Week 3 Story: Shoorpankha's Trick

Author's note: In the Ramayana, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are in exile. The demon Shoorpankha sees Rama and Sita, and lusts after Rama. She tries to persuade him to marry her. Rama, in his perfection, sees her for what she is and rebukes her. Shoorpankha goes to her brother, Ravana, and tells him of Sita's beauty, hoping if he steals Sita, then Rama can be hers. It works, and Ravana falls madly in love with Sita. He has his uncle, Marecha disguise himself as a golden deer and present himself to Sita. Sita demands that Rama capture the deer for her, despite his warning that it is a trap, which leads to her eventual capture.

I did not like the infallibility of Rama. It is boring to have a character that is So Perfect, in my opinion. I also did not like that it is Sita's greed for the Golden Deer that allows her to be captured. So, in my story, no one is perfect. Sita, Rama, and Lakshmana are all deceived in one way or another. And, without spoiling the ending, I chose to give Sita the characteristic of Trust instead of Greed. 

The Luminous Rama and Sita, with a Mareecha the deer.

(Source)

A long long, time ago in a land far, far away, there lived an exiled prince and his bride. They were good and righteous. The prince was named Rama. He was broad and strong and handsome. His bride was named Sita. She was lithe and willowy and beautiful. Though they had been exiled from their kingdom, they lived happily with each other, and with Rama's brother Lakshmana.

One day, a demon was wandering the woods looking for mischief to get into. She happened upon the hut where Rama and Sita lived with Lakshmana. She saw Rama working in the garden, sweat glistening on his bare back as he turned the soil. She saw instantly that he was strong, but tender. He worked hard, and provided for those he cared about. She fell madly in love, and decided that she must have him for her own. 

She quickly came up with a plan, and used magic to transform herself from a terrifying demon into a beautiful maiden. She approached him, calling out in greeting. He looked up from his work.

"My what a beautiful garden," she said sweetly.

"Why, thank you," He replied. " It provides bountifully for my wife and brother."

Her expression soured for a brief moment before she put on a demure smile once again. The brother and wife would have to be taken care of if she was to have her prize.

"I had better be on my way. I have a ways to go before nightfall," she said.

He bid her farewell, and returned to his work, unsettled by the encounter. She had seemed kind enough, but he had seen her face drop at the mention of Sita and Lakshmana, and she hurried off so quickly. Something was amiss.

The demon, who was named Shoorpankha, brooded over what was to be done about Sita and Lakshmana. She decided to call upon her brother and uncle to assist her. Together they came up with a devious plan.

Shoorpankha's uncle, Mareecha transformed to look like a deer, with an arrow stuck in its side. Rama saw Mareecha disguised as a deer, and took pity on it. He instructed Lakshmana to go and ensure it suffered no longer. 

Not long after, Shoorpankha hid in the woods just far enough from the hut that she was entirely obscured by the trees. She magically changed her voice to match Lakshmana's, and called out, "Oh brother! Help me! In pursuit of the deer, I have fallen and hurt myself. I cannot get back on my own."

Rama rushed to assist his brother. 

As Rama arrived, Shoorpankha captured him.

After a while, Sita began to wonder what had become of Lakshmana and Rama. They should have been back by now. She grabbed some bandages and a small knife, and set off to see what the delay was. 

Upon hearing Sita approaching, Shoorpankha panicked, but she quickly realized this was an opportunity to punish Sita for being the wife of the man who so clearly belonged to her. She transformed into the beautiful maiden once again, and wrestled Rama to the ground.

They tossed and tumbled, and Shoorpankha cried out as Sita approached, "Oh my love! And you are sure your wife will not find us?"

Sita instantly flew into a rage. She leapt at the two and buried the knife in Shoorpankha's chest. Shoorpankha looked up at her in disbelief, before reverting to her demonic form and falling back, dead.

She helped Rama to his feet.

"But how did you know she was a demon?" he asked, incredulous.

"I did not," she replied. "But I knew that you would never betray me. I knew it must have been a trick. "

Bibliography.

The Ramayana, By R.K. Narayan