Chapter LXXI: Section LXIXII

Hearing Atikaya slain by the high-souled Lakshmana, the king was filled with exceeding great anxiety and spoke thus,--"Dhumraksha exceedingly wrathful,--best of those equipped with all arms--and Akampana and Prahasta and Kumbhakarna--all these exceedingly mighty heroes--Rakshasas ever seeking warfare, conquerers of the forces of foes, and never defeated by antagonists, have together with their hosts been slain by Rama of untiring feats. And other Rakshasas having gigantic bodies and skilled in various arms,--countless high-souled heroes--have also been brought down. These brothers were formerly bound by my son Indrajit of renowned strength and prowess with terrific shafts, obtained as boons. And I do not know by what power or superhuman virtue or stupifying energy did those brothers--Rama and Lakshmana--liberate themselves from those dreadful bonds, which could be loosed neither by celestials nor the highly powerful Asuras combined nor Yakyas, Gandharbas and Pannagas. And all those heroic Rakshasa warriors that marched forth at my bidding, have been destroyed by monkeys of marvellous might. Him see I not that can now slay Rama with Lakshmana,--that hero together with his forces and Sugriva and Bibhishana. Alack! mighty must be Rama and wondrous is his strength of weapon--he coming in contact with whose prowess, these Rakshasas have met with their deaths. Now let this palace be everywhere guarded by a vigilant garrison,--as also the _acoka_ wood where Sita is being guarded. We should always be acquainted with the ingress and egress (of every person). And do ye, surrounded by forces, remain where there are garrisons. And the night-rangers should in the evening, at midnight and in the morning always watch the movements of the monkeys. The monkeys should by no means be slighted. And ye should know whether the enemy putteth forth (fresh) efforts,--and whether they advance or remain stationed where they at present are".--Thereupon those exceeding mighty Rakshasas did as they had been desired. And having directed them, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--bearing the dart of ire (in his heart), in forlorn guise entered his own mansion. And with the fire of his rage blazing up, the exceedingly powerful sovereign of the night-rangers, absorbed with the danger that had befallen his son, began to sigh momentarily.