Chereads / The Ramayana / Chapter 19 - ENCOUNTERS IN EXILE (PART-4)

Chapter 19 - ENCOUNTERS IN EXILE (PART-4)

Soorpanaka made one last attempt to gain Rama's love.She said, "Even now it's not too late. My brother Ravana will pardon you for what you have done if he knows we are married; he will also make you the overlord of several worlds, placed above all the gods. It's not too late. On the other hand, if anyone comments on my nose or ears, he will wipe them out. So, do not hesitate. No one will dare to say that I have no nose or ears or breasts. I've still eyes, which can feast on your broad chest and shoulders, and my arms are intact to embrace you. I love you madly. I'll be your slave and make all rakshasas your slaves. I can't survive without you. Have pity on me. I'll do anything you command." She was rolling in the dust with blood gushing, but nothing lessened her ardor. She continued, "My kinsmen are ruthless, and will be reckless when they find that I have been injured like this—they will destroy blindly, everything, including you. They will wipe out mankind. But if you take me,I can intercede on your behalf, and they will spare you and all your people… . You'll be the cause of either the destruction of mankind or its survival."

"The longer I let you speak, the worse things you say. Now go to your own people, and bring back with you all those powerful men and more. I can meet them, one by one as they come or all together. I can deal with them. Now begone.

Understand now, my mission in life is to root out the rakshasas from the face of this earth, and till I achieve it, I'll be here."

Even after suffering mutilation at the hands of Lakshmana, Soorpanaka stood there and persisted in appealing to Rama to accept her, hinting that through her magical powers she could appear beautiful again. At this point Rama felt that he ought to explain to her who he was, and how he had come to be here with his wife and brother. Further, he made it plain again that his mission in life would be to wipe out the asura class. He recounted how he had destroyed Thataka and her brood.

Far from discouraging her, this actually gave Soorpanaka another idea. "If that's your purpose, you know, I could be your best ally—if you do not spurn me for my appearance, if you do not reject me for my enormous teeth and large mouth.

If you marry me, I will teach you all the arts and tricks,magical and others, that make my people superb and invincible. I can teach you how to defeat them, but you must treat me kindly. You must accept me… . Even if you cannot give up your slender companion—well, don't view me as an impossible addition. Would I be one too many? No. I'll help you by revealing to you all the tricks and trickery of your enemies, so that you may attain complete victory over them.

'A serpent's feet are known to another serpent.' Even if your mind does not allow you to give up your wife … take me as a third partner, in your fight against the rakshasas, when my brother, who once kept the sun and the moon in captivity— and I'm not his inferior in valor—when he is defeated andgone, then at least let your brother Lakshmana marry me;and let me be with you when you return in triumph to Ayodhya. When we return, do not be worried that a person without a nose is accompanying you; please understand that I can create any shape for myself. If by chance, Lakshmana ever questions, "How can I live with a woman without a nose," tell him that he can in the same way as you live with one who is without any waist."

When she said this, Lakshmana was so enraged that he declared, "Brother, have I your permission to put an end to her? Otherwise she will never leave us alone!" Rama thought it over and said, "I think so too—if she persists and will not leave, that may be the only way." On hearing this, Soorpanaka picked herself up and left in haste. "Fools, do you think I meant what I said? Even after the loss of my features, I have stayed and spoken to you, only to understand the depth of your base mentality. I'll go but come back soon enough, with one who will be your Yama, a being more powerful than the elements, of the name of Kara"—and she left. Kara, one of Ravana's stepbrothers, a dreaded warrior-demon with fourteen chiefs under him commanding an army,protected Soorpanaka and carried out her orders. After leaving Panchvati, Soorpanaka stormed in at his court, displayed her injuries, and cried, "Two human beings who have moved into our realm have done this to me.""Two human beings!"

"Ah, wonderful sons of Dasaratha, so sage like in appearance, but armed for the purpose of exterminating our clan. They have with them a woman of unearthly beauty;

when I tried to seize her, these two humans fell on me and hacked me thus."

Kara looked closely at the damage done to her and thundered, "Death to those two. Not only they, but all human beings shall be stamped out." He sprang up to go into action. Fourteen commanders at once surrounded him and said, "Does it mean that you have no confidence in us that you should start out this way yourself? Leave this task to us.We will go and settle it."

Kara agreed. "So be it. You are right. If I wage war on these tiny petty creatures, the gods will mock us. Go and feast on their blood, but bring back the woman carefully."

Carrying a variety of arms such as spears and tridents and scimitars and hatchets, the commanders, led by Soorpanaka, marched on towards Rama's cottage.

Soorpanaka stopped at a distance and pointed Rama out to them. "There he is, mark him." The fourteen asuras muttered,"Shall we bind and take him, or toss him in the air and kill him, or use the piercing lance on him?"

Soorpanaka said, "Bring that man alive. I will deal with him." When he saw them approaching, Rama ordered Lakshmana, "Guard Sita. Don't leave her side." He took out his bow, slung his sword into position, girt himself for the fight, and emerged from his cottage with the anger of a lion.

The battle began and ended quickly. Rama's arrows knocked down the weapons the asuras bore and severed their heads. Soorpanaka fled from the field and reported to Kara the disaster that had befallen her chiefs.