Receiving that food, Maithili, knowing that it has come from Indra,* took up a little of it from the surface, and dropped it to the earth for Rāma. *From the fact of the food not touching the earth, and other signs. It is humorous to read the explanation of the commentator as to the reason of Indra's supplying Sītā with food. If Sītā remained fasting, Rāvana would forego his attachment for Vaidehi, on seeing her altered appearance; and thus his destruction could not take place. Further, if he saw Sītā retaining her former loveliness, he could conclude that Sītā, as also Rāma, were superhuman character, and that as such they could not be agents for his destruction according to the prophecy Rāvana shall be slain by a human being. This inducing him to persist in his bellicose attitude towards Rāma, would being down ruin upon his head.
तदन्नं मैथिली प्राप्य विज्ञायेन्द्रादिदं त्विति। अग्रमुद्धृत्य रामाय भूतले निर्वपिष्यति॥