That uproar created by the vanaras, who were full of martial ardour, startled Ravana, his counselors and other rakshashas around him. Hearing that mighty clamour, sounding smooth and deep, Ravana told, with a slightly quivering voice all those present around him "That uproar, resembling the rumbling of clouds, seems to have been created by that horde of rejoicing vanaras. It sounds their joy is great. Their roar seems to be agitating the briny ocean itself. Those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana were tied by sharp arrows. I, therefore wonder why this sound of exuberance of such a great magnitude. I am a bit apprehensive."
After pondering for a few moments, Ravana told the rakshashas around him "You immediately find the reason for this general rejoicing over there among the vanaras."
On going to the ramparts they noticed that Sugreeva as well as Rama and Lakshmana were in the lead of the vanara army. All the rakshashas felt some nasty feeling in the tummies and wanted to hit the loo or whatever it was called then. Controlling with great difficulty and with their hearts palpitating with fear and faces turning pale, all those terrified rakshashas descended from the ramparts and ran to Ravana.
In quivering voices they informed Ravana of the unpleasant info "The two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, whom Indrajit had bound with his benumbing shafts and whose arms he had pinioned, are free from the arrows which paralyzed them and now appear on the field of battle, as two strong elephants who have snapped their fetters."
Ravana was puzzled to hear the news as he was told earlier by his dear son Intrajit that he had killed those two humans. All his ten faces turned pale. He expressed his thoughts aloud "If those chaps, having been bound by Indrajit are freed, despite their injuries in battle by the formidable arrows which were infallible, resembling serpents, bright as the sun, I perceive my entire army in jeopardy. Those very arrows, bright as fire, which in battle have taken the life of my enemies, have now been rendered void indeed!"
Thinking after a few moments, hissing like a snake, he addressed a rakshash yclept Dhumraksha who was also around him "You, with such a terrific prowess should be able to at least contain Rama and his animals, if not eliminate them. Go quickly with a considerable force of rakshashas and slay Rama, Lakshmana and his vanaras."
Dhumraksha, having no choice other than to obey his king, quickly departed from the royal palace. Having crossed that gate, he shouted at the General of the forces "Mobilize the army immediately."
Dhumraksha, having got the mobilized army following him, kept the army ready quickly, as per Ravana's command. Dhumraksha then with a mule-like clatter, set out in a celestial chariot to which mules adorned with gold and heads of deer and lions were hitched. That Dhumraksha of mighty prowess, surrounded by rakshashas, set forth amidst mocking laughter, through the western gate where the vanara army-chief Hanuman was stationed. As he mounted and advanced in an excellent chariot harnessed by mules, birds of ill-omen in the sky cautioned that advancing rakshash of very terrible and fearful appearance.
A highly terrible vulture alighted on the top of his chariot, while some other vultures clustered on the point of his standard. The earth trembled. The wind with the noise resembling a thunder blew adversely. Every quarter, obscured by abundant darkness, did not dazzle. Seeing those terrible omens that appeared in all their horror to the rakshashas, Dhumraksha became perturbed. Terror seized all the rakshashas who were advancing in front of Dhumraksha.
Dhumraksha, the highly terrible and strong rakshash, surrounded by a multitude of rakshashas, gaped at that army of a multitude of vanaras, resembling a flood, protected by Rama.
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