315. Angada killed Vajradamshtra.

           The mighty Vajradamstra, seeing the devastation of his army, was aghast with anger. He started to counter that by counterattacking by stretching his  terrific bow, comparable to that of Indra's  vajra,  assailed the vanaras with a flood of arrows. By his order, the foremost of the rakshash commanders under his control mounted on chariots, fought the battle with every kind of weapon. The vanaras, assembling on all sides, fought with rocks, trees, hands etc. Thus the battle turned very fierce, cruel, savage, brutal, aggressive, menacing, vicious, fiery and murderous.

           As no warrior on either side ever retreated in any battle, a tremendous struggle ensued. Some vanaras and rakshashas, with their shattered heads, bereft of arms and legs, lay on the earth bathed in blood with their bodies severely ruptured by weapons, became a prey to herons, vultures and crows or devoured by troops of jackals.

       Vanaras and rakshashas felled on the battlefield, as headless trunks creating terror to the fearful. The limbs of many were hacked to pieces. However, slowly and steadily the vanara army was gaining superiority. This was evident as under the eyes of Vajradamshtra, almost all his army of rakshashas were being killed or made ineffective (by way or loss of one or more limbs)  by the vanara-troops.

       Seeing this, that powerful Vajradamshtra, his eyes red with anger, bow in hand, penetrated into the army of vanaras, sowing panic among them. In this way Vajradamshtra, like the wings of an eagle that flew straight to their target, started killing or maiming a bunch of his opponents simultaneously at a time. This created terror among the vanaras and they sought refuge with Angada.

         Angada then went straight to Vajradamshtra. Both Vajradamshtra and Angada fought against each other like a lion and an elephant in rut. Thereafter, that Vajradamshtra knocked the mighty Angada at his vital organs with his arrows resembling hundred thousand flames of fire.

        With all his limbs drenched in blood, the mighty Angada having a terrific prowess threw a tree on Vajradamshtra. That unperplexed rakshash, seeing that tree coming towards him, cut it into innumerable pieces which fell in heaps on earth.
      Seeing this Angada taking a large rock and threw it on that rakshash. Vajradamshtra evaded that rock by leaping down from his chariot. Armed with his mace, he stood waiting unperplexed, on the battle-field. The rock thrown by Angada crushed the chariot with its wheels, shafts and horses. Thereafter, Angada seizing another large peak of a mountain adorned with trees, threw it on Vajradamshtra's head. This time the missile found the marked target, to wit Vajradamshtra. It made Vajradamshtra vomit blood and feel dizzy. Vajradamshtra, with determination,  clenching his mace convulsively and breathing heavily for a moment regained his consciousness. Vajradamshtra, with uncontrollable anger hit Angada full on the chest with his mace. Angada took it unflinchingly, with a sneer. The mace slipped from the hands of Vajradamshtra and rolled down. Vajradamshtra then started a pugilistic encounter. Exhausted by the blows, spitting blood, both the warriors looked like the planets Mars and Mercury.

           Angada, with a firm determination to end the fight, uprooted a tree full with many flowers and fruits and stood waiting. The rakshash, too, with the same intention, seized hold of a shield covered with the hide of a bull as well as a great beautiful sword decorated richly with a multitude of golden bells. Determined to be victorious, both the vanara and the rakshash, making roaring sounds, roamed about in different ways and collided with each other. With their gaping wounds, they shone like a pair of Kimshuka trees in blossom. 
           Each found the other quite a match for him. Both of them, therefore absolutely exhausted and sank their knees on the earth. Fortunately for him, Angada was the first to overcome his tiredness. With a great effort he sprang up like a serpent struck with a stick. As luck would have it he saw the well sharpened sword glistening nearby. Like lightning he grabbed it and assaulted Vajradamshtra on his giant head. Vajradamshtra, with his limbs drenched in blood and eyes rolling, fell down in two pieces. Seeing Vajradamshtra slain, his entire army fled. 

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314. Vajradamstra, the next scapegoat enters.

