Hear now the sixty-ninth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Araṇyakāṇḍa. After performing the water-rite for their fallen companion, the two Raghavas—Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa—set out once more, searching for Sītā in the vast forest, heading first toward the west. Then, bearing their bows, arrows, and swords, the two sons of the Ikṣvāku dynasty turned southward, undeterred by the hardships ahead, and pressed onward along the path. The forest before them was thickly overgrown, dense with bushes, trees, and countless creepers. It surrounded them on all sides, difficult to traverse and terrifying to behold. Yet, moving swiftly, the two mighty warriors crossed that dreadful expanse, continuing south. After journeying three krośas beyond Janasthāna, the energetic brothers entered the dense Krauncha forest. This woodland was like masses of clouds, delightful in every direction, adorned with flowers of many hues, and alive with herds of deer and flocks of birds. Driven by their longing to see Vaidehī, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa wandered through its beauty, pausing here and there, grieving for Sītā’s abduction. Continuing their search, they traveled three krośas eastward, passing through Krauncha forest, and arrived near the hermitage of Matanga. There, they beheld a dreadful forest, filled with fearsome beasts and birds, crowded with myriad trees, and so dense that great trees pressed together everywhere. On a mountain within that forest, the sons of Daśaratha saw a cave as deep as the underworld, perpetually shrouded in darkness. As they approached the cave, not far from its entrance, they encountered a rakṣasī—a demoness—of enormous size and distorted face. She was terrifying to the faint-hearted, hideous, dreadful in appearance, with a hanging belly, sharp fangs, fierce and harsh-skinned. She was monstrous, devouring fearsome animals, her hair wild and disheveled. As the brothers drew near, the rakṣasī approached them, Lakṣmaṇa leading. She said, “Come, let us enjoy,” and seized Lakṣmaṇa. Embracing him, she declared, “I am Ayomukhi by name; you are fortunate, you are dear to me. Lord, in these mountain fastnesses and beside the rivers, you will enjoy a long life with me, O hero.” Lakṣmaṇa, enraged at her advances, drew his sword and, as a destroyer of foes, cut off her ears, nose, and breasts. With her ears and nose severed, Ayomukhi howled in a hoarse voice and, dreadful in appearance, fled back the way she had come. When she had departed, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, destroyers of enemies, entered the dense forest with renewed vigor. Then Lakṣmaṇa, steadfast, virtuous, and pure, spoke to his radiant brother with joined palms: “My arm throbs intensely, my mind is agitated, and I observe many unfavorable omens. Therefore, noble one, be prepared and heed my words; for these omens foretell alarm. This bird called Vaṅjulaka, exceedingly dreadful, cries out as if proclaiming our victory in battle.” As the two brothers searched with vigor, a great sound suddenly arose in the forest, as if shattering it. The sound, tightly enveloped by the wind, seemed to fill the entire woodland. Eager to discover its source, Rāma, sword in hand and with Lakṣmaṇa beside him, beheld a mighty-bodied Rākṣasa with a vast chest. They approached this Rākṣasa, who stood before them, headless and neckless—Kabandha, with his mouth on his belly. His body was covered with sharp, bristling hair, towering like a great mountain, dark as a rain cloud, terrible, and roaring like thunder. His brow blazed like a mass of fire, and he possessed vast, tawny, outstretched wings. On his chest was a single, fearsome, clearly visible eye; his mouth was huge, his fangs great, and he licked his lips hungrily. Kabandha devoured dreadful bears, lions, deer, and birds, moving his two terrible arms, each a yojana long. With his hands, he seized various bears, flocks of birds, and deer, dragging and pulling many leaders of herds. Stationed directly in their path, the brothers saw him from a distance of a krośa after passing by. They beheld Kabandha—immense, dreadful, terrifying, covered with arms, exceedingly horrible in appearance, like a trunk in form. The mighty-armed being stretched out his vast arms and seized both Raghavas together, gripping them forcefully. Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, armed with swords and strong bows, fierce in energy and mighty-armed, found themselves helpless, being dragged by Kabandha’s immense strength. Despite the peril, heroic Rāma was not disturbed; but Lakṣmaṇa, young and lacking support, was shaken. Distressed, Lakṣmaṇa, the younger brother of Rāghava, spoke: “See me, helpless, O hero, fallen under the power of a Rākṣasa. You alone must escape, Rāghava; free yourself. Offer me as a sacrifice to the spirits and flee as you wish.