Beholding the demon Viradha—who stood before them, vast and immovable as a mountain—the illustrious Rama, whose very presence brings fearlessness in the face of danger, addressed his brother Lakshmana. Rama said, “By ascetic power, O tiger among men, this demon cannot be conquered in battle by weapons; let us bury the demon.” He instructed Lakshmana, “O Lakshmana, dig a great pit in this forest for this fierce and mighty demon, whose form is like a terrible elephant.” Having thus spoken, Rama, steadfast and valiant, restrained Viradha, pressing the demon’s neck firmly with his foot, while Lakshmana prepared to carry out his brother’s command. Hearing these respectful words from Rama, Viradha, struggling and weakened, spoke to Rama, the best of men: “I am slain, O tiger among men, by you whose strength equals Indra’s. 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.” Viradha then revealed the truth of his existence: “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; and by your grace I am now 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 Rama, Viradha, afflicted by arrows, laid down his body and attained heaven. Hearing these words, Rama instructed Lakshmana, “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.” Again, Rama stood restraining Viradha by pressing his foot upon the demon’s neck, while Lakshmana, taking a spade, dug a deep pit at the side of the great-souled Viradha. Together, Rama and Lakshmana lifted Viradha, whose neck was now freed. With ears like conch-shells and a mighty roar, the demon bellowed with a dreadful voice as they cast him into the pit. Those two, steadfast and swift in action, hurled the terrifying, roaring demon into the pit on the battlefield, rejoicing as they did so. Seeing that the great demon could not be slain by sharp weapons, they resolved to end Viradha in the pit, as he himself had revealed was his wish and fate. With the forest echoing Viradha’s cries, Rama and Lakshmana, now joyful and free from fear, covered the demon with stones. Bearing their golden-ornamented bows and accompanied by Sita, they moved about joyfully in the vast forest, shining together like the sun and the moon in the sky. Having thus slain the mighty demon Viradha, the valiant Rama embraced Sita and comforted her. Turning to Lakshmana, Rama said, “This forest is harsh and difficult, and we are not accustomed to such wild places. Let us quickly approach the sage Sharabhanga, the possessor of ascetic wealth.” So Rama, with Sita and Lakshmana, made his way to the hermitage of Sharabhanga. As they neared the sage, whose soul was purified by asceticism and who possessed divine power, Rama beheld a great and wondrous sight. There, before his eyes, was the lord of the gods, radiant and adorned, wearing spotless garments and not touching the earth. Rama saw the god, worshipped by many great souls, riding in a chariot drawn by green horses, moving through the sky. From a distance, he appeared shining like the rising sun, resembling a mass of white clouds and the orb of the moon. A spotless parasol adorned with marvelous garlands was held above him, and two excellent fly-whisks with golden handles were waved by noble women. Gandharvas, gods, Siddhas, and eminent sages were present, offering their worship. The god, situated in the sky, was praised with excellent words and conversed with Sharabhanga, accompanied by Vāsava. Seeing Śatakratu, the mighty Indra, Rama spoke to Lakshmana, pointing out the wondrous chariot: “Behold, Lakshmana, that radiant, splendid, and marvelous chariot, shining like the sun, moving in the sky. Those horses of Puruhūta, formerly heard to belong to Śakra—these are surely the divine horses moving in the sky.