Part 41

Hearing those harsh accents, that lord of Rakshasas, replied unto Sita, of comely presence, with the following unpleasant words--"It is generally found on earth that the more a woman is courted by a man, the more she is brought under his influence. (But for thee) the more kindly I have been behaving towards thee, the more roughly I have been treated. Truly doth my love for thee keep in control the wrath like unto a good charioteer restraining the swerving stead. O mighty is _amour_ unto men, for on whom this _amour_ falleth, albeit she is an object of wrath, becomes an object of kindness and affection. O thou of fair countenance, it is for this reason, that I do not destroy thee, although thou, who art engaged in false asceticism, art worthy of being killed and dishonored. O Maithilee, for each and every one of all those harsh words which thou hast used by me, dost thou deserve death." Having spoken thus unto Vaidehi, Ravana, the lord of Rakhasas, having his wrath subdued, again bespake Sita: "I shall wait for those two months, of which I have made a contract, after which thou shalt have to share my bed, O thou of a comely presence. And even then if thou dost refuse to regard me as thy husband, my cooks shall mince thy limbs with steel and serve thee for my morning meal." Beholding the lord of Rakshasas remonstrate with the daughter of Janaka in this wise, the daughters of the celestials and Gandharbas became exceedingly sorry. Some with lips, some with eyes, and some with gestures of their faces, they all consoled Sita, thus distressed by that Rakshasa. And thus consoled by them, and being proud of her good conduct and her husband's heroism, Sita thus addressed Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, "Forsooth there is no person in this city who desireth thy welfare and therefore preventeth thee from such an impious deed. Who is there in the three worlds, who even dcsireth me in mind, who am the spouse of the virtuous-souled (Rama) like unto Indra's Sachee. O thou the vilest of the Rakshasas, for using those vicious words towards the spouse of Rama, of immeasured prowess, repairing whither shalt thou escape vengeance? Like unto an infuriated elephant encountering a hare in the forest, thou shalt O Vile! a hare as thou art, meet with that elephant-like Rama. Thou art not ashamed of railing that lord of Ikshwakus, so long as dost thou not come within his ken. O base! why do not thy grim, terrible, coppery eyes, looking so viciously at me, fall down on earth. O vicious wretch, I am the spouse of that virtuous souled (Rama) and daughter-in-law of Dacaratha--using these vile words towards me, why dost not thy tongue fall off? O Ten-necked one, I can instantly reduce thee to ashes but for Rama's mandate and my ascetic observances. Thou couldst not have ravished me in the presence of the highly intelligent Rama. And undoubtedly for thy destruction this hath been brought about by God. Thou art heroic and Kuvera's brother and great in prowess, why didst thou then take me by stealth after despatching Rama away from the hermitage?" Hearing those words of Sita, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, whirling his grim eyes, looked towards the daughter of Janaka. He was like unto a mass of blue clouds and his arms and necks were long and spacious. He was gifted with elephantine gaits and his tongues and eyes were sharp and flaming. The top of his crown was shaking and he had charming garlands around his neck and his person sprinkled with paste. He had crimson-coloured garlands and clothes on and his charming arms were adorned with ornaments. Encircled with a sword-belt around his waist he appeared like unto Mandara, entwined by a snake at the time of the churning of the ocean. With his two plump arms, that lord of Rakshasas appeared like unto the hill Mandara with its two huge summits. And adorned with a pair of _Kundalas_[325] resembling the newly risen Sun he looked like a hill covered with two Asoka trees enveloped with crimson flowers and leaves. He was like unto _Kalpa_[326] tree and spring incarnate. And albeit adorned, he looked terrible like unto a _Caitya_[327] on the cremation-ground. And having his eyes red hot with ire, sighing again and again like unto a snake and casting his looks upon Sita, Ravana addressed her again, saying,--"O thou following asceticism, this thy vow is without any meaning and beyond the pale of morality. Even shall I destroy thee to-day like unto the Sun dispelling darkness with his rays." Having thus addressed Maithilee, the inimical king Ravana cast his looks towards the grim-visaged Rakshasees. And among those Rakshasees, some had huge ears, some had ears like those of kine, some had ears as long as arms, some had long ears and others were without any. And some had legs like those of an elephant; some had like those of a cow and some had legs covered with hairs. And some had one eye, some had one leg, some had capacious legs and some were without any. And some had huge heads and necks and some had breast and belly beyond proportions and some had faces and eyes above human size. Some had huge tongues and nails. And some were without noses. And some had leonine faces, some had faces like those of kine and some had those of boars. And casting his look towards such Rakshasees, he said--"Ye Rakshasees, do ye all endeavour to bring Sita, the daughter of Janaka, under my control. By good or bad conduct, by conciliation or gift, by threat or blandishment, do ye so endeavour as Vaidehi's soul might be bent unto me." And having ordered thus again and again, that lord of Rakshasas, stricken with amour and ire, addressed Sita, roaring fiercely. And thereupon approaching speedily and embracing the Ten-necked one, one Rakshasee named Dhanyamalini bespake him:--"Do thou sport with me, O great king. What shalt thou do with her?--O lord of Rakshasas--a human being,poorly and of a pale countenance. O great king, forsooth, the celestials have not destined for her enjoyment all those objects which thou hast procured by thy prowess. And again he who desireth for an unwilling dame burneth his own person--and he who desireth for a willing damsel, attaineth excess of delight." Having said this, the Rakshasee took away Ravana by force. And that Rakshasa too, resembling a mass of clouds, laughing, turned back. And that Ten-necked one, strode away as if shaking the whole earth and passed within (his queen's) abode resembling the effulgent Sun. And encircling Ravana those daughters of celestials Gandharbas and Nagas, entered into an excellent abode. And having remonstrated with and left behind, the firm and pious Sita with a trembling person, Ravana, possessed by amour entered into his own palace.

