Kanda 3 of 7 · 75 sargas
अरण्यकाण्ड
Book of the Forest
Araṇya-kāṇḍa
Setting: The Dandaka forest, Panchavati on the Godavari
Central figure: Sita — her abduction is the hinge of the epic
Kanda summary
Rama spends years in the Dandaka forest visiting sages, slaying rakshasas who torment them — including Viradha, Khara and Dushana with 14,000 demons. Shurpanakha, sister of Ravana, falls for Rama; spurned and disfigured by Lakshmana, she runs to Ravana. Ravana enlists Maricha as a golden deer to lure Rama away. Sita is abducted; Jatayu fights Ravana and is mortally wounded. Rama and Lakshmana, returning to the empty hut, begin the search.
Key episodes
- ●Slaying of Viradha and Khara-Dushana
- ●Shurpanakha's disfigurement
- ●Maricha as the golden deer (Mareecha)
- ●Abduction of Sita by Ravana
- ●Jatayu's last battle
Central teaching
Desire breeds the demonic; the protectors of dharma sometimes fall, but their sacrifice is never wasted.