To Surpanakha who was madly in love with him, Rama said with a smile, "Mother, I have a wife and I cherish her. For the likes of you, a rival wife would be irksome and distressing. Lakshmana my brother is noble, radiantly handsome and valiant. He is without a wife and needs one. Your beauty deserves him as your husband and you will serve him as the rays of the Sun serve the peaks of Mount Meru" Promptly forsaking Rama, Surpanakha diverted her passion towards the younger Ikshvaku prince and proposed to him, "My unequalled beauty and affection for you, lay claim to your heart. Come wander happily with me in these woods." Thus accosted, Lakshmana displayed his unrivalled skill in the play of words, "Beautiful Lady! Your skin glows like a lotus! I am but a slave! If you become my wife you will beget the same status. I am but the servant of my venerable brother and he alone is my lord. You deserve Rama, beautiful that you are, be his second wife. Enchanted by your charms, captivated by your beauty, how can he not soon tire of his mortal woman and abandon her for you?" Gross and insensitive that she was, Surpanakha missed the veiled mockery. Believing Lakshmana, she strode away to where Rama sat with his consort. She said belligerently, "Is it for this ugly woman that you slight me? This very moment I will devour her and rid myself of a rival and live happily with you". She then rushed threateningly towards Sita, who cringed with terror. What had started, as an irritating distraction was turning into a threat to reckon with! "Lakshmana, it spells ill to jest with the ignorant. Behold Sita's fear, punish this ugly embodiment of evil who has lost her sanity" said Rama, as he tried to stop Surpanakha. Ignoring his attempts to ward her off, she stormed around in vehement pursuit. Spurned by an inexorable fate, the obstinate and misguided woman made her choice thereby sealing her fate and that of her race. Lakshmana severed Surpanakha's ears and nose as penalty for her mistake. Howling with pain she fled into the forest dripping blood. Creating a furore with her thunderous voice, like that of a descending tempest, she raced to her brother Khara at Jansthana. She fell at his feet like a meteor cast to earth. Angry, humiliated and terrified she fainted, but soon recovered, to narrate her tale of woe.
Summary
To Surpanakha who was madly in love with him, Rama said with a smile, "Mother, I have a wife and I cherish her. For the likes of you, a rival wife would be irksome and distressing. Lakshmana my brother is noble, radiantly handsome and valiant. He is without a wife and needs one. Your beauty deserves him as your husband and you will serve him as the rays of the Sun serve the peaks of Mount Meru" Promptly forsaking Rama, Surpanakha diverted her passion towards the younger Ikshvaku prince and proposed to him, "My unequalled beauty and affection for you, lay claim to your heart. Come wander happily with me in these woods." Thus accosted, Lakshmana displayed his unrivalled skill in the play of words, "Beautiful Lady! Your skin glows like a lotus! I am but a slave! If you become my wife you will beget the same status. I am but the servant of my venerable brother and he alone is my lord. You deserve Rama, beautiful that you are, be his second wife. Enchanted by your charms, captivated by your beauty, how can he not soon tire of his mortal woman and abandon her for you?" Gross and insensitive that she was, Surpanakha missed the veiled mockery. Believing Lakshmana, she strode away to where Rama sat with his consort. She said belligerently, "Is it for this ugly woman that you slight me? This very moment I will devour her and rid myself of a rival and live happily with you". She then rushed threateningly towards Sita, who cringed with terror. What had started, as an irritating distraction was turning into a threat to reckon with! "Lakshmana, it spells ill to jest with the ignorant. Behold Sita's fear, punish this ugly embodiment of evil who has lost her sanity" said Rama, as he tried to stop Surpanakha. Ignoring his attempts to ward her off, she stormed around in vehement pursuit. Spurned by an inexorable fate, the obstinate and misguided woman made her choice thereby sealing her fate and that of her race. Lakshmana severed Surpanakha's ears and nose as penalty for her mistake. Howling with pain she fled into the forest dripping blood. Creating a furore with her thunderous voice, like that of a descending tempest, she raced to her brother Khara at Jansthana. She fell at his feet like a meteor cast to earth. Angry, humiliated and terrified she fainted, but soon recovered, to narrate her tale of woe.