Episode 12 - Ravana's warning to Sita and Sita's reply and Ravana's fury

On hearing Sita's words of outright condemnation directed against Ravana, he became furious and said to her: “As a man appeases a woman, he becomes her servant. Even as he speaks loving words, he is rejected by her. My love for you alone is controlling my anger and love is crooked, the way it creates sympathy for the object of love. That is why I am not getting you killed, interested as you are in Rama, who is pretending to lead a forest life. For every harsh word uttered by you about me, you deserve to be cruelly killed. I warn you that if you do not yield to me within two months, you will be killed and cooked for my breakfast.”

Deva and Gandharva maidens, observing Sita from above, were shaken by grief and they consoled her by their gestures. The noble Sita then answered Ravana thus: “It is certain that there is no well-wisher for you here who will stop you in your cruel enterprise. In all the three worlds, there is none who entertains such thoughts about me like you. O wicked Rakshasa! You cannot escape the consequences of what you have said to me, Rama's Consort, wherever you may go. Hiding in Lanka and unable to face Rama, you are abusing him without any sense of shame. You have an evil eye and an evil tongue. I do not know why your eyes and your tongue do not crack up. My abduction by you is certain to culminate in your death. You pride yourself upon being Lord Kubera's brother and valiant. Then, why did you steal me by misdirecting Rama away from me?”

Hearing Sita's summing up of his character, Ravana's eyes became red with rage and offence and he roared: “Sita, you who are devoted to Rama, who is devoid of wealth and treads an evil path! I will kill you now itself.” So saying, Ravana commanded the Rakshasi guards: “You shall employ all the four methods, viz, Sama (conciliation); Dana (generosity); Bheda (sowing discord in the enemy camp) and Danda (punishment) to divert Sita towards me. In the process, use agreeable as well as disagreeable methods as may be required.” Ravana, full of passion for Sita, an embodiment of virtue, having thus terrorized her, left for his abode, accompanied by his ladies.”