LAVA KUSA (UTTARAKANDA)
There was no end to the wars
On the underworld Nagas,
And other powerful giants,
As Ravana was keen on fights.
Having conquered Lord Yama,
He fought with the sons of Varuna,
The rain god, and defeated them,
Claiming a false victory this time.
The sons didn’t fight the war
Just not out of their fear,
But on Brahma’s advice,
Not to make his boons false.
On his way back to Lanka,
The blood thirsty Ravana,
Killed many kings, rishis,
And took their maidens.
He took virgin daughters
Of Nagas and Yakshas,
Who were so helpless
To defend themselves.
These girls were taken
In his aerial car then.
While they shed tears
And shuddered with fears.
Thinking of their mothers,
Fathers, husbands, brothers,
They were all afraid
And aloud they cried.
An army of strong Daityas,
Known as the Kalakeyas,
Numbering fourteen thousand,
All of them were exterminated.
In that war Ravana killed
Also his sister’s husband
Who was one among them
And stood against him.
Surpanakha, his sister, said,
“Oh Brother, why you killed,
Even in conflicts, my husband?
As a widow now I stand.”
“Don’t you feel abashed?
You could have spared
His life as the lover
Of your younger sister.”
Ravana consoling her said,
“Don’t weep, Oh my child,
I couldn’t recognize him,
When he was with them.”
“Against an army of enemies,
I sent arrows after arrows,
Of which one arrow killed
Accidentally your husband.”
“I shall compensate you,
And riches I’ll give you.
King Khara, being your cousin,
Will henceforth be your guardian.”
In the dense Dhandaka forest,
The ruler Khara took rest,
And there Surpanakha lived
Having lost her husband.
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