Sita in the Ashok Vatika

Hanuman searched every corner of Ravan's palace. Seeing the beautiful queen Mandodari asleep, he wondered for a moment if she was Sita, but his heart said at once: far from Ram, Sita could never sleep so peacefully. In the Ramcharitmanas, during this search he met Ravan's younger brother Vibhishan, a devotee of Ram, who showed him the way to the Ashok Vatika.

Under a tree in the Ashok Vatika, Hanuman saw her. A thin body, a single worn garment, tears in her eyes, and fearsome demonesses all around. Yet her face shone with a quiet light. Hanuman knew: this is Mother Sita. He hid among the branches.

At dawn Ravan arrived with his queens. He spoke sweetly, tempted her with wealth and splendour, and then threatened her: if you do not agree within the time I set, I will end your life. Sita did not even look at him.

She placed a blade of grass between herself and Ravan and spoke to it, as if he were smaller than the grass. She said: you are nothing before Shri Ram. If you value your life, send me back. Furious, Ravan raised his sword, but in the Ramcharitmanas Mandodari held him back.

After Ravan left, the demonesses began to frighten Sita. Then an old demoness named Trijata stopped them. She told them her dream: a vanara has burnt Lanka, Ravan has fallen, and Vibhishan has become king. The demonesses grew afraid, and Hanuman, sitting in the tree, heard it all.