Ravana thought to himself, ‘The demons have been wiped out and I am left alone, while the monkeys and the bears are still many; I must put forth my boundless magic power.’

When the gods saw that the Lord was on foot, they were exceedingly disquieted. Indra at once sent his own chariot, which Matali (Indra’s charioteer) gladly brought there.

It was a splendid chariot, divine, incomparable, which Rama the king of Kosala was delighted to mount. It was driven by four high-mettled steeds, charming and deathless, ever young and swift as thought.

Seeing Rama the lord of the House of Raghu mounted on this chariot, the monkeys rushed forward with renewed vigour. Their onset was irresistible. Then Ravana exerted his magic power.

The illusive creation did not touch Raghubira, but Lakshmana and the monkeys took it for reality. They saw among the demon ranks a multitude of Ramas and Lakshmanas.

Seeing the multitude of Ramas and Lakshmanas, the monkeys and the bears were filled with great false fear. All of them, including Lakshmana, stood gazing like the figures in a picture wherever they were. The lord of Ayodhya smiled when he saw his army thus bewildered; he fitted an arrow to his bow, and in a trice Hari dissipated the delusion to the delight of the whole monkey host.

Then Rama looked upon them all and spoke in solemn tones: ‘Watch now my duel (with Ravana); for you, my heroes, are all toilworn.’