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CHAPTER EIGHT entering her mouth. When she had told about this, Rāma said: "Two heroes will be your sons. That the two śarabhas have fallen from the celestial car will not be for my joy." "Everything will be favorable from the power of your righteousness, lord,” Queen Jānaki said. At that time she conceived. Sītā, - dear as life before, became especially moonlight 194 for the joy of Rămacandra's eyes, when she had conceived.
Plot of the co-wives (258–275) Her co-wives, jealous and scheming, said to her, "What did Råvaņa look like? Draw a picture of him and show us.” Sitä said, "I did not see Rāvana's whole figure. I saw only his feet. How can I draw him?”. “Draw even his feet. We are curious to see them.". So urged, she, naturally naïve, drew Daśāsya's feet. Rāma came to that place and they said to him: "Your wife, Sītā, remembers Rāvaņa even now. With her own hand Sītā drew Rāvana's feet. Look at them, lord. Know that Sītā prays to them alone.” Even when he had seen it (the picture) just so, Rāma, noble-minded, from sagacity treated Queen Sītā just as before, without discrimination. The queens had the business of Sītā's fault made known to the people through their own slave-girls. Generally, slander is started by the people.
In the spring Rāma said to Sitā: "The Lakşmi of Spring has come here as if wishing to amuse you depressed from your embryo. The trees, such as the bakulas and others, blossom with pregnancy-whims given by women. Let us go to play now in the garden Mahendrodaya.” Sītā said, “I have a pregnancy-whim to worship the gods. Fulfil it with various fragrant flowers from the garden.” Immediately Rāma had a pūjā to the gods celebrated and went to Mahendrodaya with Sītā and his retinue. There Raghūdvaha, comfortably seated, watched the spring
194 257. With a play on candrikā and his name.
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