Ravana's revenge
Akampana, one of the surviving demons from Khara's army rushed to Lanka to narrate the incident to Ravana. He explained in detail the battle, how Khara, Dushana, Trishira and other commanders were killed in the hands of Rama. Ravana immediately vowed to kill Rama and asked his charioteer to get the horses saddled. Akampana stopped Ravana. "Rama is not an ordinary mortal. He destroyed an army of fourteen-thousand demons all by himself. I suggest that you formulate a devious plan. Also, Sita is so gorgeous she will make the best partner to you.
Ravana, convinced by Akampana went to his uncle Maricha for help. However, Maricha was averse to the thought of Ravana avenging Rama. He logically puts forth arguments that fighting with Rama would cause more harm than good. When Ravana returned to Lanka giving up the idea of fighting with Rama, Shurpanakha was furious. She insults Ravana that despite all his valour, he was useless when it came to a mortal like Rama. "“O Titan, you are childish and thoughtless and art not conversant with that which should be known to you; how can you govern? It seems you do not want to discharge your duty and that the counsellors who surround you are inexperienced, since you are insensible to the destruction of your people and their territory."
Hearing Shurpanakha's bitter words, Ravana grew thoughtful. After much pondering he came up with a plan to subdue Rama. A plan that required Maricha's help. Ravana approached Maricha explaining his plan.
Ravana seeks Maricha's help
"You assume the form of a golden deer and pass by near Rama’s hermitage in the presence of Sita. Seeing that lovely doe, assuredly Sita will ask her husband and Lakshmana to capture it for her. You lure the brothers faraway and when Sita is left alone, I will take her away. The abduction of his consort will cause Rama to die of grief, and I shall regain my happiness and security in a heart wholly satisfied!”
Maricha tried his best to dissuade Ravana from carrying out that evil scheme of kidnapping Sita. However, Ravana was adamant and confident of his plan. Thus, Maricha transformed himself into a golden deer and flitted near Rama's hermitage. As Ravana had anticipated, Sita is enamoured by the golden fawn. "This marvellous fawn has stolen my heart. O Great Warriors, it will serve as a plaything for me. Many beautiful creatures, lovely to look upon, range the forest in the vicinity of our hermitage but none as exotic as this deer. If you can capture it alive it will bring me much joy!"
Lakshmana is not convinced that the deer is real. He even suspected that form-shifting Maricha might be posing as the deer. However, Sita would have none of it. Finally Rama relented and agreed to capture the deer for Sita. Asking Lakshmana to keep Sita safe in the hermitage, Rama set out alone to apprehend the deer. The deer kept luring Rama away by showing itself at times and then vanishing. By the end of this trailing, Rama grew tired and unleashed an arrow at the deer.
[Image notes: Rama following the golden deer and shooting an arrow at it. It is the top panel of the image. The words Mayavi Mrig (magical deer) and Ram are inscribed on the picture.]
Maricha hit by Rama's arrow sheds his assumed form of the deer and before dying decided to help Ravana. Maricha knew he had to draw Lakshmana away from Sita to give Ravana an opportunity to abduct Sita. Thus, before dying, Maricha the magical demon, lets out a cry in the voice of Rama. "“O Sita, O Lakshmana!”
Sita gets abducted
Rama felt helpless. He was too faraway from the hermitage to tell Sita and Lakshmana that he was safe. In the meanwhile, Sita, who heard Maricha urged Lakshmana to help his brother. Lakshmana tried soothing Sita that nobody can harm Rama and the voice they heard was only a ploy of some sort by the demons. Sita was still inconsolable fearing for Rama's life. Lakshmana stung by Sita grief and her harsh accusation that he was not trying to help Rama on purpose, set out of the hermitage asking Sita to be careful. As soon as Lakshmana was away from Sita, Ravana shed his his formidable ten-headed stature and assumed the form of a monk. Approaching the hermitage, he drew Sita into a conversation about herself and what a beauty like her was doing in that forest. Sita, trusting the Brahmin to be harmless, offered him fruits and water and engaged in a conversation with him.
[Image notes: The bottom panel of the image. Sita gives alms to the Brahmin, who is Ravana in disguise. The words Gufa (hermitage), Sita, and Gosavyacherupane Ravana are inscribed on the picture.