After Jatayu's funeral rites, Rama and Lakshmana resumed the search for Sita. They reached a tract of land untread by human feet, leading into a fearsome forest dense with thickets of bamboo, vine and bushes. Home to lions, elephants and other fierce beasts it was almost impassable. Forcing their way out of it a few miles from Janasthana, the princes reached the Krauncha forest without finding any signs of Sita. Pressing on, they saw a cave dark and dreadful, besides which stood a hideous rakshasa woman, who was a picture of ugliness and terror personified! Her mammoth body was repulsive; her baleful eyes blood shot and her fangs frightening and hair unruly. She was strong enough to kill and feast on the flesh of carnivorous animals. Seeming to fancy Lakshmana, she pounced upon him saying, "I am Ayomukhi and I want to be yours. Let us from now revel on sandy river banks and lofty mountain peaks." Lakshmana swiftly drew his sword and severed her ears and nose and she fled screaming with pain. Walking further into the forest Lakshmana said, "Rama an inexplicable foreboding of fear and sorrow haunts me. Something terrible is about to happen. Be on guard!" No sooner had he uttered the words when an explosive noise seemed to rend the forest and then emerged a horrifying form. To add to its horror, the shapeless monster was headless and covered with bristling hair. Glowing like a flaming torch he emitted sparks and his single eye set in the center of his chest glared at the world balefully. Smacking his lips he gathered flocks of birds, herds of beasts and deer with his long arms. He shoved them into his greedy mouth as some fell out and some were pushed away. The monster gathered Rama and Lakshmana into his powerful arms and held them firmly. Rama remained unmoved but Lakshmana was overcome with fear and anxiety. He said, "Rama make use of this opportunity, sacrifice me to this demon and make good your escape. Find Sita and be king of Kosala, ruled by generations of Ikshvakus." Even as Rama tried to calm Lakshmana saying that fear and grief did not befit him, the monster challenged their presence. "Why did you come into these woods?" Coming here you have become my food. Your life is now imperilled and death is imminent! For a moment even Rama seemed to have no answer. Looking at Lakshmana he said, "We seem to be facing one more hurdle. The unending sequence of adversities that befall me with such frequency will probably destroy me before I discover Sita. Look at the power that destiny has over the lives of creatures; even mighty warriors skilled in the art of war are not spared. Once its long arm touches them they are swept away like banks of sand. None can escape the force that untiring destiny can exert." Rama tried to look calm and composed to lessen Lakshmana's anxiety.
Summary
After Jatayu's funeral rites, Rama and Lakshmana resumed the search for Sita. They reached a tract of land untread by human feet, leading into a fearsome forest dense with thickets of bamboo, vine and bushes. Home to lions, elephants and other fierce beasts it was almost impassable. Forcing their way out of it a few miles from Janasthana, the princes reached the Krauncha forest without finding any signs of Sita. Pressing on, they saw a cave dark and dreadful, besides which stood a hideous rakshasa woman, who was a picture of ugliness and terror personified! Her mammoth body was repulsive; her baleful eyes blood shot and her fangs frightening and hair unruly. She was strong enough to kill and feast on the flesh of carnivorous animals. Seeming to fancy Lakshmana, she pounced upon him saying, "I am Ayomukhi and I want to be yours. Let us from now revel on sandy river banks and lofty mountain peaks." Lakshmana swiftly drew his sword and severed her ears and nose and she fled screaming with pain. Walking further into the forest Lakshmana said, "Rama an inexplicable foreboding of fear and sorrow haunts me. Something terrible is about to happen. Be on guard!" No sooner had he uttered the words when an explosive noise seemed to rend the forest and then emerged a horrifying form. To add to its horror, the shapeless monster was headless and covered with bristling hair. Glowing like a flaming torch he emitted sparks and his single eye set in the center of his chest glared at the world balefully. Smacking his lips he gathered flocks of birds, herds of beasts and deer with his long arms. He shoved them into his greedy mouth as some fell out and some were pushed away. The monster gathered Rama and Lakshmana into his powerful arms and held them firmly. Rama remained unmoved but Lakshmana was overcome with fear and anxiety. He said, "Rama make use of this opportunity, sacrifice me to this demon and make good your escape. Find Sita and be king of Kosala, ruled by generations of Ikshvakus." Even as Rama tried to calm Lakshmana saying that fear and grief did not befit him, the monster challenged their presence. "Why did you come into these woods?" Coming here you have become my food. Your life is now imperilled and death is imminent! For a moment even Rama seemed to have no answer. Looking at Lakshmana he said, "We seem to be facing one more hurdle. The unending sequence of adversities that befall me with such frequency will probably destroy me before I discover Sita. Look at the power that destiny has over the lives of creatures; even mighty warriors skilled in the art of war are not spared. Once its long arm touches them they are swept away like banks of sand. None can escape the force that untiring destiny can exert." Rama tried to look calm and composed to lessen Lakshmana's anxiety.