52 Ramavijaya,

-demon-king was alarmed, and immediately came dowiir
•stairs. A few days after, he said to his courtiers, "I
nave now no patience. I must marry Sita as soon as pos*
sible. If any of you make her lore me and marry me, I
shall be ever grateful to him.'* Whereupon his minister,
Vidynjiva, who was well versed in magic and sorcery, re*-
plied, " I shall create, by means of sorcery, a head well cut
Dff and similar to that of Rama and also a dhanushaban
"and show them to Sita, so that she may be convinced that
'her husband has been killed. If she is convinced of
it, she will become hopeless and easily lov§, you and marry
you." *c I am very much thankful to you for your excel-
lent scheme," replied Ravana. " There is no doubt you
will succeed in it." Vidynjiva accordingly created the head
•of Kama and his dhanushaban. Ravana then came to the
Asoka forest and said to Sita, " I am very sorry to
inform you that your darling husband is killed and
that his brother, Lakshuman, has fled to Ayodya*
•Maruti, Sugriva, Nala, Mia, Angada and all other warriors*
are also killed. You are alone here, what can you do
now? You are helpless. I, therefore, beseech you
to marry me. You shall be my first wife and Mandodari
will be your maid-servant. Alas ! Sita, Rama is no more;
Believe me. If you want any proof of what 1 say, here m
the head oŁ your Rama cut off by a demon, and here is
Ms dhanushaban." As soon as Sita beheld the head of
Rama and his dhanushaban, she fainted. In her grief she
said to Ravana. " I look upon you as my father and im*
piore you to order a pile of wood to be arranged, so that I
may set fire to it and burn myself in it. I do not wish tb
live any longer in this world." As soon as he heard these
words, he returned to his court, leaving Sita alone therei
In the mean-time, Sharrna, wife of Vibhishan, came to
the- Asoka forest and informed her that Rama was doing
well and that the head, which was shown to her, was cre-4