Lakshmana Leaves the Clearing, and Ravana Enters beneath an Ascetic Robe
Aranya Kanda, Chaupai 26
Doha 28 · Movement 1 of 2
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Rama turns swiftly homeward after slaying Maricha, bow bright in his hand and quiver at his waist. At the hermitage, Sita has heard the anguished cry and urges Lakshmana to hurry to his brother. Lakshmana smiles and asks how danger could touch, even in a dream, the one whose slightest movement of the brow dissolves creation. Then Sita speaks piercing words. Moved by Hari's design, Lakshmana entrusts every side of the forest to the gods and leaves, going toward the place where Ravana waits like Rahu near the moon.
Ravana sees the solitude he has made and approaches in the dress of an ascetic. This is the one whose terror deprives gods and demons of sleep by night and food by day, yet now he glances from side to side like a skulking dog. As he sets his foot upon the evil path, splendor, intelligence, and strength desert him. He offers Sita pleasing tales woven from policy, threat, and feigned affection. She hears the corruption inside the courteous form and tells the supposed renunciant that his words are those of the wicked.
Ravana abandons the disguise, reveals his own form, and names himself. Fear touches Sita, but she gathers firm courage and commands the evil one to remain where he is, for her Lord has come. Like a lowly hare coveting a lioness, the demon king has entered the power of Death. Ravana burns at her words. Yet within his mind he bows to her feet and feels joy, even as outward rage drives the crime forward.
The ascetic robe falls open, and Sita stands alone before rage that secretly bows at her feet.
Read the passage from the Manas
खल बधि तुरत फिरे रघुबीरा। सोह चाप कर कटि तूनीरा।। आरत गिरा सुनी जब सीता। कह लछिमन सन परम सभीता।। जाहु बेगि संकट अति भ्राता। लछिमन बिहसि कहा सुनु माता।। भृकुटि बिलास सृष्टि लय होई। सपनेहुँ संकट परइ कि सोई।। मरम बचन जब सीता बोला। हरि प्रेरित लछिमन मन डोला।। बन दिसि देव सौंपि सब काहू। चले जहाँ रावन ससि राहू।। सून बीच दसकंधर देखा। आवा निकट जती कें बेषा।। जाकें डर सुर असुर डेराहीं। निसि न नीद दिन अन्न न खाहीं।। सो दससीस स्वान की नाई। इत उत चितइ चला भड़िहाई।। इमि कुपंथ पग देत खगेसा। रह न तेज बुधि बल लेसा।। नाना बिधि करि कथा सुहाई। राजनीति भय प्रीति देखाई।। कह सीता सुनु जती गोसाईं। बोलेहु बचन दुष्ट की नाईं।। तब रावन निज रूप देखावा। भई सभय जब नाम सुनावा।। कह सीता धरि धीरजु गाढ़ा। आइ गयउ प्रभु रहु खल ठाढ़ा।। जिमि हरिबधुहि छुद्र सस चाहा। भएसि कालबस निसिचर नाहा।। सुनत बचन दससीस रिसाना। मन महुँ चरन बंदि सुख माना।।
Having slain the khal, Raghubira swiftly returned, his chaapa gleaming in hand and quiver at his waist. When Sita heard that anguished cry, she spoke to Lakshmana in deepest fear. 'Go at once, brother, the danger is great!' Lakshmana smiled gently and said, 'Listen, Mata. At whose mere brow-play the whole srishti dissolves, can any sankat befall him, even in a dream?' When Sita spoke those piercing words, Hari himself stirred Lakshmana's heart. Entrusting the forest in every direction to the devas, he set out toward the place where Ravana lurked like Rahu near the moon. In that lonely clearing the ten-shouldered one appeared, drawing near in the guise of a jati. He at whose name the suras and asuras tremble, who cannot sleep at night or take food by day. That Dasasisa now skulked about like a dog, glancing here and there with a brazen swagger. Thus treading the kupantha, O Khagesa, not a trace of his teja, buddhi, or bala remained. In many ways he told pleasing stories, displaying statecraft, threats, and feigned affection. Sita said, 'Listen, O jati Gosain, you have spoken words in the manner of the wicked.' Then Ravana revealed his true rupa, and she became frightened when she heard his name. Sita said, gathering firm dhairya, 'My Prabhu has come. Stand still, O khal!' 'Just as a vile creature covets the bride of Hari, so you have delivered yourself to Kala, O demon king.' Hearing those words, the Dasasisa burned with rage, yet in the depths of his heart he bowed to her charan and tasted secret joy.