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3-Aranya Kaand

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Page 9:  Sarg 19-23

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Sarg 19-Shoorpanakhaa Complains to Khar 

Khar and other Raakshas got very angry seeing the condition of Shoorpanakhaa. They said - "Tell us everything that who has done this to you? Who is that fool who has deformed you? Even Devtaa, Gandharv and Mahaatmaa cannot do this to you? I don't see anybody in this Lok who can do this to you. When Indra cannot dare to do this, then how can somebody else do it? Whoever is that who will be killed by me today? When I will kill somebody even Gandharv and Devtaa will not be able to save him. That is why you tell me his name properly."

Shoorpanakhaa said crying - "Two of very young age, very handsome and delicate but mighty princes live in the forest on fruit and flowers wearing Jataa and deer skin. They are the sons of Raajaa Dasharath, Raam and Lakshman. They have a young beautiful woman also with them. I could not know whether they are Gandharv or Devtaa? They have done this to me considering me unprotected, because of that woman. That is why I want to drink their blood. Fulfill my desire."

Angrily Khar ordered his 14 Raakshas that there were two men who were living in the forest with their wife. His sister wanted to drink their blood, so fulfill her desire by killing them. They should return after killing them so that their sister can drink their blood. By the order of Khar they went there with Shoorpanakhaa. But they could not do anything to Raam. [see Note on Khar here]

Sarg 20-Khar Sends His 14 Raakshas 

When those 14 Raakshas came to the forest with Shoorpanakhaa, they saw Raam sitting in the hut and Lakshman and Seetaa serving Him. Seeing Raakshas coming, Raam said to Lakshman - "You stay with Seetaa and I come back after killing these Raakshas." Lakshman said - "Be it so." and left the sentence incomplete in Raam's respect. Raam picked His gold bow and said to Raakshas - "We are sons of Dasharath. Our names are Raam and Lakshman. We have come here to live in this forest with my wife Seetaa. We live on fruits and flowers and live following Brahmcharya. It seems that you are worth killing, because you have killed Rishi too, that is why I have come here to kill you in the fight with my bow and arrow. if you want to fight, then stay there, no need to go back. and if you want to save life, then go back."

Hearing this the 14 Raakshas got very angry. They had the same weapons by which they killed Braahman. They said - "You have made our Swaamee Khar very angry, that is why be ready to die. You have no strength to stay back in the battlefield, then how can you fight with us?" Saying thus they all proceeded towards Raam and threw their spears on Him. Raam cut all the 14 spears. Then Raam shot 14 arrows which tore up Raakshas' hearts and they died immediately. Seeing this Shoorpanakhaa convulsed in rage. After she came to her senses she went to Khar again and fell on the ground. She told Khar everything.

Sarg 21-Shoorpanakhaa Again Comes to Khar

Khar said - "Why do you cry now? I have already appointed meat eating Raakshas to fulfill your desire. Why do you wriggle like a snake on the ground?  They will surely obey my orders. Why do you cry like an orphan? I am here to protect you." Consoled by Khar Shoorpanakhaa said - "When my nose and ears were cut and I came to you. You consoled me and sent 14 Raakshas with me. It is very sad that they all have been killed by Raam's arrows. I am frightened now seeing this, that is why I have come again. The Raakshas you sent to protect me are already killed, so if you want to protect me, then kill those two enemies. If you will not kill them, then I will give my life before you. But what I feel, that you will also not be able to kill them. You just consider yourself brave in pride. But if you are, then get up and kill them. Raam is very gracious, you will be destroyed soon [I am sure]. His brother is also very mighty." Saying thus she wept bitterly hitting her belly with her hand.

Sarg 22-Khar Gets Ready to Fight

Khar said to Shoorpanakha angrily - "Because of your insult I am very angry. My anger is like sea. I am unable to stop its flow. I don't consider Raam anything before me. You stop crying and I am going to kill Him along with His brother. When He will die you may drink His red hot blood." Shoorpanakhaa got very happy to hear this and admired her brother for his courage. She, in fact, acted tactfully. First she abused Khar and made him angry, later she admired him.

Khar asked his army chief Dooshan to prepare his 14,000 Raakshas army and bring bow, arrows, swords and Powers and said - "I want to be the first Raakshas in Pulastya Kul to kill Raam." Immediately a Sun-like shiny chariot came there with shiny horses. That chariot was very huge like a huge mountain. It had gold wheels, gem-studded shaft and was decorated with gem-studded birds, flowers, trees, mountains etc. Inside were all kinds of weapons. Thus Khar embarked up on that chariot and ordered his army to head towards the place where Raam lived. First army headed, then Khar started behind them.

Sarg 23-Khar Comes to Fight

When Khar's army started, many bad omens occurred. First there rained red water as if blood was falling from the clouds. His horses could not go forward. A vulture sat on the flagstaff of Khar's chariot. Animals and birds started crying in east. Vultures, Jackals and eagles also started howling and crying. Raahu also came to swallow the Sun untimely [It was not the day of Amaavasyaa (new moon)]. Wind started blowing fiercely. Fishes hid in ponds. Lotus flowers faded away. Meteors fell down thunderously. Even the Prithvi also shook. Khar's voice changed and to whichever side he looked at, his eyes filled with tears.

But the fool didn't return and said - "I do not believe in these bad omens, because mighty people do not care for weak. If I want, I can bring even stars down from the sky by my arrows. I can even kill death. I cannot come back without killing Raam and Lakshman. My sister will be happy to drink their blood after they have died. You know that I have not been defeated by anybody. When I can kill even Indra then what are these two men?"

Hearing this, Khar's army got very happy. Many Mahaatmaa, also came to see this battle. Siddh, Chaaran, Devtaa, Gandharv also came there. Khar had 12 very brave Raakshas behind him:  Shyengaamee, Prithugreev, Yagyashatru, Vihangam Durjaya, Karveeraaksh, Parush, Kaalkaarmuk, Hemmaalee, Mahaamaalee, Sarpaasya, and Rudhiraaksh. Mahaakpaal, Sthoolaaksh, Pramaathee, and Trishiraa, were in the front of army, while Dooshan was following them.  Khar and his army soon came to Raam's Aashram.

 

 

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 06/09/11