[325] A kind of ornament worn on ears.--T.

[326] A fabulous tree granting everything desired.--T.

[327] A monument or sculpture raised in honor of a deceased person on the site of a funeral pyre.--T.

SECTION XXIII.

Having spoken thus unto Maithilee and commanded the host of the Rakshasees, Ravana, a terror unto his enemies, went away. And after that lord of Rakshasas had gone away and entered his inner apartment, the hideous Rakshasees drew near Sita. And approaching Sita that terrible host, almost faint with ire, addressed Vaidehi with the following harsh words--"Thou dost not regard it highly, Sita, that thou shalt become the chosen wife of that high-souled, and great Ravana, the Ten-necked son of Pulastya." Thereupon another Rakshasee name4 Ekjata, with eyes rendered coppery with ire, addressing Sita, having a small navel, said,--"Pulastya is the fourth of the six Prajapatis,[328] a mind-born son of Brahma and celebrated in the world. And the glorious ascetic, by name Bishrava. was the mind-born son unto Pulastya, effulgent like unto Prajapatis. O large-eyed damsel! Of Visrava came Ravana terrible unto his enemies. And it behoveth thee to become the consort of that lord of Rakshasas. Scorn not the words I say unto thee, O thou of comely presence." Thereupon another Rakshasee named Harijata, having the eyes of a cat, and whirling them with ire, said--"It becometh thee to be the wife of that lord of Rakshasas who smote the thirty three celestials and their lord in battle. Dost thou not desire to be his wife, who is heroic, of indomitable prowess and who doth not turn back in battle? And turning away in scorn from his beloved wife, highly esteemed, the mighty king Ravana, desireth for thee. And leaving his inner apartment enriched with thousand of females and adorned with various jewels, Ravana shall adore thee." And then followed another Rakshasee by name Bikata--"The king, who by his terrible prowess subdued the Gandharbas[329] and Nagas[330] in battle, hath stood by thee. O foolish damsel, why dost thou not wish to be the consort of that high-souled lord of Rakshasas--Ravana, gifted with wealth and riches." And then followed another Rakshasee named Durmukhee.-- "Why dost thou not approach him, O thou having expansive eyes, by whose fear, the sun doth not shine, and the wind doth not blow. O dame, why dost thou not wish to be the consort of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, at whose command the trees shower blossoms and the hills and clouds pour down water. Why dost thou not make up thy mind to be the wife of Ravana? O damsel, O worshipful dame, we have spoken thus for thy welfare. Do thou comply with our request or thou shalt surely die,"

[328] Prajapitis are the lords of the created beings first created by Brahma.--T.

