Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Yuddha Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 93 of 128

That king, who was dejected and very much distressed, having entered the ssembly-hall, sat on his pre-eminent seat, snorting like a lion.

That mighty Ravana, who was emaciated for his son’s death, having joined both his palms in salutation, spoke the following words all those chiefs of army: .

“Surrounded by the entire elephants and horses, as also graced with columns of chariots and foot-soldiers, all of you march forward.”

“Encircling Rama alone, you have to kill him, by showering streams of arrows upon him, even as clouds pour showers during the rainy season.”

“Or I shall kill Rama, while the world is witnessing it tomorrow, once his limbs are torn by you with your sharp arrows in the great battle.”

Having heard those words of Ravana, those demons sallied forth for the battle, along with various kinds of armies and speedy chariots.

With their sharp teeth and nails, the monkeys tore off the hair, ears, eye-brows and noses of the demons.

A hundred monkey-chiefs rushed towards each single demon in the battle, even as birds would rush towards a tree laden with fruits.

Then, the demons resembling mountain in size, struck down the terrific monkeys with large maces, darts, swords and axes.

The huge army of monkeys, being struck down by the demons, sought refuge in Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who affords protection.

Thereupon, Rama of great splendour and prowess, taking up his bow and entering the army of demons, streamed forth showers of arrows.

Those highly terrific demons dared not approach Rama, having entered their ranks, was scorching them with the flame of his arrows, even as clouds would not approach the scorching sun in the sky.

Those demons saw the most terrible deeds only of Rama, when they were actually performed by him in the battle-field, which were difficult to perform for others.

Those demons could not actually see Rama, whle he was shaking their huge army and blowing away their great chariots, any more than one could see a gale of wind in a forest.

They saw the army torn and pierced with arrows, as also scorched, broken down and tormented with missiles. They could not see Rama, who was so swift in his martial art.

The demons could not behold Rama hitting their bodies, even as created beings are not able to see their individual souls resting in their sense-objects.

Having been thrown into confusion by the great mystic missile presided over by the Gandharvas, the celestial musicians; presided over by the Gandharvas, the celestial musicians; those demons were unable to see Rama, even when he was scorching away their army.

Those demons for their part saw thousands of Rama’s in the battle-field, while at other times, they saw only one Rama in that great battle.

Those demons for their part saw thousands of Ramas in the battle-field; while at other times, they saw only one Rama in that great battle.

Those surviving demons, with their horses killed, with their chariots destroyed, with thier flag-staffs broken and with broken spirits, rushed back towards the City of Lanka.

That battle-field, with elephants, foot-soldiers and horses killed, looked like a pleasure-grave of the powerful and the enraged the lord of destruction.

Then, the celestials along with Gandharvas the celestial musicians, holy saints and great sages acclaimed that feat of Rama, saying “well done, well done!”.

Rama, a compeer of Indra the lord of celestials, the great souled, unwearied in the use of weapons and missiles, having destroyed that army of demons, was applauded by the rejoiced troops of celestials.