Hearing Sītā-devī’s loud cries, Jaṭāyu woke up from sleep and noticed Rāvaṇa and her. He then identified himself and requested Rāvaṇa to release Mother Sītā. When Rāvaṇa didn’t do so, Jaṭāyu angrily criticized him. Challenging him to enter into a duel with him, Jaṭāyu obstructed Rāvaṇa.