On the way to Panchavati, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana meet Jatayu . He said that he was a friend of Dashratha and therefore he would guard Sita while they lived there. Rama told him that as a friend of his father, Jatayu is as venerable to him as his own father.

They located a pleasant place in Panchavati (place where five trees grow) to build their simple home. On the banks of river Godavari, they spend many happy pleasant days.

One day however suddenly the sister of the demon king Ravana arrived there. She was Shoorpanakha and as soon as she saw Rama , shefell in love with him. She took the form of a lovely young woman and proposed to Rama. Rama pointed to Sita and indicated he was married but he hinted in jest that Lakshmana was at the moment single. Shoorpanakha then proposed to Lakshmana to marry her. Lakshmana said, “I am a servant of Rama . If you marry a servant, you will also become like me.”

Shoorpanakha was enraged at their response and took on her fierce demoness form to threaten Sita . But just then Lakshmana drew hissword and cut off Shoorpanakha ’s ears and nose. She went to her brothers Khar and Dooshana and showed them her bleeding and mutilated face and asked them to attack and kill Rama and Lakshmana .

Meanwhile Rama placed the real Sita in the care of Agni (fire god), while they were alone and created a Maya (illusionary) Sita who appeared identical to the real one. He called Lakshmana and asked him to take Sita to a safe cave in the mountain while he fought the demons.

Just then Khar and Dooshan and Trishala attacked with their army of fourteen thousand demons but Rama destroyed the entire army along with the leaders Khar & Dooshan and Trishala.

Shoorpanakha now hurried to Lanka to the court of Ravana and related the entire story and the news of the death of the army and the demon brothers. She also praised the beauty of Sita and coaxed Ravana to attack Rama to avenge the insult to her.