ht,
And Gandhamadan next in rank
Defend and guide the other flank.
I, like the God who rules the sky
Borne on Airavat(900) mounted high
On stout Hanuman's back will ride,
The central host to cheer and guide.
Fierce as the God who rules below,
On Angad's back let Lakshman show
Like him who wealth to mortals shares,(901)
The lord whom Sarvabhauma(902) bears.
The bold Sushen's impetuous might,
And Vegadarsi's piercing sight,
And Jambavan whom bears revere,
Illustrious three, shall guard the rear."

He ceased, the royal Vanar heard,
And swift, obedient to his word,
Sprang forth in numbers none might tell
From mountain, cave, and bosky dell,
From rocky ledge and breezy height,
Fierce Vanars burning for the fight.
And Rama's course was southward bent
Amid the mighty armament.
On, joyous, pressed in close array
The hosts who owned Sugriva's sway,
With nimble feet, with rapid bound
Exploring, ere they passed, the ground,
While from ten myriad throats rang out
The challenge and the battle shout.
On roots and honeycomb they fed,
And clusters from the boughs o'erhead,
Or from the ground the tall trees tore
Rich with the flowery load they bore.
Some carried comrades, wild with mirth,
Then cast their riders to the earth,
Who swiftly to their feet arose
And overthrew their laughing foes.
While still rang out the general cry,
"King Ravan and his fiends shall die,"
Still on, exulting in the pride
Of conscious strength, the Vanars hied,
And gazed where noble Sahya, best
Of mountains, raised each towering crest.
They looked on lake and streamlet, where
The lotus bloom was bright and fair,
Nor marched--for Rama's hest they feared
Where town or haunt of men appeared.
Still onward, fearful as the waves
Of Ocean when he roars and raves,
Led by their eager chieftains, went
The Vanars' countless armament.
Each captain, like a noble steed
Urged by the lash to double speed.
Pressed onward, filled with zeal and pride,
By Rama's and his brother's side,
Who high above the Vanar throng
On mighty backs were borne along,
Like the great Lords of Day and Night
Seized by eclipsing planets might.
Then Lakshman radiant as the morn,
On Angad's shoulders high upborne.
With sweet consoling words that woke
New ardour, to his brother spoke:
"Soon shalt thou turn, thy queen regained
And impious Ravan's life-blood drained,
In happiness and high renown
To dear Ayodhya's happy town.
I see around exceeding fair
All omens of the eart