By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam-Aranya Kandam 5 (Padalam 11)
11. Ayomukhi Padalam
Chapter on Ayomukhi
(Rama and Lakshmana reach a garden like forest when they are proceeding in search of Sita. Rama asked Lakshmana to bring some water for him to drink. When Lakshmana is searching for water A Rakshasi called Ayomukhi sees him and falls in love with him .When he does not agree for her proposals Ayomukhi makes Lakshmana faint and carries him to her Cave. When Lakshmana does not come back Rama becomes greatly upset. And was about to kill himself. At that time Lakshmana wakes up from his trance and cuts off the nose and ears Of Ayomukhi. Rama and Lakshmana continue their search. In Valmiki Ramayana , they both see Ayomukhi together and when she tries to catch Lakshmana , he cuts off her ears, nose and breasts. They see lot of ill omens after that.)
3541. When the time became late evening , the brothers Rama and Lakshmana ,Started from that place and went and stayed on a very large red mountainWhich was like Kumkum, The darkness which is the place for great sorrow, Rose up like the Rakshasas who could not be controlled by Indra.
3542. Everything like the forests and the mountains seem to get sad for the sake of,Rama and Lakshmana and they dripped honey and waters of streams ,Which looked like they were shedding tears and during the night ,The insult to Rama, his anger and sorrow due to death of Jatayu ,Seemed to fight each other for supremacy and hurt the minds of those two.
3543. Like the wisdom not having the eye sight of philosophy ,Like the one who was born with lie staring at the bad fate ,That eye of the darkness went on growing and could not be destroyed, for them,And their deep breath became like the huge fire on which ghee is poured ,And that long time without activity seemed to be one which did not have any boundary.
3544. That Rama who wore flower garlands from which honey dripped,Had his red eyes which were like lotus flower which were not closing at that night ,And was this because he lost Janaki with a very pretty smile or was it .Because he was not able to see her moon like face ?We are not able to understand the reason for it clearly.
3545. We are not able to understand what thoughts went in the mind of faultless Rama, Due to the great sorrow caused by parting with the pretty Sita Who was like a shining lamp among ladies, but his eyes did not close,That night like the eyes of his younger brother Lakshmana.
3546. For creating love in the mind of the valorous Rama the cool ,Sweet breeze wafted and in the nearby mountain where ,The snake which does not miss its aim was slithering,The white moon with its rays spread and made the sky ,Bright with its cool light , making Rama think that he has seen,The shining pretty face of Sita who wears flower garland ,Frequented by very many bees on the sky.
3547. In that dark night when the proud god of love without form was hiding,That light of the moon which had spread all over the world and troubled Rama,Like the poison coming out from teeth of the poisonous snake of pure darkness.
3548. When the poison like white moon light was troubling that valorous Rama ,T he great sorrow of insult spoiled his great wisdom and bereft of any other thought,He started thinking only about the hips of Sita which was like a hooded serpent ,Her words which were as sweet as the spreading sweetness of milk , And her very long eyes.
3549. With teeth biting his lips due to sorrow of parting and anger with Ravana,With the oft emerging deep breath , suffering due to sorrow , enthusing himself ,With a wish to kill Ravana who broke the tusk of elephants, but having a very weak shoulders ,Rama started thinking about Sita who was like a branch with cool emerging leaves and buds.
3550. Rama who was breathing long which was like the waves in the ocean,Which rise and then stop was thinking that Sita would be seeing the long path,In both directions with a wish that Rama with a bent bow will come to save her.
3551. Rama thought “When that Ravana who had teeth which was separated like lightning, Approached her saying “stop, stop” , whether it would be proper say that ,She did not think about him at all ? What all things she must have thought about me?”
3552. Rama thought “Sita who has lost her luster like that of moon losing its light ,When it was caught in the cruel mouth of the snake whose teeth emits poison,Must be thinking that Rama afraid of the cruel strength of those ,Rakshasas who were having cruel anger and that is why he was not coming.”
3553. He thought “Due to my soul being troubled by the thought of insult that I had, And my unshakable love towards Sita , alternatively again and again ,Is it necessary for me to be holding a bow in my hand?”
