Confident in Rāma’s determination, it was said that Rāghava would surely cross the ocean with ease, accompanied by his devoted brother and the vast army at his command, moving with all the strength and swiftness the situation demanded. Indeed, Rāma might even dry up the ocean by his sheer valor, or accomplish some other extraordinary feat. Therefore, it was urged that, with the monkeys as adversaries, all matters beneficial for the city and the army should be thoroughly discussed together. Now, listen to the seventh chapter. Thus addressed by their king, the mighty Rākṣasas, their palms joined in reverence, spoke to Rāvaṇa, lord of the Rākṣasas. “O King,” they began, “though we are unaware of the enemy’s true strength and may lack in wisdom or strategy, we possess clubs, spears, javelins, tridents, and slings—ample weapons for battle. Why, then, does Your Majesty, with such a vast army, fall into despondency? Did you not conquer the serpents in battle when you reached Bhogavatī? Surrounded by the formidable Yakṣas dwelling on the peaks of Kailāsa, you wrought a great slaughter and brought the lord of wealth under your sway. You, praised for your friendship with Maheśvara, once defeated the mighty guardian of the world in battle, driven by wrath. Having struck down hosts of Yakṣas and subdued them, you brought back this wondrous aerial chariot from the summit of Kailāsa. The mighty lord of the Dānavas, strong and hard to approach, was subdued by you in conflict, bringing comfort to Kumbhīnasī. You conquered the serpents after reaching the netherworld—Vāsuki, Takṣaka, Śaṅkha, and Jaṭī all came under your control. The Dānavas, who were inexhaustible and powerful, heroic and granted boons, were subdued by you after a year of war. Relying on your own strength, you vanquished them, O destroyer of foes, and there you acquired many magical powers. You also conquered the heroic and powerful sons of Varuṇa, who came with all four divisions of their army. You entered the great ocean of Yama’s realm, adorned with the Śālmalī tree, filled with the deadly rod of death, the great noose of time, and Yama’s serpent attendants. You plunged into that mighty ocean of Yama’s world, which is hard to withstand because of its great fever and power. There, you achieved a great victory and warded off death itself; by your excellent battle, all the worlds were greatly satisfied. Once, the earth was filled with many heroic Kṣatriyas, equal in valor to Indra, standing tall like great trees. In strength, virtue, and vigor, Rāghava is not their equal in battle; those unconquerable in war have all been slain by you, O King. Therefore, either remain at ease, O great king, or rest from your exertions; for this one, mighty-armed Indrajit, your son, alone will destroy the Vānaras. Having worshipped the supreme lord Maheśvara with a sacrifice, Indrajit obtained a boon most difficult to attain in the world. With his spear and javelin, he has turned the battlefield into a sea scattered with entrails like seaweed, crowded with elephants and tortoises, and filled with horses and frogs. He has made it a great ocean of Rudras, Ādityas, and mighty crocodiles, filled with Maruts, Vasus, and great serpents, with chariots, horses, and elephants as waves, and foot soldiers as the vast shore. Indeed, he once reached the ocean of the gods’ forces, captured the lord of the gods, and even brought him into Laṅkā. Released only by the command of the Grandfather, the slayer of Śambara and Vṛtra departed to heaven, honored by all the gods, O King. Therefore, send forth your son Indrajit himself, until he brings destruction upon the Vānara army, together with Rāma. O King, this adversity has arisen from mere men; do not let it disturb your heart, for you will slay Rāghava. Now, hear the eighth sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa. Then Prahasta, a Rākṣasa as dark as a rain cloud, brave and commander of the army, spoke with joined palms: “The gods, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Piśācas, birds, and serpents—all have been overcome; what, then, of two men in battle? All these, being careless and trusting, were deceived by Hanūmat; but as long as I live, that forest-dweller shall not escape alive. Just command me, and I will make the entire earth up to the ocean, with its mountains, forests, and groves, free of Vānaras. I will arrange protection from the Vānaras, O night-wanderer; no suffering caused by your own fault will come to you.” Then, greatly enraged, a Rākṣasa named Durmukha spoke: “This insult is not to be tolerated by any of us. It is a further humiliation for the city and the inner palace—the insult to the illustrious king of the Rākṣasas by a Vānara.” Next, the mighty Vajradaṃṣṭra, seizing a terrible iron club stained with flesh and blood, spoke in anger: “What need have we for Hanuman, that wretched ascetic, while the indomitable Rāma stands, along with Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa? Today, I alone will go forth with my iron club and, after striking down Rāma, Sugrīva, and Lakṣmaṇa, I will scatter the monkey army. Hear also this counsel of mine, O King, if you wish: one skilled in strategy and untiring surely conquers his enemies. Thousands of Rākṣasas, O lord of the night-walkers, valiant, terrifying, dreadful in appearance, and able to assume any form at will, are ready for battle.” Thus, the Rākṣasas, filled with memories of their king’s past victories and their own pride, rallied around Rāvaṇa, each offering counsel and pledging their might for the coming war.