For the sake of fulfilling his father’s command, Rama, the noblest scion of the Raghu dynasty, remained steadfastly truthful. Along with Sita and his devoted brother Lakshmana, he took up residence near the ocean. In those days, as Rama’s heart grew heavy with sorrow, Lakshmana too was overcome by grief at the sight of his brother’s distress. At that moment, Agni, the fire god, spoke to Rama: “The time has come for Sita’s abduction. Destiny is indeed difficult to resist, and no power is greater than fate. But do not despair—I will return Sita to you at the time of her trial.” Rama, hearing these words, chose not to reveal them to Lakshmana. By Agni’s divine power, Sita was transformed into a Maya-Sita, an illusory form, while the true Sita was taken into Agni’s protection. Agni, taking Sita away, instructed her not to speak openly of these events. Meanwhile, Rama’s gaze fell upon a golden deer in the forest. Entrusting Lakshmana with the task of guarding Sita, Rama set out in pursuit of the enchanting creature. Suddenly, the illusory deer cried out in Rama’s own voice, calling, “Lakshmana!” Alarmed by the sound, Sita urged Lakshmana to go after his brother. Elsewhere, at the great gate of Vaikuntha, a servant among the gatekeepers, due to the curse of Sanaka and other sages, had assumed the form of a rakshasi. She too heard the anguished cry, “Lakshmana!” With Lakshmana drawn away from Sita’s side, Ravana—who could not be restrained—approached. Rama, returning to the forest and finding Lakshmana, was overcome with despair. Having been unconscious for a long while, he awoke and lamented intensely. In time, news of Sita’s fate reached Rama through a vulture by the riverbank. Determined, Rama journeyed to Lanka and, as the foremost of the Raghu line, slew Ravana with a single arrow. Afterwards, he quickly arranged for Sita’s fire ordeal to prove her purity. At this trial, the shadow Sita, humble and composed, spoke to both the fire and to Rama. Agni then addressed her: “By performing austerity right here, you shall attain the fortune of heaven.” Hearing these words, the shadow Sita undertook austerities at Pushkara. Through the power of her penance, she eventually arose from the sacrificial fire-pit. In the Krita Yuga, she had been Vedavati, the auspicious daughter of Kushadhvaja. In the Dvapara Yuga, her shadow became the goddess Draupadi, daughter of Drupada. Narada then said, “Thus, O great lord, let all your doubts be dispelled.” Narayana added, “That shadow, endowed with beauty and youth, was greatly afflicted. By the command of Rama and Agni, she performed austerities and sought a boon from Shankara. She prayed, ‘Give me a husband, give me a husband, give me a husband, O three-eyed one!’” Hearing her repeated plea, Shiva, the lord of rasa, smiled. Because of this, she became the beloved wife of the five Pandavas. Then Rama, having recovered the enchanting Sita in Lanka, returned and ruled in Bharata for eleven thousand years. Vedavati, a portion of Lakshmi herself, entered into Kamala. The four Vedas are always embodied in these divine forms. Thus, the story of Kushadhvaja’s daughter has been briefly told. Narayana continued: Out of love, she sported with the king on Mount Gandhamadana. Together, they made a bed for pleasure, adorned with flowers and sandal paste.