Aranya Kaanda
116 - The story of Surpanakha; her approaching Khara, Dusana and Trisira for redress and their subsequent death at Sri Rama's hands
Chaupais
Description
Without nose and ears she wore a hideous aspect and looked like a mountain flowing with torrents of red ochre. She went sobbing to Khara and Dusana: "Fie, fie upon your manhood and strength, brothers!" Questioned by them she told them everything in detail; hearing her report the demon chiefs gathered an army. Swarming multitudes of demons of diverse shapes rushed forth like hosts of winged mountains of collyrium on vehicles of various kinds. They were infinite in number and were armed with terrible weapons of various kinds. They placed at their head Surpanakha shorn of her ears and nose and thus presenting an inauspicious sight. Numberless ill-omens of a fearful nature occured to them; but the host heeded them not, doomed as they all were to death. They roared and bullied and sprang in the air; and the champions were filled with excessive joy to see the army. Said one, "Capture the two brothers alive and having captured them kill them and carry off the woman." The vault of heaven was overhung with the dust raised by them. (Seeing this) Sri Rama called His younger brother (Laksmana) and said," "Take Janaka's Daughter to some mountain-cave; a terrible array of demons has come. Therefore, remain on your guard." Obedient to his lord's command he withdrew (to a safe retreat) with Sita, bow and arrow in hand. When Sri Rama saw that the hostile force had advanced, He smiled as He strung His formidable bow