He sprang up again and searched once again every inch of the places he had been
through. He opened every door and window and looked in. There were ugly women, beautiful
human and Naaga maidens, all captured by the Raakshasa, but not Seeta.
Once again his heart sank. He did not know
what to do. He said to himself: "If I return to Kishkindha failing in my
mission, with what face shall I meet my friends? If Raama loses, all hopes of
recovering Seeta, what would happen to him? He would surely die. And after that, what
would happen to others? Instead of going back to Sugreeva and telling him that all my
labours have been wasted, it would be far better to stay here and spend the rest of my
days in the forest and sea-shore of Lanka. But why live on? Is it not best to end my life?
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