Wednesday, January 4, 2012

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!!”

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