             The news about the death of Dhumraksha drove Ravana mad with anger and he began to hiss with all his mouths like a bunch of serpents. After a few moments of careful analysis in his mind, Ravana decided that the valiant Vajradamshtra would be the most appropriate commander to take retribution for the killing of Dhumraksha and others. He, accordingly called him and told him "O, the most intrepid and valiant warrior! Go ahead as the commander and slay Rama, Lakshmana, Sugreeva and all his vanaras." Saying "Yes, Sir" Vajradamshtra  left and organized very many divisions of the army. 

           Adorned with colourful bracelets and a diadem, Vajradamshtra set out immediately, wielding a bow and well-covered by an armour. That army-general circumambulated and ascended his chariot, duly decorated with flags. 
         All those rakshashas in their resplendent and coloured uniforms, full of strength and mounted on elephants furious with rut, resembled moving mountains. Those elephants mounted by warriors bearing lances and goads were skilled in war-fare. Some other elephants, mounted by valiant rakshashas, were quite mighty in strength. That whole army of rakshashas paraded, looking as brilliant as the clouds, with lightning and sound in the rainy season. They emerged from the southern gate where the General Angada was stationed.

         While those rakshashas were emerging from the gate, inauspicious portents appeared, as usual. From a cloudless yet burning sky, meteors fell. Fearful jackals, emitting their howls and belching forth flames and fire. The dreadful beasts foretold destruction of the rakshashas, who while entering the combat, stumbled miserably. Even after seeing these portents Vajradamshtra of exceeding prowess and sharpness, mustered courage and being fond of battle, set out for the combat with a brave face.

        The vanaras, burning for victory, seeing their enemies advancing, made tremendous shouts which echoed every quarter. Thereafter, a tumultuous battle ensued. It delivered many warriors of both sides with their necks severed, lying on the surface of the earth, their entire bodies bathed in blood.

          The unhurt warriors, with arms resembling steel, or with trees or large stones approached their adversaries, attacking with various kinds of weapons. An extremely horrible and terrible noise was heard there from trees, rocks and weapons. A terrific noise of the wheel-rims of chariots and the bow, along with the tumultuous sounds of conches, kettle-drums and tabours heard from there.

        Some rakshashas, leaving weapons, fought the battle with their arms. Many of the rakshashas were beaten and their bodies fragmented by the vanaras fighting with their teeth, nails, palms, feet, fists, trees and knees. Some rakshashas were crushed to powder with rocks. Tremendously frightening the vanaras in the battle by his arrows, Vajradamshtra moved himself in the battle-field like Yama moving at the time of dissolution of the worlds, wielding a noose in his hand.

           The strong rakshashas skilled in weaponry and wielding various kinds of weapons, in their increased anger killed many a vanara in that battle. The courageous Angada, killed all those rakshashas, like a world-destroying fire. The valiant Angada with his raging red eyes killed quite a lot of  rakshashas, like a lion killing small animals. 

          Many a rakshashas struck by Angada there, had their heads shattered and fell down like chopped off trees. The earth covered with chariots, conspicuous flags, horses, bodies of vanaras and rakshashas with streams of blood flowing there appeared fearful.            That battle-field, decorated with necklaces, bracelets worn on the upper arm, garments and umbrellas looked like an autumnal night. By the swiftness of Angada, that great army of rakshashas there trembled like a cloud by the swiftness of wind.

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313. Hanuman sent Dhumraksha to meet his Maker.

              Seeing Dhumraksha  all the vanaras who were eagerly waiting for retaliation, roared with joy. The vanaras started to fight with a vengeance in retribution of what was done by Intrajit. Many of the enraged vanaras were cut down on all sides by the rakshasas. The vanaras hit back ferociously and equalized the score. The vanaras fought with such a fierceness they had never fought before.

