July 29 - Sargas 4 and 5 of Aranya Kanda.
The encounter with Viradha ends well. Sri Rama has the darshan of the great sage Sharabhanga just before his departure to Brahma Loka escorted by Indra as the fruit of his astounding tapas.
Rama also gets advice on how to decide where to set up his hermitage.
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Valmiki does not lose this opportunity to show us the fright and turmoil in Sita's mind as she sees her husband Rama and her brother-in-law Lakshmana being carried away by a monster.
एष दाशरथी रामः सत्यवाञ्छीलवाञ्शुचिः ।
रक्षसा रौद्ररूपेण ह्रियते सहलक्ष्मणः ॥
मामृक्षा भक्षयिष्यन्ति शार्दूलद्वीपिनस्तथा ।
मां हरोत्सृज काकुत्स्थौ नमस्ते राक्षसोत्तम ॥
"Alas, this Sri Rama, son of King Dasharatha, righteous, always noble in conduct and exemplifying purity, is being carried away by this hideous demon, along with Lakshmana!
" I am then going to be eaten up by bears, tigers, and leopards! Oh, fate! Mr. Viradha, best among monsters, I bow down to you and beseech you to leave these two princes of Ayodhya. Instead please carry me away!"
Sita's cry shakes Sri Rama and Lakshmana into action. They know that weapons cannot harm Viradha. So, sitting on his shoulders, they start pummelling him into pulp. Whereas Lakshmana destroys his left arm, Sri Rama destroys his right arm. The demon is all but killed and falls down. The two brothers beat him into a pulp. They also pierce him with arrows and their swords. But the demon does not die.
Sri Rama tells Lakshmana that by the power of his boons, Viradha will not die. It is better that Lakshmana digs up a huge pit and they bury him.
Just then Viradha speaks.
"Oh Rama, I now know who you are. Know me to be in reality a gandharva (celestial) called Tumburu who was cursed to become a demon by Kubera. I incurred his wrath and also messed with Rambha. While cursing me, Kubera told me that I would be liberated from this demonic state when I would be killed by Sri Rama, son of Dasharatha.
" It is but proper that demons are buried. So please carry out your plan and liberate me."
As Sri Rama stands with his foot on Viradha's neck, Lakshmana works like the Army Engineering Corps and digs up a huge pit. Sri Rama and Lakshmana drag Viradha and put him into the pit.
Before they cover up the pit, Viradha says to Sri Rama that not very far from that spot is the hermitage of an extraordinary sage, Sharabhanga. It is but proper that they immediately proceed for his darshan.
***
Sri Rama embraces Sita and consoles her. Both Rama and Lakshmana manage to lift her mood up. These two warriors, of divine might, have just accomplished a feat of immeasurable strength.
They proceed to the ashrama of Sharabhanga without delay.
Approaching the hermitage, they witness an incredible sight. Indra, in his full divine splendour, accompanied by celestials and sages singing chants, is in an aerial vehicle drawn by divine horses and protected by the celestial army. Indra is in conversation with Sharabhanga!
सह सम्भाषमाणे तु शरभङ़गेन वासवे ।
दृष्ट्वा शतक्रतुं तत्र रामो लक्ष्मणमब्रवीत् ॥
रामोऽथ रथमुद्दिश्य भ्रातुर्दर्शयताद्भुतम् ।
अर्चिष्मन्तं श्रिया जुष्टमन्तरिक्षगतं रथम् ॥
"Seeing Indra in conversation with Sharabhanga, Sri Rama called Lakshmana's attention to the divine aerial vehicle that was incredibly lustrous like the sun and endowed with all celestial grandeur and suspended in the sky."
Sri Rama tells Lakshmana to take care of Sita and stay rooted at that spot as he goes to meet the sage Sharabhanga. Seeing Rama making his approach, Indra asks the celestials to move the vehicle away! He says to Sharabhanga that Sri Rama should not get his audience until he completes the imminent mission for which Rama has taken birth ( a reference to Vishnu's incarnation as Rama to destroy Ravana).
Indra also remarks to Sharabhanga that indeed, Sri Rama will successfully accomplish his mission in a short time, something impossible for anyone else. All will be well then.
When Sri Rama and Sita and Lakshmana meet the sage Sharabhanga, he receives them with a lot of affection. He informs Sri Rama that Indra had indeed come to take him to Brahma Loka. he asked Indra to wait for a while as he did not want to miss having the meeting with Sri Rama, the high-souled prince. He also adds that the fruits of his severe penance, which include his conquest of all the worlds including Brahma Loka, will now be handed down to Sri Rama with his grace.
Do you know what Sri Rama replies?
अहमेवाहरिष्यामि सरवाल्ँलोकान् महामुने ।
आवासं त्वहमिच्छामि प्रदिष्टमिह कानने ॥
"Oh great sage, I shall by myself earn by tapas all the merits of the Lokas. But I need one favour from you. I want to live in the forest in a suitable place. Be so kind as to guide me where I should make my hermitage."
Sage Sharabhanga looks at Sri Rama, equal to Indra in every way, and shining in his own glory, with respect. He replies that there lives a great sage of incomparable power of tapas nearby. Sri Rama should approach him. The way there is along the bank of Mandakini in the opposite direction. They should approach the sage Suteekshna, for that is his name, with an offering of fruits and flowers. He will take good care of Sri Rama and guide him to the best spot for his residence.
Now Sharabhanga says he will leave his body as his desire to meet Sri Rama has been fulfilled. He requests Sri Rama to witness his departure from his mortal coil.
Sharabhanga kindles a fire by chanting some mantras. He enters the fire. His body and hairs and everything glow brilliantly as he is consumed by the fire. Then he emerges in a youthful, glowing, attractive form and ascends to Brahma Loka (the highest heaven). Brahma is himself waiting to receive the holy sage.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
