Years passed by and the children grew into bold and brave adolescence. Their command over bow and arrow was not to be equaled by anyone on the earth.
(Sri Ram was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the savior of the universe, who had come to the earth to eliminate the evil and restore Dharma - righteousness. But this divine play cannot be known to many. Only a few sages were aware that Divinity had taken birth on this earth. Rest (like us) including the king, the queens, the citizens of Ayodhya took Ram and his brothers as ordinary humans.)
Ram and Laxman defeat the demons
Meanwhile the forest-dwelling rishis and sages encountered great obstacles and difficulties in performing their rituals of Yagnas. The evil tendencies in the form of demons used to interfere in their practice and rites by way of beating up the rishis and their associates. Moreover, the demons used to pour blood and flesh into the sacrificial fire which made the Yagna 'impure'.
Therefore, a delegation of such rishis and sages led by the great sage Vishwamitra requested king Dasharath to send Ram and Laxman to their rescue. They convinced the king that although Ram and Laxman were young and inexperienced, their bravery was unparalleled and unchallenged. These two brothers alone were capable of fighting the mighty demons and teach them a lesson for ever.
The tender heart of the Mother tried to resist this tough request. No mother wants her beloved son to take to such an arduous task at such a tender age. But the noble and dutiful king acceded to the just request of the rishis.
Thus, the first encounter was on cards where fight between the good and bad tendencies was to occur. Of course, the truth and good always prevails. And as such the young princes defeated the demons and returned to Ayodhya in due course of time. The fame and glory of Sri Ram and his brothers spread all over Ayodhya as well as to far off places.
The mighty demon king Ravan in the far-off Lanka also learnt about this upcoming force, a challenge to his supremacy.
