We are entering a new kanda or book – Aranya Kanda after studying two earlier books, Bala Kanda and Ayodhya Kanda. Every book has its own importance relating to the important events in the life of Rama. Bala kanda speaks about the divine birth and young age of Rama where he received most of the life lessons. The just completed book of Ayodhya Kanda leads us to the turn of events in the royal city of Ayodhya and exiles Rama to forest. Once Rama moves to the deep forests after giving clear direction to royal entourage lead by Bharata, the third book begins. The last few chapters in second book presents details on Rama’s visit to Sage Atri and Anasuya. Sita and Anasuya, two ideal women had an intimate conversation before taking leave and departing further into the forest. The story narrated by Sita mesmerizes Anasuya who also gives vivid details to Sita on the role of being a devoted wife. Thus concludes the second book on the cusp of divine convergence. We can look into the third book from where it is left and continue to learn the beautiful story.
In chapter 1, Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana enters Dandaka forest.
Rama enters the forest of Dandaka, impenetrable and forbidding to men of lesser valor. There he beheld the peaceful homes of hermits, a cluster of huts whose grounds were strewn with reed, bark and kusa grass. Hallowed by the presence of men of great penance, the hermitage bore a brilliance which like the noon day sun, was hard to behold. Carefully tended, its shade was sought by wood nymphs, birds and beasts, where deer nibbled at blades of grass and apsaras descended to dance. The charming retreat blazed with the fires of the sacrificial altars. Great sages practicing every form of austerity added to its luster and like the abode of Brahma, the hermitage under the green canopies of the Dandaka resounded with the chant of the Vedas. Rama unstrung his bow and went forth. The holy men saw Rama, whose radiance rivaled that of the rising moon. They saw Sita whose ethereal beauty was incomparable and then they saw Lakshmana with his peerless grace of a warrior. The noble hermits looked at them long and in awe. Held captive by the magnetic charm of the wanderers they would not to even blink, lest they miss the divine beauty. "O Rama! You are the defender of your people. He who wields the scepter is worthy of all honor and respect. We live within your domain and crave protection from you who are the merciful Lord of the Universe. Since anger renders void all merit of penance, we have mastered our senses and have renounced all desire for revenge. We now bow to none but to you, the omnipotent God. You are our refuge, whether you live in a forest or palace".
In chapter 2, Viradha the demon confronts Rama and tries to abduct Seetha, and then Rama.
Next day at dawn, the exiles took leave of the sages and entered deeper into the forest. The serene and pious visions that had unfolded at the portals of Dandaka had not for a moment betrayed its fearful depths. Fierce beasts of prey stalked the jungle, broken branches hung loose from trees and some lay forlorn on the forest floor crushed and mangled. The bushes and vine were trampled rendering pathways impassable, while woebegone were ponds bereft of flower and foliage. The myriad bird flocks that had made Dandaka their home were mute and seemed not to know how to chirp. The ominous silence was only broken by the shrill call of the crickets.
Into this eerie silence stepped the hideous form of a rakshasa tall as a mountain peak, the man-eating predator was an abominable sight. His lurid eyes that glowed like live coals were set deep in his deformed skull. His words came out in a great roar from a cavernous mouth. Besmeared with the blood of beasts that he had devoured, his body was ugly and repulsive. With limbs twisted and deformed, belly protruding obscenely, the demon was an epitome of horror. Blood thirsty, he was the scourge of creation and as he approached with his mouth open, he looked like the personification of death. Impaled on his spear were the carcasses of deer, lion, tiger and a huge elephant head with tusks, fresh prey, grotesque and dripping blood. Like the fury of death, which strikes all at the time of the dissolution of the earth, Viradha pounced on Sita. Causing a furore that shook the earth he tried to make away with her. Sita trembled like a palm frond caught in a gale. From that fierce form emitted dreadful noises as he bellowed threats and insults. "Wearing locks and bark, have you dared to enter my domain? Does it befit you to be accompanied by a woman? Who are you, a disgrace to your fellow ascetics. Impious and sinful that you are, you trespass my region where I roam living on the flesh of ascetics. This woman of beautiful limbs will be my wife and you will be my food. I shall drink your blood!" Rama's lament was heart breaking as he beheld Sita in the grip of the vile monster. "Lakshmana, do you see the cherished daughter of Janaka my chaste consort? She who enshrines me in her heart, is held captive in the arms of this loathsome mass of flesh? Today Kaikeyi's wishes come true. Not content with the enthronement of her son the wily woman brought about my exile. That another should have laid hands on Sita is intolerable and the greatest of my misfortunes. It is more tragic than the death of my father or the loss of my kingdom. An equally distraught Lakshmana tried to console Rama, "While I am here, why do you grieve? Do you not have a defender in me Rama? I shall slay this demon. I will now let loose the fury of the wrath that I once had for Bharata's alleged treachery. My arrow will pierce the heart of Viradha and death will embrace him. May his blood drench the earth."
In chapter 3, Rama and Lakshmana enter into a dialogue with Viradha, the demon and shower arrows on him. Later, Viradha carries Rama and Lakshmana away from Seetha.
