saying, “By sheer ill-luck it is, O king of the Rakshasas, that I am obliged to hear such words of grievous import spoken by thee!  Blessed be thou, O Rakshasa fond of sensual pleasures, let thy heart be withdrawn from me!  I am the wife of another, ever devoted to my husband, and, therefore, incapable of being possessed by thee!  A helpless human being that I am, I cannot be a fit wife for thee!  What joy can be thine by using violence towards an unwilling woman?  Thy father is a wise Brahmana, born of Brahma and equal unto that Lord himself of the creation!  Why dost thou not, therefore, thyself being equal to a Regent of the Universe, observe virtue?  Disgracing thy brother, that king of the Yakshas, that adorable one who is the friend of Maheswara himself, that lord of treasures, how is it that thou feelest no shame?” Having said these words, Sita began to weep, her bosom shivering in agitation, and covering her neck and face with her garments.  And the long and well-knit braid, black and glossy, falling from the head of the weeping lady, looked like a black snake.  And hearing these cruel words uttered by Sita, the foolish Ravana, although thus rejected, addressed Sita once more, saying, “O lady, let the god having the Makara for his emblem burn me sorely.  I will, however, on no account, O thou of sweet smiles and beautiful hips, approach thee, as thou art unwilling!  What can I do to thee that still feelest a regard for Rama who is only a human being and, therefore, our food?” Having said those words unto that lady of faultless features, the king of the Rakshasa made himself invisible then and there and went away to the place he liked.  And Sita, surrounded by those Rakshasa women, and treated with tenderness by Trijata, continued to dwell there in grief.’”

SECTION CCLXXX

“Markandeya said, ’Meanwhile the illustrious descendant of Raghu, along with his brother, hospitably treated by Sugriva, continued to dwell on the breast of the Malyavat hill, beholding every day the clear blue sky.  And one night, while gazing from the mountain-top on the bright moon in the cloudless sky surrounded by planets and stars and stellar bodies, that slayer of foes was suddenly awakened (to a remembrance of Sita) by the cold breezes fragrant with the perfumes of the lily, lotus and other flowers of the same species.  And virtuous Rama, dejected in spirits at the thought of Sita’s captivity in the abode of the Rakshasa, addressed the heroic Lakshmana in the morning saying, “Go, Lakshmana and seek in Kishkindhya that ungrateful king of the monkeys, who understands well his own interest and is even now indulging in dissipations, that foolish wretch of his race whom I have installed on a throne and to whom all apes and monkeys and bears owe allegiance, that fellow for whose sake, O mighty-armed perpetuator of Raghu’s race, Vali was slain by me with thy help in the wood of Kishkindhya!