AnonyMouse

If the reason behind Sita's abduction in the Ramayana is given as Ravana's revenge and not his lust, as has been written by Valmiki and Tulsidas, then I will have serious issues with the understanding of the makers. In fact, it's not even Surpanakha who tells Ravana about Rama but Akampana. Immediately after Rama single-handedly decimates Khara, Dushana, and the 14,000 rakshasas at Janasthana, Akampana flees the battlefield. He is the very first person to reach Lanka and brief Ravana about the military wipeout. He tells Ravana to abduct Sita to counter Rama. He visits Maricha who counsels him against it and he returns to Lanka. Later comes Surpanakha, who lies to Ravana, claiming that her disfigurement happened solely because she attempted to abduct Sita to bring her to Lanka as a worthy queen for him. Ravana in fact behaves as if he is not already aware of the military wipeout. As Surpanakha extols Sita's grace, describing her as more radiant than any celestial being with her complexion of heated gold and slender waist, Ravana’s mind becomes completely consumed by infatuation and desire. In Sarga 34 of the Aranyakanda, Verse 19–20, she says "To whom Sita becomes a wife and around whom she gladly throws her arms after such a marriage, he lives more grandly than Indra in all the worlds. She is a highly gracious lady, unequalled by her appearance, and she will become a seemly wife of yours." It's then that he visits Maricha for the second time and threatens him with death if the orders are not complied with.