Chapter XLIX: Section L

Hearing these words Yatayu, who lay buried in a deep slumber, awoke and beheld both Ravana and Janaki. Thereat the lord of birds resting on the tree, having a big sharp beak like unto the summit of a hill, addressed these soft words unto Ravana, "O brother Ten-necked one, I am conversant with Puranas, of truthful vows and abide by religion. It doth not behove thee to perpetrate such an iniquitous deed before me. I am Yatayu, the mighty lord of vultures. Dacaratha's son Rama is the lord of all men like unto Mahendra and Varuna. He is ever engaged in the welfare of all men. This exquisitely beautiful and far-famed Sita whom thou art about to steal away, is the married wife of that lord of men. And how dost thou thyself being a monarch and engaged in the royal office of maintaining subjects, carry away by stealth another's wife? O thou of mighty prowess, thou shouldst specially protect the wives of kings. Do thou therefore control thy base inclination of oppressing another's wife. A hero doth never perform what bringeth calumny upon himself. It becometh every individual to save another's wife from the touch of a second man like unto his own wife. O son of Paulastya, at the instance of the king mild subjects perform many an action conducing to virtue, wealth and desire, though not mentioned in the _Sastras_. The king is the virtue, the king is the desire and the king is the prime jewel of all subjects. Virtue, desire or sin--every thing ariseth from the king. O thou the best of Rakshasas, thou art vicious and unsteady; how hast thou come by rkhes like unto a sinner attaining to the abode of celestials? A vicious person can never relinquish his sinful habits--virtue doth never reside in the abodes of impious persons.

The mighty and the virtuous-souled Rama hath committed nothing wrong in thy city or thy dominions. Why dost thou then commit wrong by him? Khara of Janasthana is highly wicked and if Rama of blameless actions hath killed him on Surpanakha's account how is he to blame? Why dost thou then carry away the wife of that lord of men? Do thou soon leave off Vaidehi. Like unto Indra burning down Vitrasura, Rama, looking with his terrible eyes like flaming fire, shall reduce thee to ashes. Dost thou not understand that thou hast tied with cloth a virulent serpent? Dost thou not see that thou hast placed around thy neck the noose of death? It is always proper to carry such a weight as doth not exhaust (him who carries); it is always proper to take such a food as doth not cause illness. Who engageth himself in such an action as doth not confer virtue, fame or glory, but bringeth about physical affliction only? O Ravana, I am sixty thousand years old and have been administering regularly my ancestral kingdom. Old though I am, thou shalt not be able to carry away with safety Janaki in my presence, young, accoutered in mails as thou art with bow and arrows in thy hands and ascending a car. As it is not easy to destroy, by the reasonings of Logic, Vedas and Sruties containing eternal and immutable truths, so thou shalt not be able to carry away Vaidehi by force before me. If thou art a hero do thou fight. Or do thou wait for a moment, O Ravana, thou shalt also embrace the earth like unto Khara. Soon shall Rama clad in bark destroy thee in the battle field, who hadst many a time and oft destroyed in conflict the celestials and Danavas. These two princes Rama and Lakshmana are at a distance, what shall I do now? O vile being, undoubtedly shalt thou, terrified, be destroyed by them. Myself drawing my breath thou shalt not be able to carry away this beloved queen of Rama, the pure-natured Sita having eyes resembling lotuses. It is my duty to do good unto the high-souled Rama and Dacaratha even at the sacrifice of my life. Do thou stand, O Ten-necked one. Behold for a moment. O Ravana, I shall throw thee headlong from this car, like unto a fruit from its stalk. O ranger of the night, even to my utmost might I will render thee hospitality in encounter.