The tale in the exile which has been without much trouble for the holy trio takes an unexpected turn. It took a demon king of Ravana magnitude to disturb the peaceful journey of Rama and Sita. The plot to abduct Sita has been hatched and Maricha reluctantly agreed to help Ravana to realize the wicked plan. The abduction of Sita is the unfortunate event post which the clash slowly escalates and reaches a full-blown war in the end between Rama and Ravana. Maricha turned into an inimitable golden deer to catch the attention of Sita and lures away Rama, Lakshmana in its pursuit. This causes an opening for Ravana to enter the hermitage of a lone Sita, in the form a poor brahmin seeking alms. The conversation between the two starts where he first praises the beauty of Sita. While Sita reciprocates with respectful hospitality to Ravana in the guise of old brahmin, she also looks eagerly for Rama, Lakshmana who are never in the sight. We can look at how this incident takes turn to her abduction and the successive effort from bird Jatayu to stop it.
In chapter 47, the debate between Sita and Ravana has started, as Ravana wished to woo Sita. In the first instance Sita believes him to be a Vedic Brahman but insists to know about him. Ravana reveals his identity and asks her to become his wife.
Sita in her innocence was unaware that Ravana was plotting to abduct her. She thought, "This man is a Brahmin and my guest, I have to answer his questions, if not mistaking my silence for discourtesy he may curse me". Aloud she said "Noble brahmin, I am the daughter of Janaka, king of Mithila. Sita is my name and I am the consort of Rama. I lived in the palace of my parents-in-law, for twelve wonderful years. During the thirteenth year of my stay at Ayodhya, king Dasaratha announced Rama's coronation. But it was not to be for Kaikeyi stopped it. She reminded Dasaratha of the two boons that he had granted her many years ago and asked for their redemption. Against the first boon she asked for the banishment of Rama to the jungles of Dandaka. Against the second, she sought the coronation of Bharata as king of Kosala. Rama was then twenty-five years old and I, all of eighteen.
Ever obedient and virtuous, Rama agreed to fulfill Dasaratha's promises to his queen." "In Dasaratha's presence, Kaikeyi announced Rama's exile and the termination of his coronation, at its very inception. She brazenly said, "Rama, these are the commands of your father, listen to them. You will live in exile for fourteen years, in the forest of Dandaka and uncontested the crown of Kosala will go to Bharata. Obey your father, save him from perjury. Unperturbed, Rama said, 'So be it', Brahmin, Rama only gives, he never receives. Truthful to the hilt, he can never utter a lie nor does he ever deviate from the dharma, to which he is ever bound. Lakshmana is his devoted brother and servant. Rama, Lakshmana and I live here. Would you now like to rest now for the night? Rama will soon be back with plenty of food. Wait, tell me who you are, what is your name and why do you wander these parts all by yourself?"
When Sita heard his reply, her blood ran cold with fear. Ravana's words came out bold and blatant, "I am Ravana, supreme Lord of the rakshasas, devatas, asuras, pannagas, and all those that live in the three worlds, live in fear of me. Your flawless beauty clad in fine silks drives me to distraction and I can no longer love my wives. Be my consort Sita. Be the queen of Lanka. Five thousands maids robed in the best of finery shall wait upon you. My island kingdom, the city of Lanka, lies high up in the mountains. There in my splendid palaces and groves, you will live with me". Ravana's words infuriated Sita and she said, "Rama is an equal of Indra, immovable as a mountain and profound as the ocean. You are like a fox that craves for a lioness. I am beyond your reach; dare you covet the wife of Rama? Perish the thought Ravana. It is as foolish as trying to pluck the fangs from the mouths of hungry lions or starving serpents. Do you plan to swim the seas with a rock around your neck or try to bundle fire in a piece of cloth? You and Rama are as different from each other as a lion and a jackal, an ocean and a ditch, gold and lead or a peacock and a crow. When Rama confronts you with his bow and arrow you shall die like a fly that has swallowed a diamond, deeming it to be a grain of rice". Despite Sita's impassioned denunciations she trembled like a wind blown sapling. Her fear emboldened Ravana to tell her of his race, his power and his exploits. Just as arrogance and strength fling foolish men into waves of pride and haughtiness, so did Ravana fall prey to his base instincts merrily inviting doom upon himself.
