Brutality of Lakshmana Lakshmana had been standing at his post for hours. Rama requested that he remain and guard their shelter and Sita while he went to take a bath and pray, as he did every morning. He was posted in his usual location, lurking in the shadows of the trees. But this morning seemed different than usual mornings. There was a white mist hovering in the air, and it brought to Lakshama feelings of paranoia. “It feels as though demons prowl in the air surrounding me this morning,” Lakshmana thought to himself. The ominous environment seemed to asphyxiate Lakshmana, making him painfully aware that something was terribly wrong. He eyes jerked backed and forth from Sita to the house. The fog shrouded his vision. After several minutes passed, Lakshmana saw a shadow move rapidly along the perimeter of the hut. He sprinted like a cheetah, but was as quiet as a mouse. As he followed the shadow until he made out the form of the demon Soorpanaka, whom Rama had banished from the hut the day before. Lakshama tracked Soorpanaka into the darkness with the dreadful awareness that Sita was being hunted and this dark relentless force would not rest until it got what it wanted from Sita. Soorpanaka grasped Sita causing rage to swell and burst in Lakshmana’s very core. It took over him in such a way that he could not contain it. It seeped from his very being. He pounced on Soorpanaka like a lion on a deer, ready to tear into his prey. He felt no compassion for Soorpanaka, as if his every mercy had been been leeched from his body and his usual empathy for the female form had metamorphosed into something more sinister. He kicked at Soorpanaka, landing his foot into her stomach with tremendous force. He gasped incredulously and his face changed form. The conscience that seemed to abandon him slowly returned to combat the darkness. Lakshmana’s heart, which was always centered, strong and merciful, caused a struggle within him that would enable him to spare Soorpanaka’s life. However, his darkness would not let her walk away unscathed. His eyes filled with rage, and Lakshmana took out his sword and mutilated Soorpanaka, cutting off her nose, ears, and breasts. This sense of rage did not seem to leave him. His mind kept telling him to plunge his sword straight into her chest, but his heart told him differently. Soorpanaka began to howled curses in anguish, causing Rama to rush over. She pleaded for her brothers to appear and destroy Lakshmana and his brother for their iniquities. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. At her demands, Lakshmana’s rage grew as did his effort to stifle it. It antagonized him and overtook his senses. Lakshmana was able to rein these feelings as Rama and Soorpanaka conversed, but it wasn’t easy. He listened; enraged by the words she spoke. She was trying to convince Rama to assemble with her and her brothers. Lakshmana found great displeasure in this. He stood there battling with his emotions, contemplating his next move. When Rama dismissed her plan, she suddenly changed her whole point of view, claiming they should team up against the asuras and he should let her marry Lakshmana. At hearing this, Lakshmana then forfeited himself to his darkness,demanding that Rama put an end to her, for what she was saying was evil. Rama warned Soorpanaka that if she did not leave, he would grant Lakshmana his wishes. After hearing this last threat, Soorpanaka left in agony. When she was out of sight, the mist and fog that had been drooping over them for hours seemed to vanish, and dry, cool air took its place. The sun was shining brighter than it had the entire day. The sudden change in the weather to brought relief and comfort to shaken Lakshmana, and his rage flowed from his body, leaving him refreshed and relieved that he did not bring death to the demon Soorpanaka.
Lakshmana’s Rage
Tristin Bell
Brutality of Lakshmana
Lakshmana had been standing at his post for hours. Rama requested that he remain and guard their shelter and Sita while he went to take a bath and pray, as he did every morning. He was posted in his usual location, lurking in the shadows of the trees. But this morning seemed different than usual mornings. There was a white mist hovering in the air, and it brought to Lakshama feelings of paranoia. “It feels as though demons prowl in the air surrounding me this morning,” Lakshmana thought to himself.
The ominous environment seemed to asphyxiate Lakshmana, making him painfully aware that something was terribly wrong. He eyes jerked backed and forth from Sita to the house. The fog shrouded his vision. After several minutes passed, Lakshmana saw a shadow move rapidly along the perimeter of the hut. He sprinted like a cheetah, but was as quiet as a mouse. As he followed the shadow until he made out the form of the demon Soorpanaka, whom Rama had banished from the hut the day before. Lakshama tracked Soorpanaka into the darkness with the dreadful awareness that Sita was being hunted and this dark relentless force would not rest until it got what it wanted from Sita.
Soorpanaka grasped Sita causing rage to swell and burst in Lakshmana’s very core. It took over him in such a way that he could not contain it. It seeped from his very being. He pounced on Soorpanaka like a lion on a deer, ready to tear into his prey. He felt no compassion for Soorpanaka, as if his every mercy had been been leeched from his body and his usual empathy for the female form had metamorphosed into something more sinister. He kicked at Soorpanaka, landing his foot into her stomach with tremendous force. He gasped incredulously and his face changed form. The conscience that seemed to abandon him slowly returned to combat the darkness. Lakshmana’s heart, which was always centered, strong and merciful, caused a struggle within him that would enable him to spare Soorpanaka’s life. However, his darkness would not let her walk away unscathed. His eyes filled with rage, and Lakshmana took out his sword and mutilated Soorpanaka, cutting off her nose, ears, and breasts. This sense of rage did not seem to leave him. His mind kept telling him to plunge his sword straight into her chest, but his heart told him differently.
Soorpanaka began to howled curses in anguish, causing Rama to rush over. She pleaded for her brothers to appear and destroy Lakshmana and his brother for their iniquities. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. At her demands, Lakshmana’s rage grew as did his effort to stifle it. It antagonized him and overtook his senses.
Lakshmana was able to rein these feelings as Rama and Soorpanaka conversed, but it wasn’t easy. He listened; enraged by the words she spoke. She was trying to convince Rama to assemble with her and her brothers. Lakshmana found great displeasure in this. He stood there battling with his emotions, contemplating his next move. When Rama dismissed her plan, she suddenly changed her whole point of view, claiming they should team up against the asuras and he should let her marry Lakshmana. At hearing this, Lakshmana then forfeited himself to his darkness,demanding that Rama put an end to her, for what she was saying was evil. Rama warned Soorpanaka that if she did not leave, he would grant Lakshmana his wishes.
After hearing this last threat, Soorpanaka left in agony. When she was out of sight, the mist and fog that had been drooping over them for hours seemed to vanish, and dry, cool air took its place. The sun was shining brighter than it had the entire day. The sudden change in the weather to brought relief and comfort to shaken Lakshmana, and his rage flowed from his body, leaving him refreshed and relieved that he did not bring death to the demon Soorpanaka.