Tales from the Hindu Dramatists | Page 8

bow of that divinity. The hero comes to Videha, the palace of Janaka,
to defy the insulter of his god and preceptor. He enters the interior of
the palace, the guards and attendants being afraid to stop him, and calls
upon Rama to show himself. The young hero is proud of Parasurama's
seeking him and anxious for the encounter but detained awhile by Sita's
terrors: at last the heroes meet. Parasurama alludes to his own history
how he, having overcome his fellow-pupil, Kartikeya, in a battle-axe
fight, received his axe from his preceptor, Siva, as the prize of his
prowess.
Parasurama addresses Rama thus:--
"How dost thou presume to bend thy brow in frowns on me? Thou must
be an audacious boy, a scion of the vile Kshatriya race. Thy tender
years and newly wedded bride teach me a weakness I am not wont to
feel.
Throughout the world the story runs, I, Rama, and the son of Jamadgni,
struck off a mother's head with remorseless arm. This vengeful axe has
one and twenty times destroyed the Kshatriya race, not sparing in its
wrath the unborn babe hewn piecemeal in the parent womb.
It was thus I slaked the fires of a wronged father's wrath with blood,
whose torrents, drawn unsparingly from martial veins, fed the vast
reservoir in which I love to bathe."
Rama replies thus:--
"Give over thy vaunts--I hold thy cruelty a crime, not virtue."
The combat between the two Ramas is suspended by the arrival of

Janaka and Satananda, and Rama's being summoned to attend the
Kanchana Mochana, the loosening of Sita's golden bracelet.
Parasurama awaits Ramachandra's return. He is accosted in succession
by Vasishtha, Viswamitra, Satananda, Janaka and Dasaratha, who first
endeavour to soothe and then to terrify him; but he outbullies them all:
at last Ramachandra returns from the string-removing ceremony and is
heard calling on Parasurama, and the combat ensues. Ramachandra
comes out victorious.
The two kings Janaka and Dasaratha congratulate each other on the
victory of Ramachandra. Parasurama is now as humble as he was
before arrogant: he calls upon the earth to hide his shame. Whilst Rama
regrets Bhargava's departure, Surpanakha, disguised as Manthara, the
favourite of Kaikeyi, Dasaratha's second wife, arrives with a letter to
Rama, requesting him to use his influence with his father to secure
Kaikeyi the two boons which Dasaratha was pledged to grant her;
specifying one to be her son Bharata's inauguration, and the other,
assent to Rama's voluntary exile. In the meantime, Dasaratha, who has
determined to raise Rama to the participation of regal dignity,
communicates his intention to his son. Rama replies by informing him
of Kaikeyi's message, and is earnest with his father to accede to her
request.
Bharata and his maternal uncle Yuddhajit arrive, and ask Dasaratha to
crown Rama and all are full of wonder and concern: however, as there
is no help for it, Dasaratha consents and orders preparations for the
ceremony.
Lakshmana and Sita are alone to accompany Rama, on which her father
Janaka exclaims, "My child, what happiness it will be to wait upon thy
husband in the hour of trouble, permitted to partake and cheer his
wanderings!" Bharata requests permission to go with them, but Rama
refuses his assent; on which his brother begs his golden shoes of him,
promising to instal them in the kingdom, and rule thereafter as their
representative. The seniors are led out in deep despondency, and Rama
with his brother and wife set off to the woods.

A dialogue opens between the two birds, Jatayu and Sampati, the
vulture-descendants of Kasyapa, who have seen successive creations.
They relate Rama's progress towards the south; and Sampati, the elder
leaves his brother Jatayu, with strict injunctions to assist Rama, if
needed. He then goes to the ocean to perform daily duties and Jatayu to
Malaya. Jatayu perches on the mountain and marks the hero Rama in
pursuit of the swift deer. Lakshmana directs his remote course thither.
A holy seer approaches the bower and the dame gives him meet
welcome. His form expands.
It is he, the felon Ravana--his train crowd from the groves; he seizes
upon Sita--he mounts the car. Jatayu cries shame on his birth and
threatens to rend his limbs and revel in his gore. Jatayu is, however,
killed in the conflict. Rama raves with indignation. The brothers set off
in pursuit of the ravisher, when Sramana, a female devotee sent by
Vibhishana to Rama, calls for succour being seized by Kabandha, a
headless fiend. Rama sends Lakshmana to her rescue; he goes off to kill
the demon and returns with the dame. She gives Rama a note from
Vibhishana praying for his refuge. Rama asks Lakshmana what reply to
be sent to (his) "dear friend--lord of Lanka" and Lakshman replies that
those