         Despite being torn asunder by the rakshashas with terrible maces, spears, hammers, frightful iron bars and variegated tridents, the mighty vanaras fearlessly and undauntedly executed their tasks with an excitement born of anger. Ignoring the fact that their bodies were split up by the tridents and their limbs broken by arrows, the furious vanaras took up trees and rocks there and fought with a determination, completely unmindful of the pain and agony caused by the wounds. Those terribly swift vanaras, roaring aloud harassed the rakshashas at all places, by calling out their names actual and nicknames. That awful battle with all kinds of rocks and trees furnished with many branches between the vanaras and the rakshashasas appeared mesmerizing.
      Some rakshashas were crushed by vanaras, who had overcome fear and some blood-loving rakshashas vomited copiously their own blood. Some rakshashas were slashed open at their sides. Some were formed into a heap by the trees. Some others were crushed by stones and yet some others torn to pieces by the vanaras by their teeth and nails. With their standards crushed and broken, their swords snapped and their chariots overturned, many rakshashasas became nervous.

           Crushed by the great rocks by the vanaras, the earth was scattered with corpses of great elephants resembling hills and horses with their riders. The vanaras rushed upon the rakshashas, flinging themselves upon them with great force horizontally and vertically and scratching their faces with their sharp nails. With their faces turned pale very much, due to apprehension, their hair torn out and maddened by the smell of blood, those rakshashas were felled on the ground by the vanaras.

         Some brave and  enraged rakshashas, ran up towards the vanaras and hit them with their strong and mighty palms several severe blows. Some of the stronger vanaras, receiving that sharp shock, with even a greater ferocity, crushed the rakshashas with blows of their fists, feet, teeth and trees. Seeing his army routed, Dhumraksha started to fight like a top hero he really was.

       Some vanaras pierced with spears lost rivers of blood while others struck down by blows of axe, fell down. Some were crushed by iron bars, others torn by harpoons, some others pierced by javelins, all exhausted and lost their lives. Slain in battle by infuriated rakshashas, some vanaras, drenched with blood, fell on the ground and some others disappeared without any trace.
           With pierced hearts, some vanaras were made to lie down on one side. Some were torn asunder by tridents that their intestines were hanging outside their bodies. That mighty battle assumed most awful proportions in that the vanaras and rakshashas were crammed with rocks, trees and multitude of weapons. With the bow-strings as the tuneful lute, the neighing of horses as a measure rhythm and the trumpeting of elephants as the vocal music, the whole battle resembled a symphony.

           Dhumraksha on his part, wielding his bow in his hand and laughing, made the vanaras to run away to all directions by a shower of his arrows. Seeing the army perturbed by Dhumraksha, Hanuman decided to stop him forever. Turning towards him, taking a gigantic rock in his hands Hanuman, with his eyes inflamed with anger, flung that rock on the chariot of Dhumraksha. Seeing the fast approaching rock, Dhumraksha grabbing his mace hurriedly, jumped out of the chariot. Seeing the shattering of his chariot with its wheels, its pole, its crest along with banner and bows, by that rock which then rolled down to the ground, Dhumraksha thanked his good luck. Hanuman did not stop with that. After breaking the chariot, he destroyed a good number of rakshashas with the trunks of trees furnished with their branches. With their heads crushed, the rakshashas left this world  leaving their bodied drenched with blood in this world. Some others were crunched by the trees and fell down on the earth. Our James Bond of Ramayanam, the relentless Hanuman, breaking off the peak of a mountain, ran towards Dhumraksha. The valiant Dhumraksha lifted his mace and making a roaring sound, ran towards Hanuman. Dhumraksha brought down that mace studded with countless spikes on the head of our dear hero Hanuman. That poor rakshash, Dhumraksha did not know about our dear hero who was in no way disturbed by that blow but struck Dhumraksha on the middle of his skull with his rocky peak. It was the last straw for Dhumraksha. Struck by the rocky peak, which shattered all his limbs, Dhumraksha fell down, stone dead on the ground like a mountain crumbling. Seeing Dhumraksha killed, all the surviving and mobile rakshashas were scared of death left the battle field in a hurry. On that day our hero Hanuman became Hero square for his comrades.

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312. Dhumraksha was sent to contain Rama.

