Rama, radiant and mighty, stood as the foremost among all archers, endowed with the divine qualities of celestial weaponry and supreme righteousness in battle. Beside him was his younger brother Lakshmana, powerful and red-eyed, whose voice thundered like a drum, his face shining like the full moon, matching Rama in strength. Together, united like fire and wind, these glorious princes destroyed Janasthana. There was no need for deliberation among the gods or the great souls; the golden-feathered, winged arrows released by Rama sufficed. Those arrows transformed into five-headed serpents, devouring the rakshasas, while the terrified survivors fled wherever they could. Yet, wherever they turned, they saw Rama standing before them, and thus Janasthana was utterly destroyed by him, O faultless one. Hearing Akampana’s account of these events, Ravana spoke with resolve: “I will go to Janasthana to kill Rama and Lakshmana.” But Akampana counseled him, urging, “Hear, O king, the true measure of Rama’s strength and prowess.” He described Rama as renowned for valor and unconquerable when angered, able to check the force of a full river with his arrows. Akampana declared that Rama could bring down the sky with its stars, planets, and constellations, and raise up the sinking earth. He could pierce the ocean’s shore and flood the worlds, disperse the force of the ocean or the wind, withdraw the worlds with his valor, and even create living beings anew. Akampana warned Ravana: “Rama cannot be defeated by you in battle, O ten-headed one, nor by the world of rakshasas, just as heaven cannot be attained by the wicked. I do not consider him killable even by all the gods and demons together. But there is a way—listen with single-minded attention. His wife, renowned in the world, is named Sita: slender-waisted, dark-complexioned, with well-proportioned limbs, a jewel among women, adorned with jewels. Neither goddess, nor gandharvi, nor apsara, nor serpent-woman is equal to her; how could a human woman compare?” Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, approved Akampana’s words. After reflecting, he spoke: “Certainly, dear one, I will go at once, alone with my charioteer; I will joyfully bring back this Vaidehi to the great city.” Having spoken thus, Ravana departed in a chariot drawn by mules, shining like the sun and illuminating all directions. His great chariot thundered forth along the path of the stars, shining like the moon among clouds. After a long journey, Ravana reached the hermitage of Tataka. There, the king was honored by Marica with supernatural foods and delicacies. Marica personally welcomed him with a seat and water, and spoke words full of purpose: “O king, lord of the rakshasas, is all well with your people? I wonder, for I do not know, why you have come here so quickly.” Ravana, skilled in speech, replied: “My protector was slain, dear one, by Rama, who acts without fault; all of Janasthana, which was invincible, has been destroyed in battle. Therefore, assist me in the abduction of his wife.” Hearing these words, Marica questioned him: “By whom has Sita been pointed out, by a friend who is truly an enemy? O tiger among rakshasas, who that is delighted does not rejoice with you? Who says to you, ‘Bring Sita here’? Tell me. Who among all the rakshasas wishes to cut off his own horn? Whoever encourages you is surely an enemy, wishing you to draw the fang from the mouth of a venomous serpent. By whose act have you been set upon this evil path? Who struck you on the head while you were sleeping peacefully, O king?” Marica warned Ravana: “He, born of a pure and noble line, with the pride of power, steadfast as an elephant with mighty tusks—Ravana, it is not fitting to confront him, that Raghava, the elephant among men, in battle. He, the lion among men, skilled in battle, destroyer of clever rakshasas, stands in the midst of war; you cannot awaken him while he sleeps, filled with arrows and sharp swords as his fangs. In the mud of his arm’s strength, in the flood of great battle, with waves of arrows and the theft of bows—O king of rakshasas, it is not right to leap into Rama’s dreadful mouth, like the underworld. Be gracious, lord of Lanka, king of rakshasas; return to Lanka. Always delight with your own wives; let Rama with his wife enjoy the forests.” Thus addressed by Marica, the ten-headed Ravana turned back and entered his excellent house in Lanka. Now, listen to the next chapter. At this time, Surpanakha saw that fourteen thousand fierce and mighty rakshasas had been slain by Rama alone. She saw Dushana, Khara, and Trishiras killed in battle, and let out a great roar, like a thundercloud. Witnessing Rama’s deed—so difficult for others to accomplish—she became deeply agitated and went to Lanka, ruled by Ravana. There she saw Ravana, radiant in brilliance, seated before his ministers at the forefront of his palace, like Indra among the Maruts.