War in Ancient India c12.34

c12.34

There he acted exceedingly well the part of a cāra or spy and got all the information required. His mission was, first and foremost, to find out the place where Sītā was confined, and for this purpose he assumed various disguises. When he became weary of the search he thought of assuming the guise of a beggar, an insane person or an ascetic. Soon afterwards he beheld Sītā sitting under an aśoka tree distressed and vexed, her eyes full of tears. Then he appeared before her as a Brahman disciple and introduced himself as a messenger from Rāma,¹⁷ assured her of his safety, and enquired after hers. She did not at first believe him. Soon he convinced her of his identity, delivered his message, received her message to Rāma, and took leave of her. In this case it was not a message to an enemy but to a friend or rather a loving partner.