16. Winter Description [This is a clear and detail description of the climate crops and rituals of the winter season. During the talk when Lakṣmaṇa criticizes Kaikeyi Rāma is not able to tolerate it.] When the great Rāma was living happily, when the winter season came to an end, the winter season which he liked set in. 16.1 During a

17. Sūrpanakhā Meets Rāma [Sūrpanakhā, the sister of Ravana happens to meet Rāma and is attracted towards him. She tells Rāma that she would like to get married to him.] After taking bath Rāma, Sītā and son of Sumitrā went back to their hermitage in the banks of river Godavari. 17.1 After reaching their hermitage Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa did the

18. Lakṣmaṇa Disfigures Sūrpanakhā [Rāma directs her to Lakṣmaṇa who redirects her to Rāma. When Sūrpanakhā tries to catch hold of Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa cuts of her nose and ears. She goes to Khara who is her brother and who lives in Janasṭhāna.] Then Rāma told in clear and lucid manner to Sūrpanakhā who was tied up in the throes of

19. Khara sends Soldiers to Capture Rāma [Sūrpanakhā complains to her brother about Rāma, and he sends fourteen army chiefs with her so that they all can be captured so that Sūrpanakhā can drink their blood.] Seeing his sister fallen there disfigured and coated with blood, That Rākṣasa Khara became very angry and enquired. 19.1 "Get up, tell me about

20. Rāma Kills Khara's Soldiers [Rāma chooses to fight with the fourteen Rākṣasas sent by Khara and kills all of them easily. Sūrpanakhā reports about it to her brother Khara.] Then that horrible Sūrpanakhā came to the hermitage of Rāma and showed those brothers as well as Sītā to those Rākṣasas. 20.1 They saw the very strong Rāma sitting in

21. Sūrpanakhā Berates Khara [When again Sūrpanakhā goes to Khara, he jeers at her and Sūrpanakhā who is angry, calls him a coward and a weak person and tells that he cannot defeat Rāma.] Seeing her fall down again Khara who got very angry and told Sūrpanakhā, spoke in clear words about her unfortunate situation. 21.1 "Just now, to please

22. Khara Goes to War Against Rāma [After getting angry at Sūrpanakhā and promising that he will kill Rāma, Khara marches along with Dūṣaṇa, his commander and other fourteen thousand Rākṣasas to kill Rāma]. When Khara was put to shame by Sūrpanakhā in this way, standing in the middle of Rākṣasas, Khara replied harshly. 22.1 "By the insults you have

23. Khara's March [Right from beginning Khara's army saw very bad omens. Though they were bad omens, Khara decided on the war. Sages and Devas assembled in the sky to see the war.] A fierce dark cloud of the colour of donkey, rained dreadful inauspicious water of red colour on the marching army. 23.1 Those great horses which can move

24. Rāma's Preparation for War Against Khara [Rāma asks Lakshmana and Sītā to hide in a cave and decided to fight alone. He also sees the bad omens which greet Khara's army. He sees good omens. The army of Khara arrives and Rāma is ready for the battle.] Observing the arrival of Khara who was coming with his evil valour,