Part 11

"Being thus addressed by Ravana under the guise of a mendicant, desirous of carrying her away Vaidehi thought within herself--"This person is my guest and a Bhahmin; he may curse me if I do not speak to him." Thinking this for a moment Sita said "May good betide thee! I am the daughter of the high-souled Janaka, the king of Mithila, the beloved Queen of Rama and my name is Sita. Dwelling in the palace of Ikshakus for twelve years, I enjoyed many things passing human and had all my desires satisfied. On the thirteenth year king (Dacaratha) counselled with his ministers about the installation of Rama. Accordingly everything necessary for the installation being made ready, Kaikeyi, one of my mothers-in-law, begged of her husband a boon. Bringing my father-in-law under control by means of her virtuous deeds, Kaikeyi begged, of that truthful, best of monarchs, two boons namely the exile of my husband into the woods and the installation of Bharata, and said "I shall never eat, drink or sleep and (if Rama be installed) I shall end my life." Kaikeyi speaking thus, that lord of earth, my father-in-law begged her to accept diverse riches; but Kaikeyi did not agree. Then the highly effulgent Rama, my husband was twenty-five years old, and myself was eighteen years old counting from my birth. My husband is known all over the world under the name of Rama. He is truthful, good-natured, of pure character, ever engaged in the welfare of all created beings, of mighty-arms and expansive eyes. Our father the king Dacaratha was entirely under the control of passions, and hence for the satisfaction of Kaikeyi did not install Rama. When Rama came to his father for being installed Kaikeyi spoke unto my husband the following cruel words, "Do thou hear, O Raghava, how I have been ordered by thy Sire. This kingdom, rid of thorns is to be conferred on Bharata, and thou shalt have to sojourn into woods for years nine and five. Do thou therefore repair unto forest, O Kakuthstha and save thy Sire from untruth." Whereto Rama fearlessly replied 'So be it!' Hearing her words my husband of firm vows acted accordingly. He always maketh gifts and taketh none. He always speaketh truth and never telleth an untruth. This is his best observance, O Brahmana. His half-brother named Lakshmana is of mighty prowess. That best of men is Rama's help and the destroyer of foes in battle. That brother of his named Lakshmana is of firm resolution and given to asceticism. With a bow in hand he hath followed (Rama) flying as an exile unto woods along with me. Thus that one (Rama) of firm resolution and ever engaged in pious offices wearing matted hair and assuming the semblance of an ascetic hath entered this forest of Dandaka along with myself and his younger brother. O thou the best of twice-born ones, we three being deprived of our kingdom by Kaikeyi have been living in this dense forest by virtue of our effulgence. Do thou take heart for a moment and live here. Instantly shall my husband return with good many wild fruits and roots and with sufficient meat after killing many a deer, hog and _Gosamp_. Truly do thou relate unto me thy name, _Gotra_ and lineage. O thou twice-born one, why dost thou range alone in this forest of Dandaka?" Sita the wife of Rama speaking thus, the mighty Lord of Rakshasas--Ravana replied with these harsh words--"0 Sita I am that Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, whom fear the celestials, Asuras and human beings. O thou of blamless beauty, seeing thee of golden hue and wearing silk cloth I do not relish my own wives. I have brought many a beautiful damsel from various quarters, do thou become my foremost Queen amongst them. That great city in the midst of the ocean, Lanka, encircled on all sides by the sea and situated on the summit of a hill, is my capital. There shalt thou with me, Sita, walk in gardens, and thus thou shall no more long for living in the forest. If thou dost become my wife, O Sita, five thousand maid-servants decorated with divers ornaments shall serve thee." That blameless daughter of Janaka, being thus addressed by Ravana, was highly enraged, and, passing by him, replied, "I am a dependant ot Rama, who is incapable of being shaken, like unto a mighty mountain, incapable of being agitated, like unto a vast ocean, and resembling Mahendra in effulgence. I am a dependant of that great and truthful Rama who is gifted with auspicious marks and like unto a fig tree. I am dependant of that lion among men, Rama, of mighty arms, of a spacious breast and treading like a lion, I am a dependant of that son of a king, Rama, of mighty arms, having control over his passions, whose face resembles the full moon and whose fame hath spread far and wide over the earth. Why dost thou being a tiger wish for a she-lion? Thou shalt not be able to touch me like unto the rays of the sun. O thou wretched Rakshasa, when thou hast desired to steal away Raghava's beloved spouse, surely dost thou see these trees (before thee) as made of gold. Dost thou wish to uproot the teeth from the mouth of a lion, that enemy of deer, or from that of a serpent? Dost thou wish to clasp with thy hands the Mandara hill, or dost thou wish to walk in peace after drinking poison? Dost thou wish to rub thy eyes with pins and lick a razor with thy tongue? Thou dost wish to swim across an ocean, having a rock tied unto thy neck. Thou dost wish to get at the Sun and Moon, to bind a flaming fire with a piece of cloth and walk through iron-spikes, as thou hast wished to come by the worthy spouse of Rama. Mighty is the difference between Rama and thee, like unto that between a lion and a jackal, a sea and a rivulet, nectar and gruel, gold and iron, sandal and mud, an elephant and a cat, a crow and Garuda, a peacock and a _madgie_ (an acquatic bird), or a duck and a vulture. Even if thou dost steal me, that mighty archer Rama, gifted with the prowess of the lord of celestials, living, surely shall I die, like unto a gnat sucking clarified butter." Addressing those words unto that wicked ranger of the night, that innocent (Sita) shook like a plantain tree shaken by the wind. Thereupon Ravana, like unto Death in prowess, trembling, began to relate unto her with a view to frighten (her) his race, power, name and actions.

