THE SOORPANAKHA EPISODE

Some critic might ask whether it was proper thus to torment a woman, especially a woman in love. But if we exercise our imagination and have before us a monster of ugliness we can understand the situation. It is true that she could assume a charming form she chose, but in the intoxication of lust, she seems to have omitted even this allurement.

"This ugly, corpulent and paunchy Raakshasi, with leering eyes blood-shot with lust, her red hair all dishevelled and her voice hoarse with passion, accosted the handsome, beautifully built and smiling Raama", says Vaalmeeki. The Tamil poet Kam ban varies the situation by making Soorpanakha assume a lovely shape from the outset.

Impelled by brute passion, the Raakshasi did as she was told by Lakshmana and went again to Raama. She thought and acted like a Raakshasi for she knew no other way of life.

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