Next, with a hundred arrows more he smote his breast so that he fell insensible to the ground. On recovering from his swoon Ravana the redoubtable demon rose again and launched the spear that Brahma had given him.

That fierce spear, the gift of Brahma, struck Lakshmana full in the breast, and the hero dropped disconsolately to the ground. The Ten-headed tried to lift him up but failed for all the glory of his matchless strength. Ravana, the fool, sought to lift up him on whose one head rests the whole created universe like a mere grain of dust! He recognized not the Lord of the three spheres, Lakshmana.

When the Son of the Wind saw Lakshmana lying on the ground, he rushed forward with insults and abuse; but as the monkey came on, the monster struck him a terrible blow with his fist.

Hanuman dropped on his knees but fell not to the ground; on recovering himself, he rose in exceeding wrath and smote Ravana a blow with his fist; he fell like a mountain smitten by a thunderbolt.

When he recovered from the swoon and regained his consciousness, he began to admire the monkey’s marvellous strength; but Hanuman cried, ‘Shame, shame on my manhood! Shame on myself, if you, O enemy of the gods, yet remain alive!’

So speaking, Hanuman carried Lakshmana away; Ravana was amazed at this sight. ‘My brother,’ said Raghubira, ‘remember that you are the devourer of Death and the saviour of the gods!’

Upon hearing these words the gracious prince (Lakshmana) arose and sat up, while that fierce spear vanished into the heavens. Taking his bow and arrows again, Lakshmana sallied out with a high heart bent on war with the foe.