               That uproar created by the vanaras, who were full of martial ardour, startled Ravana,  his counselors and other rakshashas around him. Hearing that mighty clamour, sounding smooth and deep, Ravana told, with a slightly quivering voice all those present around him "That uproar, resembling the rumbling of clouds, seems to have been created by that horde of rejoicing vanaras. It sounds their joy is great. Their roar seems to be agitating the briny ocean itself. Those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana were tied by sharp arrows. I, therefore wonder why this sound of exuberance of such a great magnitude. I am a bit apprehensive."

         After pondering for a few moments, Ravana told the rakshashas around him "You immediately find the reason for this general rejoicing over there among the vanaras."

           On going to the  ramparts they noticed that Sugreeva as well as Rama and Lakshmana were in the lead of the vanara army. All the rakshashas felt some nasty feeling in the tummies and wanted to hit the loo or whatever it was called then.  Controlling with great difficulty and with their hearts palpitating  with fear and faces turning pale, all those terrified rakshashas descended from the ramparts and ran to Ravana.

       In quivering voices they informed Ravana of the unpleasant info "The two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, whom Indrajit had bound with his benumbing shafts and whose arms he had pinioned, are free from the arrows which paralyzed them and now appear on the field of battle, as two strong elephants who have snapped their fetters."

          Ravana was puzzled to hear the news as he was told earlier by his dear son Intrajit that he had killed those two humans. All his ten  faces turned pale. He expressed his thoughts aloud "If those chaps, having been bound by Indrajit are freed, despite their injuries in battle by the formidable arrows which were infallible, resembling serpents, bright as the sun, I perceive my entire army in jeopardy. Those very arrows, bright as fire, which in battle have taken the life of my enemies, have now been rendered void indeed!"

              Thinking after a few moments, hissing like a snake, he addressed a rakshash yclept Dhumraksha who was also around him "You, with such a terrific prowess should be able to at least contain Rama and his animals, if not eliminate them. Go quickly with a considerable force of rakshashas and slay Rama, Lakshmana and his vanaras."

           Dhumraksha, having no choice other than to obey his king, quickly departed from the royal palace. Having crossed that gate, he shouted at the General of the forces "Mobilize the army immediately."

              Dhumraksha, having got the mobilized army following him, kept the army ready quickly, as per Ravana's command. Dhumraksha then with a mule-like clatter, set out in a celestial chariot to which mules adorned with gold and heads of deer and lions were hitched. That Dhumraksha of mighty prowess, surrounded by rakshashas, set forth amidst mocking laughter, through the western gate where the vanara army-chief Hanuman was stationed. As he mounted and advanced in an excellent chariot harnessed by mules, birds of ill-omen in the sky cautioned that advancing rakshash of very terrible and fearful appearance.

         A highly terrible vulture alighted on the top of his chariot, while some other vultures clustered on the point of his standard. The earth trembled. The wind with the noise resembling a thunder blew adversely. Every quarter, obscured by abundant darkness, did not dazzle. Seeing those terrible omens that appeared in all their horror to the rakshashas, Dhumraksha became perturbed. Terror seized all the rakshashas who were advancing in front of Dhumraksha.

       Dhumraksha, the highly terrible and strong rakshash, surrounded by a multitude of rakshashas, gaped at that army of a multitude of vanaras, resembling a flood, protected by  Rama.

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311. Enter Garuda, the Savior.

          Sugreeva on hearing the hustle of movements, inquired the reason for the same. Angada told him that the reason seemed to be that they had heard only just now that  Rama and Lakshmana were lying covered with  blood in a bed of arrows.

        Sugreeva  shaking his head told Angada "No. I feel that there is some other cause for their bewilderment. They seem to be scared. Your see, they are running away helter-skelter in all directions. They are not looking behind. They are jostling each other and leaping over those who have fallen."

      Sugreeva then noticed Vibhishana and correctly guessed the reason. He told Jambavan "It is Vibhishana who has come here. On seeing him, the vanaras thought him to be Indrajit and panicked. You reassemble them immediately, and inform them that it is Vibhishana who has come!"
         Jambavan the king of Bears promptly and efficiently executed the command of Sugreeva. Realizing the fact and ashamed for their hasty erroneous conclusion those vanaras retraced their steps, shaking off their fear.

