August 24 - Sarga 56 and the Prakshipta Sarga of Aranya Kanda.
A fearless Sita responds to Ravana condemning his unpardonable conduct and assuring him of his death soon at the hands of Rama. Ravana is incensed and gives her 12 months to become his dutiful wife or face the prospect of being cut up and served for his breakfast.
Sita is transported to Ashoka Vana and surrounded by rakshasis who torment her constantly.
In the prakshipta sarga (not considered authentic but featured in most books), Lord Brahma out of concern for Sita and to make sure she keeps her body and soul together until Sri Rama goes to Lanka and saves her, sends Indra to give Sita some celestial food that will see her through the period. Also, Indra assures her that Sri Rama will surely cross the sea and save her,
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सा तथोक्ता तु वैदेही निर्भया शोककर्शिता ।
तृणमन्तरतः कृत्वा रावणं प्रत्यभाषत ॥
"Thus addressed by Ravana, Vaidehi Sita, manifestly fearless, albeit most distressed, placed a blade of grass between them and spoke to him addressing that blade of grass".
The significance here is that Sita continued to be fearless. Showing Ravana his place, she interposed a blade of grass signifying her total contempt and rejection of the rakshasa king.
Sita began by recounting the glory of King Dasharatha. How his son Sri Rama was the epitome of valour and righteousness. Sri Rama was totally devoted to the welfare of all and was unconquerable. Ravana had only shown his cowardice and impotence by stealing Sita after hoodwinking them through Mareecha. Sita was totally and unalterably wedded and devoted to that glorious Sri Rama.
स ते जीवितशेषस्य राघवोऽन्तकरो बली ।
पशोर्यूपगतस्येव जीवितं तव दुर्लभम् ॥
"That most powerful Sri Rama is going to be the Yama handing to you your certain death. Your continuing to live is as impossible as it is for an animal at the sacrifice to escape after being tied to the sacrificial post. "
"Sri Rama can bring the moon down to earth, and can dry up the ocean, in order to save me, Sita, his beloved wife."
लङ्का वैधव्यसंयुक्ता त्वत्कृतेन भविष्यति "Lanka will be widowed by your heinous act. " Sita goes on to say how Fate writes her decree indelibly based on one's actions and it is crystal clear that Ravana and his evil forces are soon to be erased from this earth.
As far as Ravana's coveting Sita's hand, Sita has this to say:
न शक्या यज्ञमध्वस्था वेदिः स्रुग्भाण्डमण्डिता ।
द्विजातिमन्त्रसम्पूता चण्डालेनावमर्दितुम् ॥
"Oh, Ravana, just as it is impossible for a chandala (outcast from Dharma who feeds on dead animals) to come and defile a sacrificial altar that is blazing with the holy fire, with ladles and offerings arrayed, and sanctified by noble priests engaged in holy incantations, so it is - totally beyond imagination for you to reach me or defile me.
इदं शरीरं निःसंज्ञं बन्ध वा घातयस्व वा ।
नेदं शरीरं रक्ष्यं मे जीवितं वापि राक्षस ॥
"Oh, rakshasa! This body of mine is to me now of no importance. You can bind it with ropes or injure it as you may. I am not interested in preserving this body at all or keeping myself alive. My consciousness and conscience alone are of importance to me."
These words, addressed with total disdain as Sita looked only at that blade of grass showing how insignificant were Ravana and his threat, simply infuriated Ravana.
He spoke in utter rage:
श्रुणु मैथिलि मद्वाक्यं मासान् द्वादश भामिनि ।
ततस्त्वां प्रातराशार्थं सूदश्छेत्स्यन्ति लेशिशः ॥
"Hear oh, woman, Maithili! I give you twelve months to change your mind. After that, my cooks will cut you up into little bits and cook you up for my breakfast."
Ravana also asked those terrible-looking rakshasis to surround Sita and break her will. He asked them to take her to Ashoka Vana, a paradise of pleasures, in the hope she will relent. She would be guarded against all intruders and visitors.
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Lord Brahma was on the one hand happy with the development of the plot. But would Sita, so distressed, wretched in body and mind, survive the period before Sri Rama would make his way to Lanka? She was in urgent need of nourishment and emotional reassurance. He asked Indra to go at once. Indra took a pot of divine Payasam (elixir) and along with Nidra Devi (goddess of sleep), visited Sita.
On her arrival, Nidra Devi put all the rakshasis into a deep slumber. Indra approached Sita and introduced himself.
Sita was in no mood to entertain anyone, especially someone calling himself Lord Indra. She told Indra to prove his credentials. She had seen gods and even Indra when she had been in the company of Sri Rama and Lakshmana at Sharabhanga's ashrama.
Indra showed himself in his true divine form that did not stand in contact with the earth. His being was glowing and his eyes were without blinking. Sita now believed him.
इन्द्रहस्ताद्गृहीत्वा तत् पायसं सा शुचिस्मिता ।
न्यवेदयत भर्त्रे सा लक्ष्मणाय च मैथिली ॥
यदि जीवति मे भर्ता सह भ्रात्रा माहाबलः ।
इदमस्तु तयोर्भक्त्या तदाश्नात् पायसं स्वयम् ॥
"Then a smiling and reassured Sita took the pot of Payasam from Indra's hands and offered it with love and reverence to Sri Rama and Lakshmana.
"She said, "if my husband is still alive, and safe with his brother, this is my devoted offering to them", and then partook of it herself."
Lord Indra also assured Sita that soon Sri Rama would arrive, crossing the sea, and save her. The payasam she had eaten would keep Sita nourished and well until that time.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
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