RamayanaAranya Kanda: The book of the forest
Aranya Kanda of the Ramayana (the book of the forest): a summary of the story in plain words, book 3 of 7: The golden deer, the abduction of Sita and the death of Jatayu.
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana live in the forest, at Panchavati on the Godavari, visiting sages on the way and protecting them from the demons. The demoness Shurpanakha, sister of the king of Lanka, falls in love with Rama and, when refused, attacks Sita; Lakshmana cuts off her nose and ears. Her brothers Khara and Dushana attack and are killed by Rama. Shurpanakha goes to Ravana, who decides to take revenge by carrying off Sita. He sends Maricha, in the form of a golden deer, to lure Rama away; Sita asks Rama to catch the deer; Lakshmana is called away by Maricha's cry in Rama's voice; and Ravana, as a mendicant, takes Sita to Lanka in his flying chariot. The vulture Jatayu fights Ravana to save her and is mortally wounded; Rama finds him and performs his last rites. They then meet Kabandha and the pious Shabari, who tells them to seek Sugriva.
This is book 3 of the seven books (kandas) of the Ramayana. See all seven and the characters.
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A retelling in our own words of a story that is told in many different ways across India and Asia. Tellers differ on many episodes; where it matters we say so. It is not a scholarly translation.