In chapter 48, Ravana vaingloriously extols himself and tempts Sita with all impossible comforts and luxuries, if she obliges him and comes to Lanka with him, leaving Rama. She curtly dismisses all his baiting and luring.
Sita's words displeased Ravana, who never brooked opposition. His brow furrowed and eyebrows knotted into a fearful frown "Sita," he roared, "I am the brother of Kubera, son of his step-mother and Ravana is my name. I have ten heads, twenty hands and am indomitable. The celestials flee from me, like mortals flee from death. Vanquished by me, Kubera now lives on Mount Kailas and his aerial chariot Pushpaka is in my possession. Even Indra fears my anger, the winds blow gently and the sun shines subdued in its brilliance in my presence. Trees do not rustle and rivers still their flow where I tread. My city of Lanka, on the mountain of Trikoota is as magnificent as Indra's Amaravathi. Its mansions of gold and silver studded with the best of gems are enclosed with walls of silver. Once in Lanka, the island girdled by endless blue oceans, you will never again think of Rama who is but a mere mortal. Enjoying divine pleasures, you will forget him who courting Dasaratha's displeasure was banished from Kosala. Of what use is Rama, who having lost his kingdom and his mind wanders the jungles like an ascetic? Do not reject me Janaki. Rama will not measure up to the strength of my little finger on the battlefield. It is your good fortune that brings you to me" Sita's eyes blazed with rage as she chastised Ravana, "How can you think of such an outrage Ravana? Evil and immoral, you are the bane of your race which you will soon destroy. Stealing the wife of Indra you may hope to live, but abusing Rama's wife will seal your fate. Not even the nectar of immortality will save you".
In chapter 49, Sita's abduction takes place. Ravana forcefully abducts Sita in his air-chariot. She bewails and bemoans for Rama and Lakshmana and appeals to all nature to inform Rama about this abduction. Finally, she sees Jatayu, the eagle, and asks him to narrate her abduction to Rama.
Vexed by Sita's war of words, Ravana struck his hands together impatiently and thundered, "I told you of my might, but in your madness, you do not seem to understand. Standing in the sky, I can lift the earth and standing on the shores I can drink the oceans dry. I can spell death to the lord of death himself. My arrows can stop the sun in his tracks and cleave the earth. Imbecile woman, I can take any form at will and can be the husband who will fulfill your every desire". Ravana could not control his anger. A docile Brahmin until then, he shed that guise to emerge as his true and fearful self, the ten headed Ravana at the mention of whose name the worlds above and the worlds below trembled with fear. His glittering gold earrings contrasted sharply with his dusky skin, and his multiple heads inspired awe. Armed with bow and arrow he was a force to reckon with. Robed in red and wearing garlands of red blossoms, Ravana was flushed with anger as he stood in front of Sita.
The rakshasa's intense passion for Sita would not brook any defiance. He saw her glistening black hair, her fine silks; her golden hued form crafted to perfection and once again swore his undying love for her. Trying to impress upon Sita the futility of following Rama, he said, "Forget Rama, a mortal whose life is so impermanent. What do you see in him Janaki? What binds you to him? What traits in him attract you for you to love him so? Do you not see that foolishly bowing to the commands of a capricious woman, bereft of a kingdom, Rama has made the jungle his home and the beasts his kin?" Ravana's infatuation made him blind to Sita's divinity. Little did he then realize that a time would come when even the merit of his ten thousand years of penance would not save him.
