Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

Ramayana: A Divine Drama – Vol. V
ENCOUNTER WITH THE RAKSHASA HORDES:
Surpanakha cries piteously:
In the forest, Lakshmana cut off the nose and ears of
Surpanakha. (SSS Vol.34 p.74) She went straight to the demon
chieftains, Khara and Dushana in the Dandaka forest and wailed,
“How can you bear silently this insult and injury dealt to your
sister For what purpose have you stored so much of valour and
might It is better you burn them into ashes. Are you masculine
Can you call yourselves so Shame on you and your boast of
heroism.” They could not understand what had happened to her,
and who had deformed her so piteously. (RKRV Part II p.31)
Khara and Dushana enquire as to who inflicted the injury:
They asked her, “Sister! Who inflicted this injury Tell us. We
shall wreak vengeance with all our might.” At this, Surpanakha
started retelling her story. She began with an elaborate
description of the charm and captivating beauty of Rama and
Lakshmana. Hearing this, the brothers got wild and inquired why
she was wasting her time and theirs with that superfluous
prologue, “Tell us, who injured you Who defaced you” Then,
she informed them all what had happened in the forest. (RKRV
Part II p.31-32)
Khara and Dushana march with army to avenge the
deformation to their sister:
Khara and Dushana were highly incensed at the plight of their
sister whose ears and nose had been slit. They collected an army
of fourteen thousand ogres and marched in hot haste towards
Rama and Lakshmana, the brothers who had punished her in that
manner. The ogre warriors were so indomitable that they could
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