Shoorpanakha’s visit - Chapter 04

In the Previous Chapter, We saw Sita raises an objection to Rama for taking to his arms. Now we'll see Shoorpanakha’s visit.

Ravana’s sister Shoorpanakha who lived in the same forest came upon Rama’s ashram. When she saw Rama she fell for his handsome features. Infatuated she came to Rama and insisted that he should abandon his ugly wife Sita and marry her instead. She also said that she was the sister of the great Ravana who had two brothers Vibheeshana and Kumbhakarna. She also added that her younger brothers Khara and Dooshana were also living in that forest and Rama would be a lot happier with her.

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Valmiki describes here the lighter spirits of Rama and how he could make fun of her. Rama told her that as his wife was with him she should rather go and try Lakshmana instead who was younger and also who had been away from his wife for a long time. She approached Lakshmana and tried to cajole him. Lakshmana insulted her and asked her to go away. Shoorpanakha got wild and ran to kill Sita. Finally, exasperated Lakshmana disfigured her. She started howling with pain and ran with her hands raised into the forest.

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She went crying to her brother Khara who also living in that place called “Janasthana”. He and other rakshasas had been causing the destruction of Yagas of rishis. Shoorpanakha told her brother what had happened. She said Rama with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana were living in the forest and she was disfigured by Lakshmana and wanted Khara to punish them. Khara said he would take the life of the person who did that to her.

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Khara tells Lakshmana that he would take his life as a swan would drink only the milk even if it is mixed with water. It is said that the swan had the capacity to drink only the milk and leave the water behind.

One could say that Shoorpanakha’s action was the beginning of the end of Ravana and his rakshasas.

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 In the next chapter, We'll see The war of Rama and Khara.