        Sugreeva told Sushena, his father-in-law, who was on his side "Taking these two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana as well as  the troops of vanaras who are pretty strong, go to Kishkindha and stay put there till they recover their consciousness. As for me, I shall slay Ravana with his son and his relatives and bring back Seetha."
        Sushena replied Sugreeva "I have witnessed a great war between devas and asuras. Just like this Intrajit, the asuras becoming invisible overcame the devas despite their skill in wielding arms. To those devas who were wounded, unconscious and almost dead, Brihaspati treated them by the aid of certain herbs accompanied by his spells of sacred formulas. Let the vanaras Sampati, Panasa and others go  to the ocean of milk and bring those herbs.

     "These vanras are conversant with those efficacious mountainous divine herbs Sanjivakarani and Vishalya. In the bosom of the milky ocean, there are the mountains called Chandra and Drona, where the ambrosia was formerly churned. These two excellent herbs exist there. The devas placed those two mountain in the vast sea......"

           Before he could conclude what he wanted to say, they heard a loud buzzing noise accompanied by a great wind and massed clouds and lightning, whipping up the salty waves in the ocean, causing the mountains to tremble as from an earthquake. Large trees on the sand-banks had their branches broken and fell headlong into the briny waters of the ocean. All snakes became frightened. The snakes inhabiting there and all the marine animals plunged quickly into the briny ocean.

             While the vanaras were wondering the cause of these phenomena, a mighty eagle was seen by them. It was recognized by the older vanaras as Garuda, the son of Vinata. On beholding Garuda, the eagle, the serpents binding Rama and Lakshmana in the form of mighty arrows, fled away. Thereupon, Garuda the eagle, approached Rama and Lakshmana and offered them his good wishes, with his hands fondly caressing their faces that were radiant like the moon.

         That touch by Garuda the eagle, all the wounds on the bodies of Rama and his bro were immediately healed like magic. Their bodies soon became smooth and well-rounded. Their luster, valour, strength, endurance and resolution, their perspicacity, intelligence and memory were redoubled.

        Lifting them up both, the highly majestic Garuda embraced them. Rama asked him "Now, by your grace, we both have overcome a great disaster created by Indrajit. Now we have been made strong as before. Nay, we feel we have become more strong than before. By meeting you thus, my heart is swelled with happiness in the same manner when I was meeting Dasharatha, my father or Aja, my paternal grandfather. Who are you, the one endowed with beauty, having blissful garlands and anointment, wearing clean garments and adorned with divine ornaments?"

         The highly majestic and the mighty Garuda, the eagle, the King of Birds, with his eyes widened in gladness and with a pleased heart, replied Rama "O, Rama! I am your dearest friend Garuda , dear as your own breath moving outside. I came here to help you, both. The most valiant asuras or the exceedingly strong vanaras or the suras together with gandharvas, at the instance of Devendra, were unable to untie this awfully terrific entanglement of arrows created through his power of sorcery by Indrajit.
        "These arrows are actually serpents and the sons of Kadru. With their sharp fangs, abundantly filled with poison, transformed into arrows, by the dint of sorcery by Indrajit. You and your brother Lakshmana are blessed. Hearing about this incident, I started at once. You have been released from this quite terrific shackle of arrows. Both of you should maintain vigilance, all the time, in future.

        "All the rakshashas  are inherently  treacherous fighters in battle. For you, your warriors, pure-mindedness and straight forwardness are the strength. What Indrajit has done, exemplifies how the rakshashas are always crooked-minded. For this reason, you should not trust the rakshashas."

       Garuda then told "O, Rama, now I am pushing off. Don't waste your time trying to find out who I am and how I am one of your dear friends. Now concentrate on destroying Ravan and his cronies and rescuing Seetha. Then you will come know of why and how about me. Pip-pip, toodle-oo."

                  Garuda then took off and vanished like a super-supersonic aircraft. Seeing Rama and Lakshmana were completely and absolutely healed of their wounds, the chiefs of vanaras howled like roars of lions and lashed their tails.

