66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

wipe them out. So, do not hesitate. No one will dare to say
that I have no nose or ears or breasts. I’ve still eyes, which
can feast on your broad chest and shoulders, and my arms
are intact to embrace you. I love you madly. I’ll be your slave
and make all rakshasas your slaves. I can’t survive without
you. Have pity on me. I’ll do anything you command.” She
was rolling in the dust with blood gushing, but nothing
lessened her ardour. She continued, “My kinsmen are
ruthless, and will be reckless when they find that I have been
injured like this—they will destroy blindly, everything,
including you. They will wipe out mankind. But if you take me,
I can intercede on your behalf, and they will spare you and all
your people… . You’ll be the cause of either the destruction
of mankind or its survival.”
“The longer I let you speak, the worse things you say. Now
go to your own people, and bring back with you all those
powerful men and more. I can meet them, one by one as they
come or all together. I can deal with them. Now begone.
Understand now, my mission in life is to root out the
rakshasas from the face of this earth, and till I achieve it, I’ll
be here.”
Even after suffering mutilation at the hands of Lakshmana,
Soorpanaka stood there and persisted in appealing to
Rama to accept her, hinting that through her magical powers
she could appear beautiful again. At this point Rama felt that
he ought to explain to her who he was, and how he had