3554. That Rama who is considered as the ultimate God by all those ,Who were knowing about the end of the Vedas , looking at his bow,Would laugh thinking that it was of no use to him , seeing at his high shoulders,He would think , this also is useless as it did not help him to protect Sita,And would get startled thinking that he would get a bad name due to his not protecting Sita.
3555. Rama who was breathing with sound “Bom” like an elephant calf,Due to the parting , which was as cruel as the hot wind of summer like God of death,Would think whether she who married him as per Vedic tenets has gone away from him.
3556. He thought, “I who had agreed to stand and protect all beings ,Am not even fit to remove the sorrow of the noble lady ,Wearing several ornaments who is my wife. My strength is indeed great!”
3557. Rama whose mouth and mind had completely dried up,Would lie down on the bed of wet new leaves arranged by his brother,And at that time those leaves would get scalded due to his body heat,And as soon as they are scalded he would sit erect,And with a pain filled soul , would become greatly tired.
3558. Rama who used to feel the time of closing his lotus like eyes,Is thousands of eons , was not able to see the end of night in that bed,And we do not know whether it was due to parting or due to his great love to Sita.
3559. Rama looked at Lakshmana holding the bow of victory in his hand,And asked ,”Have you not seen very many nights along with me,Which were similar , but how come today night ,Appears to be very long unlike all other nights”.
3560. Looking at the moon of the evening which appear s long to lovers,“Whenever I have compared you to the face of Sita , feeling shy,That you are never equal to her , you are becoming thinner and thinner ,And now because her lustrous face with several ornaments are not with me,You seem grow more and more daily and look greatly lustrous.”
3561. ”The sun who has a matchless chariot , moving about in the long sky, Due to the very bad name coming to his clan which was as bright ,As that of the clan of moon , becoming ashamed , must have ,Gone to a hiding place where no one can see him”, he thought.
3562. Becoming very dejected thinking that the night which burns him was very long,Rama thought that perhaps, that Rakshasa carrying a sword , due to his power,Has put in a big prison the Sun God along with Aruna holding the stirrups of the horse.
3563. He thought, “If that Sita who has a waist like a hand drum does not appear ,Before me , before the end of this cruel dark night and coming of dawn,This huge earth surrounded by the oceans would be destroyed by my power”
3564. If Those who give great trouble to sages who do penance by their strength ,Destroy and eat all the beings of the world , and roam about without Dharma ,And are going to get strength and live happily , What is the use of following Dharma” he said.
3565. The God of love who had a bow with a long divine string of crowds of bees,Who sends his flower arrows in his sugar cane bow , stared at Rama ,For the sake of sending his arrows on the faultless Rama ,But not being able to send his arrows , he struggled ,
3566. Due to sorrowing for some sorrowing incident that happened earlierWould some one get strength for a character that one possesses,And the God of love who lost his body due to the anger the primeval Lord Shiva Who did great Yoga, sorrowed greatly thinking of the body that he lost.
3567. Rama who was of blue colour ,When the thoughts of parting with Sita ,Were trying to destroy him like a spear , As if Lord Brahma who was the primeval,Cause for everything and who was born in a lotus flower ,Was saying the time of deluge is over, that night got over.
3568. To Rama who was drowned in the ocean of chastity Of Sita who wore on hair the flowery garland making sounds of bees as well as honey,Who had come to earth detesting the desired sleep on the Ocean of milk with sound of waves,Birds would make sound , gardens would make sound , rivers and streams would make sound ,But if when he dresses up for the battle , the arrows of quiver does not make sound ,Is there any possibility of the great Rama not losing his life?
3569. Rama was seeing peacock and peahen wandering together ,Male and female deer wandering together near to each other,The playing she elephant and male elephant in rut ,Wandering here and there before him and would not Rama who has parted with Sita say,“The sweetness of her voice made one say that the song of the koel,The sweetness of sugarcane juice , The sweetness of well matured honey,The sweetness of the music from flute , The sweetness of well made sugar syrup ,And he sweetness of necatar eaten by every one with relish is not sweetness at all,”And become very unhappy.
