Part 6: Story of Vanamālā

Jānakī, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa, traveling day by day, having left the forest, reached Vijayapura at twilight. In a garden outside to the northwest they stopped under a very large banyan tree near the palace. The king in this city was named Mahīdhara, his wife was named Indrāṇī, and their daughter Vanamālā. Even as a child, Vanamālā desired Saumitri for a husband, no one else, because she had heard of his wealth of virtues and beauty. Mahīdhara heard at that time that King Daśaratha had become a mendicant and that Rāma and Saumitri had departed, and he was much depressed. Mahīdhara promised Vanamālā to Surendrarūpa, the son of King Vṛṣabha in Candranagara.

When Vanamālā heard that, she determined to die and, alone, went by fate to that garden during that night (when they were there). After entering the temple, she made a pūjā to the forest-deity and said, “May Saumitri be my husband in another birth.” She went to the banyan tree and was seen by Lakṣmaṇa who was awake, a watchman for the sleeping Jānakī and Rāma. Saumitri thought: “Is this a forest-deity, or the presiding deity of the banyan, a Yakṣiṇī?” While he was thinking, she climbed the banyan and Lakṣmaṇa climbed it also, wondering, “What is she going to do?” With hands folded submissively, she said: “Mothers! Goddesses of the forest, of the directions, of the sky! All of you hear my prayer. Since Lakṣmaṇa was not my husband in this birth, may he be in another birth, if there is devotion on my part to him.”

With these words she made a noose from her outer garment, tied it to the banyan and quickly hanged herself. Saying, “Fair lady, do not be rash. I am Lakṣmaṇa,” Lakṣmaṇa took off the noose and took her down. In the last part of the night Lakṣmaṇa related the complete story of Vanamālā to Rāma and Sītā who had wakened. Her face veiled from shame, Vanamālā at once bowed to the lotus-feet of Jānakī and Rāma.

Now Indrāṇī, wife of King Mahīdhara, missed Vanamālā and shrieked pitiably. Mahīdhara went out to search for Vanamālā and, wandering back and forth, saw her standing there. When the soldiers cried with raised weapons, “Kill! kill the kidnapers of the princess,” the younger brother of Rāma stood up angrily. He put the string on the bow, like an eyebrow on the forehead, and made a twanging noise which destroyed the enemy’s arrogance. The enemy were terrified, trembled, and fell at the sound of the bow; Mahīdhara stood before Saumitri himself and looked at him. After observing him, he said, “Unstring your bow, Saumitri. You, longed for, have come because of my daughter’s merit.” When Saumitri had unstrung the bow, Mahīdhara, being comfortable, noticed Rāma, descended from his excellent chariot, and bowed to him. He said to him: “Even before, I intended this girl for your brother Saumitri, because she herself was in love with him. Now a meeting between them has taken place by my good fortune. Certainly, Lakṣmaṇa as a son-in-law is not easy to obtain, nor you as a connection.” With these words Mahīdhara led Jānakī, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa to his own palace with great honor.

One day while they were there, a messenger from King Ativīrya came and said to King Mahīdhara while he was in the council: “The king of Nandyāvartapura, Ativīrya, an ocean of strength, summons you for assistance in a quarrel with Bharata that has arisen. Many kings have come in Dāśarathi’s army. Therefore, you, very powerful, are summoned by Ativīrya.” Lakṣmaṇa asked, “What is the reason for the quarrel of the king of Nandyāvarta with King Bharata?” The messenger replied: “Our master wishes homage from Bharata, but he is not willing to give it. That is the cause of the quarrel.” Rāma asked the messenger, “Is Bharata a match for Ativīrya in battle, sir, that he disdains service to him?” The messenger said: “Our Ativīrya is very powerful; Bharata is no ordinary person. Therefore, which one of the two will be victorious is in doubt.”

