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March 28 - July 8, 2025
Considering me more powerful than even the gods, the sage Vishvamitra sought only Rama as his protector. Rama was a mere boy at that time. When I saw him in Vishvamitra’s hermitage, I disregarded him, thinking him to be simply a child. However, with a single arrow Rama hit and threw me eight hundred miles into the ocean,
“My fear of Rama has made me adopt this life of asceticism. Indeed, I live in continuous dread of that prince. In every tree I see Rama, clad in barks and wielding his bow, looking like Death personified standing with noose in hand. I actually see thousands of Ramas all around me. Indeed this whole forest appears to have turned into Rama. I see him everywhere, even in dreams and meditations. If someone speaks out a word beginning with ‘R’, I shake with terror. O king, under no circumstances shall I be convinced to again stand before Rama.”
could not see when Rama took up his arrows or bent his bow, which shone brightly like a rainbow. I only saw the Rakshasa army falling like hewn trees. The demons resembled a wheat field destroyed by a downpour of hailstones. I also saw by Rama’s side his brother Lakshmana. He too seems exceptionally glorious and is clearly devoted to Rama. Indeed, he appears like Rama’s second self. I hold these two brothers to be practically unconquerable in battle.”
Once he has lost his wife, his strength will be gone. I shall then make short work of him.”
Maricha’s face whitened. This was his worst fear. Ravana was bent on a purpose which would surely end in both their deaths.
“People speaking agreeable words are easy to find, O lord. On the other hand, rare are those who will speak words for one’s good which are nevertheless unpalatable. O Ravana, you have clearly not heeded my earlier advice. You have not sought to establish for yourself Rama’s actual power. This dereliction of your duty will lead to the extinction of the race of Rakshasas, there is no doubt.”
“Rama has not been abandoned by his father nor is he devoid of virtue. Indeed, he is devoted to piety and truth. Listen as I tell you his history.”
“Do not cast yourself headlong into the fierce fire of Rama blazing on the battlefield,” Maricha beseeched the Rakshasa king. “Upon encountering, Rama you will relinquish for good your throne, your happiness and your very life. Rama’s glory is immeasurable. You will no more prove able to remove Sita from Rama than you could take from the sun its brilliance. O Ravana, remain peacefully in Lanka. Do not bring about your own destruction, along with that of your relatives, friends and entire kingdom.”
“Perhaps upon approaching Rama you will face some danger, but if you reject my request then death at my hands will be certain and immediate. Carefully weigh things in the balance of reason, O Maricha, and do what you feel is best.”
“Being a slave to your senses, cruel and evil-minded, you have adopted this course of action. People with leaders who are not self-controlled cannot prosper any more than sheep protected by a jackal.
order. It is better to be killed by the enemy than executed by the king. Take me as already slain at the very sight of Rama, and consider yourself dead with all your followers the moment you bear away Sita. Those on the verge of death cannot understand right from wrong. No advice can help them.”
Lakshmana was immediately suspicious. “This animal cannot actually be a deer. Never has such a deer, looking like a bright jewel, been seen anywhere upon the earth. This must surely be a Rakshasa come in disguise. I suspect it is probably Maricha.”
Lakshmana recalled how Rama had spared Maricha’s life previously. He knew the demon was capable of great mysticism and strongly suspected that some evil plan was afoot.
“Go quickly and greet Lakshmana. He will never display anger in the presence of a woman. Pacify him with gentle words. Only then will I be able to face him.”
O Tara, drinking is always condemned by the wise as the root of irreligion. Please remind Sugriva of his religious obligation.”
“Ingratitude is the worst of all sins, O thoughtless one!
Trees, shrubs and flowers flew behind him in the wind raised by his movement, like relatives following a dear one setting out on a long journey.
You have already rendered me service by your kind words.
“Your success is certain. He who possesses firmness, vision, understanding and skill never fails in his undertakings.”
For a start, only he, Sugriva, Angada and Nila, the monkey general, could even cross the ocean and reach there.
How powerful and inscrutable was destiny! Sita was the daughter of a king and the wife of an invincible hero, yet she was now suffering torment. She was gentle, kind and always virtuous, undeserving of any pain. How then had she been placed in such terrible circumstances? It was inconceivable.
In their midst the noble princess seemed like the moon beseiged by malevolent planets.
“You should know me to be as inseparable from Rama as sunlight is inseparable from the sun. Unite me with Rama at once if you wish to do good for yourself and your Rakshasa race. Make friends with Rama. Otherwise, see your city, yourself and all the demons destroyed for good. If I am kept here, you will soon see well-aimed arrows joined end to end filling the sky. They will rain down upon Lanka like so many fire-mouthed serpents. You were able to steal me only when Rama and his brother were not present. Indeed, O weak one, it is not possible for you to stand in the sight of Rama and Lakshmana
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By his wicked act of stealing Sita he was already killed by his own destiny.
