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XCVII
THE MOON WAS ECLIPSED
The people of the city of Ayodhya used to adore and glorify Sita as a woman of outstanding nobility; they used to deem her an angel of sublime virtues, a goddess at whose very sight they used to feel blessed; they used to think that a glance of her sublime eye could wash away all their sins; and her blessings used to make the hearts of the people bloom into bliss; but now all that changed. Sita whom people adored and venerated as a goddess now became a subject of frivolous gossip and censorious scandals.
"Ravan abducted Sita and took her away to Lanka. He kept her for a long time in the Devaraman garden. He would not have allowed her to remain chaste. Ravan was a Rakshasa; you know!"
"Lankesh Ravan, it seems possessed a fascinating appearance which would captivate the heart of anyone. It seems he was a veritable god in appearance. Countless damsels, it seems were ready to surrender themselves heart and soul mesmerized by his magnificent appearance."
"There were countless queens in his harem."
"And they voluntarily surrendered themselves to Ravan. I wonder what a mesmeric appearance he possessed!"
"When such was the case there is no wonder if Sita also had become infatuated with him !”
"The heart of a woman is unfathomable."
"But Sita, we thought, was an exception to this rule. But to-day we have to conclude that even she is frail. The truth
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