Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

"Thou"Myths of the Hindus SP BuddhistsHis wont was to destroy the sacrifices of Brahmans andto possess the wives of others not to be slain by gods orghosts or birds or serpents.Now Surpanakha came to herbrother and showed her wounds, and told him of Rama andSita, and taunted him for unkingly ways in that he tookno revenge for the slaughter of his subjects and his brother ;then she urged him to bring away Sita and make her hiswife.So he took his chariot and fared along by the seato a great forest to consult again with Maricha, who dweltthere in a hermitage practising self-restraint.Maricha counselled Ravana not to meddle with Rama.wouldst get off easily,"he said, if Rama,once angered, left a single rakshasa alive, or heldhis hand from destroying thy city of Lanka." ButRavana was fey,and boasted that Rama would be an easyHe blamed Maricha for ill-will toward himself, andprey.threatened him with death. Then Maricha out of fearconsented, though he looked for no less than death fromRama when they should meet again. Then Ravana waspleased, and, taking Maricha in his car, set out for Rama shermitage, explaining how Sita should be taken by a ruse.The Golden DeerMaricha, obedient to Ravana, assumed the form of a goldendeer and ranged about the wood near Rama s hut : itshorns were liketwin jewels, its face was piebald, its earslike two blue lotus-flowers, its sleek sides soft as the petalsof a flower, its hoofs as black as jet,its haunches slender,its lifted tail of every colour of the rainbow a deer-formsuch as this he took ! His back was starred with goldand silver, and he ranged about the forest lawns seekingto be seen by Sita. And when she saw him she wasastonished and delighted, and called to Rama and Laksh-