In the previous episode we witnessed a very important twist in the entire Ramayana epic wherein Maareecha and Ravana plan the plot to abduct Sita from Rama. According to the plan, Maareecha takes the form of a “golden deer” and tries to tempt Sita with the beauty of the deer. Eventually we also witnessed that Sita falls into the trap and gets Rama to go and bring it to her! Accordingly Rama sets out in pursuit of the deer despite Lakshmana warning him not to do that!
The deer takes Rama to a far-off location from their hamlet and eventually Rama realizes that he was being tricked into something here! Hence he sends his sharp arrow onto the golden deer and kills it! The golden deer was none other than the demon by name Maareecha! While being hit by the arrow, Maareecha shouts in the tone of Rama, saying “Haa Sita!! Haa Lakshmana!” Upon hearing this, Sita gets shocked and requests Lakshmana to go and find out what happened to Rama!
However, Lakshmana tries to calm down Sita by consoling her that nothing would happen to Rama and he is safe! As Lakshmana tries consoling her, Sita is in no mood to listen to all this! She says to Lakshmana, “Oh Lakshmana! You’re claiming to be the brother of Rama and at the end you’re standing here with a wrong intention!” Hearing this from Sita, the shell-shocked Lakshmana sets out immediately to search for Rama! Thus the plot has worked very well for Ravana! Sita has perfectly fallen into a huge trap!
It might be of interest to note at this point that some versions of the Ramayana claim that before leaving the hamlet, Lakshmana “draws a line” with the power of his “Asthras” so as to protect Sita. However, such things are not mentioned in the original Valmiki Ramayana text! There is nothing in the Valmiki Ramayana that Lakshmana had instructed Sita not to cross this particular line! Maybe it is there in our modern day called “Lakshman Rekha”, which we use for killing ants! 🙂 But there is nothing like “Lakshman Rekha” and stuff in the Valmiki Ramayana text!
It is at this time when Sita is alone in the hamlet; Ravana comes in the form of a “Sanyaasin” (Saint).
“Upatatthecha vaidehim bikshu roopena raavanaha!
Abhavyo bhavya roopena bharthaaram anu shodhitham!!
Raavanenathu vaidehi tathaa pushpaa jiheershunaa!
Vinipaa janakasyaaham mythilasya mahaathmanaha!!
Seethaam naam naasmin bhadhramthe raamasya mahishee priyaa!”
Thus Ravana comes to Sita’s hamlet and asks about her! Sita was a step more honest than Rama! 🙂 In the previous episodes we’ve witnessed how Rama narrated his entire story to Soorpanaka! Similarly, Sita does the same thing here – She says, “Oh Sanyaasin! I’m Sita, daughter of King Janaka! Until my age of six I was at my hometown and after that my father fixed a “Syamvara” wherein Rama came and married me! After that I was in Ayodhya with Rama for the next 12 years! Eventually we had to come to the forest upon the order of Rama’s stepmother Kaikeyi! We spent time in numerous ashrams of numerous saints at Dhandakaaranya and finally we are here at Panchavati for the last part of our exile period!”
Ravana was highly impressed as Sita is narrating her entire story and was waiting till she comes out of the hamlet to offer him the food that he had asked for! The moment Sita steps out of the hamlet, Ravana takes his original form and forcefully lifts her in his arms as Sita shouts aloud for help! The trap perfectly worked for Ravana as he abducts her at the time when she was alone in the hamlet!
As Ravana carries her to his Pushpaka Vimana, Sita cries aloud for help, but alas! Rama and Lakshmana weren’t there near her! She had realized by now, her folly of sending Lakshmana after Rama and that, she had perfectly fallen into the trap laid by the wicked Ravana! But it is too late!! He now takes off from Panchavati and proceeds in the southern direction towards Lanka! Sita was gone!
It was at this time, Rama realizes that Lakshmana has come in search of him! Rama is shell-shocked on seeing Lakshmana approaching him with fear! What happened next? Let’s wait till the next episode to find out!
The Indian Dharma 