01At Panchavati
Ravana’s sister came upon Rama at Panchavati and wanted him at once. Rama told her, half in jest, that he was married and pointed her to Lakshmana; Lakshmana sent her back to Rama. Mocked by both, she rushed at Sita to devour her, thinking Sita stood in her way. Rama caught her back and told Lakshmana to disfigure her, and Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears. Her name means one with nails like winnowing fans.
02Khara’s fourteen thousand
She ran screaming to her brother Khara, who held Janasthana with an army of rakshasas. He sent fourteen of his strongest; Rama killed them all. Then Khara came himself with Dushana and Trishiras and fourteen thousand rakshasas. Rama sent Lakshmana into a cave with Sita and faced the whole host alone, and when the dust settled every one of them was dead, Khara last. Only one rakshasa, Akampana, escaped to Lanka with the news.
03In Ravana’s court
Then she went to Ravana herself and shamed him in his own court. A king who does not know that Janasthana has fallen, she said, is no king; his spies are useless and his people will leave him. She told him of Rama and his archery, and then of Sita, describing her beauty until Ravana’s mind was fixed. That is how the war began.
The Uttara Kanda gives her history. Her husband Vidyujjihva was killed by Ravana himself in his campaigns of conquest; to make amends Ravana sent her to live in Dandaka under Khara’s protection.