‘Angad and Hanuman have forced their way into the fort,’ so said the lord of Avadh. ‘Rampaging in Lanka, the two monkeys look like a pair of Mandarachalas churning up the ocean.’

Having crushed and destroyed the enemy’s hosts with the might of their arms and perceiving that it was now the close of day, the two champions leapt down without any exertion and came into the presence of the Blessed Lord Rama.

They bowed their heads at the Lord’s lotus feet, and Raghunatha was pleased to see his valiant warriors again. Graciously Rama looked upon them both, and at once their fatigue was gone and they were supremely happy.

On learning that Angad and Hanuman had left the field, the numerous monkey and bear champions turned to follow them, but the demons, recovering their strength at nightfall, made a fresh onslaught, shouting, ‘Ravana to the rescue!’

Seeing the demon host coming on, the monkey warriors turned again and gnashing their teeth in fury, closed with their opponents on every side. The two gallant armies stood formidable, their champions impatiently challenging the foe and coming to a grim fight without admitting defeat.

The demons were all great warriors and black of hue, while the monkeys were stupendous in size and of many different colours. The two armies were equally strong, with equally matched champions; displaying their marvellous feats of prowess, they fought with fury,

as though masses of clouds of the rainy season were driven against autumn clouds by the force of the wind. When they saw, that their troops had begun to lose ground, the generals, Anipa, Akampana and Atikaya, had recourse to a magic illusion;