Let us listen to the forty-seventh chapter of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. At that time, Sītā, the noble Vaidehī, found herself approached by Rāvaṇa, the lord of the Rākṣasas. Disguised as a wandering ascetic, Rāvaṇa questioned her, intent on abducting her. Sītā, wise and thoughtful, considered, "If I do not properly receive this brāhmaṇa guest, he may curse me." With this in mind, she paused for a moment and then spoke with gentle courtesy. She said, "I am the daughter of King Janaka, the great ruler of Mithilā. My name is Sītā. Blessings to you. I am the beloved wife of Rāma. For twelve years, I lived in the palace of the Ikṣvākus, enjoying all the pleasures and comforts of human life, my every desire fulfilled. In the thirteenth year, the king, together with his ministers, resolved to consecrate Rāma as ruler of the land. "As preparations were underway for Rāghava's consecration, my noble mother-in-law, Kaikeyī, asked her husband, the king, for a boon. Having won my father-in-law’s favor, Kaikeyī secured my husband’s exile and Bharata’s coronation. She requested two boons from the king, who was steadfast in truth and foremost among men, declaring, 'I will neither eat, nor sleep, nor drink, ever.' She insisted, 'This is the end of my life if Rāma is consecrated,' and made no request for wealth or any other benefit. At that time, my husband, radiant and virtuous, was twenty-five years old. "Eighteen years have passed since my birth, and in this world, Rāma is known for his truthfulness, virtue, and purity. My father is King Daśaratha himself, a man driven by desire, wide-eyed, strong-armed, and devoted to the welfare of all beings. To fulfill Kaikeyī’s cherished wish, my father did not anoint me, Rāma, though I stood before him ready for the consecration. "Kaikeyī spoke swiftly to my husband: 'Hear this, Rāghava, as commanded by your father on my behalf. This kingdom must be given to Bharata, and you must dwell in the forest for fourteen years. Go to the forest, O descendant of Kakutstha, and free your father from falsehood.' Rāma, undaunted and steadfast, replied to Kaikeyī, 'So be it.' "Upon hearing these words, my steadfast husband did exactly as he was told. He is one who gives but does not accept, who speaks 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—a tiger among men, Rāma’s constant companion and destroyer of foes. Lakṣmaṇa, devoted and firm in his vows, armed with his bow, followed Rāma as he departed, together with me. Clad in matted hair, in the guise of ascetics, both brothers accompanied me into exile. "Constant in righteousness and steadfast in his vows, Rāma 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. Rest here for a moment, if you wish. My husband will soon 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, spoke thus, the mighty lord of the Rākṣasas, Rāvaṇa, revealed his true identity and replied to her harshly. "I am that Rāvaṇa, by whom the worlds—gods, asuras, and humans alike—have been terrified, O Sītā. I am the 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 near and far, let all be well with you—become my chief queen. "Lanka is the name of my great city, situated in the midst of the ocean, encircled by the sea and established atop a mountain. There, O Sītā, you shall wander with me through the forests, and you will never again yearn for this forest exile. Five thousand maidservants, adorned with every ornament, will attend upon you, Sītā, if you become my wife." Hearing these words, Janaka's daughter, flawless in form, became angry. She replied to that rakshasa, disregarding his words: "I am devoted to Rāma, who is unshakable like a great mountain, majestic as Mahendra, and unfathomable as the vast ocean. I am devoted to Rāma, who possesses all auspicious marks, whose form is like a great banyan tree, who is steadfast in truth and noble in character. I am devoted to Rāma, whose arms are mighty, whose chest is broad, who strides with the gait of a lion—a lion among men, whose appearance is like a lion’s. I am devoted to Rāma, whose face is like the full moon, a royal scion, master of his senses, renowned throughout the world, and powerful of arm. "You are like a jackal desiring a lioness, which is unattainable; you cannot touch me, just as one cannot grasp the radiance of the sun. Surely, you must see many golden trees in your delusion, O fool, since you desire the beloved wife of Rāghava, O rakshasa. You wish to snatch the fangs from the mouth of a hungry lion, the swift enemy of deer, or to seize the jaws of a venomous serpent!" Thus, Sītā spoke, unwavering in her devotion, unshaken by Rāvaṇa’s threats and temptations.