3570. The Sun with rays seeing that , the long time of darkness is over ,To show the valorous Rama who has not heard the sweet voice of Sita Who speaks like a parrot ,and who was in the fully open scented lotus flower Just like a swan ,was not there in the flower now , came at the top,Of the rising mountain completely so that all lotus flowers got opened.
3571. Rama would see the garden there , he would see the Chakravaka birds,Living in that garden , he would see the beauty of the flowering branches there,He would see her likeness in the young peacocks , he would then think of Sita,Who had the likeness of all of them . He would then think of her black hair,Her two mountain like breasts , the absence of any work by those breasts,And his shoulders which have not hugged them and spent his time like that,
3572. ,The your hero Lakshmana then saluted the feet of his brother,And son, “Oh elder brother , does the job of sitting here without ,Searching for Sita give us any fame ? And Rama said,“Let us search for the place where that Rakshasa lives ,Continuously “ and those two heroes who carried lustrous bows,Started walking In the hot forests which had continuous mountains?”
3573. Those brothers who were similar to the elephants which carry the directions ,Went through several forests densely filled with green fresh leaves , Crossed several faultless mountains and several forests ,And covered a distance of eighteen Yojanas(36 miles)
3574. After searching and not able to find out, Sita who had come to earth, Due o the penance done by it and who was wearing a honey dripping garland,With the rage in their mind coming out as deep breaths , Rama and Lakshmana, Entered a huge cool garden where birds had taken up their residence.
3575. The Sun who had very hot rays , knowing the sorrow of those valorous ones,After searching for Sita who was a lady everywhere and after ,Wandering through the entire world, went back behind the Meru mountains.
3576. Like the blackness of Kajal getting scared and surrounding ,From all directions , darkness spread everywhere like a not clear ,As well as ignorant mind and speedily all the ten directions became dark.
3577. The nagana birds which have voice like the musical tune “Ili”,Were teaching those sweet words to parrots in that garden,And they seeing a crystal rock which was shining like the moon,And which was surrounded by Murukku trees , decided yo stay there.
3578. Lord Rama after going there seeing the strong Lakshmana,Who was like a bull said, “Oh valorous one , please search for some water,And bring it here” and that Lakshmana who had a bow ,Which made enemies retreat , went away from Rama.
3579. Searching for drinking water everywhere and not finding it ,That Lakshmana was wandering alone like a lion and thenOne Rakshasi called Ayomukhi (iron faced one) who had cruel eyes ,And who was living in the forest , saw him with passion.
3580. She who was angry like a serpent and who,Did not respect the Manthras told by very wise people,Concluded, “He is definitely God of love” and ,Slowly lost her her great pride as well as anger.
3581.That Rakshasi who fell deeply in love with Lakshmana ,With great passion which lead to very great sorrow,Came and stood before Lakshmana due to disease of passion,Thought, “I will hug him but never eat him “ and greatly sorrowed.
3582. That Ayomukhi who was more cruel than the fire , when she neared,With desire to posses him thought, “ If he does not agree ,To my proposal, I will take him to my cave and hug him with force “and and speedily went and stood against Lakshmana.
3583. She used to bring out fire in her heavy breath,Had a stomach which she used to fill up by sweetly , Chewing and eating elephants using her teeth,Had huge breasts tied by the big rope of,Several powerful serpents and had a sunken eyes.
3584-3588.. She wore an anklet made of very strong lions,And Yalis , tied with huge snakes which made sound,And she had a face like the Sun at the final deluge,She had a cave like mouth which was lige a huge ladle,Which could vbe used even to dry an ocean, She had hairs flowing on both sides and which made,Her look like raging burning fire at deluge ,And she was walking with long steps which cannot,Be easily measured like scales and was covering several things,And due to that her liver that she had swallowed was thrown out ,And she had hips like the big snake with a great hood ,She gnashed her teeth creating sound like thunder,She was staring with an angry eye like that of Lord Shiva,She had teeth that shows great cruelty possibly ,Indicating that the anger from her eyes had cooled down,She used to talk so harshly that mountains were displaced ,And the oceans hitting each other made very huge sound,She was walking which made the faultless goddess Lakshmi ashamed,She was wearing several bangles made of serpents in her hand,She was wearing a garland made of several male tigers,She had tied several Yalis and made it her Mangala Suthra ,And also she was wearing several lions as ear ornaments.
