As ominous and auspicious cries echoed from crows, hawks, and vultures flying low overhead, the earth seemed to anticipate the coming storm. Soon, it would be covered by countless monkeys and rakshasas, each armed with mountains, spears, and swords, and the ground would be muddied with flesh and blood. With a sense of urgency, Rama spoke to Lakshmana: “Let us swiftly march today, surrounded by monkeys on all sides, and attack the unconquerable city ruled by Ravana.” Having spoken thus, the heroic elder brother, Rama, renowned for his strength, quickly descended from the mountain peak. