The Ramcharitmanas 2

by Tulsidas

  And with much wailing and weeping said,

  ‘Should I be reduced to such a state,

  Dashkandhar,xxvii while you still live?’

  (21B)

  Hearing her words, the courtiers stood up, bewildered,

  And taking her by the arm, they raised her up, consoling her.

  Said the king of Lanka, ‘Tell me what has happened,

  Who has cut off your nose and ears?’

  ‘The sons of Dasharath, the king of Avadh,

  Lions amongst men, have come to the forest for sport.

  I have understood from their actions

  That they are out to rid the earth of demons.

  Protected by the might of their arms, Dashanan,xxviii

  The munis roam free of fear in the forest.

  They look like children, but are like Death himself,

  They are supremely courageous, skilled archers and accomplished in many ways.

  Unequalled in might and majesty are the two brothers,

  Devoted to the extermination of the wicked, they bring joy to gods and munis.

  The abode of beauty, his name is Ram—

  With him is a young woman.

  Vidhi made this woman so supremely beautiful

  That she outshines a hundred million Ratis.

  His younger brother cut off my ears and nose,

  And hearing that I was your sister, he laughed at me in derision.

  Hearing my call, Khar and Dushan came,

  But Ram killed their whole army in an instant.’

  Hearing of the death of Khar, Dushan and Trishira,

  The ten-headed one burned all over with rage.

  He comforted Supnakha,

  And bragged about his strength in many ways,

  But retired to his palace exceedingly worried,

  And could not sleep all night.

  (22)

  ‘Amongst gods, men, Asurs, Nagas and birds,

  There is no one who can stand firm against my soldiers.

  Khar and Dushan were as strong as I am,

  So who could have killed them except the Lord himself?

  If the Lord who delights the gods and bears the weight of the world

  Has indeed descended upon earth,

  I will go and, insisting upon it, fight him—

  Losing my life by an arrow of the Lord, I will cross the ocean of this existence.

  This body of darkness and vice is incapable of worship,

  So this is my firm resolve—in thought, word and deed.

  And if they turn out to be some earthly king’s sons,

  Then I will take their woman and vanquish them in battle.’

  He mounted his chariot and set off alone to the spot

  Where lived Marich by the seashore.

  At this point, Uma, listen to the charming tale

  Of the plan that Ram devised.

  When Lakshman went into the forest

  To gather roots, fruits and tubers,

  Ram, accumulation of mercy and joy,

  Said with a smile to Janak’s daughter,

  (23)

  ‘Listen, beloved, my beautiful, devoted, good-natured wife,

  I am now going to put on a charming act of being human.

  So let fire be your abode

  Till I have completed the destruction of the night-wandering demons.

  As soon as Ram finished explaining all this to her,

  Sita entered the fire, holding the Lord’s feet in her heart.

  She left behind her own shadow image,

  As good-natured, beautiful and gentle as herself.

  Even Lakshman did not know this secret,

  Of what the Lord had done.

  Meanwhile, intent upon his own objective, that vile wretch,

  Dashmukh,xxix went where Marich resided, and bowed his head.

  The bending of a vile creature gives rise to great suffering,

  Like the bending of an elephant-goad, a bow, a serpent, or a cat,

  And terrifying is soft speech by a rogue,

  Like flowers that bloom out of season, Bhavani.

  Marich paid homage to him,

  Then reverently asked,

  ‘What is it that disturbs you so much,

  That you have come here all alone, my son?’

  (24)

  The ten-headed one, unfortunate wretch, told him the whole story

  And then arrogantly said,

  ‘Assume the false form of a wily deer,

  By means of which I can carry away that princess.’

  Marich replied, ‘Listen, Dashashish,xxx

  Though in the form of a man, he is the god of all creation, animate or inanimate.

  Do not quarrel with him, son,

  For when he kills, we die, and it is when he gives life that we live.

  These were the princes who had gone to protect the muni’s sacrifice,

  When Raghupati shot me with a headless arrow,

  So that I was hurled a hundred yojans in an instant—

  It is not good to pick a quarrel with him.

  My state is like that of an insect caught by a bird—

  Wherever I look I see the two brothers.

  And son, even if they are men, they are exceedingly valiant,

  So opposing them will not lead to success.

  He who killed Taraka and Subahu,

  Broke Har’s bow and slew

  Khar, Dushan and Trishira—

  Can one so mighty be a mortal man?

  (25)

  Consider the welfare of your clan and go home.’

  Hearing this, Ravan flew into a rage and called him many names.

  ‘Fool, you instruct me as though you were my guru!

  Tell me, is there in this world a warrior to equal me?’

  Then Marich considered in his heart,

  ‘One who is armed, or knows one’s vulnerabilities, one who is a king, a fool, or very wealthy,

  A physician, panegyrist, poet, or skilled cook—

  There is no benefit in opposing these nine.’

  Realizing that he would die either way,

  He looked towards Raghunayak as his refuge.

  ‘If I answer him back, this unfortunate wretch will kill me,

  So why should I not die by Raghupati’s arrow?’

  Considering thus in his heart, he went with Dashanan.

