Kashyapa, the great sage, accepted eight slender-waisted daughters as his wives: Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kālaka, Tāmra, Krodhavasā, Manu, and Anala. Pleased with them, Kashyapa addressed his wives, saying, “You shall bear sons who will become the lords of the three worlds, equal to myself.” Thus, Aditi, Diti, Danu, and the others were blessed with this intent. O Rama, from the mind of Kashyapa were born Kālakā and the others. From Aditi came the thirty-three gods—the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and the Aśvins—who rule the heavens and are renowned as the scorcher of enemies. Diti, in turn, gave birth to sons who became the famous Daityas. Among them were Naraka and Kālaka, as well as Kālakā herself. Tāmrā bore five daughters who became well-known throughout the world: Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī, and Śukī. Each of these daughters gave rise to various creatures. Krauñcī became the mother of owls, while Bhāsī gave birth to herons. Śyenī was the mother of hawks and powerful vultures, and Dhṛtarāṣṭrī gave birth to swans and all kinds of geese, as well as the radiant chakravāka birds. Śukī bore a daughter named Natā, who in turn gave birth to Vinatā. From Krodhavasā, born of wrath, came ten sons: Mṛgī, Mṛgamandā, Harī, Bhadramadā, Mātaṅgī, Śārdūlī, Śvetā, Surabhī, Surasā, and Kadrū. Mṛgī became the mother of all deer, while Mṛgamandā gave birth to bears, as did Sṛmarā and Camarā. Bhadramadā bore a daughter named Irāvatī, whose son was Airāvata, the mighty elephant and lord of the world. Harī became the mother of monkeys and the ascetic vanaras, while Śārdūlī gave birth to langurs with tails and to tigers. Mātaṅgī was the mother of elephants, and Śvetā gave birth to the elephants that guard the quarters of the world. Surabhī bore two daughters: Rohiṇī and the illustrious Gandharvī. Rohiṇī became the mother of cows, and Gandharvī gave birth to horses. Surasā gave birth to the serpents, and Kadrū, her sister, bore the nāgas. Manu, another wife, gave birth to humans with the great-souled Kashyapa, producing the four varṇas: Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras. Tradition holds that Brāhmaṇas were born from Kashyapa’s mouth, Kṣatriyas from his chest, Vaiśyas from his thighs, and Śūdras from his feet. Anala gave birth to all the trees that bear virtuous fruits. Vinatā, the granddaughter of Śukī, and Kadrū, the sister of Surasā, also became mothers. Kadrū gave birth to a thousand serpents—the nāgas who support the earth—while Vinatā had two sons: Garuḍa and Aruṇa. From Aruṇa was born myself, Jaṭāyu, and my elder brother is Sampāti. Know me, O Rama, as Jaṭāyu, the son of Śyenī. If you wish, I will be your companion here, for this forest is a difficult and dangerous place, frequented by wild beasts and rākṣasas. I will protect Sītā when you depart with Lakṣmaṇa. Rāghava, hearing these words, honored Jaṭāyu, joyfully embraced him, and bowed, remembering the tales his father had told him of their old friendship. Entrusting Sītā, the princess of Mithilā, to the mighty bird Jaṭāyu, Rāma departed with Lakṣmaṇa to Pañcavaṭī, eager to destroy his enemies as fire consumes moths. Now, let the seventeenth sarga be heard. After completing his morning ablutions, Rāma, with Sītā and Saumitri, left the bank of the Godāvarī River and returned to his hermitage. Along with Lakṣmaṇa, Rāghava approached the leaf-hut, performed the morning rituals, and entered. There, he dwelt happily, honored by the great sages, and sat in the hut with Sītā. Rāma, mighty-armed and radiant like the moon adorned with patterns, sat with his brother Lakṣmaṇa, engaging in various conversations. As Rāma sat, his mind absorbed in stories, a certain rākṣasī arrived there by chance. Her name was Śūrpaṇakhā, sister of the rākṣasa Daśagrīva. As she approached, she saw Rāma, who resembled a celestial being. She gazed upon his radiant face, strong arms, eyes long as lotus petals, gait like that of an elephant, and his matted locks arranged in a circle. Rāma, gentle yet of great strength, bore royal marks, his complexion dark as a blue lotus, shining like Kāma himself. Overwhelmed by desire, the rākṣasī, though ugly-faced, gazed at the handsome Rāma, her broad waist contrasting with her large belly. Her eyes were distorted, his were wide and beautiful; her hair was coppery, his was pleasing; she was unpleasant to behold, while he was attractive; her voice was sweet yet terrifying. She was old, yet appeared youthful; fierce, yet gentle in speech; wicked in conduct, while he was righteous. Possessed by passion, Śūrpaṇakhā addressed Rāma: “You, with matted hair, dressed as an ascetic, with your wife, bearing bow and arrows—why have you come to this land inhabited by rākṣasas? What is the purpose of your coming? You should tell me the truth.” Thus questioned by the rākṣasī Śūrpaṇakhā, the tormentor of foes, Rāma began to answer her with straightforward intent.