Surpanakha Crosses Panchavati, and Desire Reveals Its Terrible Form
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 16
Doha 17 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lakshmana bows at Rama's feet, filled with joy by the teaching of devotion and yoga. Days pass in Panchavati amid words on detachment, knowledge, virtue, and right conduct. Then Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, enters the grove. The narrator calls her heart wicked and serpent-fierce. At sight of the two princes she loses command of herself, assumes a lovely form, and approaches Rama smiling.
She declares that destiny has fashioned their match and that her search through the three worlds found no man worthy until now. Rama glances toward Sita and directs her to his unmarried younger brother. Lakshmana, knowing the enemy's sister, calls himself Rama's dependent servant and sends her back to the mighty king of Kosala. A servant seeking comfort, a beggar seeking honor, and the other impossible claimants he names are like creatures trying to milk the sky.
Again she moves between the brothers. Lakshmana finally says that only one who casts away shame would marry her. Rage breaks the pleasing disguise. Surpanakha returns to Rama in her dreadful form and turns upon Sita. Seeing Sita afraid, Raghuraya gives Lakshmana a meaningful sign, and the gentle play of deflection ends at the edge of violence.
In the peaceful grove where bhakti was taught, ungoverned desire tears away its own beautiful mask.
Read the passage from the Manas
भगति जोग सुनि अति सुख पावा। लछिमन प्रभु चरनन्हि सिरु नावा।। एहि बिधि गए कछुक दिन बीती। कहत बिराग ग्यान गुन नीती।। सूपनखा रावन कै बहिनी। दुष्ट हृदय दारुन जस अहिनी।। पंचबटी सो गइ एक बारा। देखि बिकल भइ जुगल कुमारा।। भ्राता पिता पुत्र उरगारी। पुरुष मनोहर निरखत नारी।। होइ बिकल सक मनहि न रोकी। जिमि रबिमनि द्रव रबिहि बिलोकी।। रुचिर रुप धरि प्रभु पहिं जाई। बोली बचन बहुत मुसुकाई।। तुम्ह सम पुरुष न मो सम नारी। यह सँजोग बिधि रचा बिचारी।। मम अनुरूप पुरुष जग माहीं। देखेउँ खोजि लोक तिहु नाहीं।। ताते अब लगि रहिउँ कुमारी। मनु माना कछु तुम्हहि निहारी।। सीतहि चितइ कही प्रभु बाता। अहइ कुआर मोर लघु भ्राता।। गइ लछिमन रिपु भगिनी जानी। प्रभु बिलोकि बोले मृदु बानी।। सुंदरि सुनु मैं उन्ह कर दासा। पराधीन नहिं तोर सुपासा।। प्रभु समर्थ कोसलपुर राजा। जो कछु करहिं उनहि सब छाजा।। सेवक सुख चह मान भिखारी। ब्यसनी धन सुभ गति बिभिचारी।। लोभी जसु चह चार गुमानी। नभ दुहि दूध चहत ए प्रानी।। पुनि फिरि राम निकट सो आई। प्रभु लछिमन पहिं बहुरि पठाई।। लछिमन कहा तोहि सो बरई। जो तृन तोरि लाज परिहरई।। तब खिसिआनि राम पहिं गई। रूप भयंकर प्रगटत भई।। सीतहि सभय देखि रघुराई। कहा अनुज सन सयन बुझाई।।
Hearing the Lord speak of bhakti and yoga, Lakshmana felt deep joy and bowed his head at Prabhu's lotus feet. In this way some days passed sweetly, filled with the Lord's teachings on vairagya, jnana, virtue, and righteous conduct. Now, Surpanakha was Ravana's sister, wicked of heart and terrible as a serpent. One day she wandered into Panchavati. Seeing the two radiant princes, she lost all composure. Whether brother, father, son, or foe of serpents, when a woman beholds a captivating man, her heart grows restless. She could not steady her mind at all, just as a sun-stone (rabimani) melts the moment it meets the sun's rays. Assuming a lovely form, she approached the Lord and spoke with many a coy smile. 'No man in all creation is your equal, no woman mine. Surely Vidhi has arranged this match with great deliberation.' 'I have searched the three worlds for a man worthy of me, and found none.' 'That is why I have remained unmarried until now. But seeing you, my heart has finally found its rest.' Glancing at Sita, the Lord replied: 'My younger brother is still unmarried.' Knowing her to be the enemy's sister, Surpanakha went to Lakshmana, who looked toward Prabhu and spoke in gentle tones. 'Beautiful one, hear me. I am his servant. I am not my own master, so your company is not fitting for me.' 'My Prabhu, the mighty king of Kosala, may do as he pleases. All glory belongs to him alone.' 'A servant craving comfort, a beggar craving honor, a drunkard craving wealth, a faithless lover craving salvation.' 'A greedy man craving fame, a proud man craving the four fruits of life: these souls are milking the sky for its milk.' Once more she returned to Rama. Once more the Lord sent her back to Lakshmana. Lakshmana said: 'Who would marry one who casts away the last blade of shame?' Fuming with rage, she stormed back to Rama and revealed her terrible, monstrous form. Seeing Sita trembling with fear, Raghurai spoke to his younger brother with a meaningful glance.