66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

when he has to meet the mighty Ravana, who has twenty
shoulders!”
“What if he has twenty shoulders? Did not just a twoshouldered
man like Parasurama once imprison Ravana till
he cried for mercy?”
This statement enraged Ravana; his eyes became
bloodshot with anger and he ground his teeth. Gradually he
was losing his saintly disguise. Noticing the transformation,
Sita began to feel puzzled and presently he loomed over her
fearsomely in his natural form. Sita had no courage to utter
any word.
Ravana said, “For your stupid statement, I would have
crushed and eaten you, except for the fact you are a woman
and I want you and will die if I don’t have you. Oh, swanlike
one, my ten heads have never bowed to any god in any
world. But I will take off my crowns and touch your feet with
my brow. Only be my queen and command me what to do.”
Sita covered her ears with her hands. “How dare you
speak thus! I am not afraid to lose my life, but if you wish to
save yours, run and hide before Rama sees you.”
“Rama’s arrows cannot touch me; you could as well
expect a mountain to split at the touch of a straw,” Ravana
said. “Be kind to me. I am dying for your love. I will give you a
position greater than anything a goddess can have. Have
consideration. Have mercy. I prostrate myself before you.”