SECTION XLVIII.

After Sita had spoken these harsh words, Ravana, enraged, with a frown, replied "O thou of a beautiful countenance, I am the step-brother of the Lord of wealth and my name is the mighty Ten-necked Ravana. May good betide thee! Like unto people fearing Death, the celestials, Gandharbas, Picachas, Pannagas and Serpents fly in diverse directions being frightened by me. I have subdued by my prowess, my step-brother, the Lord of wealth in a conflict, quarrelling with him for some reason. Thereat, that one carried by men, renouncing out of my fear this wealthy abode of Lanka, hath been living on that Lord of mountains, Kailaca. O thou auspicious one, by virtue of my prowess I have taken away that beautiful chariot of his called Puspaka. Ascending that chariot thou shalt travel by the etherial route. O Maithilee, when I am excited with ire, Indra and other celestials at the mere sight of my countenance fly away in divers directions out of fear. Wherever I live, the Wind bloweth cautiously and the Sun (of piercing rays) out of fear for me appeareth in the welkin like the Moon. What shall I say more? Wherever I live, even the leaves of the trees do not flutter and the currents of the rivers are stopped. Beyond the ocean stands my beautiful capital Lanka like unto Indra's Amaravati, (the capital of the Lord of celestials), guarded on all sides by the terrible night-rangers and encircled by yellow walls. That beautiful city hath gate-ways of ornamented and jewelled arches and golden apartments. It is filled with elephants, horses and chariots, always resounds with the sounds of bugles, and is beautified with gardens having divers trees of wished for fruits. O Sita, O thou the daughter of a king, in this city shalt thou dwell with me. O large-minded damsel, thou shalt never think of earthly women. O thou of an exquisite countenance, enjoying these many things passing human, thou shalt not any more think of Rama--a human being of brief existence. Placing his beloved son on the throne, king Dacaratha hath sent away his eldest son of weak prowess into the woods. O thou of expansive eyes, what shalt thou do with that wretched ascetic Rama who hath been deprived of his kingdom? I am the lord of the whole world of Rakshasas; being pierced by the shafts of Kama have I come by thee. It doth not behove thee therefore to pass by me. O timid damsel, truly shalt thou repent afterwards if thou dost disregard me, like unto Uruashee kicking Purarava. Rama is a human being and is not even equal to a finger of mine in battle. By thy good luck have I come unto thee-- do thou give thyself up unto me, O thou of a beautiful countenance." Being thus addressed by him, Vaidehi exceedingly wroth and with blood-red eyes spoke unto that Lord of Rakshasas in the lonely forest, these bold words. "How dost thou wish to perpetrate such an impious deed after introducing as thy brother that highly worshipful Kuvera adored by all the deities. O Ravana, surely shall all the Rakshasas meet with death, who have such a stupid, harsh and lustful person like thee for their king. One can breathe on this earth carrying away Indra's wife, Sachi--but stealing me, the wife of Rama, no body shall be able to live in peace. O Rakshasa, it might be possible for one to live on this earth treating contemptuously the wife of the holder of thunder-bolt, but insulting me none shall escape the hands of Death even if he drinketh nectar.

