The repeated severing of his heads will so disconcert him that the thought of you will escape his mind, and then the sagacious Rama will strike Ravana in the heart.’

With many such accents Trijata comforted Sita and then returned to her own home. As she recalled Rama’s loving disposition. Janaki was overwhelmed with the agony of separation.

Reproaching the night and the moon in so many ways, she said, ‘The night has assumed the length of an age and is never-ending.’ Disconsolate at her separation from Rama, Janaki made sore lamentation within herself.

When the anguish of bereavement was at its very height, her left eye and arm began to throb. Considering it to be a good omen, she took heart and said to herself, ‘I shall now see the gracious Raghubira once again.’

Meanwhile, Ravana awoke from his swoon at midnight and began to rage and fume against his charioteer: ‘Fool, to have brought me away from the battlefield! Curses, curses on you, you vile dullard!’

The charioteer clasped Ravana’s feet and endeavoured to soothe his anger. At daybreak Ravana mounted his car and sallied forth again. When they heard of Ravana’s approach, the monkey ranks were wildly agitated.

Rooting up mountains and trees wherever they could find them, the mighty warriors rushed to the fray, gnashing their teeth.