         Thereupon, gongs were beaten, drums resounded, and conches blown amid jumping in joy of the vanaras as before. Some of the strong vanaras who used trees as maces in battle, were waving their arms and uprooting hundreds and thousands of various trees, stood there, ready for the battle. Uttering great noises, frightening the rakshashas and eager to fight, the vanaras reached the gates of Lanka.

       On reaching the gates, all the vanaras made such a highly terrible and tumultuous battle cry in the mid-night which sounded like the rolling thunder at the end of summer .

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310. Rama woke up and grieves for his bro.

           In the battle field Sugreeva and other leaders like Angada, Hanuman, Jambavan etc. were standing around the inert bodies of Rama and his bro, watching them with deep concern and grief. Suddenly they noticed a very slight movement from the body of Rama. The mighty Rama by virtue of his hardihood and native strength recouped his senses. A few moments later he opened both his lovely eyes. Despite the myriad of arrows all over his body, he turned his body to look for his dear brother.

         He, Rama was shocked to see the bleeding unconscious, firmly thrown on the floor with his features changed brother. With intolerable grief Rama lamented "Of what use to me is the recovery of Seetha at the cost of my dear Lakshmana? May be it is possible to find some woman equal to Seetha in this world of mortals but it is impossible to find a brother like Lakshmana in ALL the worlds.

        "I, most willingly am prepared to give up my life if that is the condition for Lakshmana's return to the five elements. What shall I say to my mother, Kausalya or to Kaikeyi? How can I talk to my mother Sumitra looking eagerly for her dear son? How shall I console Sumitra, trembling and crying out like an osprey, bereft of her son, if I return to Ayodhya without Lakshmana?

          "What can I tell Shatrughna and the illustrious Bharata when I return without Lakshmana, who followed me to the forest? Alas! I will not be able to endure Sumitra's reproaches. I will leave my body here itself. I do not wish to continue living. Woe unto me to my wicked deed and to my lack of nobility. Through my fault, Lakshmana has fallen and lies on this bed of arrows. O, Lakshmana! You always used to console me whenever I was in a great sorrow. You, having lost your life now, are not able to allay my sufferings with your words.
      "You, who in today's battle, struck down innumerable rakshashas, are now fallen, pierced by darts. Lying on this bed of arrows, bathed in blood, you are piled up in a heap of arrows. You look like the sun setting behind the horizon. Your vital parts having been pierced with arrows, you are not able to speak now. Even though you are not speaking, your agony is disclosed by the redness of your eyes.

       "I do not remember to have heard any harsh or hateful words from you, even if you are deeply provoked. Lakshmana, you are able to loose five hundred arrows in one shot, surpassing Kartavirya himself in the science of archery. O Lakshmana, you were accustomed to a rich couch and  by your arrows you were capable of severing the weapons of the mighty Indra, the Lord of devas, is lying slain on the ground.

     "Those vain words uttered by me, will undoubtedly consume me since I have not made Vibhishana the king of rakshashas. O, Sugreeva! You ought to return at once from here since knowing that you are bereft of my support, Ravana will overcome you.

        "O, Sugreeva! Recross the sea with your army and with your followers, keeping Angada in front. I am fully satisfied by the great military exploit done by Jambavan, the king of Bears and the General of the vanaras, which was impossible for any other in battle. A great act was done by Angada, Mainda and Dvivida. A terrible combat was done by Kesari and Sampati in the battle-field. By Gavaya, Gavaksha, Sharabha, Gaja and other vanaras, who are willing to sacrifice their lives for me, the battle was carried on.

         "O, Sugreeva! It is not possible for mortals to avoid their destiny. O, Sugreeva! Fearing to fail in your duty, you have done all that which a friend and a comrade could do. O, foremost of vanaras! You have accomplished all this due to our friendship. I take leave of you all; go where it seems best to you!"

