3.54. Delighted in delusion!

Hari Om.

Let us begin the fifty fourth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

As she was being carried away, sItA was grieving at her misfortune but however she derived immense power from her own chastity and flawless loyalty and devotion to rAma and his power and lambasted the ten-headed demon in no uncertain terms. She chided him, she warned him, she loathed him, but never once pleaded with him! She was certain that rAma will rescue her and in that confidence she tried to survive these impossibly difficult moments. Even in those moments she constantly looked out for ways to communicate the news of her abduction to rAma and kept looking at the earth in the hope to find one. Onwards…

Being abducted and carried away, sItA so far didn’t see someone who could rescue her from the clutches of the demon. As she flew by a mountain, there on top of it, she noticed five monkey warriors. With the hope that they may pass on the clue about her abduction to rAma, she took some of her ornaments, tore a piece of cloth from her saree, tied up the jewelry in that cloth and dropped it in the middle of the five warriors atop the mountain!

तेषां मध्ये विशालाक्षी कौशेयं कनकप्रभम्।

उत्तरीयं वरारोहा शुभान्याभरणानि च।।3.54.2।।

मुमोच यदि रामाय शंसेयुरिति मैथिली।

वस्त्रमुत्सृज्य तन्मध्ये निक्षिप्तं सहभूषणम्।।3.54.3।।

सम्भ्रमात्तु दशग्रीवस्तत्कर्म न स बुद्धवान्।

पिङ्गाक्षास्तां विशालाक्षीं नेत्रैरनिमिषैरिव।।3.54.4।।

विक्रोशन्तीं तथा सीतां ददृशुर्वानरर्षभाः।

Out of his excitement, the ten-headed abductor rAvaNa didn’t notice her dropping the ornaments! The five monkey warriors with their golden eyes watched a lamenting sItA without battling an eyelid.

rAvaNa, who was delighted carrying sItA away, little realizing that she embodied his death much like carrying a venomous female cobra in one’s lap flew past the lake of pampA and headed towards lanka, his kingdom. Having gone past the beautiful land with rivers, mountains and fields, he now flew past the vast ocean that housed the large aquatic animals like the whales, crocodiles and giant serpents. And as he did so, the aquatic animals were terrified at his very sight and stopped their movements and the waves rolled back in fright. The accomplished and the spies (siddhAs and chAraNas) who wander in the sky pronounced that this was the end of rAvaNa!

तां जहार सुसंहृष्टो रावणो मृत्युमात्मनः।।3.54.6।।

उत्सङ्गेनेव भुजगीं तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्रां महाविषाम्।

In the meanwhile, carrying the struggling sItA, verily his death warrant, rAvaNa entered lanka.

स तु सीतां विवेष्टन्तीमङ्केनादाय रावणः।।3.54.11।।

प्रविवेश पुरीं लङ्कां रूपिणीं मृत्युमात्मनः।

Entering the lanka of exquisitely laid out paths and palaces, he entered into his inner chambers in his palace that had plenty of rooms. There he kept sItA in the custody of female demons of frightful appearances and instructed them that no one, either male or female was allowed to see sItA without his permission. They should provide her whatever pearls, gems or jewels that she desired without any questions. And yes, anyone who uttered anything unpleasant to sItA either knowingly or unknowingly will not live!

Having instructed the female demons thus to hold sItA in captivation, rAvaNa stepped out of the inner apartments contemplating the future course of his actions. As he stepped out, conceited about the boons of invincibility that he possessed at the hands of anyone (other than humans and monkeys!!), he saw eight powerful flesh-feasting demons and summoned them. Praising their might and valour he said –

“Listen, I had stationed khara, dUshNa and an army of mighty demons in the janasthAna. However they have been killed there succumbing to the arrows of rAma. I have seen your strength and vigour in wars, so go at once to janasthAna where khara lived once, leaving behind your apprehensions, be stationed there. Be always alert. Continuously gather information about rAma, the vanquisher of my people. Know that it shall be your constant endeavor to eliminate rAma. I shall not rest in peace until I settle score with rAma. I never can sleep without getting even with my enemy. Once I kill him in combat, I will be delighted like a pauper securing riches. Go at once, spy on rAma and his activities while being alert and aware. You have been given this duty in recognition of your past achievements and so go”!