The Raakshasa
held her firmly down and drove on in the aerial car. Seeta addressed the trees and plants
down below and begged them to tell Raama of her fate. It happened that old Jataayu, half-asleep upon a tree, saw the
chariot flying past. Startled by a woman's cry of distress he was wide awake in a moment
and recognised Seeta by her voice. She also saw him and appealed to him for rescue.
Jataayu's blood was fired by the sight of
her piteous plight and he threw himself in the way of the aerial car crying: "Hold,
hold! What is all this?"
"The King of Lanka is carrying me away
by force," wailed Seeta, "but what can you do to prevent it, my poor old friend?
O fly to Raama and Lakshmana and tell them my helpless plight!" |