Chapter LIII: Section LIV

Carried away (by Ravana), Vaidehi, not finding any defender, saw five principal monkeys stationed on the top of a hill. Thereat, that lady of expansive eyes and surpassing charms, in the hope that they might convey the intelligence unto Rama, flung off in their midst her gold-gleaming silken sheet, and elegant ornaments. But the Ten headed one owing to hurry did not observe the throwing of the cloth along with the ornaments. Those foremost of monkeys having tawny eyes observed with winkless eyes the large-eyed Sita as she was giving way to grief. And the lord of Rakshasas, passing beyond Pampa, directed his course towards the city of Lanka, taking Mithila's daughter along with him, indulging in lamentations. Experiencing the height of delight, Ravana ravished her, taking her on his lap, like a sharp-toothed serpent of virulent poison. And speedily, like an arrow shot from a bow, he, coursing the welkin, left behind woods and streams and mountains and pieces of water. And coming to the abode of Varuna, that refuge of rivers, the exhaustless ocean--the home of whales and alligators, he crossed over it. In consequence of the carrying away of Vaidehi, Varuna's abode, from grief, had all its waves stilled and its fishes and mighty snakes inert.--And the Charanas uttered in the heavens these words, "O Ten-headed one, this is thy end." Thus did the Siddhas then say. And taking Siti on his lap, representing his own Death,--who endeavoured (to liberate herself), Ravana entered the city of Lanka. And entering the city of Lanka, vast, with all its highways well-arranged, and with people thronging its gates, he entered his own inner apartment. Then Ravana set Sita there, having eyes with dark outer corners, exercised with grief and dole; as if Maya had set his own Asura Illusion (in his own palace). Then the Ten-headed one spoke unto some female friends of terrible visages, "Let no man or woman behold Sita without my permission. And I command that, should she ask for pearls, or rubies, or gold, or apparel, or ornaments, the same should be rendered unto her. She that, whether knowingly or unknowingly should say anything unpleasant to Vaidehi, would hold her life cheap." Having said this unto the Rakshasis, the puissant lord of the Raksahsas, went out of the inner apartment, and thought within himself as to what was to be done (next). And he saw eight flesh-eating Rakshasas of wondrous prowess. And seeing them, the exceedingly powerful (Ravana), blinded by the bestowal of the boon, after extolling their strength and heroism, addressed them, saying, "Equipped with various weapons, do ye speedily take yourself to Janasthana,-- that field of carnage--which ere this contained the abode of Khara; and casting off fear at a distance, do ye sojourn in vacant Janasthana with all its Rakshasas slain (by Rama). A great many troops endeued with exceeding prowess, who had been posted in Janasthana, have, along with Dushana and Khara, been slain by the shafts of Rama. Hence unprecedented is my wrath, towering above my patience; and great and fierce also is the hostility I have conceived against Rama. I wish to avenge myself on my mighty enemy. Sleep find I none without slaying my foe in fight. Slaying that slayer of Khara and Dushana, Rama, I shall attain delight like unto that attained by a pauper on gaining riches. Staying in Janasthana, ye shall gather true information touching Rama as to what he is about. Repair all ye rangers of the night carefully, and strive yourselves always for slaying Rama. I have been well acquainted with your strength in many a field, and it is for this that I set ye in Janasthana." Hearing these agreeable and weighty words of Ravana, those Rakshasas, bowing down unto Ravana, left Lanka, and in a body invisibly proceeded in the direction of Janasthana. Having obtained Mithila's daughter, Ravana experienced great joy in establishing her (in his own house); and having created high hostility with Rama, Ravana through blindness rejoiced greatly.