Viradha’s Salvation
It had been several days since Bharata returned to Ayodhya. The distance of Ayodhya from Chitrakoot was not much and people used to come there for Rama’s advice. He did not like it. After consulting with the saints and the sages they moved towards the Dandak Forest. After a few days, they reached the ashrama of Atri, a wise and learned Sage, whose wife Anusuya, known for her wisdom and purity, gave Seeta some beautiful garments and jewellery as gifts. Anusuya treated Seeta as her daughter and gave knowledge to her.
In the Dandaka Forest, they were attacked by a huge and ferocious demon named Viradha. The fatal arrows of Rama and Lakshmana had no effect on him.
Finally, Rama injured him with his arrows, dropped him in a pit and put earth on it. He was liberated. He was a gandharva who had been cursed to become a demon. As per Lord Brahma’s boon, no weapon could kill him. Rama killed him without any weapon and he was liberated, becoming a gandharva again. He thanked Rama and returned to his abode.
