||om tat sat||
सीतायावचनं श्रुत्वा परुषं राक्षसाधिपः।
प्रत्युवाच तत स्सीतां विप्रियं प्रियदर्शनाम्॥ 1||
Hearing those unpleasant words of Sita, the king of Rakshasas replied Sita in unpleasant words.

Sundarakanda
Sarga 22

Sita reproaches Ravana in no uncertain terms about his vile approach. Hearing those unpleasant words of Sita, the king of Rakshasas replied Sita with more unpleasant words.

Ravana said, 'Oh Sita! Among the women more and more the passionate one is courteous, the more he speaks sweetly, the more he is humiliated. The passion that has arisen in me has controlled anger like a good charioteer controls the horses that are running on a wrong path. Again among men the love is partial and is bound to generate friendship and compassion in one who is in reality punishable. For these reasons, Oh the best among women! Though worthy of being killed and worthy of being put to shame, you will not be killed. Maithili whatever angry words you have told me, for those words you deserve to be killed'.

Having said this to Sita the daughter of Videha, the king of Rakshasa continued and said the following in anger mixed with excitement.

'I am giving you a deadline. O Lady of beautiful color! You are protected for two months. There after you have to climb into my bed. Beyond two months if you do not wish to accept me as your husband then you will be sent the kitchen to be cooked as my breakfast'.

Seeing that Janaki who is being threatened by the king of Rakshasas, the Deva and Gandharva women wept with distressed eyes. Sita being threatened by that Rakshasa, was consoled by the others with movement of lips and yet others with movement of eyes and faces. Thus consoled Sita, proud of the power of her virtues, said the following in her defense to Ravana, the king of Rakshasas.

Sita said, 'Surely people who are interested in your welfare who can prevent you from this despicable act are surely not there. In the three worlds there is no body other than you who can even in his mind desire me the righteous Ram's wife who is pure like Sachi, the wife of Indra. Oh the Lowest among Rakshasas, for the sinful words you spoke to the wife of Rama who is of great brilliance, where can you go to escape the consequences?'

'You are like a dog battling an arrogant elephant. You should be ashamed of looking down upon that scion of Ikshwakus in whose sight you dare not walk. Oh Dishonorable wretch, seeing me with those dark brown eyes, why those eyes are not falling off on the ground? While you thus speak to me, the wife of that righteous one and the daughter in law of King Dasaratha, why does not your tongue fall on the ground'.

Sita Continued.

'Though you deserve to be turned into ashes, oh Ten headed one, for want of permission from Rama I am not turning you to ashes with my powers of penance. You are not capable of stealing me from Rama. Fate has made it happen for your death only. There is no doubt. You are a brother of Kubera, a warrior and you are possessed of an army. So, why did you steal his wife, by tricking him?'

Ravana hearing those words of Sita looked at her with deadly eyes.

He was looking like mass of dark clouds, with strong arms and neck, with the gait of a lion, blazing eyes and tongue. He was wearing colorful garlands with an unsteady crown on his head. He was with red colored clothes and garlands as well as shining ornamental armlets. With black thread around his waist he was like the mount Mandara wrapped with black serpent at the time of the great churning for the nectar.

The King of Rakshasas shone like the mount Mandara with his two long arms shining like two mountain peaks. Adorned with earrings of the color of the rising sun, he was looking like a mountain with two Ashoka trees with red leaves and flowers. Though resembling a wish fulfilling tree, like personification of spring season, he was fearsome like a memorial on burial grounds.

Looking at Vaidehi, with his eyes flashing red with anger and hissing like a serpent, Ravana spoke to Sita. 'Oh Sita following meaningless practices, you are endowed with wrong vows,. I am going to destroy you like the Sun destroys twilight with his luster'. Having said this the king, who torments his enemies, then addressed the fearsome looking Rakshasa women guarding Sita.,

Some of the Rakshasa women guarding Sita are with one eye, one ear. Some are with covered ears, ears of cow, ears of an elephant, long ears and there are those without ears. They have feet of an elephant, horse, or cow. Some of them have hair grown on the feet. Some are with one eye, one leg, many feet, and without feet too. Some are with huge neck and head, with large breasts and belly. Some are with large eyes, long tongue, without tongue too. Some are without nose, with the face of a lion, cow and boar too

'Oh Rakshasa women! All of you together quickly make Sita to be under my control. Adopting means favorable or contrary using the persuasion, gifts, confusion, or threats win over Vaidehi'. The king of Rakshasas burning with passion and anger thus ordering them again and again threatened Sita.

Then a Rakshasa woman Dhyanamalini quickly approached the ten headed Ravana, embracing him, said the following words. 'Oh King! Play with me. Oh King of Rakshasas! What have you to do with this pale, pitiable human being Sita? Oh Great King! The immortal luxuries won by the power of your arms are not to be given to this one surely'.

'Offering oneself to an uncaring one is tormented. Offering oneself to one who loves gets enjoyable pleasures'. Having been addressed thus, the powerful Rakshasa resembling a cloud turned away laughing heartily.

That ten headed one left as if shaking the earth, entered his residence with the glow like that of the blazing mid-day Sun. The daughters of Devas Gandharvas and Nagas too followed the ten headed one and entered their palace.

Having derided Mythili who is steadfast wedded to righteous conduct, who is trembling with fear, that Ravana who is over powered with passion left and he entered his glittering mansion.

Thus ends the twenty second Sarga of Sundarakanda in Ramayan, the first poem composed in Sanskrit by the first poet sage Valmiki.

||om tat sat||
स मैथिलीं धर्मपरां अवस्थिताम्
प्रवेपमानां परिभर्त्स्य रावणः।
विहायसीतां मदनेन मोहितः
स्वमेव वेश्म प्रविवेश भास्वरम्॥46||
सः रावणः धर्मपरां अवस्थितां प्रवेपमानां मैथिलीं परिभर्त्स्य सीतां विहाय मदनेन मोहितः भास्वरं स्वं वेश्मेवप्रविवेश॥
Having derided Mythili who is steadfast wedded to righteous conduct, who is trembling with fear, that Ravana who is over powered with passion left and he entered his glittering mansion.
||om tat sat||