of wondrous beauty is wandering through the grove. I long to rest at ease on its golden skin.”

Said Rama, “O Lakshmana, I must fulfil the desire of Sita. Tarry with her until I obtain this animal for her.”

So speaking, he lifted his bow and hastened away through the trees.

Lakshmana spoke to Sita and said, “My heart is full of misgiving. Sages have told that rakshasas are wont to assume the forms of deer. Ofttimes have monarchs been waylaid in the forest by artful demons who came to lure them away.”

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Shape of deer unmatched in beauty now the deer Maricha wore;
Golden tints upon his haunches, sapphire on his antlers bore,

Till the woodland-wand'ring Sita marked the creature in his pride:
Golden was his neck of beauty, silver-white his flank and side!

"Come, my lord and gallant Lakshman," thus the raptur'd Sita spake,
"Mark the deer of wondrous radiance browsing by the forest brake!"

"Much my heart misgives me, sister," Lakshman hesitated still;
"Tis some deep deceitful raksha wearing every shape at will.

"Monarchs wand'ring in this forest, hunting in this lonely glen,
Oft waylaid by artful rakshas are by deep devices slain.

"Bright as day-god or gandharva, woodland scenes they love to stray,
Till they fall upon the heedless, quick to slaughter and to slay.

"Trust me, not in jewelled lustre forest creatures haunt the green.
'Tis some maya and illusion; trust not what thy eyes have seen!"

Vainly spake the watchful Lakshman in the arts of rakshas skilled,
For with forceful fascination Sita's inmost heart was thrilled.

"Husband, good and ever gracious," sweetly thus implored the wife,
"I would tend this thing of beauty — sharer of my forest life!

"I have witnessed in this jungle graceful creatures passing fair,
Chowri and the gentle roebuck, antelope of beauty rare;

"I have seen the lithesome monkey sporting in the branches' shade,
Grizzly bear that feeds on mahua, and the deer that crops the blade.

"I have marked the stately wild bull dash into the deepest wood,
And the kinnar strange and wondrous as in sylvan wilds he stood,

"But these eyes have never rested on a form so wondrous fair,
On a shape so full of beauty, decked with tints so rich and rare!

"Bright his bosom gem-bespangled, soft the lustre of his eye,
Lighting up the gloomy jungle as the moon lights up the sky,

"And his gentle voice and glances and his graceful steps and light,
Fill my heart with eager longing and my soul with soft delight!

"If alive that beauteous object thou canst capture in thy way,
As thy Sita's sweet companion in these woodlands he will stay,

"And when done our days of exile, to Ayodhya will repair,
Dwell in Sita's palace chamber, nursed by Sita's tender care,

"And our royal brother Bharat oft will praise his strength and speed,
And the queens and royal mothers pause the gentle thing to feed!

"If alive this wary creature be it, husband, hard to take,
Slay him and his skin of lustre cherish for thy Sita's sake,

"I will as a golden carpet spread the skin upon the grass,
Sweet memento of this forest when our forest days will pass!

"Pardon if an eager longing which befits a woman ill,
And an unknown fascination doth my inmost bosom fill,

"As I mark his skin bespangled and his antlers' sapphire ray,
And his coat of starry radiance glowing in the light of day!"

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Maricha | The Golden Deer | The Chase

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From Nina Paley's Sita Sings the Blues