Ram & Sita: Me Without You is Incomplete: part 5
Aranya Kanda (contd)
While in exile, if Ram exhibited rage and anguish when Sita was in trouble, there were times when he even shared his sorrows with his wife and brother. Even though he had relinquished the throne and city willingly, Ram often got emotional when they discussed Bharat and Ayodhya.
Sobbing like a child, Rama looked at Sita and Lakshmana. Both together managed to pacify the emotional Rama. This was one of the rare instances Rama laid bare His emotions and among the rarer when Sita and Lakshmana got an opportunity to serve Him by helping Him deal with His feelings. Rama was always the steady one; He was the one who helped them deal with their emotions. A rare opportunity such as this helped the two see a side of Rama that endeared Him to them even more. It made them realize that love was not always for the taking, neither was it always for giving.
Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1341-1345). . Kindle Edition.
Towards the end of the exile, we get to witness the light hearted side of Ram also. The incident with Surpanakha started in jest: two young men and lustful woman looking for some fun.
"I am the son of Dasaratha. Rama is My name. I am here with My younger brother Lakshmana and My wife Sita. We are on a fourteen- year exile from Ayodhya of which thirteen years are complete." Noticing the contrast between her personality and her intentions, a naughty smile appeared on Rama's lips. She seemed like some comic demoness. Some harmless fun shouldn't be a problem! After all, these thirteen years had been intense periods for them. "O beautiful lady, I have told you honestly about Myself. Would you be kind enough to enlighten Me about yourself. Your regal looks reveal that you must be a very important person. Could I have the honor of knowing whose daughter you are? Whose wife are you? An enthralling personality like you can't just be loitering without a mission. If it pleases you, could you let Me know what your mission is?" These sweet words from Rama left Surpanakha mesmerized. Just the voice of Rama was so soothing that she only heard bits and pieces of what He really said. She was enraptured by His persona.
Meanwhile, Sita realized that a dialogue had been going on between Rama and some woman. She came out to see what was transpiring. Rama glanced at her and pointing toward her, He spoke to Surpanakha: "O honorable goddess, this is My good wife Sita. For women like you, it would be highly distressing to cope up with the constant irritations and confrontations with a co-wife. Instead I have a better matrimonial proposal befitting your status. My equally handsome, youthful and strong brother Lakshmana is untrammeled by a wife and is devoid of the pleasures a happy married life can offer. He would surely be the most prospective candidate to pour over the lava of your love. You won't get a more blemish-free husband in all the three worlds. He is the most suitable nominee for a lady with your splendorous features. Clasp on to him tightly just like the sunshine coheres to mount Meru. Go ahead and woo him, O lady, with a big waist. Then, and only then, will you live like a queen without a co-wife as hindrance."
Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1398-1405). . Kindle Edition.
It wasn't until Surpanakha threatened Sita's safety, did Ram get serious:
Surpanakha then ran toward Sita like a meteor whooshing toward the Rohini star. Pointing her sharp nails toward Sita menacingly, her intentions were clear. Rama realized that this lighthearted affair had turned into an ominous one. Jokes no longer had a place in this episode. He instantly got up and stood in front of Sita. When Surpanakha came close, He uttered a high-pitched humkara mantra. When that sound wave hit her, she felt herself pushed a few hundred meters away. "Lakshmana, we should never have fun with wicked people. We made a mistake in thinking that she will apprehend our jest.
Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1456-1461). . Kindle Edition.
After her mutilation at the hands of the brothers, Surpanakha complained to her brothers, Khara and Dushana. What followed was a bloody and fierce battle between Ram and the two rakshas brothers. Before he ventured out to fight, Ram sent Lakshman with Sita to ensure her safety. He couldn't risk any more threats to his beloved after their altercation with Surpanakha. This was one of the fiercest battles Sita had seen her husband fight.
