ENCOUNTERS IN EXCILE (3)

" Soorpanaka made one last attempt to gain Rama's love. She said, "Even now it's not too late. My brother Ravana will pardon you for what you have done if he knows we are married; he will also make you the overlord of several worlds, placed above all the gods. It's not too late. On the other hand, if anyone comments on my nose or ears, he will wipe them out. So, do not hesitate. No one will dare to say that I have no nose or ears or breasts. I've still eyes, which can feast on your broad chest and shoulders, and my arms are intact to embrace you. I love you madly. I'll be your slave and make all rakshasas your slaves. I can't survive without you. Have pity on me. I'll do anything you command." She was rolling in the dust with blood gushing, but nothing lessened her ardour. She continued, "My kinsmen are ruthless, and will be reckless when they find that I have been injured like this-they will destroy blindly, everything, including you. They will wipe out mankind. But if you take me, I can intercede on your behalf, and they will spare you and all your people.... You'll be the cause of either the destruction of mankind or its survival." "The longer I let you speak, the worse things you say. Now go to your own people, and bring back with you all those powerful men and more. I can meet them, one by one as they come or all together. I can deal with them. Now begone. Understand now, my mission in life is to root out the rakshasas from the face of this earth, and till I achieve it, I' be here." Even after suffering mutilation at the hands of Lakshmana, Soorpanaka stood there and persisted in appealing to Rama to accept her, hinting that through her magical powers she could appear beautiful again. At this point Rama felt that he ought to explain to her who he was, and how he had come to be here with his wife and brother. Further, he made it plain again that his mission in life would be to wipe out the asura class. He recounted how he had destroyed Thataka and her brood. Far from discouraging her, this actually gave Soorpanaka another idea. "If that's your purpose, you know, I could be your best ally-if you do not spurn me for my appearance, if you do not reject me for my enormous teeth and large mouth. If you marry me, I will teach you all the arts and tricks, magical and others, that make my people superb and invincible. I can teach you how to defeat them, but you must treat me kindly. You must accept me.... Even if you cannot give up your slender companion-well, don't view me as ant impossible addition. Would I be one too many? No. I'll help you by revealing to you all the tricks and trickeries of your enemies, so that you may attain complete victory over them. Carrying a variety of arms such as spears and tridents and scimitars and hatchets, the commanders, led by Soorpanaka, marched on towards Rama's cottage. Soorpanaka stopped at a distance and pointed Rama out to them. "There he is, mark him." The fourteen asuras muttered, "Shall we bind and take him, or toss him in the air and kill him, or use the piercing lance on him?" Soorpanaka said, "Bring that man alive. I will deal with him." When he saw them approaching, Rama ordered Lakshmana, "Guard Sita. Don't leave her side." He took out his bow, slung his sword into position, girt himself for the fight, and emerged from his cottage with the anger of a lion. The battle began and ended quickly. Rama's arrows knocked down the weapons the asuras bore and severed their heads. Soorpanaka fled from the field and reported to Kara the disaster that had befallen her chiefs. Kara sounded his tocsin and gathered an army of powerful rakshasas; they made their way to Panchvati and surrounded Rama's ashram without any dr would end the career of the two foolhardy thr 147/272 They had plans to surround the cottage, fall on it at a give. moment, and wipe out the landmark with its occupants. With shouts and screams calculated to shake the nerves of their victims, they flourished their weapons and converged on the cottage. This phase of the battle was a little more prolonged but the result was the same as before. Rama defeated Kara and his allies. Soorpanaka watched from afar, understood the trend of events, snatched a brief moment to approach and cry over the mangled corpses strewn around, including that of her champion and brother Kara, and decided it was time for her to leave the area. She fled to Lanka to convey the news of the disaster to her brother Ravana.