of the White hill. And I saw four of his counsellors
also, decked with white wreaths and unguents, ascending
the summit of that hill along with him. All this
bodeth that these alone will be saved from the impending
terror. The whole earth with its oceans and seas
will be enveloped with Rama’s arrows. O
lady, thy husband will fill the whole earth with his
fame. I also saw Lakshmana, consuming all directions
(with his arrows) and ascending on a heap of bones
and drinking thereon honey and rice boiled in milk.
And thou, O lady, hast been beheld by me running towards
a northernly direction, weeping and covered with blood
and protected by a tiger! And, O princess of
Videha, soon wilt thou find happiness, being united,
O Sita, with thy lord, that descendant of Raghu accompanied
by his brother!’ Hearing these words of Trijata,
that girl with eyes like those of a young gazelle,
once more began to entertain hopes of a union with
her lord. And when at last those fierce and cruel
Pisacha guards came back, they saw her sitting with
Trijata as before.”
“Markandeya said, ’And while the chaste
Sita was dwelling there afflicted with melancholy
and grief on account of her lord, attired in mean garb,
with but a single jewel (on the marital thread on her
wrist), and incessantly weeping, seated on a stone,
and waited upon by Rakshasa women, Ravana, afflicted
by the shafts of the god of desire, came to her and
approached her presence. And inflamed by desire,
that conquerer in battle of the gods, the Danavas,
the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, and the Kimpurushas,
attired in celestial robes and possessing handsome
features, decked with jewelled earrings and wearing
a beautiful garland and crown, entered the Asoka woods,
like an embodiment of the vernal season. And
dressed with care, Ravana looked like the Kalpa tree
in Indra’s garden. But though adorned with
every embellishment, that inspired her only with awe,
like a beautified banian in the midst of a cemetery.
And that night wanderer, having approached the presence
of that slender-waisted lady, looked like the planet
Saturn in the presence of Rohini. And smitten
with the shafts of the god of the flowery emblem he
accosted that fair-hipped lady then affrighted like
a helpless doe, and told her these words, ’Thou
hast, O Sita, shown thy regard for thy lord too much!
O thou of delicate limbs, be merciful unto me.
Let thy person be embellished now (by these maids
in waiting). O excellent lady, accept me as thy
lord! And, O thou of the most beautiful complexion,
attired in costly robes and ornaments, take thou the
first place among all the women of my household.
Many are the daughters of the celestials and also
the Gandharvas that I possess! I am lord also
of many Danava and Daitya ladies! One hundred
and forty millions of Pisachas, twice as many man-eating
Rakshasa of terrible deed, and thrice as many Yaksha
do my bidding! Some of these are under the sway
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