National Epics | Page 5

and in order to
induce him to avenge her wrongs, dwelt upon the charms of the
beautiful wife of Rama.
Some days after, Sita espied a golden fawn, flecked with silver, among
the trees near their home. Its shining body, its jewel-like horns, so
captivated her fancy that she implored Rama, if possible, to take it alive
for her; if not, at least to bring her its skin for a couch. As Rama
departed, he warned Lakshmana not to leave Sita for one moment; he
would surely return, since no weapon could harm him. In the depths of

the forest the fawn fell by his arrow, crying as it fell, "O Sita! O
Lakshmana!" in Rama's very tones.
When Sita heard the cry she reproached Lakshmana for not going to his
brother's aid, until he left her to escape her bitter words. He had no
sooner disappeared in the direction of the cry than a hermit appeared
and asked her to minister unto his wants.
Sita carried him food, bathed his feet, and conversed with him until,
able no longer to conceal his admiration for her, he revealed himself in
his true form as the demon god of Ceylon.
When she indignantly repulsed him he seized her, and mounting his
chariot drove rapidly towards Ceylon.
When Rama and Lakshmana returned home, soon after, they found the
house empty. As they searched through the forest for traces of her they
found a giant vulture dying from wounds received while endeavoring to
rescue the shrieking Sita. Going farther, they encountered the monkey
king Sugriva and his chiefs, among whom Sita had dropped from the
chariot her scarf and ornaments.
Sugriva had been deposed from his kingdom by his brother Bali, who
had also taken his wife from him. Rama agreed to conquer Bali if
Sugriva would assist in the search for Sita; and, the agreement made,
they at once marched upon Kishkindha, together slew Bali, and gained
possession of the wealthy city and the queen Tara. They were now
ready to search for the lost Sita.
In his quest through every land, Hanuman, the monkey general, learned
from the king of the vultures that she had been carried to Ceylon. He
immediately set out for the coast with his army, only to find a
bridgeless ocean stretching between them and the island. Commanding
his soldiers to remain where they were, Hanuman expanded his body to
enormous proportions, leaped the vast expanse of water, and alighted
upon a mountain, from which he could look down upon Lanka, the
capital city of Ceylon. Perceiving the city to be closely guarded, he
assumed the form of a cat, and thus, unsuspected, crept through the
barriers and examined the city. He found the demon god in his
apartments, surrounded by beautiful women, but Sita was not among
them. Continuing his search, he at last discovered her, her beauty
dimmed by grief, seated under a tree in a beautiful asoka grove,
guarded by hideous rakshasas with the faces of buffaloes, dogs, and

swine.
Assuming the form of a tiny monkey, Hanuman crept down the tree,
and giving her the ring of Rama, took one from her. He offered to carry
her away with him, but Sita declared that Rama must himself come to
her rescue. While they were talking together, the demon god appeared,
and, after fruitless wooing, announced that if Sita did not yield herself
to him in two months he would have her guards "mince her limbs with
steel" for his morning repast.
In his rage, Hanuman destroyed a mango grove and was captured by
the demon's guards, who were ordered to set his tail on fire. As soon as
this was done, Hanuman made himself so small that he slipped from his
bonds, and, jumping upon the roofs, spread a conflagration through the
city of Lanka.
He leaped back to the mainland, conveyed the news of Sita's captivity
to Rama and Sugriva, and was soon engaged in active preparations for
the campaign.
As long as the ocean was unbridged it was impossible for any one save
Hanuman to cross it. In his anger at being so thwarted, Rama turned his
weapons against it, until from the terrified waves rose the god of the
ocean, who promised him that if Nala built a bridge, the waves should
support the materials as firmly as though it were built on land.
Terror reigned in Lanka at the news of the approach of Rama.
Vibishana, Ravana's brother, deserted to Rama, because of the demon's
rage when he advised him to make peace with Rama. Fiercely fought
battles ensued, in which even the gods took part, Vishnu and Indra
taking sides with Rama, and the evil spirits fighting with Ravana.
After the war had been carried on for some time, with