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.