Ramayana Condensed in the Poet's Own Words /388

370
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
" O sinless one, despair no more on my

account. Make good your promise by

killing Ravana to-day."
 

 
लक्ष्मणेन तु तद्वाक्यमुक्तं श्रुत्वा स राघवः ।

रावणाय शरान् घोरान् विससर्ज चमूमुखे ॥
 

Hearing these words spoken by

Lakshmana, Raghava let fly terrific arrows

against Ravana in the battle-front.
 

 
दशग्रीवो रथस्थस्तु रामं वज्रोपमैः शरैः ।

आजधाघान महाघोरैः धाराभिरिव तोयदः ॥
 

But Ravana seated in his car struck

Rama with highly terrific arrows like

thunderbolts even as a cloud pours forth

torrents (of rain).
 

 
भूमौ स्थितस्य रामस्य रथस्थस्य च रक्षसः ।

न समं युद्धमित्याहुः देवगन्धर्वदानवाः ॥
 

All the Gods, the Gandharvas and the

Danavas said then that the fight was

unequal between Rama standing on the

ground and the Rakshasa seated in his

chariot.