Shurpanakha Names Rama, and Rage Burns through Ravana's Tenfold Body
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 20
Doha 22ख · Movement 1 of 2
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The courtiers rise in distress, take Shurpanakha by the arms, and lift her from the floor. Ravana asks who cut away her nose and ears. She answers with a vision of two sons of Dasharatha roaming the forest like lions among men. Though they appear young, they are steadfast archers, equal to Death, endowed with unmeasured strength and glory. By their arms the sages now walk fearlessly beneath the forest canopy.
She says the brothers are bent upon destroying the wicked and delighting gods and sages. One is Rama, the very abode of beauty. With them walks a lovely young woman whom the Creator has fashioned as a treasury of loveliness. A hundred crores of Ratis would be offered before her beauty. Rama's younger brother cut Shurpanakha's nose and ears, she says, and the brothers make light of Ravana's own sister.
Then she reveals the measure of the disaster. Khara and Dushana answered her cry, but Rama destroyed their whole army in a moment. Khara, Dushana, and Trishira are dead. The names enter the court one by one. As Ravana hears them, fury spreads through every limb of his ten headed body, consuming the stillness in which he first listened.
Three dead commanders are named, and all of Ravana's body becomes a chamber of fire.
Read the passage from the Manas
सुनत सभासद उठे अकुलाई। समुझाई गहि बाहँ उठाई।। कह लंकेस कहसि निज बाता। केंइँ तव नासा कान निपाता।। अवध नृपति दसरथ के जाए। पुरुष सिंघ बन खेलन आए।। समुझि परी मोहि उन्ह कै करनी। रहित निसाचर करिहहिं धरनी।। जिन्ह कर भुजबल पाइ दसानन। अभय भए बिचरत मुनि कानन।। देखत बालक काल समाना। परम धीर धन्वी गुन नाना।। अतुलित बल प्रताप द्वौ भ्राता। खल बध रत सुर मुनि सुखदाता।। सोभाधाम राम अस नामा। तिन्ह के संग नारि एक स्यामा।। रुप रासि बिधि नारि सँवारी। रति सत कोटि तासु बलिहारी।। तासु अनुज काटे श्रुति नासा। सुनि तव भगिनि करहिं परिहासा।। खर दूषन सुनि लगे पुकारा। छन महुँ सकल कटक उन्ह मारा।। खर दूषन तिसिरा कर घाता। सुनि दससीस जरे सब गाता।।
Hearing her words, the courtiers rose in alarm. They took Shurpanakha by the arms, steadied her, and tried to comfort her. The lord of Lanka spoke: 'Tell me your story. Who has cut off your nose and ears?' She replied: 'The sons of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, lions among men, have come to roam the forest. 'From their deeds I have understood this much: they will rid the earth of every demon. 'By the strength of their arms, O ten-headed one, the sages now wander freely through the forest, utterly without fear. 'In appearance they are young boys, yet they are the very image of Death. They are supremely steadfast archers endowed with countless virtues. 'The two brothers possess matchless strength and glory. They are devoted to slaying the wicked and bringing joy to gods and sages. 'The abode of beauty itself, He is named Rama. With them travels a woman of dark, luminous complexion. 'She is a treasury of beauty whom Vidhi himself has adorned. A hundred crore Ratis are nothing before her. 'His younger brother cut off my ears and nose. Hearing this, your own sister, they only laugh!' 'When Khara and Dushana heard the outcry and rushed forward, He destroyed their entire army in the space of a single moment. 'Hearing of the slaughter of Khara, Dushana, and Trishira, every limb of the ten-headed Ravana burned with rage.'