3589. She who was looking with coolness using her coloured seed like eyes,From which the red tears flowed due to passion was seen by Lakshmana who was like a fearful lion in darkness in the light of her teeth.
3590. Lakshmana as soon as he saw her realized that ,She was a a lady belonging to the crowd of Rakshasas,Who was like the strong Soorpanakha who lost her nose And became sad and also one who was like Thadaga.
3591. Lakshmana thought that these people who did not have good nature ,And who are sinners did not have a proper reason to approach people like him,And asked,.”Hey woman who are you , who have come inside the forest,Frequented by wild animals in this darkness, Reply me quickly.”
3592. When Lakshmana asked her like this that Ayomukhi who had a swinging mind,Feeling shy to tell about her passion to him personally told him,“Though I did not have any previous relation with you ,I have come with great love towards you and my name is Ayomukhi.”
3593. She further told him, “Oh heroic one who is very pretty ,“Please permit me to hug with my breasts which were not ,Touched by any one else Your gold like very pretty chest ,So that my soul would not go away from me.,”
3594. When she who was in great love with Lakshmana , told like this,Lakshmana who was like an angry lion , getting his eyes more reddish due to anger,Said, “If you tell me such words by your mouth , my matchless ,Very long arrows would cut your body in to pieces.”
3595. Though Lakshmana told these contrary words she did not get angry at him,And folding both hands above her head s told, “Oh Lord “If you come with me and ,Help me to continue to hold this life , I would get the result of this birth.”
3596. That Ayomukhi who was not very angry further said, “oh great one ,If you are searching for good water here , if with you pretty hands ,You give me protection saying , “do not get scared” , then,I would even bring the water from ganges and give it to you .”
3597. Not able to tolerate her words, the son of Sumithra told her,“Before I cut your nose and two ears go away from here with speed,She stood there without blinking her eye and thought like this.
3598. ”I would take him away , keep him in my cave and then removeHis rage and then he would agree to my proposal and I would get joy speedily .And this one will only do good to me “ thinking like this she went near him.
3599. That very cruel Ayomukhi let loose magical illusion before ,She approached and lifted Lakshmana who was like a mountain,Touching the sky and similar to lifting the moon along with the cloud ,she proceeded.
3600. That Ayomukhi who carried Lakshmana looked like the Mandhara mountain,Along with the ocean and looked like she elephant who was consort od Airavatha ,And also looked like the peacock on which Lord Subramanya ,Who had a very powerful spear with which he killed Soorapadma , rode.
3601. In that stage being tightly hugged on her chest That Lakshmana,Wearing pretty heroic anklets and very long bow , looked very pretty,And he was like Lord Shiva who hid behind his great rage behind,The hide of an elephant which had flowing rut.
3602. Like that she hugged and carried him there and in another place,Rama Due to the heat of parting with his wife and also his brother ,Who had gone in search of water in that dense forest thought,“Lakshmana who has the strength of a huge mountain has still ,Not come “ and then he started from there and went in search of him.
3603. ”For coming with speed , he does not lack speed , he is one ,Who does not have the nature of not coming back ,,Does non availability of water in the forest the cause for his delay,Or Has some other accident happened? What is the reason for this ?”
3604. ”When I told him , “go by this way and bring water”,If you have not returned back for this long , it appears that ,You have started a war with those Rakshasas who have kidnapped,Sita who has breasts which are tightly tied with cloth.”
3605. ” Has That Ravana who with deceit has kidnapped Sita ,Who talks as pretty as a parrot kidnapped you also ?Or have you passed away by the cheating of Ravana who is much more cruel than poison?”
3606. ”My younger brother who is my soul and who carries,A huge strong bow has not come back. Has he given up his life ,Thinking that I had to part with Sita because ,I did not care about his very wise words,And had to suffer very great amount of sorrow ?”
3607. ”Lakshmana who has left me in this pitch darkness is like my eyes,,And but for him I do not have any other eyes and in the mind ,Which was sorrowing due to parting of Sita , there is more pain now,I am upset beyond words now, how shall I now search.”
