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PHavine spoken thus unto Maithilee and commanded the host of the Rakshasees, Ravana, a terror unto his enemies, went away. And after that lord of Rakshasas had gone away and entered his inner apartment, the hideous Rakshasees drew near Sita. And approaching Sit& that terrible host, almost faint with ire, addressed Vaidehi with the following harsh words—‘Thou dost not regard it highly, Sita, that thou shalt become the chosen wife of that highsouled, and great Ravana, the Ten-necked son of Pulastya.”

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Thereupon another Rakshasee named Ekjat&, with eyes rendered coppery with ire, addressing Sita. having a small navel, said,—‘Pulastya is the fourth of the six Prajapatis,* a mind-born son of Brahm& and celebrated in the world. And the glorious ascetic, by name Bishrava was the mindborn son unto Pulastya, effulgent like unto Prajapatis. O large-eyed damsel! Of Visrava came Ravana terrible unto his enemies. Aud it behoveth thee to become the consort of that lord of Rakshasas. Scorn not the words I say unto thee, O thou of comely presence.” Thereupon another Rakshasee named Harijaté, having the eyes of a cat, and whirling them with ire, said—It becometh thee to be the wife of that lord of Rakshasas who smote the thirty three celestials and their lord in battle. Dost thou not desire to be his wife, who is heroic, of indomitable prowess and who doth not turn back in battle 2 And turning away in scorn from his beloved wife, highly esteemed, the mighty king Ravana, desireth for thee. And leaving his iuner apartment enriched with thousand of females and adorned with various jewels, Ravana shall adore thee.” And _ thea followed another Rakshasee by name Bikata—"The king, who by his terrible prowess subdued the Gandharbast and Nagas,t ia battle, hath stood by thee. O foolish damsel, why dost thou not wish to be the consort of that high-souled lord of Rakshasas—Ravana, gifted with wealth and _ riches.” And then followed another Rakshasee named Durmukhee.— “Why dost thou not approach him, O thou having expansive eyes, by whose fear, the sun doth not shine, and the wind doth not blow. O dame, why dost thou not wish to be the consort of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, at whose command the trees shower blossoms and the hills and clouds pou down water. Why dost thon not make up thy mind to be * PrajApitis are the lords of the created beings first created by Brabmi—T. + Heavenly singers and musicians who belong to the heaven of Indra.—T. $ Serpent-gods who dwell in the regions uuder the earth,

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he wife of Ravana? © damsel, O worshipful dame, we ave Spoken thus for thy welfare. Do thou comply with lar request or thou shalt surely die.” SEGTION XXIV. — and "Turreveon all those Rakshasees, having terrible faces iain and again pursued Sita with reproaches rough and ‘ude.—“Why dost thou not desire, Q Sita, to live in his nner apartment, liked by all and abounding in costly bediteads. QO woman, thou regardest highly to be the wife of 1 man. Do thou tura back from R&ma—thy desire shall sever 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 chou 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 Sil6, 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, [ will never fullow your words. Poor or deprived of kingdom, he who ts my hunband, is my preceptor. I am aver devoted unto him, like Subarchala* unto the Sun. Like unto the great Sachi standing by Sakra, Arundhuti by Vaslsishta, Rohini by the Moon, Lopamudra by Agistya, Sukanya by Chyabana, SAbitree by Satyabana, Sreematee by Kapila, Madayantee by Sandasa,Keshinee by Sagara and Damayanti the daughter of the king Veema by hee husband Nala, { shall ever remain devoted to my husband Rama, the foremost of the descendants of [kshawku.” Hearing the words of Sita, all * The wife of the sun. —T.

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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 Sit& 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 Siugshkapa tree. And the largeeyed Sita, encircled by the Rakshasces, 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 hidevus teeth and a huge belly extending downwards, by name Vinat&, 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 satisficd. And may good betide thee! Thou hast acted worthily like a woman. Do thou hear, O Maithilee, what 1 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 celestuials, charitable, kind unto all, and sweet-speeched. And for sakiug 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 Vaidehi, O thou of comely presence, become the queen of all the worlds, like unto Sachee of the lord of the celestials and sedha* of the fire. What shalt thou do with R&ma, * An exclamation used in making an oblation to the Gods. A_ personification of the preceding as the wife of fire and Goddess presiding over burat offerings.—T.

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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, Siti—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* 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 Rakshsas, 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 enczente, hath been to banquet on her large eyes, lever, spleen, her plump hands, heart, other limbs and head.” Thereupon another Rakshasee named Praghas&é said—‘I shall grind the throat of this cruel woman. What are you doing, sitting * Another name of Indra—the lord of the celestials.—T.

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here? Ye shall then relate unto the king that the woman is dead. And undoubtedly he shall say ‘Do ye eat her up.” And thercupon 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 Ajamukhi hath ! said. Bring soon wine, the remover of all griefs. Banquetting | on human flesh F shall dance before the queen Nikumbhilé.” Being thus threatened by those grim-visaged Rakshasees Sita, resembling the daughter of a celestial, renouncing patience, began to weep.