Ramayana Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /304

286
 
THEAfter waking up, the effulgent lord of
the Rakshasas entered, in due time, the
AMAYANA
 
After wasokina g up, the effulgent lord of
the Rakshasas entered, in due time, the
Asoka garden which was full of trees; he

was surrounded by choicest damsels like

the moon by stars.
 

 
रावणोऽयं महाबाहुरिति सञ्चिन्त्य वानरः ।

पत्रगुल्मान्तरे सक्तो हनुमान् संवृतोऽभवत् ॥
 

Thinking he must be the mighty armed

Ravana, Hanuman kept within a mass of

leaves and concealed himself.
 

 
सीतामसितकेशान्ताम् उपावर्तत रावणः ॥
 

Ravana approched Sita
 
with dark
 

tresses.
 

 
स तां पतिव्रतां दीनां निरानन्दां तपस्विनीम् ।

साकारैमधैधुरैर्वाक्यैर्व्न्यदर्शयत रावणः ॥
 

Then Ravana, with sweet words and

gestures, revealed himself (his desire) to

Sita, chaste, miserable, joyless and living

the life of an ascetic:
 

 
कामये त्वां विशालाक्षि बहुमन्यस्व मां प्रिये ।

भव मैथिलि भार्या मे मोहमेनं विसर्जय ।
 

"O wide-eyed one, I love you ; O dear

one, honour me ; O Sita, become my wife;

leave this folly.