The End of the Menacing Viradha

As Sri Ram, Sita and Lakshman Walk through the Dandaka Forest, they come across a dreadful man-eating ogre named Viradha, who wanders around the forest harassing creatures and devouring sages. Possessing an abnormally tall and large body, he is as huge as a mountain peak. He presents a horrific sight with his deep-set eyes, a large mouth and belly, raucous voice with blood-stained body.‘Who are you, O miserable humans? You dress as ascetics and yet keep the company of a young woman. What kind of sinners are you? You dare to enter the Dandaka Forest carrying bows and arrows. I will put an end to your life right here and make this beautiful lady my wife,’ growls Viradha in his arrogance.Saying this, he clutches Sita and forcibly places her on his lap. Lord Ram is enraged watching Sita face this humiliation and for the first time, he condemns Kaikeyi’s selfish motives which have led to this embarrassment of his admirable wife.Lakshman grows furious seeing his beloved brother upset and springs at Viradha like an angry cobra. Following his lead, Sri Ram also starts shooting arrows at the ogre. Drenched in blood, Viradha is forced to drop Sita to the ground. He then charges at the brothers and flings them on his shoulders and runs into the forest.Watching Sri Ram and Lakshman being forcibly carried away by Viradha, Sita wails in panic. Her cries charge up the brothers and they unite to kill the monster. In coordinated swipes, Sri Ram and Lakshman chop off both his right and left arms respectively. Having lost his arms, the bruised and battered ogre falls to the ground. Even after repeated attempts at taking his life, the ogre remains alive.Realising that the ogre is protected by a boon from Lord Brahma wherein he cannot be killed by weapons, they decide to bury him alive. At this point, Viradha admits to Sri Ram that he is actually a Gandharva cursed by Kubera for his arrogance. A great man of valour like Sri Ram alone could redeem him from that terrible curse.