Saying to the messenger, “I shall come quickly,” the king dismissed him and said to Rāma: “Alas for the ignorance of this Ativīrya of little wit that he intends to fight with Bharata, after summoning us. Going with a complete army we, our hostility being unknown, shall kill him, as if at Bharata’s command.” Rāma said, “You stay here. I shall go there with your sons and their armies and shall do whatever is suitable.” He agreed, “Very well!” and Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa, accompanied by his sons’ armies, went to Nandyāvartapura.

Rāma camped in a garden outside and the deity of the place said to him, “Noble sir, what wish can I perform for you?” Rāghava replied, “Nothing needs to be done for us,” and she said, “Nevertheless, I shall confer assistance.

I shall turn you and your army into attractive women to disgrace him by people saying, ‘Ativīrya was defeated by women.’” Immediately his army became women, like a kingdom of Amazons; and Rāma and Saumitri became beautiful women. Rāma had the door-keeper announce to the king, “This is his army which was sent by Mahīdhara to your assistance.” Ativīrya said: “Mahīdhara himself did not come. Away with the army of this insolent man who wishes to die. I will conquer Bharata by myself. What need have I of any assistants? Expel this disgraceful army of his quickly.”

Then some one else said, “Not only did he not come himself, but he sent here an army of women to ridicule (us).” Hearing that, the king of Nandyāvarta became exceedingly angry. Rāma and the others came to the door in the form of women. Ativīrya gave orders, “Take these wretched women firmly by the neck, like slaves, and expel them from the city.”

His vassals arose with their soldiers on all sides and, powerful, started to attack the army of women. Rāmabhadra pulled up a long elephant-pillar with his arm-pillar, turned it into a weapon, and felled them on all sides. Deeply incensed by the destruction of his vassals, Ativīrya himself rose up for battle and drew his terrifying sword. Then Lakṣmaṇa cut down the sword instantly, dragged him by the hair and bound him with his garment. Seizing him, like a tiger seizing a deer, the man-tiger set out, watched by the people of the city with eyes trembling from terror. Then Maithilī, compassionate, had him set free and Saumitri made him acknowledge service to Bharata immediately. Then the place-deity destroyed the Women’s clothes of them all and Ativīrya recognized Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. Ativīrya made a great pūjā to them and, being a proud man, thought very much about disgust with existence because of the ruin to his pride.

“Shall I serve another?” Proud in his heart, he settled the kingdom on his son Vijayaratha, intending to take initiation. Though opposed by Rāma: “You are a second Bharata to me. Rule the earth. Do not become a mendicant,” he, noble-minded, became a mendicant. His son, Vijayaratha, gave his sister, Ratimālā, to Lakṣmaṇa and he accepted her. Rāma and his army went to Vijayapura, but Vijayaratha went to Ayodhyā to serve Bharata. Bharata, a mountain of dignity, knew his story and honored him when he arrived. For the good are devoted to the humble. He gave his sister, Vijayasundarī, younger than Ratimālā, the best of women, to King Bharata. Then in his wandering, Ativīrya came as a muni and King Bharata praised him and asked his forgiveness. Dismissed with favor by King Bharata, Vijayaratha went joyfully to Nandyāvartapura.

When Rāma was ready to go, having taken leave of Mahīdhara, Lakṣmaṇa said good-by to Vanamālā, intending to leave. Her eyes filled with tears, Vanamālā said: “Why did you save my life before, uselessly, lord of my life? A painless death then would have been better, my dear, than the pain, resembling a half-death, which comes from separation from you. Since you married me just now, take me with you, lord. Otherwise, death will take me away, using the pretext of separation from you.” Lakṣmaṇa pacified her: “I am my brother’s servant. Do not be an obstacle to my service by going along, proud lady. When we have found a very superior place such as desired, fair lady, I will join you again. For you are dwelling in my heart. To make you trust that I will return I will take any of the terrible oaths that you want me to take.”

She had Saumitri take an oath, “If I do not come again, may I be seized by the sin of people eating at night.”^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

It is forbidden for Jains to eat at night.