The last few chapters detailed the abduction of Sita by Ravana, which is complete after he carries her to Lanka in the golden chariot. The saga begins with the lure of a uniquely charming golden deer and ends with killing Jatayu which comes in the way of diabolic act. Sita is now in Lanka, away from Rama and Lakshmana and in the cruel custody of Ravana. This huge mistake is going to set off a war and it slowly builds in the next two books before the face-off in the final book. Rama, who is in exile, need to face the most powerful enemy without accessing the royal resources of war. He builds these resources with the help of another group of supporters or Vanaras, including the powerful Hanuman which will be detailed in next two books. In the quick succession, Sita and Rama need to come to terms with the wicked abduction. Let us look at how they react in the next few chapters. As we saw, Ravana tries to impress Sita with his possessions and requests her acceptance to be his wife. An unflinching woman with single-minded devotion and a symbol of fiery faith, we can see how Sita disregards him.
In chapter 56, Seetha reprimands Ravana in saying that her unswerving devotion to Rama will not permit her to be dominated by anyone. She gives word-by-word replies to all that is prattled by Ravana in earlier chapter.
As Sita listened listlessly to Ravana's persuasions and promises, she decided to give up her fear. Unwilling to talk to him directly, she picked up a piece of straw, placed it in front of her and said, "Dasaratha, a noble king dedicated to dharma and honour established grace on earth, he was the king of Kosala and Rama is his son. Renowned in the three worlds as an embodiment of dharma, Rama is my husband and my god. His swift and flaming arrows will reduce you to ashes. Born of the race of Ikshvaku, he has the might of a lion and the radiance of the sun. Lakshmana is his valiant brother. You too would have perished like Khara, if only you had dared to approach me in Rama's presence. The fearsome rakshasas of whom you brag so loudly will writhe, like snakes in the shadow of Garuda, when Rama's arrows descend. Your death is inescapable and certain like that of the sacrificial beast tied to the 'yupa'. Rama can command the skies and the ocean. By arousing his anger and enmity and have thus put in jeopardy your strength, your wealth and your life. Lanka will soon be widowed by your follies. Listen Ravana, facing ruin, man grows reckless falling victim to his own foolishness. Just as the sacred alter cannot be stepped upon by a Chandala, so should the pure and chaste consort of Rama not be touched by a lowly rakshasa like you. Will a royal swan that swims in the lotus filled lakes ever look at a water fowl that hops in wild grasses? Life has no charm for me. I have no desire either to protect my body or prolong its life. But the earth should not ever witness the blame that Sita could not protect her chastity!" For a moment Ravana cringed at Sita's denunciation which sent a shiver down his spine. Gathering his wits, he thundered, "In twelve month's time you shall change your mind and take my hand. If you still choose to remain obstinate my cooks shall chop you into little pieces and serve you as my meal." He then ordered the rakshasa women who stood guard over Sita, "Scare this woman out of her arrogance, subdue her, cajole her, threaten her if need be, but see that she yields to my wishes. Take her to the Asoka grove in secrecy and guard her." Ravana stomped out as the fury of his pounding feet threatened to shatter the earth. Sita was taken to the grove beautiful with birds and blossoming trees. Oblivious of her surroundings, crushed by fear and sorrow she fell in a faint.
In chapter 57, Rama meets Lakshmana while returning to hermitage after killing the deer demon Maricha. He also confronts some ill omens and worries why Lakshmana left Seetha alone and came to him, sad facedly.
After killing Maricha, Rama hurried back to Janashtana. As he neared his destination, he heard the howling of a jackal in the woods. He grew fearful at the inauspicious sound which boded ill. Thoughts of Sita and doubts about her safety were uppermost in his mind. Maricha's cry of agony imitating his voice came to Rama's mind and his anxiety mounted. He said to himself, "My stay in Janasthana has brought me enmity with the rakshasas. Will Sita and Lakshmana be safe in this fearful forest, where this very moment, the rakshasa hordes may be seeking revenge?" While Rama feared for Sita, the desolate birds and beasts of the jungle surrounded an equally desolate Rama who was trying to brush aside ill omens that loomed large. As Rama's feet flew towards the hermitage, he saw Lakshmana. Dismayed and shocked at seeing him away from his post, Rama first reprimanded him, but quickly gaining composure said, "Will Sita left alone be safe Lakshmana? Will not the rakshasas kill her? Are you sure that we will see her unharmed? Beasts and birds, facing the Sun are crying fearfully, my courage deserts me, my heart grows heavy and my left eye throbs. Surely Sita is either stolen, slain or being carried away."
