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The time passed quickly for Rāma and His companions. They lived in almost complete solitude, seeing only an occasional ascetic. …

One day, just as Their tenth winter in exile was ending, a powerful Rākṣasī named Shurpanakha, a sister of Rāvaṇa, …

“Who are You, dressed in ascetic garb yet wielding weapons?” the Rākṣasī asked. “Why have You come to this forest …

Rāma looked guilelessly at the Rākṣasī. “There was a powerful king named Daśaratha,” He replied. “I am his son Rāma …

Shurpanakha moved her hips and glanced down coyly. “Know me to be Shurpanakha, sister of the unconquerable Rāvaṇa. Living here …

Shurpanakha hoped that, even if Rāma was not attracted to her, out of fear of her He might accede to …

Rāma laughed heartily. He decided to joke with the infatuated Rākṣasī. “O beautiful woman, I am already married. For ladies …

Shurpanakha turned quickly toward Lakṣman, who stood smiling with His hand resting on His bow. The Rākṣasī moved toward Him. …

Lakṣman caught Rāma’s joking mood. “Why do you seek to become a maidservant, foolish woman?” He asked with a laugh. …

Shurpanakha was too simple to catch the joke. She took Lakṣman’s words to be true and turned again toward Rāma, …

Shurpanakha rushed furiously toward Sītā, even as a large meteor would fall toward the earth. She assumed her natural form …

Lakṣman drew His sword. He moved swiftly and sliced off the demon’s long nose and pointed ears. Shurpanakha screamed in …

The Rākṣasī sought her brother Khara, who was the leader of the Rākṣasas in the forest. Going before him drenched …

loudly, she dropped upon the ground like a bolt from the blue. Khara sat surrounded by numerous powerful Rākṣasas. He …

“What fool has done this to you?” the Rākṣasa snarled. “Who has ignorantly goaded a poisonous serpent with his finger? …

Khara stood up. He was proud and arrogant. He took the offense to his sister as a personal insult. “Who …

Shurpanakha gathered her senses and answered her furious brother. She told him how she had seen Rāma and Lakṣman in …

Shurpanakha asked Khara to kill them immediately. Holding a cloth to her wounded face she said, “I long to drink …

Khara at once ordered fourteen powerful Rākṣasas to go and attack the two princes. He told his sister to accompany …