As Sītā sat alone in the forest, Rāvaṇa, disguised as a wandering ascetic, approached her. With gentle words, he praised her beauty, saying, “O lovely-hipped one, you seem to me like a goddess among the Vasus. Gandharvas, gods, and Kinnaras do not come to this place.” He looked around and continued, “This is the dwelling of Rākṣasas—how have you come here? Here roam tree-dwelling deer, lions, island-tigers, and wolves.” He listed the dangers: “There are bears, hyenas, cranes—how do you not fear them? And the fierce, intoxicated, swift elephants?” Rāvaṇa marveled at her courage, “How do you, alone in this vast forest, O beautiful-faced one, not feel fear? Who are you, whose daughter, from where, and for what reason have you come to Daṇḍaka?” He admired her, “O lovely one, you wander alone through places frequented by fierce rākṣasas.” Thus, the great-souled Rāvaṇa praised Vaidehī. When Sītā saw Rāvaṇa approaching in the guise of a twice-born, she honored him with all the courtesies due to a guest. She brought a seat, offered water for washing his feet, and said, “All is ready,” to the gentle-looking ascetic. Seeing him dressed as a brāhmaṇa, carrying a vessel and kusumbha, Sītā felt compelled to welcome him as one would a brāhmaṇa. She said, “Here is a seat, brāhmaṇa, please be seated; accept this water for your feet. This excellent forest fare, prepared for you, may you partake of it here without concern.” Rāvaṇa, seeing Maithilī, the queen, speaking invitingly and fulfilling all the duties of hospitality, resolved in his mind to seize her by force and dedicate himself to her destruction. As Sītā waited for her husband, splendidly dressed and returning from the hunt with Lakṣmaṇa, she looked around at the vast green forest but did not see Rāma or Lakṣmaṇa. Now begins the forty-seventh chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. Rāvaṇa, wishing to abduct her, questioned Vaidehī, still disguised as a wandering ascetic. Sītā, thinking, “If this brāhmaṇa guest is not properly received, he may curse me,” reflected for a moment and then spoke. She said, “I am the daughter of Janaka, the great king of Mithilā; my name is Sītā. Blessings to you. I am the beloved queen of Rāma. I lived for twelve years in the palace of the Ikṣvākus, enjoying human pleasures, fulfilled in all desires. In the thirteenth year, the king and his ministers resolved to consecrate Rāma as ruler. As preparations were made for Rāghava’s consecration, my noble mother-in-law, Kaikeyī, requested a boon from her husband. Kaikeyī, having won my father-in-law’s favor, secured my husband’s exile and Bharata’s consecration.” “She asked the king, steadfast in truth and foremost among men, for two boons: ‘I will neither eat, nor sleep, nor drink, ever. This is the end of my life if Rāma is consecrated,’ so spoke Kaikeyī to my father-in-law, the king. She did not ask for wealth or other benefits, nor did she make any further requests. My husband, of great splendor, was twenty-five years old. Eighteen years have passed since my birth; in the world, I am known as Rāma—truthful, virtuous, and pure. Wide-eyed, strong-armed, devoted to the welfare of all beings, my father is King Daśaratha himself, a man driven by desire.” “For the sake of fulfilling Kaikeyī’s cherished wish, my father did not anoint me, Rāma, though I had come before him for the consecration. Kaikeyī quickly spoke these words to my husband: ‘Hear this, Rāghava, as commanded by your father on my behalf. This untroubled kingdom must be given to Bharata, and you must indeed dwell in the forest for nine and five years. Go to the forest, O descendant of Kakutstha, and free your father from falsehood.’ Rāma, undaunted, replied to Kaikeyī, ‘So be it.’” “Hearing those words, my steadfast husband did as he was told; he would give but not accept, speak truth and never falsehood. O Brāhmaṇa, this is the supreme vow firmly held by Rāma; his brother, born of another mother, is named Lakṣmaṇa, mighty in valor. Lakṣmaṇa, tiger among men, is Rāma’s companion and destroyer of foes in battle; that brother, named Lakṣmaṇa, is a devoted celibate, firm in his vows. Armed with a bow, he followed Rāma as he departed, together with me; wearing matted hair, in the guise of ascetics, he and his younger brother accompanied me. Constant in righteousness and steadfast in his vows, he entered the Daṇḍaka forest; thus, we three were cast out from the kingdom because of Kaikeyī.” “O best of Brāhmaṇas, with vigor we wander this deep forest; you may stay here for a moment and rest if you wish. My husband will return, bringing abundant forest fare—having slain deer, iguanas, and boars, he will bring much meat. So, tell me truly your name, lineage, and family; and, O Brāhmaṇa, for what purpose do you wander alone in the Daṇḍaka forest?” As Sītā, wife of Rāma, was speaking thus, the mighty lord of the Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, gave her a harsh reply. He revealed himself, “I am that Rāvaṇa, by whom the worlds—together with gods, asuras, and humans—have been terrified, O Sītā, lord of the Rākṣasas. Seeing you, faultless one, with golden complexion and clad in silk, I find no pleasure in my own wives. Among the many excellent women I have brought from here and there, let all be well with you—become my chief queen.