In chapter 58, Rama is anguished for Seetha's aloneness and it is expressed in his chastening Lakshmana. Rama asks him as to why he left Seetha unguarded in the lonely forest. Rama rushes rapidly to hermitage, thinking and talking that rapidly to Lakshmana about Seetha, and on arriving he finds vacuity in hermitage and then he is thrown in throes of despair.
Lakshmana stood still and silent, a picture of great sorrow. Janasthana, which had witnessed the din of war, violence and death, now witnessed profound sorrow and silence. Rama asked his brother, "Lakshmana, where is Sita? Why did you leave her alone? Stripped of my crown and kingdom I wandered in the wilderness like a mendicant and Sita followed me. Where is she now Lakshmana? Not for a moment can I live without her who is dearer to me than my life and whose beauty surpasses that of the gods in heaven. Without her by my side I would even spurn lordship over both heaven and earth. Will I die before my exile ends? Will my vows go unfulfilled? I will leave this world and Kaikeyi will rejoice in my death. Will Kausalya have to serve Kaikeyi? If Sita is not at the hermitage to welcome me with her sweet smile, I shall perish. Tell me, is she alive or have the demons devoured her? "Maricha's deceitful intention to alarm you seems to have succeeded. In her innocence, succumbing to the guiles of the rakshasa, Sita must have driven you to look for me. When you left her alone; you gave these monsters an opportunity to avenge us. The flesh eating fiends are now on the war path infuriated by the death of Khara. What shall I do now? Destiny perhaps dictates that I suffer" Lakshmana listened to Rama's verbal assault silently and patiently. Rama hurried towards Janasthana hungry, thirsty and tired. He rushed around in a frenzy looking for Sita and his fears were confirmed when he found her missing. Searching in vain, he grew fearful and crestfallen. The silence was ominous; the foreboding of ill palpable for Sita had disappeared without trace.
In chapter 59, Rama reprimands Lakshmana for coming without Seetha. Lakshmana explains that he had to leave her owing to her anguished, angrily words and even by her rash remarks at him. Even then, Rama is unhappy of Lakshmana's action in leaving her alone.
Rama came out of the empty cottage and wondered at what could have happened to Sita, where she could be found and how? Into his troubled mind wafted Lakshmana's gentle tones, "Maricha's ploy had the exact result that he had intended. His cries of agony imitating your voice drove Sita to distraction. That very instant she wanted me to go looking for you and my refusal to leave her unguarded enraged her. Fear and frustration made her goad me into leaving and I had no choice. Trying to rid her of her anger and anxiety, I said, 'Will Rama who has the might and valor to protect even the devatas, stoop so low as to cry for help? Rama is invincible to all in the three worlds. No man is born or ever will be who can vanquish him.' My efforts to allay her fears were futile; she lashed out at me with such ferocity that I listened to her in stunned disbelief!" "Overpowered by fear and grief her words were harsh, 'Why do you not go Lakshmana, why do you tarry? So that Rama may die and you may claim me? Do not even entertain such thoughts. Did Bharata counsel you to destroy Rama at an opportune moment? Are you perhaps at this very instant awaiting that opportunity? Speak Lakshmana! You are not a brother, but an enemy of Rama!' Sita's scorn scorched me like fire. Powerless to stop her unfair accusations, I left reluclantly, abandoning my resolution not to leave her unguarded." Disagreeing with Lakshmana, Rama contended that leaving Sita alone was an unwise move. He said, "There exists no rakshasa whom I cannot subdue and you are aware of it. How can you, vexed by her prattle, leave Sita? It makes me unhappy as it is not only a breach of promise, but a dereliction of duty. The rakshasa, who lured me away in the guise of a deer, now lies dead. His dying cries of agony, assuming my voice deceived Sita, and she made you leave."
In chapter 60, Rama laments for Seetha's separation. He starts searching for her and goes on asking every plant, tree and animal, in a kind of frenzied tone.
