Ravana’s impassioned words and looks were quite embarrassing to Sita but she took him to be an elderly sannyasi and it was against the code of conduct to be rude to those who wore the ochre robe. She was beside herself with anxiety about Rama and kept watching the little path to see if he was coming, but at the same time she could not afford to neglect this holy man who might curse her, if she did not entertain him.
So she said, “I am the daughter of Janaka, king of Mithila and the wife of Rama, son of Dasaratha. I have come to this forest with my husband who has been banished for fourteen years from his kingdom. His brother, Lakshmana, has also come with him. I cannot bear to live without my husband, neither can he bear to be parted from me and that is why I accompanied him to this forest. At the moment he has gone with his brother to capture a deer, which I desired. If you like, you are welcome to wait for his return. You may sit outside this circle for no one can enter it. However I will bring you some food”.
So saying, she went inside to get some edibles for the holy man. Ravana was watching her every gesture and movements with hungry eyes, sparking green fire.
She returned with water to wash his feet as well as a seat for him to sit and have some refreshments. It was the custom to honour a sannyasi in this fashion. She was totally unsuspicious of the character of the person who stood before her, so she innocently came out of the magic circle and kept everything ready for the holy man and respectfully stood beside him and asked him to partake of the repast.
Ravana did not have much time to waste on civilities, so he immediately stated his purpose in coming there. “0 princess!” he said, “you must have heard of the king of the rakshasas, called Ravana. His very name strikes terror in the hearts of all. Well, I am he. Ever since I heard about your beauty from my sister Shurpanekha, I have not been able to think of anything else. Now that I have seen you, I am filled with delight. If anything, her description did not do full justice to you. You are far more charming than what she said. You have totally captivated me and I do now want any other woman but you. Come with me and I’ll make you my foremost queen. My city is called Lanka and it is situated on an island. It is the most beautiful city in the world. You can have the most wonderful palace for your own and wander about in lovely gardens instead of this terrible forest. Cast away this miserable life and come away with me and be my queen”.
Sita was furious when she heard these despicable words coming from the lips of a man, whom she thought was holy. It did not occur to her to be frightened.
With flaming eyes and scornful look, she said scathingly, “Lister. to me 0 wretch! I am the wife of the noblest man in the world and you are the most despicable person. Do you really think I will leave my husband and go with you? How dare you talk to me like this? What do I care for your name and fame and health? My husband is the home of all virtues and I would never look at another man. Give up these sinful thoughts and go away fast before my noble husband returns and kills you”.
Though she spoke boldly, her mind was suddenly filled with fear for she realised her state of utter helplessness. She was alone and at the mercy of this man who appeared to be a veritable devil.
Ravana saw her trembling but he was loathe to use violence and thus make her hate him. Though time was running short, he tried to beguile her with stories of his glory. “Ah Sita”, he said, “You do not realise what a great personage I am. There is nothing that I cannot do. I have conquered all the three worlds. Even the gods bow to me. I have a fantastic chariot which can fly in the air. I can take you over land and sea and show you wonders you have never dreamt of. What can that puny mortal, Rama, do? He was banished to the forest by his father and did not have the guts to go against his stepmother. You are too beautiful to be wasted on such a coward. Come with me and live a life of pleasure in my city. I will shower you with whatever you desire”.
Sita replied hotly, “You say you are born in a noble family, yet not even the lowest of the low will behave like you. If you touch me you will not be able to live. Rama’s arrows will split your chest. You are unnecessarily putting your head into a noose. Depart from here this instant, if you value your life”.
Ravana was slowly losing his temper. He had never been thwarted before, especially by a woman! He had thought to make an easy conquest but time was running out. He made one last attempt to convince her of his worth.
‘For the last time I am pleading with you. Listen to me and be my wife. I promise I will never displease you. Rama is far inferior to me. He is only a wandering mendicant, without even a kingdom. Forget him and come with me” Speaking thus, he shed his disguise and stood in all his rakshasa glory before her eyes, ten heads and all!
Sita was terrified to see him in his rakshasa form but she did her best to hide her fear. She knew that if she could only get back into the magic circle she would be safe. Slowly she started backing her way towards it. She cursed herself for not having listened to Lakshmana and stayed within the circle. If she tried to turn and run, he would surely catch her, so slowly she tried to inch her way back.
Suddenly Ravana realised what she was up to and before she could reach the edge and save herself, he lunged at her and dragged her back. Catching her long hair with his left hand, he placed his right hand under her thighs and lifted her up and put her on his shoulders. His aerial vehicle which had been well camouflaged by the trees, now appeared like magic on the lawn. He got into it and placed Sita on his lap. The entire forest held its breath in fear. It was as if the whole of nature was appalled by the immensity of the crime which was being committed. The trees moaned and writhed in agony. The birds shrieked and flew hither and thither. The deer on the ground were affected by their cries and they also moaned and fled into the depths of the forest as if in an effort to call Rama.
Sita struggled and tried her best to wriggle out of his grasp but he only tightened his hold. She screamed, “Rama! Rama! Save me! Save me”! But Rama did not hear. She was like one demented. Again and again she cried out, “0 Rama! 0 Lakshmana! 0 noble brother of Rama. This evil rakshasa is carrying me away by force. Save me! Save me”!
The chariot was swiftly rising from the ground. She saw the trees she loved and the forest where she had roamed with her beloved. She made piteous appeals to the, flowers and the birds to save her and cursed Ravana for his folly. Ravana paid no heed and the chariot sped through the air to the south. He was jubilant because his plan had succeeded. As the chariot was speeding on its way, Sita suddenly saw their good friend Jatayu perched on a tree. Unfortunately he had not witnessed all that took place, for he had tucked his head into his feathers and gone to sleep.
As soon as Sita saw him she cried out, “0 revered Sir, this rakshasa is carrying me away by force. Please tell Rama”. Sobs stopped her from speaking further.
Jatayu woke up from his slumbers at her cry. He flew beside the chariot and tried to reason with the rakshasa king. “0 Ravana”, he said, “what you are doing, is a despicable thing. Rama has not wronged you in any way. Give up this madness or else you will regret it. Even though I am old and unarmed, rest assured that I will not let you take her away. If you persist in this stupidity, you will have to fight with me first”.
Ravana had hardly expected an obstacle from this direction. He was furious with the bird for trying to bar the flight of the chariot with its huge wings. Jatayu fought with his talons, beak and wings and mauled Ravana in quite a few places, so that blood started oozing from his wounds. Ravana tried to pierce him with his arrows but Jatayu resisted manfully and slashed his. bow and armour with his talons. Blind with fury, Jatayu ripped apart the magic asses which were yoked to the chariot and the chariot itself fell to the ground and was smashed. Jatayu shrieked the war cry of the eagles and swooped down on Ravana and ripped the chariot fell to the ground, Ravana kept a firm grip on Sita.
The rakshasas had the power to fly and the demon king rose up in the air with Sita in his arms. Jatayu followed him but by now the old bird was tired and weak. Still he went after him and valiantly pierced him with his beak again and again till he was forced to land on the ground. Ravana was amazed at the bird’s prowess but he was also getting desperate. At last he took up his sword and sliced off both the wings of the bird. Jatayu fell to the ground with a shriek. Sita wept in pain at the gory fate of her one friend who had also been her father-in-law’s friend. She shook off Ravana’s loosened hold and ran to the bird and gathered him up in her arms and wept for him. Ravana lulled her up roughly, and placing her on his thigh, he rose up into the sky once again.
