Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban15. Seetha remonstrates with Ravana

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15. Seetha remonstrates with Ravana- Kamabaramayana

 

Ravana came to the hermitage of Seetha taking the form of an old hermit chanting the veda like the sound of Veena. Seetha welcomed him. Kamban says that the whole nature trembled.

 

Nadungina malaigaLum maanum naaavindhu

Adangina, paRavaiyum vilangum anjina;

Padam kuraindhu odhungina paambum-paathakak

Kadum thozil arakkanaik kaaNum kaNNine

 

On seeing the vicious rakshasa coming to commit the greatest sin, the mountains shook with fear , the deer became silent, the birds and wild animals were afraid and even the serpents closed their hoods and hid themselves.

 

After answering the question of Ravana about her identity Seetha asked him the reason for which he came to the forest in his old age. The hermit replied by praising Ravana and said that he was living in Lanka for sometime and also said that Ravana was looking for a lady suitable for him even though he had many beautiful wives.

 

Seetha chided him, for praising Ravana who was known for his wickedness and, for living under his patronage. The hermit replied that though Ravana was bad towards devas he was good to people like himself. Seetha said that Rama would destroy the rakshasas and the world would be a better place. Ravana ridiculed the idea of a mortal destroying the rakshasaa saying that it is like a young rabbit killing the herd of elephants. Seetha remonstrated that perhaps he had not heard the death of Viratha and Khara and his army.

 

Ravana got angry and forgot his disguise and said

 

mEruvaippaRikka vEndin , viNNinai idikka vEndin,

neerinaikkalakkavEndin,neruppinai avikkavEndin

paarinai edukka vEndin, palavinai sila sol ezaai

yaar enakkarudhicchonnaai?-raavaNaRkuaridhuen ? enraan.

 

Ravana could grab the mount Meru, break the sky, disturb the water, quench the fire and lift the earth, that is, he could control all the elements. He asked Seetha, "whom did you take Ravana for?" To this Seetha replied that with his twenty arms he was imprisoned by a two armed one whom a mere man kiiled with his axe. She referred to Ravana being imprisoned by Karthaveeryarjuna, whom Parasurama killed, thus implying that the same Parasurama had come down as Rama now.

 

Hearing that Ravana became furious and his disguise disappeared and he appeared in his real form. He threatened her that he would have crushed and eaten her but for the fact that she was a woman and then he remembered the reason for his coming and told her not to fear and he would bow down to her and make her his queen whom even the celestial damsels would serve. Seetha was shocked and told him that the sacred offering could not be taken away by a dog and further said that she was not afraid of death and if he valued his life he could better run away. Ravana saying that the arrow if Rama would be a flower garland on his chest asked her again to be his wife and while she called out to Lakshmana for help, Ravana carried her off. There is a difference between Valmiki and Kamban in this respect which we shall see next.