Salvation of a sinner

Lord Rama was watched by a pair of eyes

Eyes that were filled with fear, anger and vice

Those eyes glanced on Mother Sita’s beauty with greed

And on muscular Lakshman considering him as a sumptuous feed

The Noble Three to Atri and Anasuya had just bid farewell

Sage Atri and Anasuya had blessed them and wished them well

Now, into the deeper jungle they were on a roam

Looking for a suitable place to build their home

The man to whom those eyes belonged

Was a wicked demon who, constantly wronged

All types of animals and birds he gluttonously ate

When pious sages came his way, he ended their fate

He was tall; almost triple the height of Ram

When he moved about furiously, he created storm

Skins of animals covered his body that was rustic

Skulls of men hung around his neck that was cystic

He suddenly leaped from his hiding before The Noble Three

Took them by surprise and grasped Mother Sita in a fit of spree

Holding Mother Sita under his arms, he laughed like hell

Lord Rama and Lakshman came under a shocking spell

On seeing His wife gripped by another man, Lord Rama’s heart bled

Unable to bear the abominable sight, uncontrollable tears He shed

His courage broke down and He knelt in pain

In that despondent state, Lakshman would not allow Him remain

“Forgetting your prowess, this is no time to sorrow

Let’s teach this demon, a lesson. Arise! Oh, hero!

Have you forgotten the demons who were crushed by your might

Oh lion among men! Rise up like a fire and put up a fight!”

Hearing those words, Lord Rama’s grief changed to anger

And erupted like a volcano making Him much more stronger

An arrow from His bow hit the demon between his brows

Arrows started to emanate from His bow in continuous rows

Hit on various parts of his body by the arrows that rained

The huge demon, beyond a limit, was bitterly pained

Mother Sita, from his arms, he duly dropped

The shower of arrows immediately stopped

Lord Rama ran towards Mother Sita to hug

But was gripped by the demon in a sudden tug

The demon also carried Lakshman in his other hand

Not realising where such act would make him land

Holding Lord Rama and Lakshman the demon rose to his height

Mother Sita lost all heart seeing that dreadful sight

She cried bitterly like a child lost in a fair

Her eyes became red like a lotus pair

Lord Rama and Lakshman by their necks, the demon seized

Hoping to take their lives out of them, he desperately squeezed

Lord Rama delivered a punch with his fists, on the demon’s nose

Lakshman thrusted a thumb into the demon’s eyes, creating woes

On Lord Rama and Lakshman, the demon lost his grip

The warrior Brothers made use of the momentary slip

They drew their swords and started to deliver cuts

And were shocked to see the demon’s body showed no cuts

Lord Rama also noticed that on the arrow-hit spots

There was no blood or wound but only tiny little dots

Lord Rama realised the demon can only be hit

But his skin and flesh can never be split

Lord Rama dropped all weapons and started to punch

Talking to His brother about His hunch

“Lakshman! Though this demon is a wicked fraud

I think, He has secured a boon from some God

I hope you noticed our attack, on his body, has caused no wound

If only it had done, shedding profuse blood, he would’ve swooned

The only way to kill him would be to bury him in the ground

While I keep him in my hold, dig up a grave within a stound”

Like a dutiful servant, Lakshman started to dig up a grave

While Lord Rama started a fight that was furious and brave

Lord Rama caught the demon by his hand and started to twist

The demon fell on the ground yelling with a broken wrist

Lord Rama stamped him on the chest and pressed him under His Feet

Which removed, from the demon’s vision, the ignorance sheet

All the sins, fears, desires and hatred of the demon became vapour

His soul was released from bondage, and relieved from all stupor

Lord Rama noticed the demon did not anymore wriggle

Pressing the demon to the ground was no more a struggle

He looked down to see if the demon was dead, and He was surprised

He was being worshipped by the demon by whom He was despised

The demon touched Lord Rama’s Feet with his hands

From his eyes that were harsh, now hung tearful strands

As though he just awoke from a sleep

The demon talked with devotion, deep

“Lord! King of the world! And saviour of my soul!

To be under this Holy Feet is every wise man’s goal

The reason for that, now, I can see

Even a sinner like me, Your Feet make free

Though being a non-stop sinner and scum

Under Your Gracious Feet, I have come

Only because of Your Holy Feet’s touch

I am now able to remember my past as such

Before this birth, Thumburu was my name

Once forgetting my lord’s presence I carnally indulged without shame

From a state as a Gandharva in the skies

I was pushed down by my lord, Kubera, into mortal ties

In this birth, I am Jayan and Sathahrathai’s son

Numerous sages I have killed and warriors I have won

My name is Viradha that is widely dreaded

By my sinful acts, towards hell, I was headed

You came my way and changed my life’s course

To the joy seeping in my heart, You are the source

You have come down from Your level of height

To redeem sinners like me by casting Your sight

Though, merits earned by me are none

An act fitting Your Greatness You have done

My heart fills with gratitude for You without measure

Dying by Your hands to me would be a pleasure

Regarding the possibility of killing me, You were right

My body cannot be wounded in a weapon fight

Great Brahma is the one who gave me the boon

Please bury me in the grave and liberate me soon”

Saying thus Viradha ended his delivery of gratitude

Lord Rama was surprised by the sudden change of attitude

Anyway respecting the demon’s wish, Lord Rama decided to act

He threw him into the grave Lakshman dug and filled it with mud, intact

Lord Rama then hugged Mother Sita to remove Her fears

And kissed Her on the cheek that had strains of dried up tears

As Lord Rama was consoling Mother Sita this way

He heard from His behind someone say,

“Lord! May I go home? Please give me leave

On this earth for mortals, I can no more weave

Mother! Covered by ignorance, I behaved madly

Taking that as an insult do not remain sadly”

Lord Rama and Mother Sita turned and looked

On a celestial man, their sights were hooked

The man was dressed in silk and gold

He remained on air without any hold

The celestial man laughed, on seeing their astonished looks

He spoke further wanting a place in their good books

“Dear Lord! And reverent Mother! Do not be surprised

I am that Viradha who could not be incised!

This is my true form with which I live in the sky

I have regained my form as my sins have gone dry

It is time for me to go back to the world of music and dance

I feel blessed as upon The Both of You my eyes could glance

Forgive me Lord! For the offence I unknowingly did

I like to give You some information before, farewell, I bid

I realise The Three of You are coming after meeting with Atri Sage

I also realise Rishi Sarabhanga awaits You, at the end of his age”

Saying thus, the gandharva Thumburu, to Sarabhanga’s ashram, gave directions

And then arose to the sky and disappeared into the heavenly directions

Leaving behind on the earth, a surprised and amused Ram

All the while singing, “Jai Shri Ram! Jai Jai Shri Ram!!”