Meanwhile, Akampana the messenger reached Lanka with great speed. He told Ravana that Khara along with thousands of rakshasas was slain. "I too would have been killed, had I not escaped in the guise of a woman", he said. Wave upon wave of anger shook Ravana, as he demanded, "Who is he that courts death by destroying Janasthana? In which of the three worlds can he find refuge? He who harms me, be it Indra, Kubera, Yama or Visnu, can never escape being slain. I can kill death, burn the Sun and stop speeding winds." Ravana glared balefully at Akampana who quailing with terror sought protection from that very manifestation of fear. Ravana relented and Akampana continued with his narration, "There is this son of Dasaratha, who sleek of limb like a lion, is tall, handsome. His matchless skills of archery are legendary and he is the cause for the masscare at Janasthana. Rama is his name". Skeptical of Rama's might, Ravana asked. "Did, that Rama come with Indra and the army of devatas?" Akampana said "Rama's radiance is peerless, his strength invincible, his divine weapons the most powerful and his skills of war equal those of Indra. Lakshmana his brother too is strong and mighty. His deep voice has the resonance of a gong and his face glows like the lustrous moon. The combined power of Rama and Lakshmana, as fierce as the union of fire and wind, has devastated Janasthana. No devatas came to Rama's aid. His gold tipped arrows alone devoured the entire clan of rakshasas. The fear stricken demons kept seeing Rama in everything and everywhere as they ran for there lives. Ravana was so incensed he wanted to go to Janasthana to take on Rama and Lakshmana, but Akampana wanted to tell him more about Rama. He said, "Rama can contain raging rivers with his arrows. His fury can blot out the stars, the planets and the skies. He can scoop up the earth with ease and break the bounds of the seas to drown the world. Capable of stilling raging winds, he can create or destroy worlds. Ravana! You should know that Rama is inviolable on the battlefield and beyond the power of even the devatas and asuras. Yet, there is a way of eliminating him." Ravana! Listen carefully. There is a princess on this earth, young and beautiful, a jewel among women with slender waist and graceful limbs. She is the wife of Rama. They call her Sita. Even devatas, gandharvas and apsaras, let alone mortals can match her beauty. So great is Rama's love for her, that separation from her will mean his death" Ravana was delighted to hear Akampana's words.

The very next day Ravana rode out in his chariot drawn by four donkeys, its dazzle lighting up the four directions. He stopped at the hermitage of Maricha. Welcoming him with great affection Maricha asked Ravana, "Your sudden visit makes me anxious, is all well with the Rakshasa world? And Ravana said, "Rama has effortlessly wiped out my indomitable army and those that command it. I seek your help in abducting his wife." Maricha was shocked. He wanted to dissuade Ravana from his mission and said, "Only your enemy would advise you this. He goads you to commit the unpardonable to hasten your destruction and that of the rakshasas. He is your enemy who pretending friendship counsels you to abduct Sita. Born of the noble Ikshvaku race and endowed with the strength of an elephant, Rama's powers have no compare. If provoked, his fury will spell your doom. Be wise, shed your anger, go back home to be happy in the company of your wives and Rama will be happy in the forest with Sita. Ravana heeding Maricha's counsel returned to Lanka.