eds of thousands of Rakshasas, of terrible mien, and capable
of assuming any form at will, came out at the command of the king. And
pouring a perfect shower of arrows and driving the denizens of the
forest, those warriors, displaying great prowess, adorned the ramparts.
And soon those wanderers of the night, looking like masses of flesh, and
of terrible mien, forced the monkeys to leave the walls. And mangled by
the enemies' lances, numerous monkey-chiefs fell down from the ramparts,
and crushed by the falling columns and gate-ways, numerous Rakshasas
also fell down to rise no more. And the monkeys and the brave Rakshasas
that commenced to eat up the foe, struggled, seizing one another by the
hair, and mangling and tearing one another with their nails and teeth.
And the monkeys and the Rakshasas roared and yelled frightfully, and
while many of both parties were slain and fell down to rise no more,
neither side gave up the contest. And Rama continued all the while to
shower a thick downpour of arrows like the very clouds. And the arrows
he shot, enveloping Lanka, killed large numbers of Rakshasas. And the
son of Sumitra, too, that mighty bowman incapable of being fatigued in
battle, naming particular Rakshasas stationed on the ramparts, slew them
with his clothyard shafts. And then the monkey host, having achieved
success was withdrawn at the command of Rama, after it had thus pulled
down the fortifications of Lanka and made all objects within the city
capable of being aimed at by the besieging force.'"
SECTION CCLXXXIII
"Markandeya said, 'And while those troops (thus withdrawn) were reposing
themselves in their quarters, many little Rakshasas and _Pisachas_
owning Ravana as their leader, penetrated amongst them. And among these
were _Parvana, Patana, Jambha, Khara, Krodha-vasa, Hari, Praruja, Aruja_
and _Praghasa_, and others. And as these wicked ones were penetrating
(the monkey host) in their invisible forms, Vibhishana, who had the
knowledge thereof, broke the spell of their invisibility. And once seen,
O king, by the powerful and long-leaping monkeys, they were all slain
and prostrated on the earth, deprived of life. And unable to endure
this, Ravana marched out at the head of his troops. And surrounded by
his terrible army of Rakshasas and _Pisachas_, Ravana who was conversant
with the rules of warfare like a second _Usanas_ invested the monkey
host, having disposed his troops in that array which is named after
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