A great battle was to follow. So the Devas and Gandharvas hovered in the heavens
to watch the fight. They uttered benedictions and prayed for Raama's victory. The rishis
had misgivings. How was Raama, standing single, to meet and quell this huge army? As Raama
stood there, bow in hand, the radiance of his face was like *that of Rudra himself when he
bent Pinaaka his great bow.
The Raakshasa force advanced in proud
array, with drums and trumpets and the clanking pageantry of war filling the quarters with
clamour and causing the denizens of the forest to stampede in all directions. Raama stood
holding his bow with his band on the string. Like great black clouds disturbing the sun
the Raakshasa hordes surrounded him. |