Looking at Viradha, Lakshmana boomed, "Who are you that wander these woods with such abandon," and the defiant demon countered, "Let me ask who you are." Rama said, "Know us to be the warriors of the race of the Ikshvakus. We are here at the behest of our father Dasaratha, king of Kosala. We are kshatriyas and dedicated to our vows we roam this wilderness. Tell us, who you are." "Listen" said Viradha "I am the son of Jaya and Satahrada. The rakshasas of the world call me Viradha. By the power of my penance and by the grace of Brahma I am invulnerable to all weapons, which can neither cut nor pierce my body. Leave this woman to me and go back the way you came and I shall spare your lives". Viradha's impudence infuriated Rama. He lashed out, "Wretch, may you and your villainy be cursed. You surely court death, I shall slay you and you will live no more." Rama rained his gold tipped arrows on his enemy, who fell to the ground blood stained. Viradha put Sita down and charged towards Rama and Lakshmana hurling his spear at them. Rama destroyed it and wounded the demon grievously. Disregarding the pain, Viradha scooped up the princes on to his shoulders and marched away with them. Thus began the end of Viradha's sinful existence. Driven by a fate stronger than himself, he went on a rampage to destroy, only to get destroyed. Destiny proved how futile and fatal were his unwarranted acts of supreme arrogance. Bearing Rama and Lakshmana like babies Viradha plunged deeper into the jungle, infested with the most fearful of animals that ever roamed the surface of the earth.
In chapter 4, Rama and Lakshmana come to know about the curse of Viradha.
Sita, utterly distraught at seeing Viradha carrying away Rama and Lakshmana, implored him to spare them and take her instead. The princes enraged at Viradha's unpardonable impertinence and Sita's plight fell upon the demon in a fury, frightening to behold. They broke his arms, threw them to the ground. Though pierced with innumerable arrows, Virada fell unconscious but continued to defy death. Rama then told Lakshmana that they should bury Viradha, since the boons granted to the rakshasa made him virtually deathless by weapons of war. As Rama spoke, the demon regained his consciousness and memory. With great humility he said, "Rama, in my ignorance I did not recognize you, the Lord of all creation, in whose hands I am dying. I now know you to be the son of Kausalya, this most virtuous lady to be Sita and this prince who faithfully follows you to be Lakshmana. I am Thumbura, a gandharva by birth, cursed by my master Kubera to assume this horrid form as punishment for my tresspasses. Later he relented and said that I would be delivered from the terrible curse when this distorted form of mine perished in the hands of Rama. I worshipfully thank you for my deliverance. I shall now leave for my abode. May you prosper and be blessed". Viradha asked Rama to visit sage Sarabhanga whose hermitage was located in the vicinity. "He will bring you much peace and prosperity. Now, bury me Rama, for burial assures rakshasas their ascendancy to the heaven." With that Viradha gave himself up to Rama.
In chapter 5, Rama after killing demon Viradha enters the hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga, as advised by the dying demon Viradha in the previous episode. Sage Sharabhanga refuses the invitation of Indra to come to heaven, but awaits the arrival of Rama to see him with his own eyes. After seeing Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana, and also showing next course of their journey, that Sage enters the yogic fire and ascends to Brahma's abode.
Rama consoled Sita who was shaken by Virada's violence. Deciding that the inhospitable jungle was not a fit place for them to live in, they walked towards the haven that was the hermitage of sage Sarabhanga. Approaching it, Rama beheld a matchless marvel that was Indra, in all his glory. Many divine forms surrounded him and his chariot radiated a meteoric dazzle as it stood suspended in the sky, harnessed with four of the most magnificent horses. Apsaras fanned him while gandharvas and great sages sang his praise. Rama said, "Those must be the splendid horses of Indra, the young warriors around him are like fierce tigers." Asking Sita and Lakshmana to wait, Rama walked towards the hermitage. Witnessing his approach, Indra told Sarabhanga, "I will leave now but will meet Rama later, after the fulfillment of his vows. He is soon to achieve something of great significance, a task beyond execution by men of ordinary might." Indra left and Rama stood spellbound. Rama then went to meet the venerable sage, with Sita and Lakshmana. They bowed to the great master and asked him of his divine visitor. Sarabhanga said, "Indra had come to conduct me to the heaven, which I have earned by merit of my penance, unattainable to those who have not subjugated their senses. I was aware of your arrival to this hermitage at some point in time. The time is now and my strong desire to be in your company has detained me. Being with you takes precedence over all else. That sublime abode of Brahma, unsurpassed in beauty, I now most reverently offer you, my worshipful guest". But Rama, declined, "I cannot accept it sir. I have vows to fulfill and promises to redeem". Sarabhanga then advised Rama to meet Sutikshna for further guidance and asked him to stay a moment longer so that he could now give up his mortal body, as a snake its slough. The sage lighted a fire and offered it the oblations of clarified butter. Chanting Vedic hymns the great master of the Vedas entered the fire, consigning his body, a conglomeration of the five elements to the fire. Sita and Lakshmana looked on in awe, as the flames reduced it to ashes. Out of the heat of that fire emerged the radiant form of Sarabhanga. He then traversed beyond the regions of agnihotris, rishis and devas to reach the abode of Brahma.
This concludes chapter 1,2,3,4 and 5 of Aranya Kanda where we had seen the trio entering the dandaka forest, slays the demon viradha and enters the hermitage of sage Sharabhanga.
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