Two men, armed with weapons and clad in bark garments and black antelope skin, entered the dreadful Daṇḍaka forest accompanied by a woman. Śūrpaṇakhā, filled with malice and rage, urged the rākṣasas, “Slay those two and that wicked woman, and return. My sister here shall drink their blood for me. This is her wish, O rākṣasas—let it be swiftly fulfilled. Go and overpower them with your strength. When you have killed those two brothers in battle, she will rejoice and drink their blood on the battlefield.” Thus commanded, fourteen fierce rākṣasas set out with Śūrpaṇakhā, moving like storm-driven clouds. Śūrpaṇakhā arrived at Rāma’s hermitage and reported the presence of the two brothers, along with Sītā, to the demons. The rākṣasas soon saw Rāma, of great strength, seated in his leaf-hut, attended by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa. As Śūrpaṇakhā and the rākṣasas approached, the illustrious Rāghava spoke to his brother Lakṣmaṇa, who blazed with energy: “Wait here a moment, Saumitri, and stay close to Sītā. I will destroy those who have come upon this path.” Lakṣmaṇa honored Rāma’s words, replying, “So be it.” Righteous Rāghava took up his great bow adorned with gold, strung it, and addressed the demons: “We are the sons of Daśaratha, brothers Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, who have entered the difficult Daṇḍaka forest together with Sītā. We live here as ascetics, eating fruits and roots, disciplined and observing celibacy—why do you harm us? Armed with bow and arrows, I have come by the command of the sages to slay you evil-hearted ones who commit atrocities in this forest. Remain here if you wish, but do not retreat. If you value your lives, depart from here, O night-dwellers!” Hearing his words, the fourteen rākṣasas—murderers of Brahmins, wielding spears—replied in great anger. Terrible and bloodshot-eyed, they gazed at Rāma, whose own eyes blazed, and spoke harshly with mocking sweetness, delighted at his display of valor: “By provoking the wrath of our master Khara, you alone will lose your life, slain by us in battle this very moment. What power do you have, standing alone before so many in battle, let alone fighting us in this conflict? With these clubs, spears, and pikes hurled by our arms, you will lose your life, your strength, and your bow.” Having spoken thus, the fourteen enraged rākṣasas, weapons and swords raised, rushed straight at Rāma. They hurled their spears at Rāghava, who was unconquerable; all fourteen spears were thrown at him. With his golden-adorned arrows, Rāma cut them all down. Then, the mighty one took up nārāca arrows, shining like the sun, and, extremely enraged, seized fourteen sharp, stone-tipped arrows, drew his bow, and aimed at the demons. The rākṣasas fell to the ground like serpents cast from their anthills, their hearts shattered, lying on the earth like trees with their roots cut. Bathed in blood, deformed and lifeless, they lay fallen, and seeing them, Śūrpaṇakhā was seized by wrath. With blood somewhat dried, she approached Khara, and, afflicted, fell again like a vine deprived of its sap. Distressed with grief, she let out a great cry near her brother, and with a trembling voice, shed tears, her face pale. Seeing the demons struck down in battle, Śūrpaṇakhā, having fled, told her brother Khara everything about their slaughter, the destruction of all the rākṣasas. Khara, seeing Śūrpaṇakhā fallen again, spoke to her in clear words, for she had come seeking help: “I sent those heroic, flesh-eating rākṣasas for your sake—why do you weep again? They are always devoted and loyal to me; if they are being killed, they would not fail to obey my command. What is this? I wish to hear the reason for your cries of ‘Alas, protector!’ as you writhe on the ground like a snake. Why do you lament like one without a protector, when I am here? Rise, rise! Do not be so faint-hearted—cast off this weakness.” Thus addressed by the formidable Khara, she wiped her tear-filled eyes and spoke to her brother: “Now I have come to you, my ears and nose cut off, drenched in streams of blood, and you have comforted me. You sent those fourteen heroic rākṣasas, armed, to kill the dreadful Rāghava and Lakṣmaṇa for my sake. But all of them, furious and armed with spears and pikes, were slain in battle by Rāma with arrows that pierce the vital points.