At this, the vulture sped on in the excitement of his fury, exclaiming, ‘Heed my warning, Ravana; surrender Janaki and return home in peace; or else, Many-armed, it will turn out thus:

- in the fierce flame of Rama’s wrath the whole of your race will be consumed like a moth!’ The Ten-headed warrior gave no answer. Then the vulture rushed at him in a rage,

- and clutching the demon by the hair hurled him from the chariot so that he fell to the ground. Then, having sheltered Sita, the vulture turned again towards Ravana and striking him with his beak, tore and rent his body. For the space of half an hour Ravana lay in a swoon.

At this, being exasperated, the demon angrily drew his dreadful sword and cut off Jatayu’s wings. The bird fell to the ground with his thoughts centred upon Rama’s wondrous acts (lila).

Ravana seated Sita again in his chariot and drove off in haste, greatly alarmed. Sita went on through the air, lamenting like a frightened doe caught in the trap of a huntsman.

Seeing some monkeys sitting on a hill, she dropped a garment with Hari’s name on her lips. In this manner did Ravana carry off Sita and put her down in a grove of ashoka trees.

The villain tried every kind of threat and blandishment but failed to gain his end. At last with all care he kept her beneath an ashoka tree.