  In him was immutable love for Ram’s feet,

  His heart was full of great joy—which he concealed from Ravan—

  ‘Today I will see my greatest friend!

  With the sight of my most beloved

  I will reward my eyes and be happy.

  I will take into my heart the feet of the compassionate Lord

  With Shri and his younger brother too.

  He, whose wrath confers freedom from rebirth,

  And who, though subject to none, surrenders himself to his devotees,

  That same Hari, the ocean of bliss, will, with his own hands,

  Make ready an arrow and slay me.

  As he runs after me,

  Holding his bow and arrow,

  I shall turn again and again to behold my Lord—

  There is no other as blessed as I!’

  (26)

  As Dashanan drew near the forest,

  Marich assumed the false form of a deer

  So extraordinary that it cannot be described,

  With a body made of gold, inlaid with jewels.

  Sita saw this most beautiful deer,

  Enchanting in every part,

  And said, ‘Listen, Raghubir, my compassionate lord,

  This deer has an exceedingly lovely hide.

  Lord, you who are ever true to your word, kill this creature

  And bring me its skin.’ So did Vaidehi ask.

  Then Raghupati, who knew all the reasons,

  Joyfully rose to accomplish the work of the gods.

  Seeing the deer, he tightened the sash around his belt,

  Picked up his bow and
made ready a bright arrow.

  The Lord then called Lakshman and explained,

  ‘Many night-wanderers roam the forest, brother,

  So protect and take care of Sita

  Using judgement and discernment, keeping in mind your strength and circumstances.’

  The deer, seeing the Lord, took flight,

  And Ram ran after it, his bow at the ready.

  He whom the scriptures describe as ‘Not this, not this’, and whom even Shiv is unable to grasp by meditation,

  Ran after an illusory deer.

  Sometimes close, sometimes running far away,

  Sometimes visible, sometimes hidden,

  Revealing and concealing itself, and practising every kind of deceit,

  It led the Lord far away.

  Then Ram took aim and let fly the cruel arrow—

  The deer fell to the ground and let out a terrible cry.

  It first called out Lakshman’s name,

  Then remembered Ram in its heart.

  As it gave up its life-breath, it revealed its own true form

  And lovingly invoked Ram.

  The all-knowing one recognized his inner love

  And conferred upon him the ultimate state that even munis find hard to attain.

  The gods rained down flowers in abundance

  And sang the Lord’s virtues, saying,

  ‘Raghunath is such a friend of the lowly

  That he conferred his own state upon an Asur.’

  (27)

  Slaying the wretch, Raghubir turned back at once,

  His bow shining in his hand and at his waist his quiver.

  When Sita heard the Asur’s wounded cry,

  She grew terribly afraid, and said to Lakshman,

  ‘Go quickly, your brother is in great danger!’

  Lakshman laughed and replied, ‘Listen, Mother,

  At the play of whose eyebrow all creation is destroyed,

  Can he, even in dream, be in danger?’

  But when Sita spoke harsh and hurtful words,

  Lakshman’s heart, impelled by Hari, grew restless.

  Delivering Sita into the care of all the gods of the forest and the eight quarters,

  He went to find Ram, the Rahu to Ravan’s moon.

  Meanwhile, with the hermitage deserted, Dashkandhar saw his chance,

  And drew near in the guise of an ascetic.

  He, for fear of whom gods and demons tremble,

  And cannot sleep by night or eat by day,

  That same ten-headed one came, glancing this way and that

  As furtively as a dog bent on stealing.

  In this way, even as one sets foot on the wrong path, Khagesh,xxxi

  Not a trace remains of the body’s radiance, or of intellect or strength.

  Making up alluring tales of many kinds,

  He tried to persuade her with a display of diplomacy, threats and love.

  Said Sita, ‘Listen to me, holy ascetic,

  You have spoken like a scoundrel!’

  Then Ravan showed his own form

  And when he told her his name, Sita grew afraid.

  But gathering up all her courage, she said,

  ‘Stay where you are, wretch! My lord is almost here!

  Like an insignificant hare that desires the lion’s bride,

  You, king of demons, have doomed yourself to die.’

  Hearing her words, the ten-headed one grew furious,

  But in his heart he paid homage to her feet and rejoiced.

  Then, raging with anger, Ravan

  Seized her and forced her into his chariot,

  And set off in a great hurry through the sky.

  But he was so afraid he could barely drive his chariot.

  (28)

  ‘Ah, Raghurai, unparalleled hero of the universe,

  For what fault of mine have you forgotten mercy?

  You who destroys all affliction, who bestows bliss upon your supplicants,

  The sun to the lotuses of the Raghu line?

  Ah, Lakshman! This is not your fault.

  I had become angry, and am reaping its reward.’

  Vaidehi wept and lamented in many ways,

  ‘Though his mercies are many, my loving lord is far away.

  Who will tell him of my misfortune?

  A donkey wants to eat the offering meant for the gods.’

  Hearing Sita’s sorrowful lamentations,

  All beings, moving and unmoving, grew deeply sad.

