Sita, her heart heavy with fear and grief, spoke to Ravana with trembling words. “You will not be able to endure for long, heartless one,” she cried, “as if you have drunk poison. You are bound fast by the inescapable noose of Time, Ravana, and none can resist its pull. Where will you find peace, even for a moment, apart from my husband, the great-souled Rama, especially after slaying your own brother in battle? He who destroyed fourteen thousand rakshasas—how could that heroic descendant of Raghu, master of all weapons and mighty in arms, possibly fail? Even though you have stolen away his beloved wife, Rama would not slay you with his sharp arrows.” Thus, seated on Ravana’s lap, Vaidehi—overwhelmed by terror and sorrow—uttered these and other anguished words, her lamentation piercing the air. But Ravana, pitiless and resolute, seized the radiant maiden despite her struggles. Sita, trembling in every limb, was forced into his grasp, her distress and fear evident to all. Now begins the fifty-fourth sarga of the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, in the Aranyakanda. As Ravana carried Vaidehi away, she searched desperately for someone to save her. Glancing about, she spotted five foremost monkeys standing atop a mountain peak. Among them, the wide-eyed Sita—her form graceful, adorned with auspicious ornaments, and clad in a golden silk garment—acted swiftly. Hoping they might inform Rama, she let fall her shining upper garment and her ornaments among the monkeys below. In his agitation, the ten-headed Ravana did not notice this desperate act. The tawny-eyed monkeys watched, their gaze fixed and unblinking, as Sita was borne away. The best of the monkeys saw Sita weeping and crying out as Ravana crossed the Pampa lake, speeding toward the city of Lanka. The king of the rakshasas, delighted despite carrying Sita to his own doom, held the weeping Maithili in his lap. Like a deadly serpent with sharp fangs, he soared over forests, rivers, mountains, and lakes, crossing swiftly as an arrow shot from a bow, until he reached the vast domain of Varuna—the inexhaustible ocean, home to whales and crocodiles. As Ravana crossed the ocean, the waves themselves recoiled in agitation, blocking the passage of fish and great serpents. While Vaidehi was thus carried away, the abode of Varuna appeared before them, and voices echoed in the sky—uttered by celestial bards—declaring, “This is the end of the ten-headed one.” Yet Ravana, heedless, kept Sita struggling on his lap. At last, he entered the city of Lanka, which would prove to be his own destruction. Approaching Lanka with its well-laid roads, Ravana entered his vast and well-guarded inner palace. There, he placed Sita—her eyes dark with grief and confusion—within a secure enclosure, confining her as Maya once did with his illusory demoness. Ravana then summoned the terrifying, ghastly-looking rakshasi women and commanded them: “Let no man or woman, unless approved, see Sita. Pearls, jewels, gold, garments, and ornaments—whatever she desires, let it be given to her at my command. But if anyone utters even a single harsh word to Vaidehi—whether in ignorance or with knowledge—her life will not be dear to me.” Having issued these strict instructions, the powerful king of the rakshasas left the inner palace, pondering his next move. He soon encountered eight mighty rakshasas, fierce eaters of flesh. Deluded by the boon he had received, Ravana addressed them with praise for their strength and valor: “Armed with every weapon, go swiftly to Janasthana, the place once inhabited by Khara and now laid waste. Remain there, relying on your courage and strength, casting aside all fear. Once a great army stood in Janasthana with Dushana and Khara, but Rama slew them all with his arrows. Because of this, an anger has arisen in me, greater than ever before, and a terrible enmity toward Rama has been born. I will not rest until I have slain my foe in battle. By killing Rama, the destroyer of Khara and Dushana, I shall find peace, as a poor man finds peace upon gaining wealth. So you must watch Rama closely and report to me everything he does. All night-stalkers must remain vigilant, striving always for the destruction of Raghava. Your strength has been proven in battle, which is why I have stationed you in Janasthana.” The eight rakshasas, having listened respectfully, saluted Ravana and departed unseen, making their way toward Janasthana. Having thus obtained Sita, Ravana was elated. He rejoiced in his palace, embracing the daughter of Mithila, unaware that he had sown the seeds of his own destruction by kindling enmity with Rama. Now begins the fifty-fifth sarga of the glorious Valmiki Ramayana, Aranyakanda. Having instructed the eight fierce rakshasas, Ravana, confused in mind, believed his task accomplished. But tormented by the arrows of desire for Vaidehi, he entered his splendid palace, eager to see Sita. There, in the mansion of the lord of the rakshasas, Ravana beheld Sita, immersed in sorrow and surrounded by the rakshasi women.