His sister then related unto him the prowess of Rama
and the defeat of the Rakshasas with Khara and Dushana
at their head. Informed of the slaughter of his
relatives, Ravana, impelled by Fate, remembered Maricha
for slaying Rama. And resolving upon the course
he was to follow and having made arrangements for
the government of his capital, he consoled his sister,
and set out on an aerial voyage. And crossing
the Trikuta and the Kala mountains, he beheld the vast
receptacle of deep waters—the abode of the
Makaras. Then crossing the Ocean, the Ten headed
Ravana reached Gokarna—the favourite resort
of the illustrious god armed with the trident.
And there Ravana met with his old friend Maricha who,
from fear of Rama himself, had adopted an ascetic
mode of life.’”
“Markandeya said, ’Beholding Ravana come,
Maricha received him with a respectful welcome, and
offered him fruits and roots. And after Ravana
had taken his seat, and rested himself a while, Maricha
skilled in speech, sat beside Ravana and addressed
him who was himself as eloquent in speech, saying,
“Thy complexion hath assumed an unnatural hue;
is it all right with thy kingdom, O king of the Rakshasas?
What hath brought thee here? Do thy subjects
continue to pay thee the same allegiance that they
used to pay thee before? What business hath brought
thee here? Know that it is already fulfilled,
even if it be very difficult of fulfilment!”
Ravana, whose heart was agitated with wrath and humiliation
informed him briefly of the acts of Rama and the measures
that were to be taken. And on hearing his story,
Maricha briefly replied to him, saying, “Thou
must not provoke Rama, for I know his strength!
Is there a person who is capable of withstanding the
impetus of his arrows? That great man hath been
the cause of my assuming my present ascetic life.
What evil-minded creature hath put thee up to this
course calculated to bring ruin and destruction on
thee?” To this Ravana indignantly replied, reproaching
him thus, “If thou dost not obey my orders, thou
shall surely die at my hands.” Maricha
then thought within himself, “When death is
inevitable, I shall do his biddings; for it is better
to die at the hands of one that is superior.”
Then he replied to the lord of the Rakshasas saying,
“I shall surely render thee whatever help I can!”
Then the Ten-headed Ravana said unto him, “Go
and tempt Sita, assuming the shape of a deer with
golden horns and a golden skin! When Sita will
observe thee thus, she will surely send away Rama to
hunt thee. And then Sita will surely come within
my power, and I shall forcibly carry her away.
And then that wicked Rama will surely die of grief
at the loss of his wife. Do thou help me in this
way!”
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