Mandodari curses Sita

Rama then asked Hanumana to give Sita the news of the death of Ravana and to fetch her.
Hanumana entered the city and the rakshasas wondered who was the unfortunate one, who would die in Hanumana's hands.

Hanumana went to the Ashoka garden and bowed down before Sita with folded hands. He said - The one who had tormented you, is dead. I have been sent by Rama to give you this news.

Sita was elated. She kept quiet.

Hanumana said - Mother, why do you not reply? Say something.

Sita said - The news that you have given me has given me such great amount of joy, that I am speechless. I have nothing to reward you with.

Hanumana said , Mother, if you really want to reward me, then please let me kill these female guards who were with you all the time, mentally torturing you.

The rakshasis fearing their lives, appealed to Sita to save them.

Sita said to Hanumana - You are a learned person. This kind of behavior does not befit you. You will get the sin of killing women. Also, till Ravana was alive, they did torment me, but now they serve me, Ravana is no more.

Hanumana went to Rama and told him about his meeting with Sita. He said Sita was very frail and had been reduced to skin and bones.

Rama then asked Vibhishana to fetch Sita.

Vibhishana went to Sita and with folded hands asked her to climb onto the golden palanquin that he had brought, to take her to Rama.

Sita said she wanted to go the way she was, but Vibhishana requested his wife to prepare Sita.

Sarama, Vibhishana's wife, came with ornaments and clothes. They bathed and decked up Sita. Sita then sat in the palanquin.

All the rakshasas came out to see Sita and her beauty.

Mandodari came towards Sita. She said It is because of you that I lost my husband and sons. You are lost in the thoughts of Rama. This joy is short lived. Rama will not look towards you. If I am pure at heart, this will come true. 

Mandodari's grief

Mandodari was heart broken. She cried - Please get up My Lord. Lanka is empty. One who slept on royal beds, now sleeps in dust. I have nothing to look forward to. All this happened because you got Sita over. You should not have listened to your sister, Surpanakha.

Vibhishana asked Mandodari to control herself. He said I had asked Ravana to return Sita but he did not listen.

Mandodari, holding Ravana's head in her lap said I want to see that person who killed my lord.

With her clothes flying around, hair unkempt, Mandodari went to have a glimpse of Rama.
She bowed down at the feet of Rama. Rama thinking Sita had come, blessed the queen.

Mandodari said Why do you bless me thus? I am the daughter of the demon Maya. I am Mandodari, who was wedded to Ravana. That Ravana, who had subdued all the Gods. I ma the mother of Indrajit, who had captured Indra. You are blessing me with long life, after my husband is no more. You are Narayana. How could you thus bless me?

Rama said Stop grieving. Ravana is in heaven. You will live long, in hearts of people.

Rama then asked Vibhishana to arrange for the last rites of Ravana.

Ravana was bathed in the waters of the river and sandal paste was applied to his body. He was clad in wonderful clothes. A pyre was placed on the banks of the ocean and Vibhishana had Ravana placed on the pyre.

With tears in his eyes, Vibhishana lit the pyre.

Hanumana gets the weapon for Rama

Rama appealed to the Goddess to help him. He said he was sad and frustrated.
The Goddess was quiet.
Rama thought rescuing Sita now seemed a distant dream.

Durga then appeared. She said You are all knowing Lord of the Universe. If you think back, you will realize that in an earlier birth, Ravana was a gate keeper of yours who was cursed. Do not worry. You needed to this worship to start the process of my process in the autumn season. I will now leave Ravana.

Rama, filled with new energy, picked up his bow and arrow. Brahma asked Pavana to send a message to Rama to make the chandi impure. Rama asked Vibhishana for advise. Vibhishana turned to Hanumana who got ready.
Taking the form a fly, Hanumana went where the chandi was being recited. Taking a chance, he resumed his own self and erased a few shlokas from the book. The book was incomplete and impure. Seeing this, the Goddess left Ravana.

Ravana appealed to the Goddess to stop, but she went back straight to Kailasha.

Ravana then thought, Rama was not aware of all this. Rama would now go back leaving Sita.

In Rama's camp, Vibhishana said to Rama - Let me tell you about something that happened long back. When Ravana had prayed to Brahma and wanted to be immortal, Brahma had not granted that boon. Brahma had told him that his cut limbs and heads would regenerate. He would die with only specific weapon. No other weapon would be able to kill him. The weapon would remain in Ravana's house, hidden and guarded. This was weapon was guarded by Mandodari. This weapon would have to aimed at his navel.

