One day, in distant Longka, Totsagan, the King of the Demons, hears of the beauty of Nang Seeda and determines that she shall become one of his wives.  Nang Monto, his own favorite, warns him that Ram is the incarnation of the god Narai and that the abduction of Seeda can only be followed by war. Totsagan, however, has already made up his mind and is not to be deterred.

Early in the morning, accompanied by Mareet, one of his subjects, he mounts his chariot and flies over the ocean and forest until he comes to the Kotawaree River, near which the royal hermits have their hut.

At Totsagan's instruction, Mareet changes himself into a gazelle.  He darts across the clearing before the eyes of Nang Seeda and disappears into the undergrowth.  Enchanted by the beauty of the animal, Seeda implores her lord either to catch it or bring her its magnificent pelt.  Phra Ram suspects that the beast is a piece of enchantment but overcoming his foreboding takes his bow and follows the gazelle into the forest, having first warned his brother to guard Nang Seeda well.  Mareet, with terror in his heart, flies deeper and deeper into the forest, but Ram at last corners the beast and mortally wounds it.  Mareet falls, as he does so crying out in Phra Ram's voice, "Oh, Lak, help me. I am trapped by a demon. Help, help !"

The call rings through the forest to the hermit's hut, but Lak, knowing that no mere demon could bring about his brother's end, remains with Nang Seeda.  She, however, now distracted at the thought that Phra Ram is in danger, entreats Lak to go to his aid and, when he still hesitates, taunts him for his cowardice and worse, accuses him of hoping that if his brother dies, she, Nang Seeda, will become his wife.  Seeing that it is useless to reason with the distraught Seeda, Phra Lak prostrates himself dutifully before her and hurries off into the forest, hoping to return within a matter of minutes.

Seeda is left alone.