3608. ”Me who has got a bad fate that can never be removed , have now lost you,Who is like my soul like you and who is one who does not have any one to match.Oh younger brother who is like my son , Oh lad who is elder to me in wisdom ,You have done a mistake and this act of yours is very cruel ,And this act of yours would not be accepted by the world.”
3609. “Oh Strong one who can remove sorrows which cannot be removed,You have given sorrow that cannot be removed , Oh valorous one,Who is saluted even by your enemies, How is it that you hate me so much?How is it that without coming here , you have lived there without returning?”
3610. “ In spite of parting with my father , my mothers ,And Sita who is like Goddess Lakshmi and who wears golden ear globes,I am alive , it is because of not parting with your breath in me.”
3611”. Oh Lakshmana who is like a male elephant who came in search of me,You have made me who has been searching for Sita who was wearing in her ears,The golden ear globe and doing penance , come in search of you now .”
3612. ”I would not remain alive today and hearing that ,All our relatives who hear about it also would die ,And you would become the cause of death of all ,Our very united relatives, Oh cruel one, is it OK with you?
3613. In the clan of ours from the time of Mandatha ,After I have forsaken my kingship , when no other,True relatives accompanied me, You alone came with me,Have you also decided to forsake me ?
3614. Our matchless leader Rama saying several things like this,Would get up and then fall down. He would sit and think about it,Get his wisdom diminished and he would say “In this darkness,When there is no thunder or lightning , what is happening .”And like this the miseries that Rama suffered were very greatly.
3615. Rama who was like an elephant which was proud and is in must,Went to several places and searched for his younger brother .Would shout “Lakshmana” and run to different places ,And would become so depressed and would faint.
3616.”Would Lakshmana who used to guard over me and Sita,Who had very great patience without batting an eye ,Delay so much to return? I do not think that I would continue,To live because life has become a burden due to Bad Karma, But I really do not know about it?”
3617-3618. “If I have good fate , let that Lakshmana be born as my elder brother,:Saying this Rama with his valorous and very sharp sword ,Was trying to get rid of his soul and at that time ,Lakshmana got out of the magical illusion of Ayomukhi,And he caught hold of her nose and was cutting it,And due to the great pain , when the Rakshasi shouted , That sound was heard by Rama and he became normal.
3619. Rama thought that , “this is not the sound raised by,Rakshasas whose many heroic anklets make sound ,Who are moving in this forest that is full of pebbles,Nor is it the war cry when they are fighting with each other ,But a sound of the wail of a lady , who is loosing an organ.”
3620. That black coloured Rama , thinking like that , Took out a fire like long arrow by his red hand ,And when he was trying to send it , the darkness ,Left this world and went to the other world,And even that night was looking like the day time.
3621. Then Rama with a speed three times the speed of storm,Rushed to attack her making mountains powdery,Making huge trees break and raising ,Sound “Chata, chata” on all dirctions.
3622. , Seeing his elder brother who was looking like the raising,Black sea at final, deluge was coming at him, Lakshmana,Who was born next , seeing his great protector said,“Oh brother who is angry, Do not sorrow , do not sorrow.”
3623. ,”I have come out , do not be sad due the darkness of ignorance,Lakshmana told in a clear manner and he fell at the feet of Ramawhich was like , the , soft new leaf, and seeing that Rama felt ,As happy as one who regained his lost eye.”
3624. Rama who was shedding tears like stream from his eyes ,Like a cow which was sad due to having lost its calf and ,Not able to bear it was wailing and became like it when suddenly ,That calf comes and joins it and milk comes out of his udder and became extremely joyous.
3625. Then he hugged the golden body of his brother several times ,He bathed him with the copious tears that he was shedding and told him,“Oh Lakshmana who has shoulders like mountain and Kanaya tree,I was worried to see that you were missing and became extremely sad.”
3626. , “What happened there , please tell,” when Rama asked like that ,That Lakshmana told everything in detail, and Rama who did not have ,Anyone greater than him except himself ,Became happy as well as very sad at the same time.”
3627. “Should one who drives a ship in the deep sea become sad, Every time he sees a new tide? And should we who have been caught up ,In the prison of bad fate , be depressed when faced with sorrow? Is it proper.” Rama said.