SECTION XLIX.

Hearing those words of Sita the highly powerful Ten-necked one striking his hands together, increased his body too high. Thereupon, that one skilled in speech again spake unto Maithilee, "Methinks thou hast run mad. Hast thou not heard of my valour and prowess? Stationing myself in the welkin I can with my hands raise up the earth. I can drink up the waters of the ocean. And engaged in conflict I can destroy Death itself. With my sharpened shafts I can pierce the Sun and cut asunder the earth. Thou art mad with thy beauty. Do thou look upon me, who am capable of illusions." When he had spoken thus, his yellow eyes became blood-red with rage and assumed the semblance of flaming fire. Thereat Ravana, the younger brother of the Lord of wealth, changing his placid countenance, instantly assumed his own terrible shape resembling that of Yama. Highly exercised with ire, that ranger of the night became of ten countenances and twenty arms; his eyes were bloody and he appeared beautiful like unto blue clouds, being dressed in gold-hued apparel. Leaving aside the semblance of a mendicant, that lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, increasing in bulk, assumed his own shape. And wearing a blood-red cloth he stood there fixing his look upon that jewel of a damsel--Maithili. Thereupon Ravana spake unto Maithili like unto the rays of the sun, having a head of black hair and wearing apparel and ornaments, saying, "O thou fine damsel, if thou dost wish to have a husband known all over the world, do thou surrender thyself unto me. I am a worthy husband (or thee. Do thou serve me for ever, thy praiseworthy husband. O fine lady, I shall never do what thou dost not like. Renouncing thy attachment for a man, do thou place thy love in me. O foolish girl, worthy of being adored by the learned, for what quality art thou attached unto Rama of a limited life, who hath been deprived of his kingdom and hath his desire frustrated, and who of an evil intent, hath, at the words of his wife, renouncing his kingdom and kinsmen, been living in this forest--the abode of voracious animals." Speaking thus unto Maithili, sweet-speeched and worthy of being sweetly addressed, that highly wicked Rakshasa, Ravana, being exercised with lust, approached towards Sita and got hold of her, like unto Budha holding Rohini in the sky. With his left hand he held her, having eyes like unto lotus-petals, by the hair, and with his right hand got hold of her thighs. Seeing Ravana of sharpened teeth, and mighty arms, resembling the summit of a mountain and like unto death itself, the deties of the forest became highly terrified and fled in different directions. Instantly appeared there the celestial car of Ravana, decked in gold, drawn by asses and making a terrible sound. Thereupon, that one emmiting terrible accents, remonstrated with Vaidehi in harsh words and clasping her ascended the car. The virtuous Sita, being thus caught by Ravana,began to cry aloud, addressing Rama, who had gone away to a distant forest. Ravana, racked with lust, rose high up with her like unto the wife of a _Pannaga_, though she tried her best (to get rid of him), for she was not in the least attached unto him. Being thus carried away by the ethereal track by that Lord of Rakshasas, Sita began to cry aloud, like one mad, distressed and of deranged senses. "Ah! mighty Lakshmana, ever ministering unto the satisfaction of thy superiors, dost thou not know that I have been stolen away by a Rakshasa assuming shapes at will? O Raghava, for virtue hast thou renounced thy life, happiness and wealth,--dost thou not see that I have been carried away by one of mighty iniquity? O thou the subduer of foes,thou dost always control the rebellious,--why dost thou not punish such a vicious Rakshasa? The vicious do not instantaneously meet with the fruits of their actions; as for corn to ripen requires the assistance of time. For this iniquitous deed, which thou hast perpetrated, availing of the time and losing thy sense, thou shalt meet with a mighty disaster from Rama, bringing about thy end. Ah! being the virtuous wife of the virtuous and far-famed Rama, I have been stolen away. Now hath the desire of Kaikeyi and other relations been fulfilled. I invoke this Janasthana and these flowery Karnikas to tell Rama that Ravana hath stolen away Sita. I invoke thee, O Godavari, having swans and cranes sporting in thy stream, to tell Rama that Ravana hath stolen away Sita. I salute and invoke the deities that live in this forest of many trees to tell my husband of my being stolen away (by Ravana). I do seek the refuge of all deer, birds and other animals that live in this forest, and may they all communicate unto Rama the news of his dear spouse being carried away, and tell him that Sita, losing her control, hath been stolen away by Ravana. Even if I am taken away by Yama, and if the mighty-armed Rama is apprised of it, surely shall he bring me back by the display of his prowess." Racked with sorrow that one of expansive eyes, while thus bewailing in piteous accents, she espied Yatayu, the king of vultures, seated on a tree. Thereat the daughter of Janaka, brought under the control of Ravana and terrified, began to cry and utter those piteous words--"O worshipful Yatayu, do thou see that this vicious lord of Rakshasas hath ruthlessly carried me away like one having no husband. Thou wilt not be able to withstand this mighty, wicked and cruel night-ranger wearing emblems of conquest and having a scimitar in his hand. Do thou relate unto Rama and to Lakshmana everything about my being carried away from the beginning to the end.

