|Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

Chapter – 9 - Aranya Kandam

Shoorpanakha’s cries before the assembly of King Ravana

Rama killed Khara and Dhooshana and his fourteen thousands of demons in the battlefield, thus deities, Rishis, Sages, and humans got released from the trepidations of the dreadful demons. Lakshman safely brought back Devi Sita from the cave and fell at the feet of Prabhu who embraced him with extreme joy. Devi Sita looked at the charming and dark-complexioned Rama without blinking eyes; she looked at him extreme delight and love. Her eyes did not get satisfied watching the loveliness of Rama. In this way, the passionate sport of Rama in the Panchavati provided immense bliss to the deities and Rishis, ascetics and sages in the woods.

Shoorpanakha pathetically watched the destruction of Khara and Dhooshana and huge army before her eyes, she rushed back to Lanka, immediately approached Ravana who was in the middle of the assembly and initiated enmity against Rama. Shoorpanakha furiously spoke to Ravana “You are least bothered about the Kingdom or its wealth, spending whole life eating and taking pleasure in intoxicating drinks. You are not aware of the enemy who is at your doorsteps. King without the knowledge of Rajaneethi, wealth earned in immoral ways, any righteous deeds performed without offering to Lord Hari, a person who has highly educated but no wisdom, are fruitless. I have heard that interest in worldly bondage and matters destroys the life of an ascetic, the advice of a wicked minister destroys the King, pride destroys the wisdom of the individual, interest in the consumption of intoxicating drinks would destroy the humbleness, lack of affection or love destroys the companionship, arrogance, and haughtiness destroys the virtues. Oh! Brother, do not underrate an enemy, illness, fire, sins, Prabhu, and serpent.” Thus Shoorpanakha wept bitterly. She took the whole attention of the assembly of Ravana, shed tears and fallen on the ground, and spoke “Oh! Brother, you have ten heads, see my fate; while you are alive I had to face disgrace from two handsome youths.” The ministers in the assembly rushed to Shoorpanakha and pacified her and lifted from the floor.

Ravana spoke “Oh! Sister, what happened to you? Who cut off your nose and ears?” Shoorpanakha spoke “Oh! Ravana, There are two Manushyasimha, the sons of Ayodhyapathi King Dhasharatha have arrived in the forest, they have come for a hunting expedition in the forest, in my opinion, they will wipe off the entire clan of demons from the Earth. The Sages, Rishis, and ascetics are freely moving in the woods without any fear in their presence. These two handsome youths are equal to Yama/ Kala. These youths are skilled in the art of archery and have an abundance of virtues. These two brothers are incomparable in splendor and prowess. They are well prepared to destroy the wicked and do good to Thapasvis and deities. The elder truly charming and handsome named Rama, and he is accompanied by a woman, is one of the marvelous creations of Lord Bhrama, is the epitome of beauty, and excels the loveliness of hundred crores of Devi Rathi. His younger brother cut off my nose and ears and teased me to know that I am your sister. Khara and Dhooshana with fourteen thousand of our warriors went to battle with these two men, were killed brutally. Rama destroyed the entire warriors in a blink of the eyes.”