One moment, the rakshasa rushed at Rama with his claws outstretched to seize his throat; the next, he screamed as the astra struck him and his flesh fell away from his skeleton in anxiety to escape the intolerable pain of that missile. His heart exploded, then his giant head, and nothing was left of Khara but patches of blood, skin, and a heap of bones on the ground. This triumph of the Avatara was beyond the wildest hopes of the Devas, who rained down shimmering petals like fireflies on Rama. The sky was full of gandharvas' songs, and dancing apsaras cast their shadows on saffron clouds above the sunset. Rama looked around him and saw the ground strewn with the corpses of the rakshasas and their elephants and horses, as plentifully as a yagnashala is with darbha grass. He sighed and, suddenly exhausted, sat down among the dead. Their faces shining, Lakshmana and Sita emerged from their cave. Sita ran to Rama and flung her arms around him. Lakshmana fetched water from the river
and, with equal love, his brother and his wife bathed his wounds. *Again and again Sita would embrace her husband. Her eyes were full of tears: of sorrow to see his injuries and of excitement at his dazzling victory.
Menon, Ramesh (2004-05-26). The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic (p. 183). Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Kindle Edition.
The fair-faced, beautiful Sita peeped out of the cave to see Rama disintegrate the tree that Khara had hurled at Him. The tree had chipped into so many small pieces that Sita's jaws dropped. If this could happen with a single arrow, She wondered why the brothers struggled so much everyday chopping logs for firewood. Couldn't they just shoot an arrow? She smiled proudly, well aware that they would never misuse their celestial arrows for personal convenience.
Sita ran down the mountain, Lakshmana close on Her heels. Her heart was prancing. She finally had a chance to lay down a burden She had been carrying for so many years - a nagging thorn at the core of this tender relationship for the past thirteen years. A silent vacuum had always existed and kept Them apart even though they embraced each other lovingly everyday. How She had eagerly waited for this day! Leaping at a speed that surprised Lakshmana, Janaki reached the rear of the hut and entered. She ran through the different rooms and reached the front doorway in a flash.38 Just as she exited the doorway, She witnessed the most picturesque sight She had ever seen. Under ordinary circumstances, this sight would have made Her nauseous and even made her faint. But today was different. This was not just a gruesome, sad sight of the aftermath of a terrible and cruel battle, it was also proof of Her husband's heroism. More than that, it was Her husband's extraordinary struggle to prove His ability and desire to protect Her under all circumstances, even if it meant
risking His life.
Mangled corpses of the rakshasas were everywhere. The cadavers of elephants were like little islands floating in a river of blood; the chariots seemed like boats. It was a feast for scavengers. From the middle of this gory chaos, emerged the hero. The confident gait with which He walked toward the hut was spellbinding. Sita stood transfixed gazing at the beauty of Her heroic husband. Unconsciously, She leaned on the doorway of the house and rested Her head on it, while gawking at Him with dreamy, love -filled eyes. A gentle breeze ruffled His hair. Rama flicked His hair with nudge of His neck and Sita just melted. As He approached closer, She noticed His grave demeanor. Although He saw Her standing love - struck, He made no attempt to smile. He could see that She was very proud of Him, but He did not acknowledge Her presence. He slowly walked up to Her and stood within three -arms' distance of Her, His back painfully erect. He gently placed His bow on the ground with one hand, the other hand was on His hip. He stood staring at Sita with a questioning look, lips pursed. His posture clearly warranted a reply from Sita.39 She glanced at Rama from top to bottom. Every part of His body, seared with gashes and wounds, was glistening with blood. Dust smears from the battlefield mixed with blood and sweat to give His body a very special complexion that enhanced His beauty. Sita carefully went over Him to inspect all His wounds. Although badly wounded, He still looked fresh and vibrant. His eyes followed Sita, but He made no attempt to turn His face toward Her. He was still silent and His demeanour, still grave.
Suddenly, She tightly embraced Him from behind. The multicolored forest flower garland crushed against Rama's body. She then started moving around and in all directions embracing Rama from different angles. As She embraced His chest, She said something that brought a smile to Rama's face. "If My father Janaka were here today, he would have been so proud of his son-in-law that he would have married Him to unlimited girls. I am very proud to have You as My husband. This victory has proved that You are a man who can protect His wife with the courage of a tiger. I am happy that I made the choice of coming with You to this forest. It gave Me a chance to see Your vigor and prowess."40 Sita's embrace was the medicine Rama wanted as a cure for His wounds, and Her words proved to be the salve He was looking for to heal His emotional bruises.
Vilas, Shubha (2015-12-30). Ramayana: The Game of Life - Book 3 - Stolen Hope (Kindle Locations 1866-1869). . Kindle Edition.
...to be contd
Edited by bheegi - 9 years ago
Cricket
