Rama Wins Shridama and Lakshmana Wins Manorama

In Ratnapura, on the southern row of the Vijayardha mountain, King Ratnaratha and Queen Purnachandranana have a daughter, Manorama, and the anxious king asks his ministers whom she should marry. Many days pass in this worry until Narada comes to his court; honoured and asked for advice, Narada names Lakshmana, Rama's brother and the Narayana, the handsome lord of the three khandas (three of the six divisions of Bharata), before whose chakra (discus) every king bows and whom gods and Vidyadharas serve.

At this Ratnaratha's proud sons Harivega, Manovega, Vayuvega and others blaze up like the fire at the end of an age, declaring that Rama and Lakshmana are their enemies whom they mean to kill, that they will never give them the princess, and that the wicked Narada should be thrown out. As servants rush at him, Narada flies off through the sky straight to Lakshmana in Ayodhya.

After talk of many lands, Narada shows Lakshmana a portrait of Manorama, the loveliest maiden in the three worlds, and steadfast hero though he is, Lakshmana is captivated at first sight and feels his kingdom fruitless and his life vain without this jewel among women. He tells Narada that those sinful, arrogant and petty princes who opposed him for praising Lakshmana will lose their pride and be made to fall at Narada's feet, and asks him to be at peace.

Lakshmana summons the Vidyadhara Viradhita and orders him to prepare for war against King Ratnaratha of Ratnapura, writing to all the Vidyadharas to gather the whole army. Viradhita sends the letters, the kings arrive at once with great armies, and Lakshmana and Rama march with them and soon reach Ratnapura.

Ratnaratha comes out with his whole army and a great battle is fought with discuses, saws, axes, arrows and swords while apsaras (celestial nymphs) shower flowers on the warriors from the sky. Lakshmana himself fights like the undersea fire that dries up the ocean of the enemy host, Rama, Sugriva, Hanuman and the others join in on chariots, horses and elephants, and the Vidyadhara army scatters like clouds before the wind.

Seeing Ratnaratha and his sons in flight, Narada claps his hands with delight and laughs, asking the sons why, having been unable to bear the praise of Lakshmana, they now run away in disgrace, and they have no answer. Just then Princess Manorama rides up in a chariot with many companions, full of love for Lakshmana, as Indrani comes to Indra, and the sight of her calms Lakshmana and gladdens his heart.

Ratnaratha, who knows the demands of time and place, sees how mighty Rama and Lakshmana are, lays aside his pride and comes with his sons and many gifts to submit. Before everyone Narada asks him whether he is Ratnaratha, jewel-chariot, or Rajaratha, dust-chariot, and teases the sons for bowing at the feet of the very Vasudeva and Baladeva they abused at home; the sons reply that even his anger has brought them joy, since without it they would never have met such great men, whose company is so rarely won.

After pleasant talk they all enter the city together; Shridama, beautiful as Rati, is married to Rama, and Manorama, as delightful as her name, is married to Lakshmana. The chapter teaches that such wondrous gains come from great merit, and that compassion is the finest ornament of human life: one who keeps vows, austerities, charity and worship but does not protect living beings has done nothing, for only by protecting others is one's own life protected.