Ramayana of valmiki and kamban-14.Ravana arrives

January 23, 2009

14. Ravana arrives

When Seetha heard the shout of Mareecha she thought that it was the voice of Rama and became frightened for his safety and urged Lakshmana to go to his rescue. Lakshmana who knew better did not move and seeing him thus not making any effort to go to seek Rama whom she thought to habe been attacked by rakshasas, she said cruel and unkind words to Lakshmana. She accused him of being a disguised enemy to Rama, having evil intentions towards her. Lakshmana was pained and agitated by her words but still he did not go because he was sure that no one could harm Rama and also because Rama had told him to safeguard Seetha by remaining there. He told her that Rama was invincible and could not come to harm from any being in all the three worlds and it was the delusion created by Mareecha. But Seetha got angry and abused Lakshmana that he must have followed them to the forest posing as a servant to them due to either desire for her or being instigated by Bharatha wishing ill for Rama in the forest. And she said that she would give up her life if he did not go to Rama. Lakshmana, though not affected by her words, being self controlled, told her that what she said was typical of a woman who had lost her reason and denounced her behaviour and started towards Rama not because of her unkind words but being afraid that she may commit suicide if he did not go, as she was quite capable of doing what she said.

Kamban portrays Seetha in a better manner because in Kambaramayana Seetha does not talk to Lakshmana as in Valmiki but merely said that she would enter the fire if he did not go. Then Lakshmana, voicing his fear that when he and Rama came back they may not find her, went towards the place where Rama was.

Ravana took the form of a sannyasi when Lakshman left and came to the hermitage of Seetha. Valmiki says that Ravana saw Seetha, separated from Rama like an evil planet aspecting the star Rohini when separated from the Moon. 'rohiNeem Sasinaaheenaam grhavath bhrSadhaaruNaH.' According to astrology when the star Rohini is away from the Moon and aspected by any evil planet like Saturn and Mars it will be a bad period for the whole world. In this case the evil effect was predicted for the kingdom of Ravana.

Seeing the great evil demon Ravana, even the trees in the region stopped moving due to fear and the wind also stopped blowing, says Valmiki. The river Godavari reduced its speed and started to go slowly .Ravana went near the place where Seetha was standing and on seeing her face to face he was stunned by her beauty. Valmiki describes the appearance of Ravana disguised as a hermit as a well, covered with grass. thrnaiH koopa ive aavrthaH.

Ravana started praising her beauty and his words were strange coming from a renounced monk. He described her in detail and asked her who she was, wondering whether she was Lakshmi or Sarasvati or Sachee devi or an apsaras etc., because he said that he could not see any one like her in all the three worlds and was surprised to see her residing in the wild forest.

Seetha, guileless and pure, thought him to be what he looked like and offered him water and food. Then she informed him about her and the circumstances that brought them to the forest and in turn asked him as to why he was roaming round in the forest alone. When asked by her Ravana immediately disclosed his identity and started talking to her with desire. But in Kamban Ravana took his time to do so and there is a long conversation between the two of them. We shall see it next.