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Sarg 1-Raam in Dandak Van 

As Raam entered Dandak Van, they saw some Aashram and in Aashram they saw Valkal clothes. Everybody got a place in these Aashram. Many kinds of animals and birds lived here. There were large Yagyashaalaa (holy fireplaces) where Indra's Apsaraa came to worship and dance. Yagya pots were kept to perform Yagya. There were plenty of water, wood, fruits, lotus ponds with lotus flowers and other kinds of flowers. Yagya were performed and Ved were read everyday there. There lived old Tapaswee and gracious Muni who always wore Valkal clothes and deer skin and always had regulated food.

Raam unfastened His bow and kept it and went there. Seeing Raam coming Gyaanee and Maharshi welcomed them, blessed them and brought them in their Aashram. All got surprised to see them in the forest as what these handsome pretty princes were doing there fearlessly. [Because their attire was not solely like hermits nor like princes. This attire was confusing to even Viraadh Raakshas and Sugreev, the king of monkey too.] They looked at them without winking their eyes. They lodged them in a leaf-hut. They arranged water for them and offered them fruits, roots and flowers.

Then they said to Raam - "You are our shelter and respectable for us. You have one fourth part of Indra's features in protecting people. Because Raajaa is the form of Eeshwar (God) that is why Raajaa enjoys best kinds of pleasures. Now you protect us, because it is Raajaa's duty to protect his public. You can live anywhere, still you will always be Raajaa. We have won our anger and Indriyaan so we have left punishing (whether by physically or by Shaap) anybody for their crime, therefore we are like fetus in the womb. So Hey Raam, Protect us."

Sarg 2-Raam Meets Viraadh Raakshas

After taking rest in the night, as the morning broke, Raam took permission from the Muni of Aashram and proceeded forward in the forest. Many wild animals were living in that forest. They found many creepers and bushes ruined. Raam saw a very ugly Raakshas, who ate human beings and whose body was huge like mountain and horrible. He was wearing a lion skin on his body and all were frightened from him as he looked like opened-mouth of Death. This Raakshas was roaring carrying three lions, four tigers, two wolves, 10 deer and a head of elephant on an iron bar.

Raakshas attacked Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa and took Seetaa away from them and said - "You have come here in this forest wearing Jataa and Tapaswee clothes and keeping a woman with you? It is impossible for you to live here. Both of you are sinners. My name is Viraadh. I satisfy myself with the flesh of Tapaswee. Seetaa will be my wife (or an adorable one) and I will drink your blood."

Hearing Raakshas' words Seetaa got frightened. Raam said to Lakshman - "Seetaa is in Viraadh's hands. Lakshman, Whatever purpose Kaikeyee wanted to serve by sending me to forest, that purpose is served today. But that Kaikeyee could not be satisfied even after getting the kingdom for her son Bharat. Somebody else has Seetaa in front of me. There is no greater sorrow than this for me, neither father's death nor leaving the kingdom."

Lakshman said angrily to Raam - "You are the Swaamee of all creatures, then why do you cry this way? I can kill him just now. Whatever anger was for Bharat, the same anger will work as Kaal for Viraadh too."

Sarg 3-Raam and Viraadh Introduce Themselves

Viraadh was making a great noise all around. He asked - "Who are you, and where do you want to go?" Ram said to him - "I am from Ikshwaaku Vansh. We are Kshatriya and have come to forest, but who are you who is living here in Dandak Van?" Viraadh said - "Know me well. I am the son of Jab Raakshas and Shathadaa is my mother and I am known as Viraadh. I have pleased Brahmaa Jee and have got a Var that I should not be killed by any weapon, and no weapon can cut any part of my body, nor it can pierce my body. That is why leave this woman here and go away from here soon, then I will not kill you both."

Raam said angrily - "Your intentions are bad, that is why you yourself are looking for your death. Just stay where you are and you will see your death soon." Then Raam shot strong fast arrows. He shot seven arrows at him but all fell down after touching his body. As arrows touched his body, he released Seetaa, put Her down and attacked Raam and Lakshman with his spear.

Both brothers started showering arrows on him. As he yawned, those arrows came out of his body. Because of the Var he was able to hold back his life. Raam ripped apart his spear by His arrow. Viraadh lifted both, Raam and Lakshman, on his shoulders and proceeded towards [deeper] forest. Raam said to Lakshman - "Let him take us."

Sarg 4-Viraadh Uddhaar

Seeing Viraadh going with Raam and Lakshman, Seetaa started crying loudly - "This Viraadh is taking Raam. I will be left alone here, wild animals may eat me. So Hey Raakshas, you release them, instead you take me." Hearing these words, Lakshman acted fast and broke his left arm, Raam also broke his right arm. Then they started hitting him on the ground, but still he was not killed.

Then Raam said to Lakshman - "Lakshman, He will not be killed by weapons [because he has got Var by doing Tapasyaa] so we should bury him. We should dig a pit for him." After ordering thus to Lakshman, Raam stood with a foot on his neck and waited for his grave.

Seeing this Viraadh requested Raam - "Hey Narshreshth (highest among human beings), You have lot of power, I could not recognize you before. Hey Raam, Now I have known you that you are Kaushalyaa's son Raam and She is your wife Seetaa, and He is mighty Lakshman. I have got this Raakshas body by Shaap. I was Tumburu named Gandharv (see here Note on Who are Celestials) in my previous life. I became Raakshas by Kuber's Shaap. Kuber told me when you will be killed by Dashrath's son Raam, then you will get Gandharv's body again.

Hey Raam, I got attracted to Rambhaa Apsaraa [and did not attend my duty] that is why I got this Shaap. Today I will be free from this Shaap and will go to Swarg. Bless you. Here lives Sharabhang Rishi at the distance of one and one half Yojan from here. He is a very gracious Rishi and he will advise you aptly. Keep my body in the hole and go there happily. Because that is the Sanaatan Dharm for Raakshas after they are slain. Whoever Raakshas are buried get high Lok." And Viraadh went to Swarg.

Raam asked Lakshman to dig a pit, till then He stood on the body of Viraadh. Lakshman dug the pit and both brothers put his body in that pit. They filled the pot with stones etc, took Seetaa along and proceeded forward towards Sharabhang Rishi's Aashram like Sun and Moon.

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