Jain Ramayana Part 3

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 17

Vibhishan
5
Sita sat still and silent in her place. Moving a few steps towards Sita, Mandodari sat on the ground facing her. There was silence for a while. And then breaking the silence, Mandodari said.
"Dear Sita! I have an entreaty to make to you; will you grant it?”
In response to this, Sita looked towards Mandodari with weary and grief-striken eyes.
"Oh goddess! I am willing to be your attendant if you grant this request of mine."
But Sita gave no reply. She remained silent as before. The attendants stood speechless; and moment by moment Mandodari's agitation changed into intense impatience.
"Sita! You know very well that I am Mandodari. the Queen - consort of Dashmukh, the Emperor of Lanka. I am the greatest among Ravan's queens and I occupy the highest position of power among his queens. Yet, discarding all sense of hame. I have come here to make a humble entreaty to you, Oh! Sita! Ravan, the Emperor of Lanka has enshrined you i temple of his heart as his dearest and most honoured goddess. He has given you an honoured seat in the mansion of his magnificent heart. He is yearning to attain your company and favour. Since, he has failed to attain your favour, he has fallen into a state of deep distress. He is prepared to surrender at your feet all his power, pelf and prosperity. I entreat you not to reject his love but to accept it. Indeed, you are supremely fortunate because my lord whom the whole universe adores is impatient to wear on his forehead, the dust of your feet. Ah! another point. Now you give up expecting the arrival of your husband, Ram who is like a mendicant. My lord Dashmukh Ravan is capable of bestowing upon you greater happiness than your mendicant-husband can. I wonder why you keep waiting for that mendicant, Ram who is now wandering about lessly in the midst of wild forests."