late
any woman by force. Thy husband will soon come, protected by Sugriva and
with the intelligent son of Sumitra in his train, and will soon take thee
away hence! O lady, I have had a most terrible dream of evil omen,
indicating the destruction of this wicked-minded wretch of Pulastya's
race! This night wanderer of mean deeds is, indeed, most wicked and
cruel. He inspireth terror in all by the defects of his nature and the
wickedness of his conduct. And deprived of his senses by Fate, he
challengeth the very gods. In my vision I have seen every indication of
his downfall. I have seen the Ten-headed, with his crown shaven and body
besmeared with oil, sunk in mire, and the next moment dancing on a
chariot drawn by mules. I have seen Kumbhakarna and others, perfectly
naked and with crowns shaven, decked with red wreaths and unguents, and
running towards the southern direction. Vibhishana alone, with umbrella
over his head, and graced with a turban, and with body decked with white
wreaths and unguents, I beheld ascending the summit of the White hill.
And I saw four of his counsellors also, decked with white wreaths and
unguents, ascending the summit of that hill along with him. All this
bodeth that these alone will be saved from the impending terror. The
whole earth with its oceans and seas will be enveloped with Rama's
arrows. O lady, thy husband will fill the whole earth with his fame. I
also saw Lakshmana, consuming all directions (with his arrows) and
ascending on a heap of bones and drinking thereon honey and rice boiled
in milk. And thou, O lady, hast been beheld by me running towards a
northernly direction, weeping and covered with blood and protected by a
tiger! And, O princess of Videha, soon wilt thou find happiness, being
united, O Sita, with thy lord, that descendant of Raghu accompanied by
his brother!' Hearing these words of Trijata, that girl with eyes like
those of a young gazelle, once more began to entertain hopes of a union
with her lord. And when at last those fierce and cruel Pisacha guards
came back, they saw her sitting with Trijata as before."

SECTION CCLXXIX

"Markandeya said, 'And while the chaste Sita was dwelling there afflicted
with melancholy and grief on account of her lord, attired in mean garb,
with but a single jewel (on the marital thread on her wrist), and
incessantly weeping, seated on a stone, and waited upon by Rakshasa
women, Ravana, afflicted by the shafts of the god of desire