Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty fifth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Spotting the rare species of the deer which was decked with gems and laced with bright spots, sItA was besieged by its bewitching beauty and eagerly called rAma and lakshmaNa and requested rAma to bring the deer so that it will be an object of great amusement in the royal palace. rAma was impressed as well! lakshmaNa begged to differ. He could clearly see through the deceit of mAricha. But both sItA and rAma seemed convinced that the deer would be a great addition to their royalty. Even if the deer couldn’t be caught alive, it’s skin would be a prized possession. Therefore, asking lakshmaNa to guard the hermitage rAma took his weapons and chased the golden deer. The deer lured rAma deep into the forest without quite coming to his grip. rAma was tired and a tad angry at the inability to catch it alive! He decided to capture it dead, set a powerful arrow forth and shot it as he glimpsed the deer at a distance in a grove. No sooner did the arrow hit the deer, it was thrown up as high as a palm tree and down landed the badly hurt mAricha who just before his life force escaped remembered rAvaNa’s instructions and in a perfect micry cried out – alas sItA, alas lakshmaNa in the voice of rAma! rAma was stunned! His immediate thoughts were how to lakshmaNa was and what state sItA would be in if she hears these words. Onwards…
The deceitful mimicry of rAma’s distress call by mAricha fell in the ears of sItA and she was in deep distress. She at once summoned lakshmaNa and said – “O saumitri, it appears your brother rAma is in danger in the forest. Having heard his distress call, neither my heart nor my life are in their right place. Your brother is calling out for help having been apprehended by demons; like a bull caught by lion. You ought to rush to him at once and rescue him”.
Remembering the words of his brother to not leave the hermitage, lakshmaNa didn’t obey the order of sItA to go to the forest. sItA became very angry at the seeming indifference of laksmaNa and angrily charged him –
“O lakshmaNa, in the form a friend you actually seem to be an enemy of your brother since you are not going to his rescue in time of his distress. You seem to be interested in me and therefore you want rAma to be killed and have your desire fulfilled. You don’t seem to have love for your brother. If you have indeed accompanied him to be of help, then what is the point of being here when he is actually in distress”.
To that sItA who was in so much distress and was shedding copious tears in apprehension, lakshmaNa replied –
“O dEvi, your husband cannot be conquered either by men or gods or gandharvas or birds or devils or demons or any other species. He is invincible in combat. His might cannot be overcome by the most mighty in the three worlds or the gods. No one stand in a war against him. Let your heart be at peace. Your husband should return soon after killing that stunning deer. That voice is surely not his and by someone with illusory tricks the voice has been mimicked. You have been entrusted to me by rAma and therefore I would not like to go to him leaving you alone as per his instructions. O auspicious lady, we have picked up enmity with the demons since the killing of khara and his ilk in the janasthAna. Therefore those demons roam around in the forest tormenting others spreading rumors of all kinds. You need not take those to heart”.
sItA was livid at this reply from lakshmaNa who was speaking the truth, her eyes turned red seething with anger and she harshly said –
“O lakshmaNa, your conduct is bad and you are disgrace to the clan, you are cruel and seem to be enjoying this adversity of rAma. How can you speak so indifferently when rAma is in trouble. You are wicked and no wonder you are a rival of rAma and are stalking him in the guise of a friend either at the behest of bharata or for the sake of getting me. But know this well, O saumitri, your or bharata’s [purported] desire won’t be fulfilled at any cost. How can I wish for some one other than the blue-bodied rAma of lotus like eyes. Right in front of you I shall give up my life. I do not wish to live even for a moment on this earth without rAma”.
Listening to the harsh and horripilating words of sItA the self restrained lakshmaNa said with folded hands-
“I would not like to reply to you in harsh words as you are a goddess to me. But this fickle nature of women devoid of righteousness is often seen and they speak harshly causing conflict. But O daughter of janaka, I cannot tolerate these sharp words of yours and they pierce between my ears like red hot arrows.
May all the forest rangers be witness to this – while I spoke justly and righteously you have used very harsh words. Fie up on you! You are suspecting me who is staying true to the instructions of my elder brother out of your fickle and wicked nature. This will bring ruin to you.
O large-eyed one, may you be protected by all the guardian deities of the forest, I shall go to where kakustha (rAma) is. Be happy.
निमित्तानि च घोराणि यानि प्रादुर्भवन्ति मे।।3.45.34।।
अपि त्वां सह रामेण पश्येयं पुनरागतः।
I see dreadful omens all around. I am unsure if I will see you when I return with rAghava”!
Listening to these words of lakshmaNa, sItA cried inconsolably shedding tears profusely and said –
“O lakshmaNa, I will end my life by entering into the river gOdAvari or by hanging myself or by consuming poison or by jumping off a cliff but I will never touch another man other than rAghava even by my feet”.
पिबाम्यहं विषं तीक्ष्णं प्रवेक्ष्यामि हुताशनम्।
न त्वहं राघवादन्यं पदापि पुरुषं स्पृशे।।3.45.38।।
Thus sItA angrily and tearfully repeatedly remonstrate lakshmaNa and hit her own belly with her hands in utter distress. lakshmaNa tried in a myriad ways to console and assure a wailing sItA of her huband’s welfare. But she would just not pay heed to any of his words and she stopped responding to his words. Then, selfcomposed, lakshmaNa, saluted maithilI (sItA) with folded hands, [unable to bear her insistence], set out to where rAma was and as he went, he repeatedly turned to see her.
Here we conclude the forty fifth sarga of the araNya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 3.46. rAvaNa’s endgame begins…
Previous: 3.44. Trickster dies tricking and yet tricks!
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 