Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.3195

c7.3195

When the coronation of Śrī Rāma was about to take place, Kaikeyī demanded of Daśaratha, on the strength of the two boons granted to her on a previous occasion, to send Śrī Rāma to the forests for fourteen years and crown Bharata her son as King. Daśaratha was compelled to accede to her request and so Śrī Rāma went to the forests. Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa accompanied him. Lakṣmaṇa during the fourteen years of their exile followed his brother Rāma like a shadow. Lakṣmaṇa cut off the breasts and nose of Śūrpaṇakhā, the demoness who made amorous overtures to them. Lakṣmaṇa acted promptly and bravely when the notorious trio, Khara, Dūṣaṇa and Triśiras attacked them and he was responsible for the slaughter of the three. Rāvaṇa, coming to know of that, carried away Sītā to Laṅkā.