As Lakshmana spoke, Kabandha—remembering the words once spoken to him by Indra—replied joyfully. “Welcome, you tigers among men! By good fortune I behold you both, and by good fortune my arms, which bound you, have been severed by your hands. Listen as I reveal to you the truth of how I came to be so deformed, a result of my own misdeeds. Long ago, O Rama of mighty arms, I possessed a form of immense strength and valor, inconceivable and famed throughout the three worlds. My brilliance rivaled the radiance of the sun, the moon, and Indra himself. With such a form, I became a terror to all the worlds. I would frighten the sages who dwelled in the forests, disturbing them wherever I found them. One day, I harassed the great sage Sthūlaśiras while he was gathering forest produce. Angered, he cursed me, declaring, ‘Let this cruel form of yours be condemned!’ I pleaded with him for an end to the curse, and he replied, ‘When Rama, having cut off your arms, burns you in a lonely forest, then you will regain your vast and splendid form, adorned with glory. Know, O Lakshmana, that you are the son of Danu.’ But Indra’s wrath also played a part in my transformation. On the battlefield, I had pleased the Grandsire with severe austerity, who granted me long life, so confusion never touched me. Having obtained long life, I thought Indra could do nothing to me. Emboldened, I challenged Indra in battle, but he struck my thighs and head with his hundred-spoked thunderbolt, piercing them into my body. Though I begged him, Indra did not send me to Yama’s abode. Instead, he said, ‘Let the Grandsire’s word be fulfilled.’ How could I, unfed and with broken thighs, head, and mouth—struck by the thunderbolt—live for so long? Thus, Indra made my arms a yojana in length and placed my mouth in my belly, fitting it with sharp fangs. With these arms, I seized forest-dwellers and devoured lions, elephants, deer, and tigers all around. Indra then said, ‘When Rama, together with Lakshmana, cuts off your arms in battle, you will go to heaven. With this form, O best of kings, in this forest, whatever I see, I eagerly desire to seize. Surely, I think, Rama will come for me.’ Holding to this hope, weary from maintaining this body, I say to you: you are Rama—blessings to you, Raghava—I cannot be slain by any other. As the great sage foretold, it is possible for you to slay me. I will offer you my counsel and support, O best of men, and instruct you both in the rites of friendship sanctified by fire.” Hearing these words, the righteous Rāghava spoke, while Lakshmana listened: “My illustrious wife Sītā has been taken by Rāvaṇa. After leaving Janasthāna with my brother, I know only the name of that rākṣasa, not his form. We do not know his dwelling or his power; we are afflicted by grief, wandering without support, distressed. It is fitting to show compassion and render help to those who act thus, bringing dry wood broken by elephants at the proper time. We will burn you, O hero, in the great pit prepared; so tell us of Sītā—by whom or where she was taken. Do a great good, if you truly know; reveal it.” Kabandha, mighty and skilled in speech, replied, “I do not possess divine knowledge, nor do I know Maithilī. When I am burned and regain my true form, I will tell you who knows of her; I will reveal to you, Rāma, the rākṣasa who knows. While unburned, I do not have the power to know, O lord; but the mighty rākṣasa who took your Sītā—my great knowledge has been lost through the curse, O Rāghava; by my own deed I have obtained this form, despised by the world. But before the weary sun sets, cast me into the pit and burn me, Rāma, as is proper. Burned by you in the pit according to justice, O descendant of Raghu, I will tell you of the mighty hero who will find that rākṣasa. You must make friendship with him, O Rāghava, for he is righteous; O hero, he will devise swift aid for you. Nothing is unknown to him in all three worlds, O Rāghava; surrounded by all beings, he once roamed for another reason.” Thus instructed by Kabandha, Rama and Lakshmana, those two heroic lords of men, approached the mountain cleft and kindled the fire, preparing to fulfill Kabandha’s request.