The rakshasa clutched at Sita's silken tresses with one hand and with the other he held her aloft. The world fell into shocked silence as it witnessed Ravana's unpardonable transgression. Beholding Ravana and his frightening form, the denizens and deities of the forest, fled in terror. He lifted Sita onto his golden chariot and started his flight to Lanka." Ah Rama!" rang Sita's helpless cries of distress, as they echoed through the forest. Birds hid among branches, and serpents hid under bushes as the chariot flew into the skies. Sita looked down imploring the mountains, the rivers, the valleys and the gurgling Godavari, to tell Rama of her plight "Companions of my exile, speak to Rama, he alone can save me, tell him that ruthless Ravana bears me away. Rama, you gave away your crown and comfort, for the sake of dharma. Disregarding that dharma Ravana now steals me. May Kaikeyi feel happy." None responded to her piteous cries as life in the forest silently beheld the shameless deed in stunned silence. Suddenly and without warning, Jatayu, the divine bird hove into sight, as he sat perched on a tree. Sita appealed to him in anguish, "Arya, Jatayu, I am carried away like an orphan. Witness my plight. This rakshasa is merciless; he is cunning, strong and armed. Do not try to stop him for you cannot. Go Jatayu, go, tell Rama and Lakshmana, that the Rakshasa has carried me away."
In chapter 50, Jataayu confronts Ravana on hearing the wailing of Sita. He boldly forestalls Ravana and his air-chariot in the sky itself, and as an elderly being he reviles Ravana from the viewpoint of righteousness befitting to kings, but of no avail. His dilemma is that he cannot take flight to Rama's place, nor he can forestall Ravana until Rama comes. Yet, he persists to confront Ravana.
Sitting on a tree half asleep, Jatayu heard Sita. With a large body, a sharp beak and talons like razors he was a majestic bird. He spoke to Ravana from where he sat, "Ravana, I believe in the age old laws of dharma and I never deviate from truth. I am Jatayu, king of eagles. Rama is the prince of Kosala, son of Dasaratha and an equal of Indra and Varuna in might. He is the lord and protector of all creation. She, whom you seek to carry away, is Rama's wedded wife. How could any king, bound by dharma defile the wife of another? And a king's wife at that. It is a detestable act of shame Ravana. Even the thought of touching another's wife is a sin. A wise man desists from villainy, for fear of condemnation from his fellow men. One must protect the wife of another, as he would his own. You are sinful by nature and evil is your pastime. Do you forget that you are the son of the great king Paulastya? Noble rulers of the earth desist from any act of dharma, artha or Kama that is not sanctioned by the scriptures. Their exemplary conduct should be the ideal of their subjects. The nature and the traits of man are determined at birth and cannot be erased. Short lived are memories of sound counsel in the minds of the wicked.
Rama is not guilty of any offence in your country, how can you harm him who has not even glanced at your kingdom? Do you steal Sita to avenge Khara's death? Khara came to Janasthana because of Surpanakha, and he was slain because he over stepped his limits. How can you blame Rama for that? Release Sita this instant. May not Rama incinerate you with his fiery looks like he did Vitrasura. Hostility with Rama is as hazardous as carrying a venomous snake and as foolish as tightening the noose around your neck. Man should not carry more weight than he can bear, or eat more than he can digest. Who will undertake a mission that earns him neither name nor fame, but only grief? Listen, king, for sixty thousand years I have reigned over the land of eagles. I am old and unarmed, you are young and armed. To protect you, you have armor and to carry you, you have a chariot yet you will not dare to carry Sita. If you do, you will not leave here safely. Fight me and show me your strength. May you drop dead like Khara. Rama's arrows will soon kill you or you may even perish at the very news of their arrival. While I am still alive there is no way you can abduct Sita. I will serve Dasaratha and Rama even at the cost of my life. Tarry a moment Ravana and I shall offer you the hospitality of war and knock you down from your chariot".
This concludes chapters 47, 48, 49 and 50 of Aranya Kanda where we had seen Ravana coming to the presence of Sita in exile, conversing with her, boasting of his abilities and asking her to be his consort. Sita was shocked by his diabolic proposal, his arrogance to reign supreme and his utter disdain for the real invincible Rama. Against her rejection, he grows infuriated, talks greatly of the self, lowly of Rama and finally carries her away in his golden chariot as planned. The forest and the animals bore a silent witness to the barbaric act of the wicked demon in abducting another man’s wife. An old and large eagle bird Jatayu did not let it pass silently, comes in the way and tells him of the mistake he is committing. Jatayu confronts the mighty Ravana and tries to save Sita unsuccessfully about which we will learn in subsequent chapters in addition to further encounter between Ravana and Sita.
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