During their quest, Rama killed a demon Kabandha, thus liberating him from a curse. The princes immediately set out in search of Sita. Because of his devotion and service to Rama, Jatayu received liberation from Rama. Rama and Lakshmana learnt about Sita’s abduction from Jatayu. Of course, Sita was eternally devoted to Rama and rebuffed his overtures. Ravana used various means of persuasion to force her to accept him. When Ravana reached Lanka, he kept her under guard in the Asoka Garden. Sita kept her presence of mind, and dropped her jewels among some monkeys. Jatayu, a giant vulture and friend of Rama, tried to rescue Sita, but was mortally wounded. Unaware of his devious plan, Mother Sita left the protection of the circle, and was then forcibly carried away by Ravana. When Ravana found her alone and unprotected, he appeared in the guise of an ascetic requesting Sita’s hospitality. After drawing a protective circle round the cottage, he stipulated that she was not to go outside the circle. On the verge of hysterics, Sita insisted that it was not she but her lord who needed Lakshmana’s help. The other two were twins, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, whose mother was Sumithra. Bharata was the son of Dasharatha’s second and favorite wife, Queen Kaikeyi. Rama was the eldest and his mother was Kaushalya. Lakshmana tried to assure her that Rama was invincible, and that it was best if he obeyed Rama’s orders to protect her. Dasharatha was the king of Ayodhya and had three wives and four children. She insisted that Lakshmana rush to his aid. When Sita heard the cry, she was afraid that his life was in danger. With his last breath, Maricha called out the name of Lakshmana in the voice of Rama. Unable to capture the deer, he shot a fatal arrow at it. Leaving Sita under Lakshmana’s guard, he endlessly chased the deer. Entranced by the beauty of the deer, she pleaded with Rama to get her the deer. Ravana elicited the aid of Maricha who assumed the form of a golden deer and enticed Sita. Ravana was aroused more by lust than by anger and he resolved to punish Sri Rama by capturing Sita. Her intention to bring this beautiful woman to him was foiled and she was mutilated. She well knew of his weakness for women, and the wily demoness described the bewitching beauty of Sita. In order to avenge her humiliation, Surpanakha approached Ravana. Hearing of this, her demon brother, Khara, organized an attack against the princes. Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears as a punishment. But when she failed to win either of the two princes, she turned to attack Sita. After spending more than ten years, they settled at Panchavati in the Dandaka forest.Ī rakshasi woman, Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, was captivated by the matchless beauty of Rama. They visited the hermitages of many great sages. The book consists of 75 sargas (sometimes translated as chapters or "cantos") of Sanskrit verse.ĭuring their exile,Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana journeyed southward. Aranya Kanda (the book of Forest) is the third book of the Valmiki Ramayana, which is one of the two great epics of India (the other being the Mahabharata).