Rambhá
Family: Gods · Role: nymph · First appears: Book I, Canto 63 · Menaká
In Book I, Canto 63, Indra summoned Rambhá to help disrupt Viśvámitra’s penance, and in Canto 64 ordered her to seduce him. Viśvámitra cursed her, and she stood turned to stone until a Bráhman freed her.
In Book III, Canto 4, Virádha says his love for Rambhá’s charms brought down his curse; he names Tumburu alongside himself as her admirer. In Book VI, Canto 60, Rávaṇ includes Rambhá among those whose anger or touch had brought him trouble.
Relationship record
Life events
- Śakra summoned Rambhá to help spoil Viśvámitra’s penance.(Book I, Canto 63 · Menaká · 📍 the halls of Paradise)
- With: Indra
- “Encompassed by his Gods of Storm He summoned Rambhá, fair of form, And spoke a speech for woe and weal, The saint to mar, the God to heal.”
- Indra orders Rambhá to seduce Viśvámitra.(Book I, Canto 64 · Rambhá)
- With: Indra
- “O Rambhá, drive thy fears away, And as I bid do thou obey.”
- Viśvámitra curses Rambhá to remain stone until a Bráhman frees her.(Book I, Canto 64 · Rambhá)
- With: Viśvámitra
- “Cursed by the angry sage’s power, She stood in stone that selfsame hour.”
Book I, Canto 63 · Menaká
- lord: Indra “Encompassed by his Gods of Storm He summoned Rambhá, fair of form, And spoke a speech for woe and weal, The saint to mar, the God to heal.”
Book I, Canto 64 · Rambhá
- lord: Indra “O Rambhá, drive thy fears away, And as I bid do thou obey.”
- enemies with Viśvámitra “Then Kuśik’s son indignant laid His curse upon the heavenly maid:”
Book III, Canto 4 · Virádha’s Death
- admirer: Virádha “And thus on me his fury fell For loving Rambhá’s charms too well.”
- admirer: Tumburu “And thus on me his fury fell For loving Rambhá’s charms too well.”
Book VI, Canto 60 · Kumbhakarna Roused
- enemies with Rávaṇ “Nandíśvara foretold this fate, And Umá when I moved her hate, And Rambhá, and the lovely child Of Varuṇ by my touch defiled.”
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →
Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.