वाचनालय

Araṇyakāṇḍa (Book of the Forest)

Valmiki

Life in the Daṇḍaka forest among ascetics and demons: Lakṣmaṇa mutilates the rākṣasī Śūrpaṇakhā, Rāma destroys Khara's army, and Rāvaṇa, brother to them both, takes revenge with the stratagem of the golden deer and abducts Sītā. The vulture Jaṭāyus dies trying to prevent it; Rāma, desolate, begins the search and is welcomed by the ascetic Śabarī.