Bloodshed

Lord Rama was sitting before His ashram on a wooden seat

Thinking of Bharatha, who, His heart yearned to meet

Mother Sita was inside the ashram doing some chore

Lakshman, to fetch water, had gone to the river shore

Like a white and shining cloud that causes dark shadow

A beautiful lady came and stood upon a nearby meadow

Seeing Lord Rama’s manly features, her eyes became wide

The lustful desire, evident in it, she did not care to hide

She wanted to be embraced by Lord Rama’s arms that were strong

Though a married woman, she did not think it was wrong

She wanted to be kissed by Lord Rama’s lips that were red

She did not care to know if Lord Rama was already wed

On seeing the Warrior’s broad chest that was unarmoured

She heaved a heavy sigh as she was helplessly enamoured

To make amorous advances, towards Him, she decided

She entered the fence of the ashram, The Noble Three resided

Lord Rama was surprised on seeing her, in that, almost deserted place

He wondered why a young woman walked alone, through jungle ways

Anyway, with goodwill, He decided to do what was best

With folded palms and smile, He greeted the uninvited guest

“I am not a goddess, just because I am dressed in gold

I hope my toned body would tell You that I am not old

So this unnecessary respect for me, You can shun

And behave like a man so that we can have some fun”

Saying thus, she winked and smiled in a naughty way

Hands on her hips, she moved them in a tempting sway

Lord Rama was shocked, ashamed, and incensed by her act

Anyway, He decided to handle the delicate issue with tact

“Lady! By behaving thus you are only inviting pain

Within the prescribed limits of a woman, please remain

Look for a man who loves you, and please marry

In talking about this to your elders, don’t tarry”

On hearing such dialogues, from inside, Mother Sita was shocked

She came out to know, with whom, Lord Rama thus talked

On seeing Mother Sita, Surphanaka, the lustful woman, smiled

She thought, because of His Wife inside, Lord Rama had guiled

“Oh! So You already have a Wife, I did not know

Giving some privacy to the dumb Couple, let me go

Good bye Lady! You can, all for Yourself, have the man

Hmmm! I hope at least with You, He will behave like a man”

She said that and laughed as though it were a joke

A man’s ego in Lord Rama, hoping she could provoke

Allowing her robes and hairs to freely fly, she turned around

In a slow catwalk, she carelessly walked out the ashram ground

With water pots in his hands, Lakshman came

Wondering who that woman was, having no shame

Almost close to rubbing against him, she went by

Lakshman stepped aside to give way, feeling shy

Lord Rama assuaged His angry brother and disgusted Wife

Relieved that she was gone, He returned to His normal life

But to His dismay, she approached Him again

And spoke unruly words that caused Him pain

“What do You see in Her, that pious looking Hen

She can be no match for me, in satisfying men”

“One more word, Lady, you will loose your teeth

From that ugly face of yours, blood will seethe”

Lord Rama’s anger only fired up her lust

Herself on Lord Rama, she tried to thrust

Before she could touch, He slapped her soon

The slap was so hard, she fell in a swoon

Lord Rama stood there for a moment, controlling his anger

He walked back to the ashram not wanting to stay any longer

When He went to the ashram, He was in a pensive mood

Mother Sita and Lakshman realised something was not good

Lord Rama told Them everything and became silent

While Surphanaka rushed in with a behaviour so violent

As she came in, the ashram’s fence and plants, she battered

Terrified by her screaming, the ashram’s animals got scattered

This time, she was not beautiful or young like before

Lord Rama recognized her only by the mouth He tore

The Brothers realised, towards Mother Sita, she was rushing

Bad and angry words about Mother Sita, she was gushing

To be, by His Wife’s side, Lord Rama stepped back

While Lakshman moved forward, deciding to whack

Hoping to scare her away, Lakshman gave out a shout

Seeing she wouldn’t budge, Lakshman pushed her out

Surphanaka retorted by trying to slap and scratch

Lakshman twisted her hands, and kept her in his catch

Seeing her mouth, by His brother, was already torn

Not wanting to hurt her anymore, he tried to warn

“Lady! Violence against women is something I hate

Once I leave you, please walk out without debate

Instead, in such stupid and useless acts, if you persist

From cutting off your nose and ears, I will not desist”

