66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

movements of Sita, she failed to notice that she was being
watched. Lakshmana had posted himself, as normally he
did, on an eminence shaded with trees, and was watching in
all directions. When he saw Soorpanaka near the hut, he
became alert; when he found her stalking Sita, he sprang
down on her. She had just laid hands on Sita, when she
found herself grabbed, held down by her hair, and kicked in
the stomach.
“Oh! a woman!” Lakshmana muttered, and decided to
spare her life. Instead of taking out his arrow, he pulled out
his sword and chopped off her nose, ears, and breasts.
When his anger subsided, he let go her hair.
When Rama returned home from the river, she was
mutilated and bloody and screaming her life out. Lamenting
to the skies, she called upon her powerful brothers, reciting
their valour in all the worlds; repeating again and again how
impossible that the sister of such eminent personages
should have to suffer this mutilation and humiliation in the
hands of two ordinary human beings, dressed as ascetics
but carrying arms and attacking people treacherously. To
think that human creatures, which served as food for her
poor relations, should have dared to do this to Ravana’s
sister! …
Rama did not ask, “What has happened?” but “Who are
you in such a bloody state? Where do you come from?”
She replied, “Don’t you know me? Why do you pretend?