SECTION L.

Hearing these words Yatayu, who lay buried in a deep slumber, awoke and beheld both Ravana and Janaki. Thereat the lord of birds resting on the tree, having a big sharp beak like unto the summit of a hill, addressed these soft words unto Ravana, "O brother Ten-necked one, I am conversant with Puranas, of truthful vows and abide by religion. It doth not behove thee to perpetrate such an iniquitous deed before me. I am Yatayu, the mighty lord of vultures. Dacaratha's son Rama is the lord of all men like unto Mahendra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of all men. This exquisitely beautiful and far-famed Sita whom thou art about to steal away, is the married wife of that lord of men. And how dost thou thyself being a monarch and engaged in the royal office of maintaining subjects, carry away by stealth another's wife? O thou of mighty prowess, thou shouldst specially protect the wives of kings. Do thou therefore control thy base inclination of oppressing another's wife. A hero doth never perform what bringeth calumny upon himself. It becometh every individual to save another's wife from the touch of a second man like unto his own wife. O son of Paulastya, at the instance of the king mild subjects perform many an action conducing to virtue, wealth and desire, though not mentioned in the _Sastras_. The king is the virtue, the king is the desire and the king is the prime jewel of all subjects. Virtue, desire or sin--every thing ariseth from the king. O thou the best of Rakshasas, thou art vicious and unsteady; how hast thou come by rkhes like unto a sinner attaining to the abode of celestials? A vicious person can never relinquish his sinful habits--virtue doth never reside in the abodes of impious persons.

