Having thus upset his sacrifice, the monkeys, all illustrious in war, returned to Raghunatha, while the demon set out burning fiercer with fury, abandoning all hope of life.

As he went, terrible omens of ill occurred to him; vultures flew and perched on his heads. But he was marked out for death and heeded no omen. ‘Beat the drums of war!’ he cried.

Out marched the four divisions of the endless demon army – innumerable elephants, chariots, horsemen and foot-soldiers. The wicked demons rushed on to confront the Lord like swarms of moths darting towards the fire.

Meanwhile, the gods prayed to the Lord, saying, ‘He has caused us grievous trouble; sport with him no more, O Rama, for Janaki is in sore distress.’

Raghunatha smiled when he heard the god’s prayer; then he arose and made ready his arrows. He bound his tresses tightly in a knot on his head, enchanting with flowers interwined.

With his ruddy eyes and his body dark as a rain-cloud he ravished the eyes of all in every sphere. There was a quiver fastened to a piece of cloth girt round his loins and in his hand the formidable Sharnga bow.

With the Sharnga bow in his hand and his beautiful quiver full of arrows fastened to his waist, with his lusty arms and fine broad chest adorned with the print of the Brahman’s (Bhrigu’s) foot, when the Lord – says Tulasidasa – began to twirl has bow and arrows in his hands, the whole universe, the elephants guarding the eight quarters, the divine tortoise, the serpent-god (Shesha) and the earth with its oceans and mountains, all began to reel.