THE BATTLE BEGINS

Suddenly, and without any noise or warning to any one, Sugreeva sprang up into the sky and alighted on the terrace on top of tower in Lanka, where he saw Raavana seated clad in red royal robes like a thick black cloud seen in the red evening sky. The scar caused by the tusk of Indra's elephant, shone like a crescent moon on his chest.

"Raavana! You are caught!" cried Sugreeva. "I am a friend and servant of Raama. This is your last day!"

And he sprang on him, knocked off his crown and gave him a mighty blow. The two wrestled together for a long time. Both were experts in wrestling. All the tricks of that science were tried by each. Raavana was at the end of his resources and so he discarded wrestling and took to magic and Sugreeva seeing this disentangled himself and sprang back to where Raama was.

The Vaanara leaders, who saw the son of Soorya return, shouted praises and made a great noise of congratulations at this derring-do, rash and reckless no doubt, but such as would give the Raakshasas some idea of the mettle of the foes they were up against.

Raama too was glad to see that Sugreeva had returned safe. Observing bleeding wounds on his body, he said:

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