15. Seetha remonstrates with Ravana- Kamabaramayana
Ravana came to the hermitage of Seetha taking the form of an old hermit chanting the veda like the sound of Veena. Seetha welcomed him. Kamban says that the whole nature trembled.
Nadungina malaigaLum maanum naaavindhu
Adangina, paRavaiyum vilangum anjina;
Padam kuraindhu odhungina paambum-paathakak
Kadum thozil arakkanaik kaaNum kaNNine
On seeing the vicious rakshasa coming to commit the greatest sin, the mountains shook with fear , the deer became silent, the birds and wild animals were afraid and even the serpents closed their hoods and hid themselves.
After answering the question of Ravana about her identity Seetha asked him the reason for which he came to the forest in his old age. The hermit replied by praising Ravana and said that he was living in Lanka for sometime and also said that Ravana was looking for a lady suitable for him even though he had many beautiful wives.
Seetha chided him, for praising Ravana who was known for his wickedness and, for living under his patronage. The hermit replied that though Ravana was bad towards devas he was good to people like himself. Seetha said that Rama would destroy the rakshasas and the world would be a better place. Ravana ridiculed the idea of a mortal destroying the rakshasaa saying that it is like a young rabbit killing the herd of elephants. Seetha remonstrated that perhaps he had not heard the death of Viratha and Khara and his army.
Ravana got angry and forgot his disguise and said
mEruvaippaRikka vEndin , viNNinai idikka vEndin,
neerinaikkalakkavEndin,neruppinai avikkavEndin
paarinai edukka vEndin, palavinai sila sol ezaai
yaar enakkarudhicchonnaai?-raavaNaRkuaridhuen ? enraan.
Ravana could grab the
Hearing that Ravana became furious and his disguise disappeared and he appeared in his real form. He threatened her that he would have crushed and eaten her but for the fact that she was a woman and then he remembered the reason for his coming and told her not to fear and he would bow down to her and make her his queen whom even the celestial damsels would serve. Seetha was shocked and told him that the sacred offering could not be taken away by a dog and further said that she was not afraid of death and if he valued his life he could better run away. Ravana saying that the arrow if Rama would be a flower garland on his chest asked her again to be his wife and while she called out to Lakshmana for help, Ravana carried her off. There is a difference between Valmiki and Kamban in this respect which we shall see next.
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