Aranya Kaanda
109 - Invocations
Chaupais
Description
I have portrayed to the best of my ability the incomparable and charming affection ( for Sri Rama ) of the citizens (of Ayodhya ) as well as of Bharata. Now hear of the all-holy exploits of the Lord, that He wrought in the forest to the delight of gods, men and sages. On one ocasion Sri Rama culled lovely flowers and made with His own hands a number of ornaments, with which He fondly decked Sita and sat with Her on a beautiful rock of crystal. The foolish son of Indra ( the lord of celestials ) took the form of a crow and wanted to test the might of Sri Rama ( the Lord of Raghus ) even as the most dull-witted ant would sound the depths of the ocean. The stupid fool, who had disguised himself as a crow with a sinister motive, bit Sita in the foot with his beak and flew away. The Lord of Raghus came to know it only when blood ran from Her foot, and fitted a shaft of reed to His bow.