Saying thus, he slowly released the hands he gripped

Back to her violent behaviour, from calmness, she flipped

Crying and yelling, she scratched Lakshman’s chest

Lakshman realised, patience would not be anymore best

He cut off her nose and ears without another word

Drawing out from its sheathe, his sharp and shining sword

Shocked, ashamed, and in pain, she started to run

The Noble Three felt bad for what was done

Lord Rama told Lakshman that They must be alert

For, Surphanaka, in one way or other, may try to revert

Since they discussed the matter thus, not even two hours went

Surphanaka came with fourteen hefty men, for her anger to vent

From afar, they heard horses’ hoofs, making a rattle

Instantly, The warrior Brothers, got ready for battle

Well before the ashram, by Lord Rama, the enemies were faced

Without a warning or a word, their attacks, they raised

Their iron clubs, at Lord Rama, at a time, they threw

Lord Rama shredded them in a second, and their wonder grew

At Lord Rama’s Feet, the clubs lay, broken asunder

As if to show, how and why, their wielders must surrender

“Not bad!” They said. “Nice tricks you have learnt!

But lo! They are wasted as You are going to be burnt

Having messed with our king’s sister, Your life is no more Yours

And that Dame, who watches from Your behind, is going to be ours”

Saying thus, and drawing their swords, towards Lord Rama, they rushed

The next moment, from their headless torsos, bloody fountains gushed!

Struck by wonder, dismay, and fear, Surphanaka was baffled

Her lust and anger on Lord Rama grew, seeing the way He battled

With disappointment, not anger, at Surphanaka, Lord Rama stared

Surphanaka took a run for her life, thinking His anger has flared

Mother Sita was relieved while Lakshman jumped with joy

Lakshman celebrated Lord Rama for handling the weapon like a toy

Not even three hours went, they heard a tumultuous sound

They saw agitated birds and dust, arising from the far off ground

They heard sounds of drums, trumpets, and conches

Sounds made by an army, while, an attack it launches

The warrior Brothers knew, it was time for a war

They quickly got ready, while the enemy was still afar

It was decided; Lakshman would guard Mother Sita in a nearby cave

While Lord Rama would cause in the enemy’s army a devastating wave

About Lord Rama single handedly fighting, Mother Sita was hesitant

Lord Rama reassured Her with a smile, saying, “He was not a debutant”

Mother Sita, to a cave in the nearby mountain, Lakshman took

The battle scene from there, They could clearly look

Lord Rama got ready for battle, invoking His anger

Thinking, ‘they will realise, they have never been wronger’

He wore His helmet, armour, and finger guards

Which were given to Him by various gods

He tied to His back, the quiver filled with arrows

He was pained about the many wives’ future sorrows

Worshipping the gods at heart, He lifted the bow

He decided to talk sense to His enemy, though

He walked in the enemy’s direction, and chose a high land

Like a fire awaiting moths, He took a majestic stand

The midday sunlight fell on His armour, and made it shine

Amidst the shady tress, like a second sun, He looked divine

He was like a fire; His fury its heat

He was determined to perform a mighty feat

His eyes and ears were alert, and sharp

His mind was playing the enthusiastic harp

Divine chariots that were beautifully fashioned

In the sky above, by gods from heaven, were stationed

Some rishis stood in the sky and prayed for Lord Rama’s sake

They wished, all the enemies’ heads, Lord Rama must take

The sound made by the enemies became loud

He could see amidst the trees, the enemy crowd

They were rushing towards Him like a swarm of bees

Lord Rama knew He could wipe them with a playful ease

His left hand was holding the bow that stood on the ground

His right hand was kept on His hips that were round

To show that He was ready, His legs were spread

Due to unlimited anger, His lotus like eyes were red

About thirty feet from Him, the army halted

To give way to its leaders, the army parted

To Lord Rama’s view, the three leaders of the army came

They were surprised to see, a single man against an army game

“So You are that Rama, our sister told, who has some weird little skill

With which You can shoot a dozen arrows, within a second, to kill

But now I am afraid, we are by numbers very large

Giving up this stupidity, surrender, before we charge”

The king of Janasthana, Khara, was the one who spoke thus

Trisaras and Dhooshana were on his sides, with an angry focus

Trisaras had three heads, like cauliflowers, as his name indicates

Looking at them with pity, Lord Rama spoke His vindicates

“Underestimating the enemy is not good for health, dear friend

Instead of coursing your sister’s path, why don’t we change the trend?

