The information that Rama with his imperturbable army was encamped at the Mount Suvela in Lanka disturbed Ravana very greatly. He consulted his more intelligent and reliable counselors. Though he did not get any very satisfactory advice from them, he got a good idea by collating all their advice. He sent away the advisers and entered his favorite chamber in his palace. Sitting on his very favorite throne there he brooded over the idea. After a few minutes he was satisfied that he got a very good result-oriented solution. With a great satisfaction he slapped happily his right thigh with a few of his hands and shouted loudly 'AHH..' (due to the pain). Then with a smile he sent for the exceedingly competent Vidyujjihva, the great sorcerer. In a short while that guy reported and Ravana with happy faces told him "My dear chap! I have a very brilliant idea. If you do not execute it properly, then today will become the LAST day of your LIFE. With your spells, create an illusion in order to deceive Seetha, the lovely lassie I kept at the Asoka vana. Produce a head resembling Rama's along with a great bow and arrows created deceptively and present yourself before me."
Vidyujjihva nodded and demonstrated some magic to Ravana to convince him of his high capability. The king was satisfied and gave him an ornament as a gift, in appreciation.
Then Ravana with abundant confidence that Seetha would, this time will agree to become his bedmate, duly entered the Ashoka Vana, eager to have a sight of Seetha. There he saw Seetha seated on the ground with her head bent down in grief as she was and absorbed in the thought of her husband.
Approaching Seetha who was attended upon by ghastly ogresses seated not far away from her and mentioning his own name with great delight, Ravana audaciously addressed Seetha "O, Beautiful one! He in whom you trusted and repelled me whenever I sought to consort you, that murderer of Khara, your husband Rama has been killed in battle. Your root has been cut off in all ways by me and your pride has been slain. By your present evil predicament, you will have to become my wife. O, Foolish one! Give up this nonsensical resolution. What will you do with that one who is now dead. O, beautiful one! Become the Chief Queen over all my consorts. Now you think yourself rationally, sensibly and wisely. O, Seetha! Hear about the dreadful killing of your husband in battle, like the killing of Vritra.
Vidyujjihva nodded and demonstrated some magic to Ravana to convince him of his high capability. The king was satisfied and gave him an ornament as a gift, in appreciation.
Then Ravana with abundant confidence that Seetha would, this time will agree to become his bedmate, duly entered the Ashoka Vana, eager to have a sight of Seetha. There he saw Seetha seated on the ground with her head bent down in grief as she was and absorbed in the thought of her husband.
Approaching Seetha who was attended upon by ghastly ogresses seated not far away from her and mentioning his own name with great delight, Ravana audaciously addressed Seetha "O, Beautiful one! He in whom you trusted and repelled me whenever I sought to consort you, that murderer of Khara, your husband Rama has been killed in battle. Your root has been cut off in all ways by me and your pride has been slain. By your present evil predicament, you will have to become my wife. O, Foolish one! Give up this nonsensical resolution. What will you do with that one who is now dead. O, beautiful one! Become the Chief Queen over all my consorts. Now you think yourself rationally, sensibly and wisely. O, Seetha! Hear about the dreadful killing of your husband in battle, like the killing of Vritra.
"Rama, encircled by an extensive army led forward by Sugreeva, is said to have come over here to kill me. While sun was going to set, Rama with his mighty army was encamped there, encroaching upon the northern shore of the sea.
"My spies informed me that the entire army of Rama, after crossing that vast ocean and arriving at night, were completely fatigued in the course of the journey and were comfortably asleep. At the middle of the night my great army led by Prahasta, Rama's army was killed in the night at the place where Rama and Lakshmana were resting. My warriors wielding harpoons, maces, discs, daggers, sticks, great arrows spears, shining maces with spikes, picks, lances, darts, massed weapons, clubs and circular missiles, went there and used those weapons on them again and again in order to strike down the vanaras. The impetuous Prahasta, with his steady hand, severed the head of Rama sleeping there, with his mighty sword without any resistance from any one. Fortunately, Vibhishana is held captive. Lakshmana along with the vanaras were made to run away in all directions.
"O, Seetha! Sugreeva the king of vanaras with his neck broken and Hanuman with his jaw removed were laid down and killed by the rakshasas. Thereafter Jambavan who was rising up on his knees was killed in the battle. His body was cut off with many sharp-edged spears, like a tree is cut off. Mainda and Dvivida, the two great scourgers of their foes, the long bodied and the foremost of the vanaras, groaning and breathless, their limbs bathed in blood, were cut to pieces at the waist-level, by a sword. Panasa, crying for help was stretched on the earth under a tree of the same name lying in a pit. The exceedingly valiant kumuda on his part, shrieking, was killed by a hail of missiles. Angada, who was adorned with bracelets lies fallen down, emitting blood on all sides, as he was pierced by the rakshasas with many arrows, after approaching him. The vanaras sleeping there were crushed by elephants and multitude of chariots, like clouds are crushed to pieces by the velocity of wind.
"While those enemies while being struck on the back like lions pursuing great elephants, fled in terror, pursued by my warriors. Some vanaras fell in the sea and some sought shelter in the sky. Some climbing up the trees, hid themselves. Our rakshashas with monstrous eyes, killed a multitude of vanars at the shores of the sea, in the mountains and in the woods. Thus, your husband together with his army was killed by my troops. His head, drenched in his blood and besmeared with dust has been gathered up."
Ravana then shouted at one of the rakshashies guarding Seetha "Bring Vidyujjihva, the rakshash by whom Raghava's head has been brought from the battle-field." Holding that head along with a bow, Vidyujjihva walked in solemnly and stood in front of Ravana with a grave face. Ravana commanded him "Keep Rama's head in front of Seetha. Let the miserable Seetha see well the ultimate condition of her husband."
Vidyujjihva did so and promptly left the site.
Throwing a great shining bow before Seetha, Ravana jeered at her saying "Here is Rama's bow famous in the three worlds! This is the bow with its cord stretched, belonging to Rama was brought by Prahasta here, after killing that hero in the night.
"You now have no option other than to agree to become submissive to my desire."
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