The demon ranks thinned day and night, as merit thins when one makes a display of it. Great was the lamentation that Ravana made as again and again he clasped his brother’s head to his heart.

The women wept the beat their breasts as they paid tribute to his pre-eminent majesty and vigor. Just then Meghanada arrived and with many a reassuring tale comforted his father:

‘Be witness tomorrow of the valiant feats I shall perform; need I make idle boasts now? I have had no occasion to show you, father, the strength and the chariot I have acquired from my patron divinity.’

While he was thus vaunting, the day broke, and throngs of monkeys swarmed round the four gates in a mass. On this side ranged the monkeys and the bears, warriors terrible as death, while on the other stood the demons, exceedingly staunch in battle.

Valiantly the warriors on both sides battled, each thirsting for victory – a battle, Garuda, that battles all description.

Mounting his magic chariot, Meghanada flew up into the air and roared with a peal of laughter, which struck the monkey host with terror.

He hurled down a volley of lances and pikes, swords and scimitars, axes, bludgeons and stones, and other missiles and weapons of every description, terrible as a thunderbolt, followed by a shower of shafts in profusion.