As the demon Viradha seized Rama and Lakshmana, Rama calmly spoke to Saumitri, saying, “Let the demon carry us as he wishes, for this is indeed our path—wherever this night-wanderer goes.” Trusting in their own destiny, the two brothers allowed themselves to be taken. Viradha, the night-stalker, full of pride and relying on his immense strength, lifted Rama and Lakshmana as easily as one might carry children upon his shoulders. With a terrible roar, he strode straight into the heart of the forest, carrying the two scions of Raghu. The forest he entered was vast, dark as a great cloud, filled with many types of large trees, adorned with flocks of birds, teeming with auspicious creatures, and scattered with wild beasts and serpents. Now begins the fourth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. Seeing her beloved Rama and Lakshmana being carried away, Sita cried out loudly, grasping them in desperation. She called out, “This is Rama, son of Dasharatha, truthful, virtuous, and pure, being carried away by a demon of terrible form, along with Lakshmana. Tigers and leopards will devour me—release me, O best of Rakshasas! O Kakutsthas, I bow to you.” As Viradha marched onward, Saumitri broke the demon’s left arm, and Rama forcefully broke his right arm. With both arms shattered, Viradha, dark and cloud-like, shaken and unconscious, fell swiftly to the ground like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt. Rama and Lakshmana struck the demon with their fists, arms, and feet, repeatedly raising and dashing him down upon the earth. Even though he was pierced by many arrows, wounded by swords, and crushed in countless ways, the demon would not die. Seeing Viradha, invulnerable and unshakable like a mountain, Rama, the bringer of fearlessness in danger, spoke: “By ascetic power, O tiger among men, this demon cannot be conquered in battle by weapons; let us bury the demon.” Rama instructed Lakshmana, “Dig a great pit in this forest for this fierce and mighty demon, whose form is like a terrible elephant.” Standing over Viradha, Rama pressed his neck with his foot, restraining him as Lakshmana prepared to dig. Hearing these respectful words, Viradha addressed Rama, saying, “I am slain, O tiger among men, by you whose strength equals Indra’s; but before, out of delusion, I did not recognize you, O best of men. O Rama, son of Kausalya, truly virtuous, I now know you; and also the noble Vaidehi and the illustrious Lakshmana. By a curse I entered this dreadful demonic form; I am Tumburu, a Gandharva, cursed by Vaishravana. When I pleaded with him, the illustrious one said: ‘When Rama, son of Dasharatha, slays you in battle, then, regaining your own nature, you will go to heaven.’ In anger, he spoke this to me, unapproached by me. Thus did King Vaishravana, attached to Rambha, speak; by your grace I am released from this most terrible curse. I shall go to my own world; may you be blessed, scorcher of foes. Nearby dwells the righteous and mighty Sharabhanga. At a distance of half a yojana, O dear one, is the great sage, radiant as the sun; quickly go to him, for he will tell you what is best. O Rama, place me in the pit and go safely; this is the eternal law for the dead among demons. Those who are laid in a pit attain eternal worlds.” Having spoken thus to Kakutstha, Viradha, afflicted by arrows, laid down his body and attained heaven. Hearing these words, Rama instructed Lakshmana again: “Let a great pit be dug in this forest for this fierce demon, as one would for a wild elephant, O Lakshmana, for his cruel deeds.” Standing over Viradha, Rama pressed his foot upon the demon’s neck as Lakshmana took up a spade and dug a deep pit beside the fallen Viradha. Lifting up Viradha, whose neck was freed, and whose ears were like conch-shells, Rama and Lakshmana cast him, bellowing with a dreadful voice, into the pit. The two brothers, steadfast and swift in action, hurled the terrifying, roaring demon into the pit on the battlefield, rejoicing as they did so. Seeing that the demon could not be slain by sharp weapons, both highly skilled, they resolved to kill Viradha in the pit, for Viradha himself had revealed that his death would not come by weapons and had expressed his true wish regarding his end. Hearing these words, they cast Viradha into the pit, and as the powerful demon was thrown in, the forest resounded with his cries. Rama and Lakshmana, joyful and freed from fear, covered the demon with stones. Then, bearing golden-ornamented bows and having slain the demon, they took Maithili with them and moved about joyfully in the great forest, shining like the sun and moon in the sky. Now let the fifth canto be heard. Having slain the mighty demon Viradha in the forest, the valiant Rama embraced Sita and comforted her.