The Story Of the Crow

The Story Of the Crow

Sita thought for a moment; «what message could I send to Rama?»

“Tell him this story,” she said then. “No one but the two of us knows it. That day, he and I  were alone. Tell him like this:

“Once, when we were still in Citrakuta, while you were doing your ablutions, a hungry crow attacked me. I tried to scare it away, but I couldn’t. I felt irritated and frightened, specially since I was alone. Then I got angry, and from the sudden movements my skirt was about to fall. I tried to hold it with one hand and with the other I defended myself from the animal’s claws. At that moment you came back and saw me in that situation and you thought I was funny; you laughed heartily. I threw myself into your arms, seeking protection. Then the crow flew away. We lay down under a tree and fell asleep, hugging each other.”

“Suddenly that evil crow came back and attacked me again, scratching my chest deeply more than once. My cries of pain and fear woke you up, and you noticed that my chest was bleeding. Then you didn’t laugh anymore; instead you were very angry.

‘Who did it?’ you asked me in an excited voice. ‘Who did those wounds to you?’

“Then, you saw the crow that was about to attack me again. Your eyes turned red as fire with anger, and you decided to kill him. After plucking a blade of kusha grass, you recited a mantra to charge it with the power of brahmastra and hurled it at the crow. But we quickly realized that it was not a mere animal; it was Jayanta, Indra’s son.”

“He realized that he was in mortal danger, and when he saw the blade of grass dart towards him, he tried to escape. And he fled everywhere, with the weapon following him closely, looking for someone who could help him. But no one could do anything against that weapon, thrown from your mighty arm.”

“Jayanta fled all over the universe, but no one, not even his father Indra, could help him. He felt lost. So, he came back to you and asked for forgiveness, and begged you to save his life.”

‘Oh, Jayanta,’ you replied, ‘this weapon, once launched can no longer be retracted, but must strike and destroy something. But you asked me for protection, and I will help you. Choose a part of your body that you can give up and the brahmastra will destroy only that.’

“Jayanta thought about what was convenient; then he decided to give up his right eye. As soon as he said those words, the fatal weapon struck.”

Sita paused.

“Tell this to Rama too,” Sita paused, and then resumed the story.

“You threw such a terrible weapon at a mere raven just because he had scratched my breast; why don’t you use the same one against these cruel Raksasas who are making me suffer so much more? Why don’t you intervene? Beloved sir, please come and get me now.”

Sita placed in Hanuman’s hands a jewel that Rama had given her and entrusted it to him.

“When Rama sees this jewel he will be sure that you have found me. May you be blessed, dear friend. But leave, here you are in danger, you may be discovered. Leave and come back soon with Rama.”

 

 

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