Reading Notes: Ramayana Part B

Lakshmana cuts off Surpanakha's nose
Style: 19th-century Paithan style
source: Smithsonian

Bibliography: Shurpanakha and Rama, Lakshmana and Shurpanakha, Battle with Khara

Source: Indian Myth and Legend by Donald A. Mackenzie (1913)

Main Characters

1. Shurpanakha
1. Sister of Ravana (demon King of Lanka) and Khara (who tries to get revenge for her) 
2.  A rakshasa (females = rakshasi) 
3. Appearance: misshapen, ugly and with a harsh unpleasant voice 
4. Could transform into a young beautiful woman 
2. Rama
3.  Lakshmana 

Setting: Dandaka jungle

Storyline Plot Timeline 

• Shurpanakha falls crazy in love (obsessed) with the handsome prince Rama at soon as she see’s him,
• She knows he is married to Sita, so in order to try and seduce him she transforms herself from her ugly form to more beautiful
• Rama introduces himself to Shurpanakha including him telling her he is with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana and wonders why such a beautiful women (like the bride of Vishnu) is wandering alone in this place
• When Shurpanakha introduces herself she states she is a rakshasa women and she has chosen him as her husband and get rid of Sita and brother so the can rule together. Rama denies her love and instead sends her to seduce Lakshmana
• After being denied and ridiculed by the brothers, she grew angry and jealous she tried to attack Sita but Rama thrust her back and Lakshmana cuts her nose and ears
• She returns and tells her brothers Khara and Dushana what happened after they see her disfigured both together with 14.000 rakshasas go out to seek revenge against Rama.
• The first attack fails, but Khara returns stronger this time, Rama asks Lakshmana to keep Sita safe in a secret cave as he goes out to fight against Khara alone
• Dushana was killed by Rama first and as Khara sought avenges Rama shot a blazing arrow at him which killed him. Ends with Sits embracing her heroic husband.

Quotes

• "I have chosen thee for my husband, and thou shalt rule over my great empire. Thy Sita is pale and deformed and unworthy of thee, but I am of surpassing beauty and have power to assume any form at will. I must devour Sita and thy brother, so that we may range the jungle together and visit the lofty hills"
• “Sita is my beloved bride, nor would I leave her. But Lakshmana hath no consort and is a fit husband for thee.”
• “Assemble an army of fourteen thousand rakshasas and bring my weapons and my chariot with white horses for, verily, this day I must kill the hateful Rama.”