Ramayana for Life Skills: Jealousy leads to destruction

Surpanakha was Ravana’s sister. She was a terrible demon who lived on human flesh and blood. She could disguise into any form as she wished. She made Janasthana along with Khara, Dushana and Trisiras, her other brothers. As she was perambulating through the dale, she could observe some foot prints with all physiognomic features of a supreme personality among men. She followed the same and reached Sri Ram’s ashram.
There she found Sri Ram and Sita the couple, made-for-each other, she became instantly jealous about Sita and at the same time infatuated by Ram’s charm. She immediately took the guise of a charming lady and approached Ram. With sweet tempting voice and folded hands he asked Ram:
“Who are you two most attractive young men as resplendent as Cupid, bearing the garbs of mendicants but with all the features of heroes? Who is this lady with you? I have not seen you here earlier. Where are you from? What bade you to this forest?”
To these curious enquiries, Sri Ram replied: “I am Ram, son of king Dasarath of Ayodhya. That is my brother Lakshmana. She is Sita, my wife. We have come to the forest to spend fourteen years on the errand of our father.” Ram stopped a little while and continued:
“Good lady, who are you? What do you expect from us?”
“You must be my husband. We can transform into any fancy form and wander though out the forests, dales and planes and enjoy a happy conjugal life.” She expressed her desire.
Looking at Sita with a sublime smile, Sri Ram told Surpanakha: “I am wandering throughout the forests bearing this ascetic dress. She is my wife and is so virtuous that I can no way forsake her. Polygamy is dangerous and you won’t be able to withstand the tortures from it.” Ram looked at her compassionately and continued:
“This is my brother. He is alone. Both of you will match fittingly. He is very handsome and gallant. You are a matchless beauty. So, approach him and ask him to be your husband.”
As per Sri Ram’s instruction, she approached Lakshmana and pleaded to take her as his wife. Lakshmana replied: “I am a slave of Sri Ram and you are not worthy to be a slave. Go, therefore, to Sri Ram and plead him to accept you.” Thus thrown up and down, she got frustrated. Furious with disappointment she took her own stature. She concluded that Sita was the villain and unless Sita was alive, Ram would have accepted her. Surpanakha, gone berserk now, approached Sita to attack her with tooth and nail. Sri Ram prevented her advance while Lakshmana swiftly jumped upon the dowdy woman and with his sword chopped-off her ear and nose. Bleeding profusely, she fled away.
Covered all over with blood, beating on her chest and crying very loudly she went to her half brother Khara who was ruling the Dandaka forest. She fell before him as if a mountain at Indra’s Vajrayudha. Khara, unable to bear the torments of his sister, asked: “Who is that wicked seeker of his own death by deforming you like this?” Roaring with intolerable pain she told him the whole story.
Hearing this Khara called fourteen of his army chiefs and told them: “Go in haste and kill those wretched human beings and bring their flesh here to feed my sister.” Then turning to Surpanakha he said: “You also go with them, so that they can identify the persons.” Thay all charged towards Ram’s cottage.
They attacked Sri Ram but He defeated them single handedly. Surpanakha with increased fear ran fast towards Khara.
A fierce war ensued between Sri Ram and the demons. Sri Ram disposed all of them in no time. Watching this dauntless performance of Ram alone, Surpanakha’s fear increased and she flew towards Lanka and fell before Ravana.
                                  KK Shanmukhan ( To be concluded )