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STORY OF RAMA
i2i prince of Benares." Thus he incíted Ravana's pride and lust Ravana wanted to get possession of that priceless gem, Sita. Ravana consulted his ministers about this affair and asked them to devise a scheme for the abduction of Sita. But they told him that that would be unworthy of a great Emperor. Their words only enraged him. He undertook to achieve his end himself. He had the necessary advice from Narada who told him to avail himself of the opportunity when Rama and his wife would spend their vasantakala or spring time in the forests adjoining his kingdom. Ravana, together with his faithful minister Maricha, went to the forest where Rama and his wife were spending the vasantakala. Maricha being a Vidyadhara took the form of a beautiful deer in the presence of Sita who expressed a desire to have it. Rama leaving Sita alone ran after the false deer for a long distance. Evening approached. Ravana through his vidya put on the false appearance of Sri Rama himself and approached Sita and told her, “The deer is caught and sent to the city. As the darkness of night is approaching let us make haste." So, he asked her to get into the vimana which had the appearance of Rama's own vehicle and carried her to Lanka. Sita realised the treachery a little too late. She took a vow that she would not eat or speak to anybody till she was rescued by her beloved Sri Rama.
While in Lanka she was coaxed by a number of Vidyadhara ladies to accept the inevitable and to become the queen of Ravanesvara--an envious position for any lady of status. But Sita spurned all such unsolicited advice. But one day Mandodari, Ravana's wife went to see Sita alone. When she saw Sita's face she had an instinctive recognition of her own child sent away years ago without the knowledge of Ravana. She embraced Sita in tears and consoled her saying that Rama would somehow rescue her and take her back to his own place, hence it was not desirable to starve herself to death. For even if she be not rescued by her beloved Rama, she might spend her remaining period of life in an Asrama in worship and devotion. Even for such a course of life one must sustain one's body. Therefore Mandodari
asked Sita to break her fast, which she did accordingly. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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