3628. ”Even if the trinity of gods and the people of the three worlds ,Come to fight with me as matchless enemies,, who can win over me?My younger brother , your being with me is my strength ,And when you are there , is there a need for protection for me?”
3629. ”Oh valorous one who wears long heroic anklets ,Let all those who want to go away from me , go,Let all great sorrows come towards me,They all would go away from me because of you,And would never be able to stay with me.”
3630. ”Oh valorous one who is an expert in war , you only told me,That you won over that Rakshasi who is a great expert in war ,Possibly as per the words of elders you did not kill,Her who is engaged in this very bad work.”
3631. That Lakshmana with his hand saluted Rama told,When I cut her nose , ears , curved teeth and lips ,In to pieces , She wailed with a very loud noice.”
3632. Rama greatly shaken with great joy hugged him and told ,“In the pitch darkness that Rakshasi came to kill you ,But you did not kill her but cut her nose and ears only,Oh lad who came in the path of Manu , you are great.”
3633. The valorous Rama and his younger brother ,Who completely got rid of the sorrow that cannot be got over,Chanted the Varuna Manthra and drank the water from the sky,And stayed on a mountain which was supporting the earth,Waiting for the breaking of the dawn .
3634. That valorous Rama , in the open land with stones spread on it,Laid down in the bed prepared using soft sand , forest flowersAnd new leaves with measureless sorrow ,With Lakshmana massaging his very soft legs.
3635. Rama after parting with Sita who looked like a peacock,Suffering from the disease of insult , did not eat any thing andDue to great sorrow did not sleep either .Is there a need to tell this?And he in between his deep long breaths felt as if his soul was going away.
3636. ” Am I seeing with eye the great form of Sita in the entire forest ,Due to my thinking about her always without any break? Or is it because of the illusion created by the Rakshasas?” Rama sorrowed like this.
3637. I am hugging with great love that,Sita with black hair who has eyes with streak of Red,Is like the great ornament for ladies with chastity ,But I am not seeing anything here and has the form of Sita,Become a lie similar that of her waist?”
3638. “Seeing Sita who has a face like newly opened lotus flower,And her red fruit like mouth which is full of honey ,I ate that nectar from her coral like mouth without her being here,Is it possible to see dreams even when one is not asleep?”
3639. “If a suffering comes which is greater than thought ,And greater than the five elements earth, sky, fire , water and air,Then does it mean that this cruel night is longer than the eyes,Of The daughter of Janaka who had cool , scented , long black hair.”
3640. “The spread out rays of the pretty moon seems to have,Created eruptions in my body , which are like the swimming fishes,Making one suspect that the heat of the fire at deluge ,Creates eruptions all over the sky and all over.”
3641. Saying such words several times that king Rama ,Who has lost his power , became greatly confused,And the Sun with rays seeing this condition andFeeling “He has greatly thinned” came out to wipe his sorrow.
3642. Searching the chaste Sita who has great patience making other say That the heavens do not have patience and who was looking like peacock,The birds which wander were making noise as if they were crying ,And Rama and Lakshmana in that early dawn went speedily in search of her.
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About Kavichakravarthy Kamban
Historians place him in the 9th century CE, But surely Kamban belongs to the third great wave of Tamizh literature that started with the Sangam period (dated before the Common Era), followed by the widespread impact of Bhakti literature of the Alwars (vaishnavite saints) & Nayanamars (shaivaite saints). Kamban Authored Ramanaya in Tamil…Known as Kamba Ramayanam..
Kambar has been the milestone for the Tamil scholars that none had reached. He was also known as “Kamba Naatazhvar” at his time. Many Tamil authors from the modern world have written the books on the poet Kamban.
FAQs
Kambar or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250) was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.
Valmiki Ramayana and Kamba Ramayanam are two versions of Ramayana written in the Sanskrit and Tamil languages respectively. … Kamba Ramayanam is originally called as Ramavataram. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the original version of the story of Rama, Kamba Ramayana is believed to be based on the work by Valmiki.
The Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the life of King Rama of Ayodhya.
The book is divided into six chapters, called Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately 12,000 verses of the epic.