When Ravana's son entered Lanka, after having accomplished his purpose,
the foremost monkeys protected Raghava, surrounding him on all sides.
And Hanuman, and Angada, and Nila, and Sushena, and Kumuda, and Nala,
and Gaya, and Gavaksha, and Panasa, and Samprastha--a mighty monkey--and
Jambavan, and Rishava, and Sunda, and Rambha, and Satavali, and
Prithu,--all forming themselves into array, and equipped with trees on
all sides, and remaining vigilant,--the monkeys kept gazing at all
sides, awry and upwards; and even when a straw stirred, they thought it
to be a Rakshasa. And Ravana, on his part, experiencing the height of
exaltation, summoned the Rakshasis engaged in guarding Sita.--And
thereat the Rakshasis--Trijata and others--presented themselves at his
command. And then the lord of Rakshasas, delighted, addressed then the
Rakshasis, saying,--"Tell Vaidehi that Rama and Lakshmana have been
slain in battle by Indrajit. And taking her on Pushaka, show her (Rama
and Lakshmana) lying slain on the field of battle. That one depending on
whom she had proudly set her face against me,--that husband of hers,
along with his brother, hath been slain in conflict. And then Mithila's
daughter, her fear gone off with her anxiety, and herself losing all
support,--Sita--daughter unto Mithila--decked out in all ornaments,
shall seek me. And today beholding Rama with Lakshmana, come under the
sway of Time, she, finding no other way, shall desist from her present
course. And seeing no other resourse, that one of expansive eyes shall
of herself seek me". Hearing those words of the wicked-minded Ravana,
the Rakshasis, saying,--"So be it,"--went to where Pushpaka was. Then
taking Pushpaka, the Rakshasis at Ravana's command went to Maithili
staying in the _acoka_ wood. Then, taking Sita, who was overcome with
grief for her lord, the Rakshasis, placed her on the car, Pushpaka. And
placing Sita on Pushpaka along with Trijata, Ravana took her all around
(Lanka) crowded with ensigns and standards. And the lord of Rakshasas
jubilantly proclaimed in Lanka,--"Raghava as well as Lakshmana have been
slain by Indrajit in battle". And going about with Trijata, Sita saw all
the monkey-troops slain. And she found the flesh-eaters elated in
spirits, and the monkeys afflicted with extreme grief at the side of
Rama and Lakshmana. Then Sita beheld both Lakshmana and Rama lying in
the field, senseless and bound with arrows. And those heroes were lying
on the earth, their mail torn, their bows cast off, their bodies mangled
all over and thickly pierced with shafts. And seeing those
brothers,--foremost of heroes and best of men--having eyes resembling
white lotuses, and themselves like unto Kumaras,--lying in the
field,[151]--the fire-sprung one, Sita, striken with grief, began to
weep piteously. And that black-eyed one of an excellent person, Janaka's
daughter--seeing them roll in the dust, broke out into lamentation. And
with her eyes shedding plentiful tears, she seeing those brothers,
endowed with god-like prowess, concluded them to be dead $ and
overwhelmed with grief, spoke as follows.
[151] _Viran nararshabkan--heroes and best of men_--occurs again,--left
out on the score of redundancy.--T.