       All the tawny eyed vanaras, who heard Rama's lament thus, started to weep with tears flowing from their eyes. At this point of time, Vibhishana, having established some order in all the ranks, was approaching Rama with mace in his hand. Seeing him, who resembled a mass of collyrium, rushing towards them, all the vanaras of the lower rank, took him to be Indrajit, the son of Ravana, fled away in terror.

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309. Grief of Seetha and the consolation of Trijata.

           Seeing the inert bodies of her husband and the mighty Lakshmana, Seetha was very much shocked. She just could not believe that her dear hubby and his dear bro were dead. She started lamenting "The soothsayer, reading the marks and signs on my body, prophesied that I shall bear sons and WILL NOT be widowed. Now that Rama has been slain, their words have proved to be untrue. Since Rama is slain, all those astrologers, who predicted that I would participate as the consort of Rama in many great sacrifices that would be performed by him, are now proved to be utterers of falsehood. Now that Rama has been slain, all those sooth-sayers who predicted that I should be honoured by my husband as well as the wives of warriors and kings, are proved to be liars.
       "Now that Rama has been slain, all those astrologers who predicted that I would remain happy with my husband are proved to have spoken falsehood. I bear the marks of lotus on my soles by virtue of which high-born women are said to be consecrated on an imperial throne with their husbands and lords. I do not have any of the marks of ill-fortune which bespeak widowhood in women who are ill-starred. It seems that all the auspicious signs appear to be rendered void for me.

      "Those marks of the lotus said to be a good augury for women seem to be incorrect, now that Rama is slain. My hair is fine, black in colour and smooth. My eye-brows are disunited. My shanks are hair-less and well rounded. My teeth are contiguous, without any gaps between them. My temples, eyes, arms, feet, ankles and thighs are homologous and well-proportioned. My fingers have well-rounded with glossy nails with right length.

     "My breasts are close to each other, fully developed and have depressed nipples. My navel is deeply indented. My flanks and bosom are well-formed. My complexion has the sheen of a pearl. The hair on my skin are soft. It is said of me as endowed with auspicious signs, in that I touched the ground with my twelve limbs (viz. the ten toes and two soles).

       "Those who interpret the marks of youthful maidens spoke of me that my hands and feet are rosy, fully provided with marks each resembling a barley corn, devoid of space between my fingers and toes and that my smile is gentle. All that was told by brahmins well-versed in sooth-saying. They also predicted that I will be consecrated on the imperial throne along with my husband.

        "By means of magic arts, an invisible foe has slain Rama and Lakshmana, my protectors, who are equal to Indra in battle and I am now bereft of any support. Having reached the range of sight of Rama in a combat, no enemy could return alive. 

       "I do not repent so much for Rama and Lakshmana or for myself or even my mother but for my unfortunate mother-in-law, Kausalya. She, for her part, forever remains absorbed in the thought 'When shall I see Lakshmana and Seetha with Rama returned to Ayodhya having completed his vow of remaining in exile in the forest for fourteen years?'

      The kind kind-hearted rakshashsi Trijata  tried to console Seetha by "O, God-like lady! Do not despair. I am sure your husband, Rama is still alive. Let me tell you why I am so positive about it.

       "O, Seetha! This Pushpaka viman does not take any widow. Moreover, when the leader of an army is killed in the battle, his army looses courage and wanders aimlessly about on the battle field, like a ship which has broken its rudder in water. Now look at this vanara army which is neither confused nor perturbed and is guarding Rama and Lakshmana.

     "Be assured that Rama and Lakshmana are not dead.

     "Even suras and asuras along with Indra cannot vanquish these two heroes in battle. O Seetha! See this, a great marvel! See having fallen under those shafts and deprived of their senses, their beauty has not deserted them. Generally, the faces of those who lost their lives and whose vital power has vanished, will be appearing with an appalling alteration. O, Seetha! Banish your grief, pain and ignorance on account of Rama and Lakshmana. With the splendour seen in their faces, I am positive beyond any iota of doubt that Rama and Lakshmana ARE ALIVE."

      Hearing Trijata, Seetha, resembling a daughter of gods, with joined palms exclaimed, "May it be so."
           Then Seetha was dropped at the Ashoka vana. 

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