The mighty and the virtuous-souled Rama hath committed nothing wrong in thy city or thy dominions. Why dost thou then commit wrong by him? Khara of Janasthana is highly wicked and if Rama of blameless actions hath killed him on Surpanakha's account how is he to blame? Why dost thou then carry away the wife of that lord of men? Do thou soon leave off Vaidehi. Like unto Indra burning down Vitrasura, Rama, looking with his terrible eyes like flaming fire, shall reduce thee to ashes. Dost thou not understand that thou hast tied with cloth a virulent serpent? Dost thou not see that thou hast placed around thy neck the noose of death? It is always proper to carry such a weight as doth not exhaust (him who carries); it is always proper to take such a food as doth not cause illness. Who engageth himself in such an action as doth not confer virtue, fame or glory, but bringeth about physical affliction only? O Ravana, I am sixty thousand years old and have been administering regularly my ancestral kingdom. Old though I am, thou shalt not be able to carry away with safety Janaki in my presence, young, accoutered in mails as thou art with bow and arrows in thy hands and ascending a car. As it is not easy to destroy, by the reasonings of Logic, Vedas and Sruties containing eternal and immutable truths, so thou shalt not be able to carry away Vaidehi by force before me. If thou art a hero do thou fight. Or do thou wait for a moment, O Ravana, thou shalt also embrace the earth like unto Khara. Soon shall Rama clad in bark destroy thee in the battle field, who hadst many a time and oft destroyed in conflict the celestials and Danavas. These two princes Rama and Lakshmana are at a distance, what shall I do now? O vile being, undoubtedly shalt thou, terrified, be destroyed by them. Myself drawing my breath thou shalt not be able to carry away this beloved queen of Rama, the pure-natured Sita having eyes resembling lotuses. It is my duty to do good unto the high-souled Rama and Dacaratha even at the sacrifice of my life. Do thou stand, O Ten-necked one. Behold for a moment. O Ravana, I shall throw thee headlong from this car, like unto a fruit from its stalk. O ranger of the night, even to my utmost might I will render thee hospitality in encounter.

SECTION LI.

While Yatayu, the king of birds, spake this, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, wearing pendants made of pure gold, having his eyes reddened with ire, darted towards him. Thereupon they began a terrible conflict in the welkin, like unto clouds driven by wind. There occured a mighty conflict between Yatayu, the lord of vultures, and Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, like unto two _Malyavan_[57] hills supplied with wings. Thereat Ravana began to shower continually terrible and sharpened pikes, iron arrows and _Vikarnis_ upon the mighty lord of vultures. Yatayu, the king of birds, began to withstand in conflict the arrows and weapons darted by Ravana, and wounded Ravana's person with his feet supplied with sharpened talons. Thereupon, to destroy his enemy, that mighty hero, the Ten-necked Ravana, being exercised with ire, took up ten terrible arrows like unto the sceptre of Death, and stretching the bow to the full he shot those straight-coursing sharpened shafts at Yatayu, the king of birds. Beholding Janaki with tears In her eyes in that Rakshasa's car, Yatayu, the king of birds, disregarding those arrows, darted towards Ravana, and with his feet broke asunder his bow with the arrows, adorned with pearls and diamonds. Thereat Ravana, almost beside himself with wrath, taking up another bow, began to shower arrows by hundreds and thousands. Being covered with those arrows, the lord of birds appeared like a bird lying in his nest. Pushing away these arrows by the wind of his wings, he again snapped that mighty bow with his feet, and with a stroke of his wings shattered Ravana's flaming shield like unto burning fire. Thereupon, moving away with the wind of his wings Ravana's blazing cuirass resembling flaming fire, Jatayu in that conflict made away with his fleet-coursing asses having the faces of demons. Next crumbling into pieces with his impetus the mighty chariot of Ravana, coursing at will, flaming like fire, having steps studded with jewels, and a wooden pole, and throwing down the umbrella and _chowris_ like unto the full moon along with the Rakshasas engaged in carrying them,the effulgent and mighty lord of birds shattered the head of the charioteer with the strokes of his beak. Having his bow snapped and deprived of his car, horses and charioteer, Ravana fell down to the earth, taking Vaidehi on his lap. Beholding Ravana fallen on the ground and of broken conveyance, all creatures praised the king of vultures again and again and worshipped him.