Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/414

 354 THE FOREST. turn out thus; Ráma's wrath is like a fierce flame, and your whole house will be consumed in it like a moth." The warrior demon gave no answer. Then the vulture rushed wildly on and clutched him by the hair and dragged him from his chariot so that he fell to the ground. Again, having sheltered Sita, the vulture turned and with his beak tore and rent his body. For nearly half an hour the demon was in a swoon, then gnashed his teeth with rage and drew his monstrous sword and cut off Jatáyu's wings. The bird fell to the ground, calling upon Ráma, and doing marvellous feats of courage. Then Rávan again seated Síta in the chariot and drove off in haste in no little alarm. Síta was borne through the air lamenting, like a frightened fawn in the power of a hunts- man. Seeing the monkeys sitting on the rocks, she cried out Hari's name and dropt her scarf. In this manner he went off with Síta and put her down in the Asoka forest. Dohá 25. Though he tried every kind of threat and blandishment, the monster could not succeed, and at last after exhausting all his devices he left her under the Asoka tree. With Ráma's beauteous form impressed upon her heart, as he appeared when pursuing the mimic deer, Síta was incessantly invoking his name, O Hari, Hari ! Chaupái. When Raghupati saw his brother coming, he was seized with a new and greater fear : "O brother, have you left Síta alone and come here against my order, though so many demons roam the forest? My mind misgives me that Síta is not at the hermitage." Lakshman clasped his lotus feet and cried with folded hands : "Hearken, my lord, it is no fault of mine." When he found the hermitage bereft of Sita, he was as agitated as any common man. "Alas ! Jánaki, my precious Síta, so beautiful and amiable, so divinely pious and devot- ed !" Lakshman did all he could to comfort him. As he went along, he ques- tioned all the trees and flowers by the way: "O ye birds and deer, O ye swarms of bees, have you seen the fawn-eyed Síta? The wagtails, parrot, and pigeons; the deer and fish ; swarming bees and clever cuckoos ; the jasmine and pome granate flowers ; the lightning, the lotus, the autumn moon ; the gliding serpent; the meshes of Varuna, the bow of Kámadeva ; the swan, the elephant and the lion can now hear themselves praised; the cocoanut, the champa, and the plan- tain can now rejoice, without any doubt or misgiving at heart. Hearken, The different objects here mentioned form the Hindu poet's stock in trade, upon which he invariably draws for comparisons whon he wishes to describe the charms of a lovely woman, with