Again and again Sita called out, “Rama! 0 Rama! Where are you? Can you not hear me”?
Far away in the forest, Rama felt his left eye throb. The vibrations of her piteous call were felt by him and he hastened his steps and almost ran down the tiny forest track.
As Ravana rose into the sky, the sun hid behind clouds, as if he did not want to be a witness to this outrage, the wind moaned and groaned and there was a hush of sadness in the air.
Draped in yellow silk and decked in the ornaments which Anasuya had given her, Sita looked like a streak of lightning against the dark, broad chest of the rakshasa king. The lotus flowers which Rama had placed lovingly in her hair, just that morning, started to wilt and fall to the ground, as if they could not bear to be touched by that cruel hand. One of her anklets fell and lay forlornly on the ground, loathe to be parted from its partner. The shadow cast by the demon king as he carried Sita through the air, was black and menacing.
The wild beasts which came under the shadow growled menacingly, they knew not why and tried to claw at it. The fish in the rivers appeared to leap out of the waters as if to help her. Again and again Sita begged Ravana to let her go, but he only tightened his hold. He was feeling very happy that at last he had got her in his arms. He did not realise that he was holding his death in his arms.
He was sure that it was only a question of time before she succumbed to his charms. Sita spoke scornfully sometimes, and threateningly sometimes, but it was all in vain. He moved swiftly through the skies.
Suddenly when she looked down, she saw five monkeys sitting on top of a mountain. Though she did not know it, this was her first glimpse of Hanuman, who was destined to play such a vital role in her life. She was struck by an idea. Tearing off a piece of her upper garment, she took off a few of her ornaments and tied them up in the little piece of cloth and threw it towards the monkeys, hoping that some day Rama would pass by and recognise the jewels.
Ravana who was sailing along happily did not notice what was going on. The monkeys looked up to see a beautiful woman bepg carried in the arms of the rakshasa. She was crying out, “0 Rama, 0 Lakshmana”! in a desperate voice.
Very soon they came to the southern straits which separated Ravana’s capital from the mainland. It was her first sight of the sea but she was in no mood to enjoy anything. Ravana tightened his hold, for he felt her struggling to get herself free and feared that she would jump into the foaming waters below.
Soon they reached the fabulous city of Lanka where he took her to his own private quarters and kept a number of women to guard her. He gave strict orders to the women that no one should be allowed to approach her without his knowledge.
He also told them to give her anything she asked for, whether it was jewels or clothes or delicious food. “Whatever she asks for, should be provided immediately”, he said.
He then ordered eight of his vassals to go straightaway to Janasthana and keep an eye on Rama’s movements and report to him from time to time. If opportunity arose they were asked to try and kill him. Ravana heaved a sigh of relief and pleasure. He had punished Rama and got for himself the most beautiful woman in all the three worlds. He lay on his silken couch and pictured all the delights which were in store for him, once Sita agreed to be his wife.
Ravana could not lie down for long. Sita’s charming face kept flashing in his mind and he decided to go and talk to her once again. He had known many women and though some of them had objected in the beginning, not one had had the guts to refuse him for long and he was sure that Sita would be no exception.
Though the idea of capturing Sita had only been a means to punish Rama in the beginning, he realised that once he had met her, he had fallen a prey to her charms and he could not concentrate on anything else. His passion was like a fire burning him up. He strode to the room in which she had been imprisoned. She was sitting on the ground, with rakshasis all around her, looking like a stricken deer surrounded by jackals. Her tear-stained, woebegone face, was cast down and her lovely eyes, veiled by her long lashes. She disdained even to look up as he strode into the room.
He was determined to impress her somehow, so he started by telling her of the beauties of his palace. “Look, 0 beautiful one, at the glories of this city of Lanka. The palaces are made of gold with ornamental pillars. There are terraces and gardens filled with flowers, and lakes in which swans glide about among the lotuses. There is no comparison between my wealth and Rama’s. Who is he, but a miserable wretch, clad in bark, living the life of an exile? He will never be able to come here and take you away, for Lanka is impenetrable, surrounded as it is by the sea. Do not waste your youth pining for him. Accept my love and I can take you wherever you wish, give you whatever you want. We will traverse through the skies and I’ll show you the sights of all the three worlds. There is no one equal to me in valour in all these worlds and none dare stop me. Be my queen and I’ll lay the whole world at your feet”.
Sita covered her face with a cloth and cried as if her heart would break. Ravana looked at her with compassion and said, “Do not cry like this. What have you to cry for? Have I not said that I’d give the whole world to you. Not only that, I am ready to lay all my ten heads at your feet. Do you realise what that means. Has anyone ever heard me say that? Ravana has never laid his head at anyone’s feet before, and certainly not at the feet of a woman. But your beauty has charmed me. I am your slave. Come, my little dove, accept me and agree to my wishes”.
At the end of this declaration of love, Sita looked up with flashing eyes and said scornfully, “You do not know my Rama and that is why you dare to say such things. He is the image of dharma. He is truth incarnate. I love him with my whole life. You have dared to touch me, his wife, and he will never forgive you for that. He will never spare you. He and his noble brother, Lakshmana, will come here and slay you. Have no doubts about that. You call yourself brave, yet to me you are a coward. You stole me away from my husband by luring him into the forest. You were too frightened to come face to face with him. You are not only a coward but also a thief. But beware, your end is nearing or else you would never have done such a dastardly act”.
Ravana was furious at these words. His lips were throbbing with anger and humiliation. “Enough of your prattle”, he shouted. “I give you twelve months to change your mind. If, within that time you agree to my proposal, you will become queen of the world, otherwise your delicate flesh shall be carved and dressed for my morning meal”. With this ultimatum he stormed* out of the room giving orders that Sita should be kept in the grove of Ashoka trees with a strict guard, night and day.
Thus ends the sixth Canto called “The Abduction of Sita” of the Aranya Kanda in the glorious Ramayana of the Sage Valmiki.
