63

by the demons by means of sorcery to rtiake her give
upi her hope of Rama and marry Havana. "No sooner did
Sharina inform Sita of this than the" created head and dha-
nushaban which were left there, disappeared. Soon after,
the demon-king said to his wife, *' Mandodari, you are
my faithful wife and love me much. I have a great pas-
sion for Sita ; and if yoii do not help me, I shall die. If
you really love me, go to Sita in tha As oka forest and
persuade her to marry me." Whereupon Mandodari
went to Sita and, having communicated her husband's
wishes to her, returned home. She said to her husband,
" Dearest, Sita is not a woman who will comply with your
wishes. She is a paragon of viftue. She will sacrifice her
life rather than yield to your passion. There is no use of
your *being after her. I, therefore, beseech you 'to restore
her to Rama. Why do you covet another's wife ?" "My
love," replied Havana, " What you say is true, but I shall
never submit to Rama and humiliate myself in the eyes
of all nations. I shall fight with him and die but I shall
never restore Sifca to him." Having failed to persuade her
husband, she returned to her palace. Ravana again went
to the top of his tower with his courtiers and began to
look at the army of Rama. Rama also went to the top of
a hill with Sugriva and other monkeys and began to look
at Ravan and his courtiers. Whilst Ravana was looking
at the army of the prince, Sugriva jumped from the hill
and knocked down the muguts put by him on his ten
heads. The demon-king was surprised and combated
with the monkey but the latter, having administered to
him severe blows, returned to Rama with joy. Havana
was alarmed, and immediately came down with shame
and confusion. After all preparations for the war were
completed on both the sides, Yibhishan said to
Rama, " Before an attack is made on Ravana, it is advis-
able to negotiate with him for peace. You should, there-