13. Sita’s Defiance and Hanuman’s Revelation
Sita shivered in disgust at the audacity of Ravana. She answered, fixing her gaze upon a blade of grass she held in her hand, “It is in vain that you dream of getting me. I am as far from you as heaven is from a sinner. Just as you do not expect your wife to be faithless to you, you should not expect me to be faithless to my husband. It is unfortunate that there is nobody to put sense into you. Or maybe you are disregarding the just counsel of your well-wishers. Your arrogance will be the cause of the destruction of your kingdom. Still, there is time. If you wish to save yourself, go and surrender to Sri Rama. Compassionate that he is, he will pardon you. I too am willing to plead on your behalf. Lead me to him with a heart purified with repentance. Otherwise, Sri Rama and Lakshmana will kill you in no time.”
Ravana’s Threats
Ravana bellowed with fury, “Know it, O Sita, that any one of these impudent pieces of advice you gave me could be enough cause to kill you. But I am refraining from taking any such step because I bear affection for you. I had granted a certain length of time for you to come to a decision. That period will lapse in two months. You must consent to marry me in the meanwhile, otherwise I will kill you and eat your flesh at the end of that period.”
Even the demonesses who guarded Sita felt remorseful at these words of Ravana. They looked at Sita with pity.
Manipulation by the Demonesses
Ravana said, looking at the demonesses, “Try your best to make her submissive, in whatever way you can.”
Dhanyamalini, the youngest wife of Ravana, embraced him and pleaded, “Why are you so eager to win a human wife since I am here for you? Don’t you know that I can sacrifice my life for you? Why are you after a woman who does not like you?”
Ravana smiled and left the place. Immediately, the demonesses such as Ekajata, Harijata, Pradhasa, Vikata, and Durmukhi pressed around Sita, exclaiming how foolish it was on her part to ignore the love of the demon king!
Sita’s Resolute Response
Sita answered them, “Don’t you realize that it is a sin to say, ‘I would prefer to be devoured by you than endure such advice?’”
At that, the demonesses began threatening her. While they spoke, they all came under the very tree on which Hanuman sat. He could hear their words clearly.
A Warning from Trijata
A demoness named Vinata told Sita, “Listen, my sister, you are undoubtedly pure and virtuous. That is commendable. But even virtue should have its limits. Ravana, apart from being king, is a demon of beauty and quality. There is no reason why you should not marry him and be happy. Rama, the poor wanderer, can never survive a battle with Ravana. It is high time you gave up hope in him.”
Others supported Vinata, saying, “We mean your good. Why don’t you pay heed to our words? You think your beauty will abide by you forever, do you? We can gulp you down our throats in the twinkling of an eye!”
Then they discussed among themselves, “Let us kill Sita and report to Ravana that she died. Ravana would naturally ask us to eat her flesh. Better we decide right now upon our shares of her flesh so that we won’t have to quarrel later.”
Sita felt sad at this. She remembered her dear ones and wept, thinking it would be better to die as soon as possible. But an old demoness named Trijata spoke up, “Instead of eating Sita’s flesh, eat mine, if you must. I dreamt a fearful dream that foretold doom for the demons.”
Trijata’s Ominous Dream
“Will you narrate your dream to us?” asked the other demonesses.
Fixing her gaze on the rising sun, the old Trijata narrated, “Ramachandra, clad in white and wearing a garland of white flowers, came flying to Lanka, accompanied by Lakshmana. A thousand swans bore his chariot. Sita, also clad in white, stood on a white hill that rose from the sea. They met. Then I saw Rama and Lakshmana, seated on an elephant, passing through Lanka.”
“Thereafter, along with Sita, they boarded the Pushpaka chariot and flew northward. Ravana, bathed in oil, was seen falling down from the chariot, drinking oil all the while. Shorn of his hair and clad in black, he was dragged away by a number of women. Then I saw him proceeding southward, seated on a donkey. Once he fell down, terrified, from the donkey’s back. I also saw a young lady clad in red with mud pasted on her body, putting a noose around Ravana’s neck and pulling him in the southern direction. I saw Kumbhakarna in a similar predicament too. Further, I saw Ravana’s sons bathing in oil. Next, I saw Ravana, Meghnad, and Kumbhakarna heading southward riding a pig, a shark, and a camel, respectively. But Bibhishana was seen wearing a garland of white flowers, clad in white, and adorned with white sandalwood paste. He and his ministers rode magnificent elephants. Last, I saw the city of Lanka crumbling into the sea.”
A Call for Caution
Trijata concluded before her spellbound audience, “Better hands off Sita. Know for certain that Sita is about to be restored to Rama. Talk to her kindly and respectfully. Perhaps it will be wise on our part to pray for her protection.”
Hanuman’s Entrance
Hanuman, watching from his hiding spot in the tree, reflected on how to approach Sita and console her. If the demonesses noticed him, a fight would be unavoidable. Even if he succeeded in killing them, he might tire himself out and have difficulty leaping over the ocean. Additionally, Sita might think he was a demon in disguise!
At last, Hanuman began reciting in a voice loud enough for Sita to hear: “The great king Dasharatha had the noble Ramachandra as his eldest son. In accordance with his father’s commitment, Ramachandra went to live in the forest accompanied by his younger brother and wife. He killed many ferocious demons in the forest. To avenge this, Ravana kidnapped his wife, Sita Devi. Wandering in quest of Sita Devi, Ramachandra befriended Sugriva, the king of Vanaras. At Sugriva’s command, a thousand Vanaras scattered in all directions to trace Sita Devi. I am one of them. I crossed the sea and believe I have found Sita Devi.”
A Glimpse of Hope
At this, Sita raised her head, amazement etched on her face, and saw Hanuman.
Hanuman looked dazzling as a string of lightning. But Sita was tormented by several doubts. Was this real? It was unlikely that anyone who spoke so highly of Rama could be in Lanka. She thought perhaps it was nothing but a dream. But soon she realized she was awake and what she saw could not be a dream. Next, she considered that since her mind was entirely occupied by Ramachandra, all she heard about him could be nothing but a delusion. She remembered the gods and prayed for their help.
Confirmation of Identity
Hanuman jumped down and bowed to Sita, saying, “Mother! You seem so noble and pure. Why do you weep? I take you as a goddess. Kindly tell me if you are Sita Devi, kidnapped by Ravana. That will do you good.”
Sita responded, “I am indeed she, the daughter-in-law of King Dasharatha and daughter of Janaka, the king of Videha. On the eve of Ramachandra’s coronation, Kaikeyi, one of the queens of Dasharatha, insisted on Ramachandra leaving for the forest and her son Bharata being crowned. Dasharatha had promised two boons to Kaikeyi, which she now demanded. Although Ramachandra did not want me to accompany him, I followed him, for without him, even heaven would be an unhappy place for me. Lakshmana, one of Rama’s younger brothers, also accompanied us. While we camped in Dandakaranya, the wicked Ravana kidnapped me. He allows me two more months at the end of which I will be killed.”
Hanuman listened with rapt attention. He then tried his best to give solace to Sita.
