Chapter CLXVI: 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.