[329] Heavenly singers and musicians who belong to the heaven of Indra.--T.

[330] Serpent-gods who dwell in the regions under the earth.

SECTION XXIV.

Thereupon all those Rakshasees, having terrible faces again and again pursued Sita with reproaches rough and rude.--"Why dost thou not desire, O Sita, to live in his inner apartment, liked by all and abounding in costly bedsteads. O woman, thou regardest highly to be the wife of a man. Do thou turn back from Rama--thy desire shall never be satisfied. Do thou spend happily thy days with our lord--Ravana, the Rakshasa chief, who makes his own the treasures of the three worlds. Thou art a woman, O thou of comely presence, and therefore doth thy fancy cling to Rama, O thou of a blameless countenance, who is a man, deprived of his kingdom, overwhelmed with disasters and hath his desires frustrated." Hearing the words of those Rakshasees, the lotus-eyed Sita, with her eyes full of tears said.--"What ye have all said and which is against human usage and vicious, doth not find place in my mind. A woman cannot be the wife of a Rakshasa. Eat me up if you will, I will never follow your words. Poor or deprived of kingdom, he who is my hunband, is my preceptor. I am ever devoted unto him, like Subarchala[331] unto the Sun. Like unto the great Sachi standing by Sakra, Arundhuti by Vashishta, Rohini by the Moon, Lopamudra by Agastya, Sukanya by Chyabana, Sabitree by Satyabana, Sreematee by Kapila, Madayantee by Sandasa, Keshinee by Sagara and Damayanti the daughter of the king Veema by her husband Nala, I shall ever remain devoted to my husband Rama, the foremost of the descendants of Ikshawku." Hearing the words of Sita, all those Rakshasees despatched by Ravana, almost beside themselves with ire, again covered her with reproaches rough and rude. And Hanuman remained all along speechless and hidden on the _Shingshapa_ tree. And that monkey heard all those demons remonstrate with Sita in this way. And those, influenced with ire, approached the trembling Sita and encircling her, licked again and again their long and burning lips. And taking up instantly spears, they exceedingly wroth, menaced her, saying--"She is not worthy of having Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas, as her lord." Being thus remonstrated with by those terrible Rakshasees, that excellent damsel, shedding tears, neared the _Singshapa_ tree. And the large-eyed Sita, encircled by the Rakshasees, remained there sunk in grief. And all those hideous demons, showered reproaches, from all sides, on her, greatly reduced, of a poorly countenance, and wearing a soiled cloth. Thereupon a grim-visaged demon, angry, having hideous teeth and a huge belly extending downwards, by name Vinata, spake, saying:--"O Sita, thou hast shown enough of attachment towards thy husband. But, O gentle dame, excess of any thing tends to evil. We are satisfied. And may good betide thee! Thou hast acted worthily like a woman. Do thou hear, O Maithilee, what I say for thy welfare. Do thou accept, Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasa host, as thy husband. He withstands powerfully his enemies like unto Vasava, the lord of the celestials, charitable, kind unto all, and sweet-speeched. And forsaking Rama, a poor wight, do thou take Ravana (as thy husband). Having thy person sprinkled with celestial paste and adorned with excellent ornaments, do thou from to-day O Vaidchi, O thou of comely presence, become the queen of all the worlds, like unto Sachee of the lord of the celestials and _svaha_[332] of the fire. What shalt thou do with Rama, O Vaidehi, poor and of limited life? This is what I say and if dost thou not follow it we shall all instantly banquet on thee." And thereupon another Rakshasee named Vikata, having her breast hanging long, exercised with ire, and clinching her fist, addressed, roaring, Sita--"O foolish daughter of the king of Mithila, we have put up with all thy foolish words only out of compassion, and because thou art a feeble being. It will not lead to thy well-being if thou dost not hear our words. Thou hast been brought here, the other side of the ocean, difficult of being approached by others. Thou hast come within the terrible abode of Ravana O Maithilee, and hast been shut up in his room guarded by us all. And even, Purandara's[333] self cannot save you. Do thou therefore hear, O Maithilee, my well-meaning words. Why dost thou shed tears? Renounce thy useless grief. Do thou become happy and delighted, renouncing thy continued melancholy. Do thou sport, O Sita, at thy pleasure, with the lord of the Rakshasas. We know, for certain, O timid damsel, that the youth of the females, is very transient. And so long as thy youth doth not fade, do thou pass thy days happily, O thou having inebrite eyes, with the lord of Rakshasas, in picturesque gardens, and mountain forests. Do thou take, O fair damsel, Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas, for thy husband, and thousands of females shall be placed at thy service. If dost thou not follow, what I say, O Maithilee, I shall taking out thy heart, banquet on it." Thereupon another grim-visaged Rakshasee, named, Chandodora, shaking her terrible spear, said--"Beholding this Sita having the eyes of a young antelope and her breast trembling with fear, my earnest desire, as I am _enciente_, hath been to banquet on her large eyes, lever, spleen, her plump hands, heart, other limbs and head." Thereupon another Rakshasee named Praghasa said--"I shall grind the throat of this cruel woman. What are you doing, sitting there? Ye shall then relate unto the king that the woman is dead. And undoubtedly he shall say 'Do ye eat her up.'" And thereupon another Rakshasee named Ajamukhee said "I do not like quarrels. Let us all divide her into equal portions. Bring soon our favourite drink and various garlands." Then followed another Rakshasee by name Surpanakha,--"I do fully concur with what Ajamukhee hath said. Bring soon wine, the remover of all griefs. Banquetting on human flesh I shall dance before the queen Nikumbhila." Being thus threatened by those grim-visaged Rakshasees Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial, renouncing patience, began to weep.

