RAMAYANA

BOOK III

DASA-RATHA-VIYOGA
(The Death of the King)
Summary

The three companions - Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana - leave Chitrakuta, haunted by the memory
of the visitors from Ayodhya. On their journeys, they visit a number of holy men and women (such as the
yogini Anasuya and the magnificent rishi Sharabhanga) and slay many wicked rakshasas (such as the
terrible Viradha, who was an elf-like being cursed to live as a rakshasa). For ten years the companions
move through the forest, visiting asramas. They are welcomed by rishis and establish a happy life for
themselves even in the darkest jungle.

When only three years are left of his exile, a rishi named Sutheekshna tells Rama that he must
seek out the great sage Agastyaand obtain his blessing. Agastya is renowned as a slayer of rakshasas; he
managed to defeat two powerful ones that made a habit of eating rishis.

Agastya offers the two princely brothers a number of magical, supernatural weapons, including
the powerful bow of Vishnu and armor that cannot be pierced by any weapon. He tells the brothers that
they must go to the south to eliminate the rakshasa menace, and sends them to a place called Panchavati.
Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana follow his orders, heading to this lovely place. They meet Jatayu on the way,
a magnificent eagle that can speak in the voice of a human being. He was loyal to Dasaratha, and pledges
his service to Rama as well.

Panchavati is a lovely place, but it is only a short while before the travelers are harassed by the
rakshasi Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana. She attempts to seduce first Rama, then Lakshmana, and
attempts to kill Sita when they rebuff her advances. The princely brothers defeat her easily, chopping off
her nose and ears. She flees back to her cousins Khara and Dushana, rakshasa lords who preside over vast
armies, and persuades them to go to war over the terrible insult she has received.

Seeing the advancing rakshasa army, Rama sends Lakshmana away with Sita, and faces the army
of fourteen thousand rakshasas alone. He defeats them using his magical weapons.

But one of the rakshasas, named Akampana, escapes and brings the news to the court of Ravana
on Lanka. Ravana is a terrifying rakshasa with ten heads, and he is thousands of years old. He is a great
scholar, irresistible to women, and an undefeated warrior who has been blessed by the gods Brahma
and Siva. He is shocked and infuriated by the news that Akampana brings, of a single man who defeated
fourteen thousand rakshasas, including his cousin Khara. Akampana suggests that Rama's greatest
weakness is his wife Sita; if she were abducted, he would die of a broken heart.

Ravana consults with his uncle Marichaabout how best to defeat Rama. Rama defeated Maricha
when Rama was only a youth; one of Rama's magical weapons plunged Maricha thousands of miles into
the sea. Maricha tells Ravana that Rama will be his doom, but Ravana is determined to seek revenge
against the prince.
 Ravana's wrath is increased by the appearance of his sister Surpanakha, who had been mutilated
by Rama and Lakshmana for attacking Sita. She tells Ravana about the incomparable beauty of Sita,
kindling his lust as well as his fury. He cajoles and threatens Maricha until the other raskhasa agrees to
assist him, and hatches a wicked plan.

Ravana and Maricha travel to Panchavati, and Maricha transforms himself into a beautiful golden
stag. Sita, who loves animals, is utterly enchanted by him as soon as she seems him, and she asks Rama to
capture the deer for her. Rama chases after the deer, who leads him deep into the forest. Slowly, Rama
realizes that this is no true creature of the forest, but a rakshasa. He shoots the stag with an arrow, and
Maricha takes on his rakshasa appearance once again. Before he dies, Maricha calls out for Lakshmana
and Sita in a perfect imitation of Rama's voice.

Hearing this terrible cry, Lakshmana plunges into the forest to help his brother, leaving Sita alone
in the hut. Ravana takes on the form of a wandering ascetic and approaches her. As soon as he sees Sita,
he falls madly in love with her. When he has gained her trust and been invited into the hut, he reveals his
true self and demands that she be his queen. Sita refuses, saying that she loves Rama far too much to ever
leave him. Ravana grabs Sita and takes her away in his sky chariot, ignoring her screams of protest.

Jatayu the golden eagle sees the princess being captured, and attacks Ravana to try to save her.
He injures the rakshasa, but Ravana cuts off his wings and leaves him for dead. Sita takes advantage of
this momentary confusion to take off her jewelry and drop it to the earth, leaving a trail for Rama to
follow.

Ravana brings Sita far away to his kingdom in Lanka. He demands that she submits to him and
become his queen, but she refuses once again. He tells her that she has a one year to consider his love,
after which he will kill her and eat her alive. Sita weeps in terror, but refuses to give in.

In Panchavati, Rama and Lakshmana realize that they have been deceived. When they find the
hut empty, they realize that Sita has been kidnapped, and they follow the trail south. They find the dying
Jatayu, who tells them that Ravana has kidnapped Sita. The two brothers perform funeral rites for Jatayu,
and then continue their search for Ravana and Sita.

On the way, the brothers meet a terrible demon named Kabandha, who has the form of a body
with no legs or head, only arms and a gaping mouth. After they dispatch him, he explains that Indra
transformed him into this ugly shape; formerly, he was a celestial archer. Thankful to be liberated from
this terrible punishment, he tells the brothers that they will find victory against Ravana if they
seek Sugriva, the prince of vanaras (a magical race of monkeys) who lives in Rishyalooka.

On their way to the monkey king, the brothers meet the female mystic Shabari, who has refused
to die until she meets the holy Rama. She offers them her blessings and departs for heaven. Rama weeps
for Sita, but Lakshmana consoles him and urges him forward in their quest.