Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty second sarga of the sundara kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Ambling into the aSOka grove before dawn, the ten-headed crook thought he can entice vaidEhI, the epitome of chastity and lure her into his harem. He tried everything, pleading, luring, infect cynicism about rAma and even threaten her with consequences if she doesn’t accept him. The solitary woman, in the captivity of the scary ogresses, drew from her infinite courage derived out of her devotion to rAma and rebuked him with a scathing attack that had both counsel as well as ultimatum. She blasted rAvaNa in no uncertain terms, not thinking for a while about her life but only about her commitment to rAma and dharma. She would rather die than accept him. Whatever happens to her, she told him that he was sure to pay a huge price and not only he, his entire clan had a big price to pay for having slighted rAghava. Onwards…
The king of the demons upon the sharp rebuke by sItA replied to the charming lady in an unsavory manner and said –
“Whenever a love-smitten one tries to placate the woman he loves, the more sweetly he speaks, more the insult he receives. My anger is reined in by my desire for you just like a speeding horse is controlled by its expert coachman.
वामः कामो मनुष्याणां यस्मिन् किल निबध्यते।
जने तस्मिंस्त्वनुक्रोशः स्नेहश्च किल जायते।।5.22.4।।
Indeed, this hankering is a weakness for men which creates positive disposition and affection towards whom they desire. O beauty, this is the reason I will not hurt you even though you deserve death and humiliation and are devoted to a so-called ascetic (rAma). You deserve terrible death for every harsh word that you have spoken to me”. Angrily retorting thus, the livid rAkshasa, seething with anger, served an ultimatum –
“O beauty, I give you a span two months for which I shall wait and post that you shall go to bed with me. If you don’t accept me as your husband after two months, you will be chopped and made into my morning meal”.
Beholding this threat that jAnakI was receiving from the demon, the daughters of the gods and demigods shed copious tears. As she was tormented thus, they made gestures through their lips, faces and eyes to comfort her.
ओष्ठप्रकारैरपरा वक्त्रनेत्रैस्तथापराः।
सीतामाश्वासयामासुस्तर्जितां तेन रक्षसा।।5.22.11।।
Comforted thus by them, sItA, taking pride in her great conduct and character replied in a spirited manner –
“It is certain now that no one here is interested in your welfare and hence they are not rebuking or advising you as you set on this despicable act. Other than you, O lowly demon, who in these three worlds will covet the wife of the dharmic rAma. It is as much a sacrilege as coveting sachI, the wife of indra. You low life, I am the wife of the supremely splendorous rAma. How will you be redeemed having said those sinful words to me?
राक्षसाधम रामस्य भार्याममिततेजसः।
उक्तवानसि यत्पापं क्व गतस्तस्य मोक्ष्यसे।।5.22.15।।
Being like an insignificant hare in front of the elephantine rAma, are not you ashamed to belittle the lord of the ikshvAku clan? You have not yet made it into the sight of rAma. You ignoble, wretch, how is it that these blood shot crooked eyes of yours have not fallen down after having cast those dirty glances at me! How is that after speaking such words to the wife of that dharmAtma and the daughter-in-law of daSaratha, your tongue has not sheared?
असन्देशात्तु रामस्य तपसश्चानुपालनात्।
न त्वां कुर्मि दशग्रीव भस्म भस्मार्ह तेजसा।।5.22.20।।
You ten-headed fellow, I can very well turn you into ashes, sheerly by my splendour; however I spare you for the sake of my penance and because I didn’t get the nod from rAma yet. It is impossible to abduct me who belongs to the sagacious rAma and surely it must be destiny which made it possible to bring about your death. That must have been the reason why in spite of being the conqueror of kubEra, you chose not to fight him but divert him and steal me when he was not around”.
The demon king with his physique imposing like the dark clouds with mighty arms and huge heads, with the gait of a lion and with blood red eyes gave her a death glare. Fragrant sandal was smeared on his body, he was decked with shining golden ornaments, the golden waist band resembled the snake vAsukI tied to the mandara mountain to churn the ocean of milk, his mighty arms resembling the twin peaks of the mountain, his ear studs dazzling like the morning sun, he looked like very embodiment of spring and the wish fulfilling tree (kalpavRksha) and even though very well decked appeared terrifying like a shrine in the cremation grounds. He kept glaring at vaidEhI in a menacing manner and hissing like a serpent, he said –
“You are foolishly clinging on to the pauper. I will destroy him today like the sun destroys darkness”.
Yelling thus at maithilI, the enemy ordered the crooked ogresses of terrible appearances – the one eyed and one eared one, the one with covered ears, with ears like cow, elephant, elongated ears as well as the earless one. Along with them were the elephant footed, horse footed, cow footed, one with hairy feet, single footed, broad footed and footless ones. One had a large head, another a large throat and yet others had sagging bellies and breasts. One head large face while another had a large eye. One had a long tongue and another had none. One had no nose and others had the face of a lion, a cow and a pig. He thundered –
“You ogresses, at once you should spring into action – even if it means going against her wishes, ensure that vaidEhI becomes interested in me. You may employ the tricks of persuasion, coercion, luring or even punishment”.
The demon king, consumed by lust and anger, having ordered thus repeatedly threatened jAnakI. Then a demoness by name dhAnyamAlinI immediately went to rAvaNa and embraced him and said –
“O great king, sport with me, what will do with this lusterless and wretched human who is surely not ordained by the creator to enjoy the divine luxuries accumulated by your might. A man who goes after a woman who is not interested only ends up being spent in his body. On the other hand, if he sports one who is interested in him derives pleasure”.
The mighty demon who was turned away thus by the demoness laughed out loud like a thundering cloud and shaking the earth under his feet returned to his mansion that dazzled like an afternoon sun. The daughters of the gods, gandharvas and nAgas followed him back to the great palace.
Having tormented the trembling maithilI who was steadfastly established in dharma, the lust-smitten rAvaNa went back to his shining abode.
Here we conclude the twenty second sarga of the sundara kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 5.23. Ogresses step up pressure
Previous: 5.21. sItA serves the daring ultimatum
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