[331] The wife of the sun.--T.

[332] An exclamation used in making an oblation to the Gods. A personification of the preceding as the wife of fire and Goddess presiding over burnt offerings.--T.

[333] Another name of Indra--the lord of the celestials.--T.

SECTION XXV.

And those hideous Rakshasees thus threatning her with reproaches rude and rough, the daughter of the king Janaka began to weep. And being thus addressed by those Rakshasees, Vaidehi, of subdued soul, being greatly terrified, said, having her voice choked with vapour,--"A woman can never be the wife of a Rakshasa. Eat me up if you will, I shall never follow your words." And being surrounded by the Rakshasees and threatened by Ravana, Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial, stricken with grief, could not console herself. And trembling, she shrank from their presence like unto a strayed fawn surrounded by wolves. And resorting to a flowery branch of an _Asoka_ tree, she sunk in grief, thought upon her lord. With tears she bathed her beautiful breast and oppressed with woe, she could not reach the other bank of the ocean of grief. Like a plantain tree shaken by the breeze, she shook and fell down trembling (on the earth). And being afraid of the Rakshasees, her cheeks forsook their native hue. And herself trembling, her pretty long lock of hair also shook and appeared like a serpent moving this way and that. Overwhelmed with grief and beside herself with ire, the daughter of the king of Mithila, wept and exclaimed sorrowfully,--"O mother Kausalya! O queen Sumitra! true is the saying of the wise that death doth never approach untimely the male or the female. Or else I would not have lived for a moment, separated from Rama and oppressed by the Rakshasees as I am. Limited is my virtue, and therefore I am to die the death of a poor deserted thing like unto a bark driven by the blast in the midst of the ocean. Debarred from my husband's sight and tortured by the hideous demons, I shall sink, oppressed with woes, like unto the banks of a river, washed by the water. Oh blest are they who have been resting their eyes upon my grateful and sweet-speeched lord of leonine gaits, having eyes resembling lotus petals! And separated frpm Rama of subdued soul, it is as difficult for me to breathe as for him who hath drank up virulent poison. What mighty iniquity had I perpetrated in my previous existence that I have met with this terrible disaster! I wish to renounce my life under this load of grief--but alas! I am surrounded by the Rakshasees and cannot meet Rama. Oh! cursed is this subject human life, that they cannot renounce it even at their pleasure"!

SECTION XXVI.