Where is Vibhishana, his brother’s enemy? I shall assuredly slay them all today, and him (Vibhishana) too. So saying, he fitted sharp arrows to his bow and in a transport of rage drew the bow-string to his ear.

He began to hurl showers of darts that sped like so many winged serpents. Everywhere monkeys might be seen falling to the ground; there was not one who could face him at that hour.

The bears and monkeys took to flight in every direction and every wish to fight was clean forgotten. Not a monkey or a bear could be seen on the field of battle whom he had left with more than his bare life.

He struck his opponents with ten shafts each, and the monkey warriors fell to the ground. With the roar as of a lion, Meghanada thundered in the pride of his invincible might.

When Hanuman saw that his army was in distress, he was frantic with rage and rushed forth as if he were death personified; quickly tearing up an enormous mountain rock, he hurled it at Meghanada, his spirits swelling in rising wrath.

When he saw the rock coming, he sprang into the air, leaving his chariot, charioteer and horses to perish. Again and again did Hanuman shout a challenge, but the demon would not come nearer, for he was well aware of the monkey’s mysterious might.

Meghanada now approached Rama and assailed him with every kind of abuse and hurled at him showers of weapons and missiles of every description; but the Lord with the utmost ease snapped them asunder, warding them off.