Anasuya's Counsel and Viradha's Challenge

Anasuya lovingly conversed with Sita, shedding light on the importance of a wife's duties. "You have accepted exile to be with your husband," said Anasuya. "In doing so, you have sacrificed your family, relatives, royalty, and happiness. If a woman loves her husband without considering whether he is in the city or the jungle, whether he is wicked or virtuous, that woman resides in Svarga. A husband is a woman's greatest companion in any situation. This is the prime mantra of faithfulness."

Sita listened attentively, absorbing the wisdom imparted by Anasuya. The encounter with Anasuya deepened her understanding of duty and devotion, reinforcing the bond between Rama and herself.

Anasuya presented Sita with a flower garland, clothes, jewelry, and perfumes. "Accept these and wear them," said Anasuya. "They will never become dirty or dry up. You and your husband will look beautiful, like Goddess Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu." Sita happily accepted these gifts. 

Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana spent the night in the sage's ashram. After completing their daily worship activities the next morning, they were about to leave. Just then, the sage described to Rama how demons in the forest would obstruct his sacrificial acts. "O Rama!" said the sage. "This is the path by which sages go to the forest to collect fruits and flowers. Please proceed along the same path."

After leaving Sage Atri's ashram, Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita ventured into the dense Dandaka Forest, home to many wild animals like bears and lions. The once-flowing river had dried up, the trees no longer provided a soothing coolness, and the melodious songs of birds were absent.

Suddenly, a gigantic, man-eating monster appeared before Rama. The creature looked like death itself, and its roar reverberated like an earthquake. Striding toward Sita, the demon thundered, "You wander this forest with a matted ascetic," referring to Rama. "But what kind of ascetic has a wife? Your lives are at their end. You have entered the Dandaka Forest armed with bows and arrows. Who are you? I am Viradha, the demon Viradha. Every day, I feast on the flesh of sages dwelling in this forest. This beautiful woman will be my wife. I will kill you both and drink your blood."

Rama's eyes flared with anger at Viradha's words. "O wicked demon," he replied, "you deserve death. Prepare for battle!" With lightning speed, he shot seven arrows, each piercing Viradha's body. As the demon fell with a terrifying roar, Lakshmana severed his right arm and Rama his left. Together, they dug a pit and buried the demon alive.