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THE KIDNAPING OF SĪTĀ
245 Rävaņa went in his car by air above the ocean and, suffering from love, said to Sītā humbly: "You have attained the rank of chief-queen of me who am the lord of those who fly in the air and walk on the earth. Why do you weep? Enough of sorrow in the place of joy! When fate joined you with Rāma of poor destiny before, certainly it did an unsuitable thing. Now I did a suitable thing. Consider me your husband, queen, resembling a slave for service. If I am your slave, all the Khecaras, men and women, are your slaves."
While Rāvana was making this speech, Sītā remained with bowed head recalling with devotion the two syllables
Rama' like a charm. Suffering from love, he fell with his head at Jänakī's feet; she drew away her feet, fearful of the touch of a strange man. Sītā reviled him, "Pitiless, shameless man! Soon you will meet death, the fruit of desire for another man's wife." Just then the ministers, Sāraṇa and others, and other Raksas-vassals came from all sides to meet the lord of Rākşasas. Rāvaņa, very impetuous, very foolhardy, his strength equal to any work, went to the city Lankā, which held a great festival.
"I will not eat until I receive news of the safety of Rama and Saumitri," Sītā took this resolution firmly. Daśakandhara deposited Jānakī under a red aśoka, in the garden Devaramaņa, the place of coquetry of Khecarawomen, which resembled a beautiful garden of the gods, to the east of Lankā. She was attended by Trijatā and guards. He, delighted, a depository of strength, went to his own house.
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