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| Kabandha Source: Wikipedia |
"He knew not that Dasharatha[9] had died until he reached the palace. Then Kaikeyi, his mother, informed him without tears."
Kaikeyi said, “ Thou shouldst not thus give way to grief, my son.”
O evil-hearted woman, thou hast bereft this house of all joy; thou hast slain my sire and banished Rama. But I will bring my brother back from the jungle; he shall be seated on the throne.”
“This hateful creature is the cause of our calamities. I will slay her.”
Bharata fell at her feet and vowed that he would never sit on the throne, but would hasten after Rama to entreat him to return.
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Bharata is an incredible brother in that he is not self seeking. I was taken back by his determination to find his brother and instate him as king.
Rama and Bharata
The gods who read a man's heart would curse me for my sins. Vain are thine idle words; thy reasoning is cunning but false. Truth is our ancient path. Truth endures when all else passes away. The venom of falsehood is more deadly than the venom of a serpent's sting
Bharata said, “If my sire's wish must be fulfilled, let me remain in the jungle for fourteen years so that Rama may return to Ayodhya.”
Viradha
Words:
Rakshasas:
- who has abducted Sita
- has a special protection: he cannot be wounded by any sharp weapon.
- ancient curse connects him to Rama
- -------
- his real name is Tumburu
- is the best among Gandharvas or celestial musician and is sometimes described as the best of singers.
The rakshasa then spoke gently, "Slain am I, O chief of men, by you possessed of strength equal to that of Indra. Through ignorance, O foremost of men, I could not before know you. Now I know you you are that Rama, the worthy son of Kaushalya. By virtue of a curse, I entered this dreadful rakshasa form, I, Tumburu, a gandharva, having been cursed by Kubera.
When Rama, the son of Dasharatha, shall slay you in an encounter, you, attaining thy natural condition, shall repair to the celestial regions.' Through your grace have I been freed from this fearful curse; I shall now repair to heaven. Casting me into this pit in the wood, do you, O Rama, peacefully go thy way."
Shurpanakha and Rama
Rakshasas:
- falls in love with Rama
- the sister of Ravana
- was misshapen and ugly, and her voice was harsh and unpleasant.
I have chosen thee for my husband, and thou shalt rule over my great empire.
Lakshmana and Shurpanakha
- was a man-eating rakshasa in the Indian Ramayana epic.
- He was a younger brother of Ravana, and was killed by Rama when he attacked Rama after Shurpanakha's humiliation
- ruler of the Danda Kingdom
- called upon fourteen rakshasas and commanded them to capture the three royal hermits who dwelt in Dandaka jungle.
Dushana
- Viceroy of Janasthan.
Khara immediately called upon his brother Dushana, saying, “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.”
Battle with Khara
Rahu: endeavored to swallow the sun and caused an awesome eclipse: a headless horror appeared in mid air.
Rama seized a great celestial weapon and slew Dushana and scattered the demon army in flight.
Khara sought to avenge his brother's death, but Rama drew his bow and shot a blazing arrow which consumed him instantly.
Ravana and Maricha
Then Maricha out of fear consented, though he looked for no less than death from Rama when they should meet again.
Maricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a golden deer and ranged about the wood near Rama's hut
The Chase
Rama chased the deer a long time hither and thither through the forest, and at length he shot an arrow which pierced its heart. In his agony Maricha sprang out of the deer's body and cried out in imitation of Rama's voice, “Sita, Sita, save me! Oh, save me, Lakshmana!” Then he died, and Rama perceived that he had slain the rakshasa Maricha, brother of Ravana.
Kabandha
Then the demon revealed that he was Kabandha and bade them burn his body, so that he might be bereft of his rakshasa form and nature; thereafter, he promised, he would inform them regarding Sita.
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