The Abduction of Sita - Ravana

Ravana marvelled at Mareech's ingenuity. He made a mental note to reward Mareech if the latter survived. He wondered why Lakshmana was not rushing out to help his brother.

Lakshmana was arguing with Sita and not liking it one bit. He looked upon Sita as a mother and had till now followed her every bidding. Why did she not understand all this was a plot to ensure that someone finds her alone and unprotected? "Do not worry," he said, "No one can harm my brother. He is the greatest warrior ever born. You have seen with your own eyes how he defeated Khara and Dushana. He is here to provide help and not ask for it."

Sita was not to be consoled. "You heard his cry as well as I did. Why do you wait here while he may be bleeding to death?"

"You know how much I love my brother and how I follow every instruction of his. He has ordered me to guard this hermitage and to guard you. I am not going anywhere. All this is a plot to make sure that you are alone."

Sita began to get nasty. "And you are a part of this plot. You knew that the deer was a demon and yet you let him go alone to chase it. Now you are doing nothing while he is dying. It is you who wants me alone. You want to enjoy me after your brother is dead!"

Lakshmana was aghast. It took him a moment to get over the shock of the cruel words. He decided to go even if it meant to suffer a severe rebuke from his brother. Surely that would be less painful than the accusations his sister-in-law was hurling at him. He said, "My brother will kill me because I have disobeyed him but I do not want to live after hearing what you have said. Now listen very carefully to me. As I leave I will create a magic circle around the hermitage. Any one who tries to enter will be burnt to death. As long as you stay inside you will be protected. Under no circumstances should you step out of the circle. Both of us will be back as soon as possible."

Ravana saw Lakshmana walking round the hermitage scoring a furrow in the ground with his arrow. He knew enough of magic to realise what was happening. Things were getting more difficult than he had thought. As soon as Lakshmana disappeared from view he transformed himself into a brahmin and approached the hermitage, taking care to stay well away from Lakshmana's line. "Give alms to a brahmin," he said in a sonorous voice.

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