Markandeya Narrates the Exile of Rama

Markandeya continued his story. When Rama had departed for the forest, following the dharma of the time, King Dasharatha gave up his body. The grief of losing his son broke him. With Rama gone and the king dead, Kaikeyi had Bharata brought before her. "Dasharatha has gone to heaven. Rama and Lakshmana have left for the forest. Accept this large kingdom, without any obstacles, and with all its thorns removed." Bharata, with dharma in his soul, replied: "You have committed a violent deed. Out of avarice for riches, you have killed your husband and destroyed this lineage. O mother! O destroyer of the lineage! You have brought ill fame on my head. Satisfy your desire now." He wept. Then, before all the subjects, he showed what kind of man he was. He set out after his brother Rama, determined to bring him back. He placed Kousalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra in vehicles behind him. With Shatrughna, the priests Vasishtha and Vamadeva, thousands of brahmanas, and the residents of the city and the country, he went miserably into the forest. He found Rama and Lakshmana in Chitrakuta, dressed in the ornaments of ascetics, a bow in Rama's hand. Bharata begged him to return. But Rama was fixed on making his father's promise come true. He dismissed his brother. Bharata returned to Nandigrama and ruled the kingdom with Rama's sandals placed before him — a symbol that he was only a regent, not the true king. Rama, concerned that the people might follow him again, entered the great forest near the hermitage of Sharabhanga. He paid his respects to the sage and found refuge in Dandakaranya, living along the banks of the Godavari. While he lived there, a great enmity grew between Rama and the rakshasas. It began with Shurpanakha, Ravana's sister. She approached Rama in the forest, and when she was rejected, she attacked Sita. Lakshmana cut off her nose and lips. She fled to her brother Khara, who ruled in Janasthana. Khara came with fourteen thousand rakshasas to destroy Rama. Rama killed them all. He killed Khara and Dushana. He brought safety to the forest. Shurpanakha, with her nose and lips sliced off and dried blood on her face, went to her brother's abode in Lanka. She fell at Ravana's feet, unconscious with grief. When Ravana saw her so mutilated, he became senseless with anger. He gnashed his teeth. He jumped up from his seat. He dismissed his advisers and asked her privately: "O fortunate one! Who has done this to you, without thinking of me and disrespecting me? Who has had a sharp spear pierced all over his body? Who is sleeping securely and happily, having lit a fire by his head? Who has kicked a terrible and virulent serpent? Who has touched the teeth of a lion with manes?" As he spoke, sparks of flame issued from the openings in his body, like from the hollows of a flaming tree at night. Shurpanakha told him everything — about Rama's valour, about the defeat of Khara and Dushana and all the rakshasas. Ravana decided what must be done. He comforted his sister. He made arrangements for the protection of Lanka. Then he rose into the sky, crossed the mountains Trikuta and Kala, and saw the great deep ocean, the abode of makaras (sea monsters). He passed over it and went to Gokarna, the beloved region of the wielder of the trident — Shiva's own place. There he went to Maricha, his former adviser. Maricha, because of his fear of Rama, had become an ascetic. The stage was set. Ravana would not let his sister's mutilation go unanswered. He would find a way to strike at Rama — and that way would lead through Sita.