  Jatayu, king of the vultures, too, heard her cries of distress,

  And recognized the wife of the ornament of the Raghu clan

  Being carried away by a vile night-wanderer,

  Like a sacred kapila cow that had fallen into the hands of an unbeliever.

  ‘Daughter Sita, do not be afraid!

  I will annihilate this Rakshasa!’

  The bird, full of fury, hurled himself at Ravan

  Like a bolt of lightning at a mountain.

  ‘Hey, you rogue, why don’t you stop?

  You proceed fearlessly, as though you know not who I am!’

  Seeing him come like the god of death,

  Dashkandhar turned and wondered,

  ‘This must be the winged mountain, Mainak, or the king of the birds himself—

  Though Garud and his master both know my strength.’

  Then, ‘This is only old Jatayu!

  He will abandon his body at the pilgrimage site of my hands!’

  At this, the vulture, enraged, flew even faster,

  And said, ‘Listen, Ravan, to my advice—

  Let Janaki go and return home safely,

  Otherwise, many-armed one,

  Your entire clan will perish like insects

  In the blazing fire of Ram’s wrath.’

  The ten-headed warrior did not reply.

  Then the vulture flew at him in fury,

  And, grabbing him by the hair, dragged him from his chariot so that he fell to the ground.

  Placing Sita out of harm’s way, the vulture returned,

  And, attacking him with his beak, rent and tore at his body—

  For a short while, Ravan lay senseless.

  Then the Rakshasa, full of rage, gnashed his teeth,

  And, drawing his dreadful sword,

  Cut off Jatayu’s wings so that the bird fell to the ground

  Invoking Ram and his marvellous doings.

  Placing Sita in his chariot once more,

  Ravan drove off in a hurry, quite terrified.

  Weeping and lamenting, Sita was carried through the air,

  Like a frightened doe in a huntsman’s snare.

  Seeing some monkeys sitting upon a mountain,

  She called out Hari’s name and let drop her veil.

  In this manner, Ravan carried away Sita,

  And set her down in a grove of ashok trees.

  The scoundrel failed to gain his end

  Though he tried both intimidation and affection.

  Then, after making all arrangements,

  He left her under the ashok tree.

  (29A)

  Sita held in her heart the radiant image

  Of Lord Ram as he had appeared

  When chasing the false kurang deer,

  And incessantly repeated Hari’s name.

  (29B)

  When Raghupati saw his brother approaching,

  He put on a show of concern.9

  ‘You have left Janak’s daughter alone, dear brother,

  And come here disregarding my command!

  Hordes of night-wandering demons roam the forest,

  And I feel in my heart that Sita is not in the ashram!’

  Lakshman clasped his lotus feet, and cried with folded hands,

  ‘Lord, it is not my fault.’

  With his brother, the Lord went

  To his ashram on the banks of the Godavari.

  When he saw the ashram bereft of Sita,

  He was distraught and as distressed as an o
rdinary mortal.

  ‘Alas, Janaki! Sita! Abode of virtue!

  Of flawless beauty and disposition! Pure in her vows of austerity and devotion!’

  Lakshman consoled him in every way he could,

  But Ram, as he set off in search of her, questioned every vine and tree along the way.

  ‘O birds and beasts, O swarms of bees,

  Have you seen the doe-eyed Sita?

  The wagtail, the parrot, the pigeon, the deer and the fish,

  The swarming bees, the kokils so accomplished,

  The jasmine buds, the pomegranate and the lightning,

  The lotus, the autumn moon, the she-serpent,

  Varun’s snares and Kamdev’s bow, the swan,

  The elephant and the lion now can hear themselves praised!

  Wood-apples and golden bananas now rejoice,

  No doubt, no hesitation in their hearts!

  Listen, Janaki, not seeing you today,

  They are all as glad as if they have acquired a kingdom!10

  How can you bear such rivalry?

  My beloved, why do you not quickly reveal yourself?’

  In this manner the Lord searched and lamented,

  Like a fond lover in great distress at being separated from his beloved.

  Ram, who has no wish unfulfilled and is the accumulation of all bliss,

  Unborn, uncreated, everlasting, performs the actions of a mortal man.

  Further on, he saw the lord of the vultures lying,

  Meditating upon Ram’s feet, which were marked with the lines of divinity.

  Raghubir, ocean of compassion,

  Stroked his head with his lotus hands,

  And, as Jatayu beheld Ram’s beautiful face,

  All his pain disappeared.

  (30)

  Then, summoning up all his strength, the vulture said,

  ‘Listen, Ram, destroyer of the fear of rebirth!

  Lord, it is Dashanan who has done this to me,

  And he is the wretch who has carried off Janak’s daughter.

  He took her away to the south, master,

  She was weeping as piteously as a kurari bird.

  I held on to my life’s breath because of my yearning to see you,

  And now, abode of compassion, it wishes to depart.’

  Ram replied, ‘Stay alive, sire.’

  But Jatayu, smiling, replied,

  ‘He whose name spoken at the time of death,

  Bestows salvation, as the Vedas declare, even upon a sinner,

  Is present before me, visible to my eyes.

  What want remains now, Lord, that I should keep this body?’