After the valiant army of monkeys had crossed the ocean by means of Nala’s remarkable bridge, they settled upon the opposite shore. The land was generous, abundant with roots, fruits, and fresh water, all for the sake of their king. Witnessing this wondrous and difficult deed accomplished by Rāghava, the gods, joined by the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and great sages, swiftly approached Rāma. In reverence, they anointed him separately with auspicious waters, honoring him with sacred words: “Conquer your enemies, O king; rule the earth, bounded by the seas, for countless ages.” Thus, they celebrated Rāma, revered among men, with many blessings. Now, listen to the twenty-third sarga of the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa. Observing the omens, Rāma—the knower of signs and elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa—embraced Saumitri and spoke thoughtfully, “Let us take cool water and fruits from the forest, divide this great army, and arrange our formation, O Lakṣmaṇa. I sense a dreadful fear approaching, one that portends destruction for the world—a fierce slaughter among the mighty monkeys, bears, and rākṣasas. The winds blow foul; the earth trembles; mountain peaks shake and great trees fall. Ominous, harsh clouds, like flesh-eaters, pour down cruel, mixed drops of blood. The twilight glows an intense red, like red sandalwood, and from the blazing sun, a fiery circle falls. Wild animals and birds everywhere, distressed and wailing toward the sun, fill the air with mournful cries, causing great fear. “At night, the moon, unlit, torments with its rays—its edges black and red—as if it has risen to destroy the world. Around the clear sun, a short, harsh, inauspicious, red halo appears, and a blue mark is seen. A great mass of dust obscures the stars; look, Lakṣmaṇa, these omens foretell the end of the world. Crows, hawks, and vultures fly low, and jackals howl with terrifying cries. Soon, the earth will be strewn with mountains of spears and swords, and the bodies of monkeys and rākṣasas, thick with the mud of flesh and blood. “Let us act swiftly—today itself, surrounded by all the monkeys, let us advance upon that formidable city ruled by Rāvaṇa, with speed.” Having spoken thus, Rāma—the wielder of the bow and terror of the battlefield—set forth at the front, facing Lanka, resolute and mighty. Accompanied by Vibhīṣaṇa and Sugrīva, all the foremost monkeys advanced, roaring, intent on destroying their steadfast foes. The son of Raghu was greatly pleased by the valor and efforts of the monkeys, rejoicing in their deeds for his sake. Now, listen to the twenty-fourth sarga in the glorious Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa. That great assembly of heroes, arranged by the king, shone like the autumnal night of the full moon, adorned with auspicious stars. The earth trembled violently, oppressed by that mass of troops whose brilliance rivaled the ocean. Within Lanka, the forest-dwellers heard a tumultuous, hair-raising sound—the blaring of drums and kettledrums. The monkey chiefs, gladdened by the sound, roared even more thunderously, unable to contain themselves. The rākṣasas too heard the monkeys’ roaring, which resounded like the rumbling of proud clouds in the sky. Beholding Lanka, adorned with banners and pennants, Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, thought of Sītā, his heart troubled. “Here, that doe-eyed lady is beset by Rāvaṇa, overcome as Rohiṇī is by the red planet Mars.” He sighed deeply, his gaze turning to Lakṣmaṇa, and spoke words suited to the moment, as much to himself as to his brother: “See, Lakṣmaṇa, how Lanka appears as if drawn in the sky, as if crafted by Viśvakarma for the mind alone, standing atop the mountain. Lanka, filled with many palaces, was built long ago, like Viṣṇu’s own abode in the sky, concealed by pale clouds. It is adorned with blossoming forests, like the famed Citraratha, resounding with various birds and laden with beautiful fruits and flowers. See the intoxicated birds and the bees nestled within, the groves filled with cuckoos, and the gentle, auspicious wind blowing.” Thus spoke Rāma, son of Daśaratha, to Lakṣmaṇa. There, he divided the army as prescribed in the scriptures. The valiant Angada, together with Nīla, forcefully took command of the monkey army and stood, unconquerable, at the front. On the right flank, amid a multitude of monkeys, stood the vanara Rishabha. Swift and unassailable as a wild elephant, Gandhamadana took position on the left flank. “I myself,” declared Rāma, “will stand at the center, vigilant, together with Lakṣmaṇa, Jāmbavān, Sushena, and the swift-moving vanara Vegadarśi. Let those three great-souled leaders of the bears protect the center, while the monkey king guards the rear of the army, shining like the lord of waters, enveloped in brilliance.” Thus, the army, well arrayed in great formations and guarded by mighty monkeys, shone resplendently, like the sky covered with masses of clouds, ready for the great battle before Lanka.