Markandeya said : Then, Ravana, smarting under the shafts of Cupid, saw Sita-afflicted with sorrow for her husband, melancholy, wearing an unclean garb, having a jewel only for her ornament, lamenting (profusely), devoted to her husband, waited upon by the Rakshasa females and seated on a stone and approached her and he, whom the gods, the demons, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas and the Kimpurushas could never conquer in battle, inflamed with lust, repaired to the Ashoka gardens.

Attired in a celestials garment, wearing a handsome appearance, adorned with jewelled ear-rings, decked with a beautiful garland and a crown and looking as (handsome as) the very embodiment of Spring.

Being dressed carefully he looked as (beautiful as) the Kalpa tree. But with all his rich dress he appeared as terrible as a banian tree in the midst of a cremation ground.

That night-ranger, approaching the slenderwaisted lady, looked like (the grim) planet Saturn before (the beautiful) Rohini.

Having greeted that lady of beautiful hips, terrified like a helpless doe, he (Ravana) smarting under the shafts of that god having the flower for his emblem, addressed her thus,

"Sita, you have favoured too much your husband up to this time. O lady of slender form, be now favourably disposed towards me. Let your person be well-dressed.

O excellent lady, live under my protection and O fair, complexioned damsel, adorned with rich ornaments and dresses be the first lady among all the females (of my harem).

Many daughters of the celestials and the Gandharvas are in my household and I possess several daughters of the Danavas and the Daityas.

as One hundred and forty millions Pishachas, twice many man-eating Rakshasas of terrible deed execute my commands.

And thrice as many Yakshas carry out my orders. Some only are under the sway of my brother (Kubera) the lord of wealth.

O gentle lady gifted with fair thighs, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras attend upon me in my drinking hall as they do my brother.

(Again) I am the son to that Brahmanic sage, the Muni Vishrava and am celebrated under the name of the fifth Lokapala (regent of the universe).

O lady, I have as plenty of eatables, foods and drinks as the lord of the celestials himself.

Let all your troubles of a forest life be over. O fair-hipped damsel, be my consort as Mandodari herself.

Thus spoken to, the princes of Videha endued with a beautiful face, turning away (from Ravana) and considering him as something more insignificant than a straw thus replied to him.

And that fair-hipped lady, the princess of Videha to whom her husband was as her god, drenching her solid breasts with copious flow of inauspicious tears which she incessantly shed, spoke these words to that mean wretch. “O lord of the Rakshasas, unfortunate as I am, I have been compelled to listen to such painful words repeatedly uttered by you. May you be blessed, you who take so much delight in sensual pleasure. Withdraw your mind (from me).

Being the wife of another and always attached to my husband I am not to be won over (by you). And this helpless woman cannot be a suitable wife to you.

What pleasure will you derive from violating an unwilling woman? Your father is equal to the lord of (all) creatures, a Brahmana and begotten of Brahma.

Being equal to a Lokapala why have you no regard for virtue! Dishonouring that king, your adorable brother, the lord of wealth and friend of Maheshvara how it is that you do not feel shame"?

Saying (all) this, that lady of delicate limbs Sita, with her breasts and neck trembling (in emotion) and covering her face with her clothes, began to weep profusely.

And while that fair lady was weeping, her long, well-woven, black and glossy, braid hanging down from her head looked like a black snake.

Hearing those cruel words spoken by Sita, Ravana, of malicious intelligence, although thus rejected (by Sita) spoke to her these words again. "O Sita, let that god having the Makara for his emblem consume me. But O fair-hipped lady of sweet smiles, I will, by no means enjoy you against your will.

What am I able to do since you even to this day cherish Rama, who is but a man (and therefore) our food"

Thus addressing that lady of faultless proportions, the lord of the Rakshasas vanished at that very spot and went whether he liked.

And the princess of Videha weighed down with grief continued to dwell there, surrounded by Rakshasa women and kindly treated by Trijata.