Rama would be the instrument to fulfill that fate.
“I would burn you to ashes myself by the power of my asceticism and chastity, but I do not have my lord’s order. Nor do I wish to waste my ascetic merits on such a wretch as yourself.”
He had vanquished the thirty-three principal gods in battle.
She wondered what kind of sin she must have committed in her past life that she must now endure this suffering.
Maybe, after losing her, Rama had practiced yoga and become detached from worldy things such as love for his wife. But that could not be possible in one like Rama; he would never become detached from his duty. Protecting one’s wife was always the duty of pious men.
“Victory to Rama and Lakshmana! I am Hanuman, the son of the wind-god, and I am here as Rama’s servant. Not even a thousand Ravanas can withstand me. I shall destroy Lanka and then return to my master.”
Hanuman looked like the powerful wind-god playing among thunderclouds with streaks of lightning.
Hanuman appeared like the Time Spirit bent upon the destruction of all created beings.
He resembled an effulgent rishi who had quit his body through yoga and was ascending to the realm of the gods.
Assisted by his father Vayu and by Agni himself, Hanuman soon had a large part of Lanka blazing.
Under the impulse of anger a person could kill his elders or rebuke those worthy of worship. He had let himself come fully under the sway of his fury with no thought of the terrible consequences.
“Even as a cow sheds milk upon seeing its calf, so my heart melts upon seeing this jewel. It originally belonged to Indra and was given to Sita by King Janaka. By seeing this brilliant gem I have directly gained sight of my noble father-in-law as well as my beloved wife Sita.”
It is the auspicious midday hour. Favorable constellations augur our success.
They looked like the sun and moon conjoined with Jupiter and Venus and surrounded by innumerable stars.
“The omens are all good, Rama. A gentle breeze follows us and the sun shines brightly. The beasts and birds run and fly along with us. This army of monkeys and bears are roaring in joy and they are ablaze with splendor. In the night skies I have observed numerous auspicious portents. Undoubtedly your success is imminent, dear brother.”
It is said that he is a wise person who, before an undertaking, seeks the counsel of learned persons versed in the scripture. However, he who simply acts without due consideration and advice will quickly come to ruin.”
“The wise declare that force should only be used after other methods of achieving one’s aim have failed.
“Ever since Sita was abducted, there have been numerous bad omens in Lanka. The sacrificial fire emits sparks and is enveloped by smoke. The cows’ milk has dried up. Horses neigh dolefully even though well-fed and tended. Crows swarm about, uttering harsh cries. Jackals howl ominously day and night.”
“O Rakshasa, you now seek our counsel, but what advice did you ask when you stole Sita from Rama?” he thundered. “Actions taken without due consideration of their righteousness and without recourse to proper counsel lead only to grief. On an impulse alone you abducted Sita from Rama, and now you face a severe consequence.
“By whom has the immense and highly venomous serpent, known as Sita, been tied around your neck? That serpent has for its sharp fangs Sita’s sweet smiles. Her bosom is its coils, her five fingers are its five hoods and her thoughts of Rama are its deadly poison. O Ravana, do not destroy your race. Before we see monkeys like great mountains bounding toward Lanka and arrows like thunderbolts falling on the heads of our warriors, return Sita to Rama.”
Indeed, one bestowing love upon the unworthy obtains only grief.”
Those speaking pleasant words can easily be found, O Ravana, but one who speaks unpalatable truth is rare. One fallen under Death’s Sway does not heed the words of wisdom offered by a well-wisher. I have tried my best, wishing to save you from certain destruction. Now be happy in my absence. I can no longer tolerate your abusive speech, even though you are my elder. Farewell. I shall now depart.”
The ocean had been excavated by a great king in Rama’s line and thus the deity would no doubt wish to render him some service in return.
Alas, forbearance, gentleness and politeness of speech are construed as weaknesses by the wicked. The world regards with respect only those who are arrogant, harsh and given to meting out strong punishments.
“Men of your caliber never give way to anger. Your purpose will surely be achieved without such violence.”
“Every element has its natural state, O Rama. My nature is to be fathomless and unfordable. I did not wish to deviate from my constitutional position, neither from infatuation nor from fear. Nevertheless, I shall tell you the means by which I may be crossed by your army. The monkey named Nala is a son of Vishvakarma, the heavenly architect. He can construct a bridge over me which I will sustain.”
