Chapter LXX: Section LXX

Beholding both the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, clasping each other with their arms, the headless demon spake:--"O two best of Kshatryas, are ye waiting here beholding me hungry? O ye having lost your sense, ye have been chosen by Destiny as my food." Hearing those words Lakshmana, sore distressed and determined to display his valour, addressed Rama with words worthy of being said on that occasion. "This vile Rakshasa shall seize both of us; let us sunder soon its two huge arms with our daggers. This grim-visaged Rakshasa, of huge proportions, gifted only with the strength of arms, defeating all other persons, hath addressed itself at last to destroy us. It is odious for the Kshatryas to make away with those who cannot defend themselves like unto animals brought for sacrifice."[67] Hearing their conversation, the Rakshasa, inflamed with rage, widening its terrible mouth, prepared to devour them up.[68] Thereat Rama and Lakshmana, cognizant of time and place, pleased,[69] sundered its arms off its shoulders with their daggers. Rama, stationed on the right side[70] cut off in no time its right arm with his dagger and the heroic Lakshmana, the left one. Having got its arms dissevered, the terrible-voiced, _Kavandha_, of huge arms,roaring like unto the muttering of clouds and resounding the heaven, earth and all the quarters, fell flat on the ground. Beholding both its arms cut off, the demon, with its person bathed in blood, asked them poorly--" Who are ye?" Being thus accosted by _Kavandha_, the mighty Lakshmana, gifted with auspicious marks, spake unto it, about Kakuthstha. "He is a descendant of the Ikshwakus known on earth by the name of Rama, and know me as his younger brother, by name--Lakshmana. Being thwarted by mother (Kaikeyi) in his accession of kingdom, he, renouncing all, hath fled as an exile unto woods, and hath, along with me and his spouse, been ranging this forest. While living in the dense forest the wife of Rama, effulgent like unto the celestials hath been ravished by a Rakshasa. Searching her, have we come here. Who art thou? And what for art thou ranging this forest like unto a headless demon, having thy thighs broken and thy flaming face placed on thy breast?" Being thus addressed by Lakshmana with these goodly words, _Kavandha_, pleased, recollecting the words of Indra, bespake him,--"O two best of men, ye are welcome! By my good luck it is that I do behold you. By my good fortune ye have dissevered my shoulders to-day. Do ye hear. I shall relate truly unto you how have I, by my haughtiness, come by this unsightly shape."

[67] The purport is:--Lakshmana wanted to chop off the arms of
_Kavandha_ and not to put an end to its life as it was not capable
of fighting, being a headless demon. And it is not proper for the
Kshatryas to destroy those who cannot fight.--T.

[68] This has a special significance here--meaning to get hold of them
by stretching forth its arms.--T.

[69] They were pleased because they cut off its arms with ease like
unto the trunks of a plantain tree.--T.

[70] It may mean also _expert.--T._