Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
Ashtashashtam Parva
The entire universe is delighted by her mere sight. She is capable of conquering even the bride of liberation at the end of sensual enjoyment. 'She is worthy of you, the one with the three-fold unbroken prosperity.' Just as the lord of Mithila took his own daughter Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Residing near him, out of forbearance, to behold that one of vast splendor. Nārada, the king of birds, said, 'I have come here out of love.' It is said that the eyes of the lustful do not see, they only desire. With the words about Sītā's connection, his mind was tormented by the arrows of Cupid. 'She is worthy to stay only with me, the fortunate one, not the unfortunate.' As the abode of Mandākinī is beyond the great ocean, so will I forcibly take her from the very weak Rāma and hold her on my chest like a restless garland of flowers. Hearing this, the evil-minded one, the lord of the wicked, thought in his assembly that this is the way of the villains. That Nārada again kindled the blazing fire of his anger, saying that Rāma, established in the position of the great king, and Lakshmana, his brother, are in the position of the crown prince. Entering Vārānasī, they were honored by the lords of the world with their own daughters. Hearing this, Rāvana, bearing a mocking smile, said, 'O sage, you will soon hear of my prowess.' Dismissing him, he entered the council chamber and thought, 'This task is to be accomplished by some means, not by force. The wise can take away even the prosperity of the greatest of men by means.'