Rama and Lakshmana Slay Kabandha the Rakshasa
Rama and Lakshmana encounter Kabandha, a rakshasa like a cloud or a mountain with a single eye on his chest and a giant mouth on a giant belly. He seizes Lakshmana in his arms. Lakshmana despairs, lamenting their misfortunes — Sita abducted, Rama exiled, their father dead — but Rama remains undaunted. He commands Lakshmana to slice off Kabandha's right arm while he severs the left, and they hack at the rakshasa until he falls dead. From his body emerges the gandharva Vishvavasu, freed from Brahma's curse, who tells Rama that Ravana took Sita to Lanka and advises him to seek Sugriva's help at Lake Pampa near Mount Rishyamukha.
In a short while, they saw Kabandha, terrible in form. He was like a cloud or a mountain. His shoulders were as extensive as a shala tree. He had large arms. His large eye was located on his chest. He had a giant mouth on a giant belly.
With great ease, the rakshasa grasped Lakshmana in his arms.
Soumitri was instantly overcome by despair. Glancing toward Rama, he was dragged toward the rakshasa's mouth. Afflicted with despair, he told Rama, "Look at my state. Vaidehi has been abducted. I am in this dire state. You have been dislodged from your kingdom. Our father is dead. Together with Vaidehi, I will not witness your return to Kosala and your instatement in the earthly kingdom of our fathers and grandfathers. Fortunate are those who will see you consecrated with kusha grass, parched rice and shami wood, with a face like the moon amidst scattered clouds."
In this way, the wise Lakshmana lamented in various ways.
Undaunted in the midst of this calamity, Kakutstha told him, "O tiger among men! Do not be immersed in sorrow in this fashion. While I am here, there is nothing he can do. Slice off his right arm, and I will sever the left."
While he was speaking, Rama cut off his left arm with his extremely sharp sword, as if it was a branch of sesamum. On seeing his brother Raghava standing there, the powerful Soumitri hacked the right arm with his sword. Lakshmana repeatedly smote the rakshasa on his side, and losing his life, the gigantic Kabandha fell down on the ground.
Then a divine-looking being was seen to emerge from his body. He was stationed in the sky, like the resplendent sun.
The eloquent Rama asked him, "Who are you? I am asking you. Tell me. How did this happen? It seems to me to be extraordinary."
He replied, "O king! I am the gandharva Vishvavasu. Because of Brahma's curse, I had to be born in the womb of a rakshasa. Sita has been abducted by King Ravana, who resides in Lanka. Go to Sugriva and he will help you. Lake Pampa is near Mount Rishyamukha. It has pure water and teems with swans and ducks. Sugriva lives there with four advisers. He is the brother of Vali, the king of the monkeys who wears a golden garland. I can tell you this much. You will see Janaki again. It is certain that the king of the monkeys knows about Ravana's abode."
Having said this, to the amazement of the brave Rama and Lakshmana, the extremely radiant celestial being disappeared. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 560