by that sign, then drew his foremost of huge bows, aiming at Vali as his mark.  And the twang of Rama’s bow resembled the roar of an engine.  And Vali, pierced in the heart by that arrow, trembled in fear.  And Vali, his heart having been pierced through, began to vomit forth blood.  And he then beheld standing before him Rama with Sumatra’s son by his side.  And reproving that descendant of Kakutstha’s race, Vali fell down on the ground and became senseless.  And Tara then beheld that lord of hers possessed of the effulgence of the Moon, lying prostrate on the bare earth.  And after Vali had been thus slain, Sugriva regained possession of Kishkindhya, and along with it, of the widowed Tara also of face beautiful as the moon.  And the intelligent Rama also dwelt on the beautiful breast of the Malyavat hill for four months, duly worshipped by Sugriva all the while.

“’Meanwhile Ravana excited by lust, having reached his city of Lanka, placed Sita in an abode, resembling Nandana itself, within a forest of Asokas, that looked like an asylum of ascetics.  And the large-eyed Sita passed her days there in distress, living on fruits and roots, practising ascetic austerities with fasts, attired in ascetic garb, and waning thin day by day, thinking of her absent lord.  And the king of the Rakshasas appointed many Rakshasa women armed with bearded darts and swords and lances and battle-axes and maces and flaming brands, for guarding her.  And some of these had two eyes, and some three, and some had eyes on their foreheads.  And some had long tongues and some had none.  And some had three breasts and some had only one leg.  And some had three matted braids on their heads, and some had only one eye.  And these, and others of blazing eyes and hair stiff as the camel’s, stood beside Sita surrounding her day and night most watchfully.  And those Pisacha women of frightful voice and terrible aspect always addressed that large-eyed lady in the harshest tones.  And they said, “Let us eat her up, let us mangle her, let us tear her into pieces, her, that is, that dwelleth here disregarding our lord!” And filled with grief at the separation from her lord, Sita drew a deep sigh and answered those Rakshasa women, saying, “Reverend ladies, eat me up without delay!  I have no desire to live without that husband of mine, of eyes like lotus-leaves and locks wavy, and blue in hue!  Truly I will, without food and without the least love of life, emaciate my limbs, like a she-snake (hybernating) within a Tala tree.  Know this for certain that I will never seek the protection of any other person than the descendant of Raghu.  And knowing this, do what ye think fit!” And hearing these words of hers, those Rakshasas with dissonant voice went to the king of the Rakshasas, for representing unto him all she had said.  And when those Rakshasas had gone away, one of their number known by the name of Trijata,