WHEN Rama and Lakshmana went to take their bath in Pampa Lake, they thrust their bows into the ground. Coming out of the water, Lakshmana took out his bow and found its tip stained with blood. Rama said to him:
“Look, brother! Look. Perhaps we have hurt some creature.” Lakshmana dug in the earth and found a big bull frog. It was dying. Rama said to the frog in a sorrowful voice: “Why didn’t you croak? We should have tried to save you. You croak lustily enough when you are in the jaws of a snake.” The frog said:
“O Lord when I am attacked by a snake I croak, saying: ‘O Rama, save me!’ This time I found that it was Rama Himself who was killing me; so I kept still.” (100)