Having uttered this taunt, Ravana in a fury began to shoot his arrows like so many thunderbolts. Shafts of various designs sped forth till all the cardinal and intermediate directions of heaven and earth were filled with them.

But Raghunatha discharged an arrow of fire, and in a moment the demon’s bolts were all consumed. Maddened by the shame, he hurled forth his fierce lance, but the Lord sent it back again with his arrow.

Myriads of discs and tridents then Ravana launched, but the Lord without an effort snapped them and cast them aside. Ravana’s arrows were as unavailing as are always the ambitions of the wicked.

Then with a hundred arrows he smote Rama’s charioteer (Matali), who fell to the ground, crying, ‘Victory to Rama!’ So Rama in his compassion raised the charioteer up again, but a terrible fury then possessed him.

When Raghunatha flew into a passion in the fight against the foe, the arrows in his quiver began to fidget. At the dreadful twanging of his bow the man-eating demons were all seized with terror. Mandodari’s heart quaked; the ocean, the tortoise, the earth and the hills trembled; the elephants of the quarters trumpeted and clutched the globe with their tusks. The gods laughed at this amusing sight.

Drawing the bowstring to his ear, Rama let fly many a dreadful dart, which sped forth quivering like so many serpents.

The arrows flew forth like winged serpents and at the first onset slew the charioteer an the horses; then, smashing the chariot, they tore off his ensign and flags. Even though his strength had inwardly ebbed away, he roared aloud-