Sita had just reached Lanka after what felt like days of flying upon a carpet that Ravana had taken out from under her feet. Ravana's deception had taken Sita by surprise but she did not go with him without a fight, which had taken Ravana by surprise.
Ravana expected the ploy to draw Rama and his brother, Lakshmana, away from Sita the most difficult part of his plan but in fact that part was easiest of all. Rama's wish to please Sita in every way made Ravana want Sita even more than before. Ravana truly believed Sita would be happier with him in his kingdom of Lanka where she would be showered with jewels and flowers not in this unforgiving forest where old men and creatures could creep up on her.
Now that Rama and Lakshmana were busied with the ploy of the golden deer, Ravana knew his road to make Sita his bride was clear. As soon as Sita saw Ravana she knew his intentions were not good, "back Ravana!" she yelled, "Rama will be back any time soon and he will not be forgiving when he sees you near me"!
"Silly, beautiful Sita. Do you not see Rama cannot even catch a deer for you. I can provide you thousands of golden deer if you please. Come be my Queen in my kingdom of Lanka".
"You ugly, hastefull beast! I will never have a desire to be with you in your Kingdom".
At the sound of Sita's words Ravana grew angry and could not contain himself. He went to grab Sita but when he reached for her, she hit his hand away with a force much greater than he expected. Sita began to retreat to the cabin Lakshmana had built but as she stepped on the entrance rug it began to rise.
"You have a heavy hand by beautiful Sita but not even the strength of Rama could escape the confines of my magic".
For days Sita traveled on the floating carpet unable to escape its confines but realizing even though she might not be able to get off the carpet she could drop things. Sita began slowly dropping jewelry her beloved Rama had given her in hope he will find them and follow them. Ravana took her over KishKinda, the land of monkey's, over mount Matanga and across the ocean into his kingdom of Lanka.
"I must not put you with my other maidens, you may cause harm to them with your strength and if you outwit them they will not sing praise for you. Until you have learned to love your new home of Lanka you will stay in the Ashoka Vana".
Sita in Ashoka Vana by wikimedia
Sita replied, "I will stay where it is the furthest away from you, Ravana!".
Ravana left Sita in solitude and had servants check on her from time to time to see if she was ready to join him in his Kindgdom of Lanka. After months of solitude and no sign of her beloved Rama, Sita contemplated death often.
Then one day she heard a clash and the sound of fighting and she knew, her Rama had come to give Ravana what he deserves and fight for his Sita back.
Authors' Note: From Narayan's version of the Ramayana, Ravana hears of Sita's beauty from his sister who has been mutilated by Sita's husband, Rama. Ravana devises a plan to lead Rama away from his wife Sita in order to abduct her. Ravana's plan ultimately succeeds and thus a war begins to win over Sita.
Bibliography: Story is based on Narayan's Ramayana
Hello! I really enjoyed how you portrayed Sita, and I think that the Narayan version also makes her out to be more fierce than she is traditionally portrayed. I like the insight we get into her head as she broods over the golden deer, and I think that it's an interesting comment on materialism as leading to the downfall of even the most virtuous. Perhaps if you choose to revise this story later for a project, you could use a "the moral of the story is..".
ReplyDeleteIt would also be interesting to see a bit more of Sita's reaction to the Asoka Vana, because it is described as one of the most beautiful gardens in all of Lanka yet she is despondent. Does that mean she has learnt her lesson about wanting too much for beauty?
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