Baal Kaanda
16 - Sati's bewilderment, Sri Rama's divine glory and Sati's remorse
Chaupais
Description
Ravana (the demon king of Lark) had sought from Brahm the boon of death at the hands of a human foe; and the Lord would have the words of Brahm come true. If I do not go to meet Him, I shall ever regret it. Siva pondered, but found no solution to the puzzle. The Lord was thus lost in a reverie. Meanwhile the vile Ravana (who had no less than ten heads) took with him the demon Mrsca, who forthwith assumed the illusory form of a deer. The fool (Ravana) carried off king Videhas daughter (Sst) by fraud; the Lords real might was not known to him. Having killed the antelope Sri Hari returned with His brother (Laksmana) ; and His eyes were filled with tears when He saw the empty hermitage. The Lord of Raghus felt distressed at the loss like a mortal man, and the two brothers roamed about in the woods in search of Her. He who knows neither union nor separation showed unmistakable signs of grief born of separation. (1-4)