She behaved badly, paid no heed to Our words, and so got punished

If only you could realise this and go back, the matter is finished”

Instead, if you try to attack me, thinking I am alone

Even before you realise, your lives will long be gone

A thousand ants joining, doesn’t help them eat an ember

Do not dream of victory, just because you’re large in number”

Lord Rama spoke thus, in a very confident tone

The enemies, like animals, started to loudly groan

Without speaking anything more, an attack, they launched

The weapons that flew towards Him, Lord Rama staunched

Lord Rama spent some time defending Himself, hurting none

He kept cutting off all the flying weapons, as if it were fun

The army started to charge furiously towards Him

Seeing that, to hurt them now, Lord Rama got a whim

He kept cutting the weapons only to show

That He can shoot unlimited arrows in a row

He hoped, at least by seeing that, they would realise his might

But on seeing them charge, He decided to engage in a violent fight

Lord Rama sent a deluge of arrows as if showering a rain

Those arrows made the army’s spirits and numbers drain

They threw weapon after weapon, yelling their hatred, all in vain

Limbs severed, throats cut, and hearts pierced, they all cried in pain

Lord Rama was so fast that for every single weapon thrown

He retaliated with two swift and sharp arrows of His own

One, to encounter the weapon, and another, to hurt its wielder

Both found their marks and stressed, ‘their Lord is not a yielder’

Among the thousands of weapons, a few, on Lord Rama, did hit

Though they caused wounds and bitter pain, He never minded it

Along with the pain, His anger and alertness started to grow

Lord Rama started to send more arrows, knitting His hairy brow

To wipe the blood from His wound, He did not try

He made two, four, six, and eight arrows angrily fly

Covered completely by blood, Lord Rama was a sight, to look

None of His arrows missed their marks, and each a life, they took

A sharp arrow shot by Khara made Lord Rama’s bow break

Khara rejoiced thinking, ‘Lord Rama’s life was now for his to take’

But Lord Rama playfully smiling at Khara extended His hand

In it appeared a mighty bow, well decorated, and very grand

Three, five, and seven arrows, at a time, Lord Rama shot

Charged with mantras of fire, they were all red and hot

Four, eight, and twelve arrows, at a time, Lord Rama sent

Powered by Kandharva mantra, multiplying themselves, they went

The fire-charged arrows entered into bodies like hot iron rods

The Kandharva arrows split up bodies, and made them open pods

The fire-charged arrows drank blood and hissed like venomous snakes

The enemies’ lives, for the Kandharva arrows, were for generous takes

The enemies fought with physical strength that was brutal

Lord Rama fought with spiritual power that was immortal

Not a hundred, nor a thousand, but fourteen thousand men when numbered

Were all fallen to the ground, either killed, or their vital parts dismembered

Khara, Dhooshana, and Trisaras now realised what is frustration

This was the first time they saw, their army in utter devastation

They thought, ‘going back to their women would be any more shame’

Wanting either victory or death, towards Lord Rama, they swiftly came

Lord Rama cut one of Trisaras heads as if it were an apple

Shooting at Dhushana’s chariot, Lord Rama made him topple

Yet they rushed towards Lord Rama with maces, uttering angry words

Lord Rama swiftly pierced their hearts, and made their souls free birds

Khara was now alone in fear, and anger, completely shaken

By his army and his commanders, he was now forsaken

His chariot rushed towards Lord Rama, yet

Soon, soaked in his own blood, he was wet

At Lord Rama's mighty chest, Khara aimed and threw a spear
Lord Rama cut it into two before it could come any near
Lord Rama sent an arrow and Khara's chariot's axle broke
Khara fell headlong, like and along, with his domination's yoke

Though completely defeated, not wanting to give up, still
Khara uprooted a tree hoping, Lord Rama, to kill
Lord Rama sliced the tree into pieces within a spell
Disappointed and in rage, Khara started to yell

Not wanting to delay anymore, Lord Rama cut off his head

On the ground, along with his soldiers, Khara sadly fell dead

Lord Rama saw one man run, taking the news somewhere

He did not try to hurt the man, as He thought it was unfair

Lakshman and Mother Sita, from the cave, came running

Hugging both of Them, Lord Rama rejoiced His winning

Mother Sita shed tears on seeing Lord Rama’s wounds bleed

She wiped them clean, and applied a paste made of turmeric seed

The Gods from above showered flowers on Ram

The Gandharvas with music sang praises of Ram

The Rishis were glad and relieved, by the victory of Ram

In a chorus they sang, “Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!”