Rama was aghast. Who would be able to get the weapon from Mandodari? Hanumana said he would get the weapon. Taking the blessings of all, Hanumana went towards Mandodari's palace. Taking the form of an old brahmin and approached Mandodari.

Mandodari seeing the brahmin, gave him a place to sit. The brahmin said he would not sit. He said he was a great astrologer and had come to bless Mandodari and Ravana. He said no one would be able to defeat Ravana because of the hidden wealth.

Mandodari wanted to know what he was saying. The brahmin said he knew about the weapon and wanted to bless it. If the queen did not want that, he would leave.

Mandodari said she had hidden that carefully. The brahmin said Vibhishana would tell Rama about that. Mandodari said even Vibhishana did not know where it was. Pointing to a pillar, the queen said she had hidden it inside that.

Hanumana, taking his own shape, kicked the pillar and broke it, He was able to see the weapon. He picked that up and went to Rama with that.

Rama hugged Hanumana.

Ravana tries to kill Sita

Grief gave way to anger. Ravana said Lanka is now being destroyed because of Sita. If Sita is no longer alive, all problems will be resolved. Indrajit had cut what was an illusion. I will cut the real Sita.
Taking a sword in his hand, Ravana went towards the Ashoka garden. Mandodari was afraid of something like this. Controlling her grief, she rushed behind Ravana.

Sita was afraid and was fearing her life. She started calling out to Rama for help.

Ravana raised his hand and Mandodari grabbed him.

Ravana said He would kill Sita and put an end to all troubles.

Madodari said You are a learned person. Do not get the sin of killing a woman of yourself. Lanka has enough trouble now.

Ravana went back and then decided to go to battle himself. Afraid that Mandodari may try to stop him, Ravana collected his weapons and marched straight towards his chariuot. Mandodari came. She asked him to return Sita and save what was there of Lanka. Seeing that he would not listen, Mandodari, with tears in her eyes, prayed to the Gods and let Ravana go.

Ravana and Mandodari grieve

Indrajit had died in the morning but Ravana had not been informed. The messengers were afraid of facing him. It was noon and a messenger taking courage went to Ravana and said that Indrajit had died.

Ravana fell from his throne. All the courtiers came rushing and tried to revive the king. Coming to his senses, Ravana started crying. Where have you gone Indrajit, son of Ravana and Mandodari. You had conquered the Gods and a human was able to kill you. All this happened because of Vibhishana. If I am alive after my war with Rama, I will cut Vibhishana to pieces.

Mandodari heard of the death of her son. She fainted. People tried to review her by pouring water on her head. Some held their fingers near her nose to see if she was alive. Coming to her sense, Mandodari started grieving. I got you, my son, after praying to Shiva. What have I to live for now. 

Indrajit meets Manodari

Getting his father's approval, Indrajit went to get ready. He told his charioteer to get the chariot ready. He then decided to meet his mother. He knew his mother would be distraught if he left without telling her. He went to meet Mandodari. Mandodari along with the other wives of Ravana was busy worshiping Shiva and Parvati when Indrajit entered her chamber.
Mandodari hugged her son. She said she knew he would be going to war and that all the big heroes who had gone, had not returned, and so she was afraid.
She said - Return Sita to Rama and make peace. Your uncle Vibhishana is a righteous man and he was kicked by your father, in front of all. Your father abducted Sita and now he sends others to fight instead of going himself.

Indrajit laughed. He said - My father is my teacher. He is the one who won over all worlds. You should not be saying things against your husband. Indra, who is the lord of the Gods, had relations with the wife of his guru, Goutama. Chnadra, the moon abducted the wife of Brihaspati, his Guru. Pavana, the wind, had relations with a female Vanara. If Rama wanted to save his wife, he should not have brought her along with him, in the forest. Killing Khara and Dushana, Rama has become our enemy.

Indrajit then decided to go for war at the right time, when the signs were right. The widows of the fallen warriors said they wanted Indrajit to fight and get revenge for the killing of their husbands.

Manodari then said - Son, you are brave and handsome, Listen to me and stay tonight, If you have to go to war, go tomorrow.

Indrajit said - Father has given me permission to go today. I will not be able to stay back tonight. I have to go and complete my Nikuntila sacrifice and then I will go to war.

Saying this Indrajit left.