Artist : Putul Chitrakar
Transcript
The wedding was over.
Ramchandra crossed the river.
To keep his father’s promise,
Went into exile.
Ramchandra led.
Janaki followed.
The archer Lakshman followed them both.
The sun was blazing hot.
And the sand below was hot too.
Sita was weak;
Could not walk any further.
Breaking the branch of a tree,
Lakshman placed it on his head.
Asked Lakshmi to walk slowly under its shade.
The two brothers made a hut out of leaves.
Rama and Sita were playing the game of dice.
Lakshman was standing guard.
Surpanakha came in search of flowers.
Lakshman held her nose and cut it off.
Surpanakha went back to Lanka with her nose and threw herself at her brother Ravana’s feet.
The clever king Ravana came up with a wise plan.
Seeing his sister’s state, furious with anger,
He called Marich and outlined his plan.
Said, “Marich, go to the Panchavati forest where Rama, Lakshman and Sita are staying.
While Rama goes away to kill you,
You should call out, “Dearest brother Lakshman.”
These few words Ravana taught Marich.
Marich then changed his form into a deer.
Oh! What a splendid sight it was to see the deer dancing in a beautiful rhythm.
Seeing this, Chandramukhi (Sita) called Raghuvara (Rama).
Holding the dice humbly, requested Chandramukhi,
“Catch that deer and make me happy.
We two will play dice,
Sitting in the forest.
We will overcome sorrows and joys,
Looking at the deer.”
“Listen Lakshman, I’m going to catch the deer to fulfill Sita’s request.
Until I come back to the hut,
You keep a watch on Sita.”
At a little distance, Ramchandra killed Marich.
Marich, in disguise, started crying loudly.
Sita heard the voice of Marich, repeatedly calling out to Lakshman.
“Lakshman, go and search for your brother.”
“Brother has asked me to keep watch on you.
How I can leave you?
Now, you are telling me to go out. But why?”
“Lakshman, I clearly understand your intentions.
If my husband dies, you would be Janaki’s companion.”
“Shame, shame”, Lakshman touched his ears.
“You are like my mother Sumitra.”
Lakshman drew a boundary line around Sita and departed.
Ravana came out from under the banyan tree.
“Give alms, give me alms, Mother.
Please give me quickly so that I can move elsewhere.”
If he didn’t get alms, he said he would rather give up his life.
Afraid of killing a man, Sita trembled in fear.
Sita crossed the boundary to give alms.
Suddenly the king lifted her off.
The chariot started flying.
Here I end the narration in verses.
My name is Putul Chitrakar.
Paschim Medinipur.
Thank you.