As Rama walked towards Panchavati his left eye twitched, he stumbled and his body quivered. Hounded by doubts of Sita's safety, he reached the cottage only to find it silent and empty. To Rama's mind came the many omens of ill that he had felt and seen. His heart stilled for a moment, "What could have happened to Sita!" he wondered. In the forest even birds and beasts hung their heads, oppressed by a sorrow that seemed to shroud them. A profound sorrow pervaded the green glades and thickets of the jungle, even the forest deities seemed to have forsaken their homes. Rama saw the deer skin and reeds that Sita had offered Ravana as they lay scattered and the disarray seemed symbolic. The signs were ominous and despair gripped him. "Sita must have been stolen by a rakshasa or perhaps having lost her way is hiding from the marauding demons." As many doubts raced through Rama's mind his handsome face was ravaged and his grief-stricken mind tottered on the brink of insanity. Rama ran from tree to tree, from mountain to mountain and from river to river, in a delirium, hoping to find Sita. Renowned in the three worlds for his might and invincibility, Rama for once lost his composure and began to ask even the wild beasts and silent trees if they had seen Sita! "Tell me Kadamba, have you seen my beautiful Sita, who loved you so? And you Asoka, known as the allayer of sorrows, wont you drive away my sorrow? And you Bilva, have you seen my charming consort who wears yellow silks and whose skin is as soft and smooth as your tender leaves? Perhaps you can tell me if that timid woman is still alive?" Though every tree remained silent, they too seemed to weep with him in their silence. A deer appeared and Rama quickly went up to it saying, "The trees refuse to reveal news of Sita. With her doe like eyes, she has perhaps merged into your flock." Without waiting for an answer, Rama ran after an elephant that he spotted, "You are a brave one, tell me without fear, what you know of Sita, did you happen to see her?" Deluded into believing that Sita flitted between trees and that he could catch glimpses of her yellow silks, Rama vacillated between hope and fear, as he tried to take hold of himself. Imagining dreadful rakshasas tearing at Sita's slender throat and her dainty arms, driven to distraction, he cried out, "To be food for the rakshasas, Sita has deserted me. Bring her back Lakshmana.
In chapter 61, Rama laments for Seetha and becomes despondent. But at the advice of Lakshmana both of them start a search for Seetha, presuming that she might be available in the proximity. Later they embark on a thorough search in the entire forest and its mountains and at lakesides, but Seetha is unseen.
Rama's search was futile. Pathetically crying he said, "Are you hiding Sita? Is this a joke? Without you I will die and go to heaven where I shall be accosted by Dasaratha, who will surely ask me, 'How can you be here without fulfilling your vows and before the end of your exile? You are willful, lax, irresolute and untruthful.' Save me Janaki, come back." Bewildered, Rama was bogged down in misery like an elephant trapped in marshland. Lakshmana said, "Be brave Rama, let us look for Sita, she may perhaps be at the lotus pond or near the river. She may even be hiding from us in sport. These hills are famed for their many caves, which provide shelter." As the search continued, anxiety mounted and uncertainty loomed large. There was no knowing where Sita was, whispering winds, gushing streams, lofty mountains, cooing birds and growling beasts kept their secret and divulged no information. Rama, who provided succor to all, was helpless. Tired in body and mind he was ready to collapse. Sita's tragic fate had impelled her to ignore Lakshmana's warning, Rama's suffering was perhaps destined as he himself had confessed and Lakshmana could not bear to watch his brother who was inconsolable.
This concludes chapters 56, 57, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of Aranya Kanda where we had seen the strong reply from Sita to the advances of Ravana. He was surprised with her stubborn stance, gave her twelve months to change her mind and put her in Ashoka grove by ordering the Rakshasa women to cajole her in his favour. Meanwhile, Rama and Lakshmana face ill-omens on their way to cottage and fear for Sita. Their apparent fears come true as she is not seen in the forest retreat. Lost at the sight, broken in the mind and unable to find her anywhere in the vicinity, Rama and Lakshmana laments for Sita and asks the nature for her whereabouts. They search till it becomes weary, tired and Rama’s suffering is beyond words. It can be seen how the heart-broken men of valour need to gather the senses and continue the pursuit of Sita in the subsequent chapters.
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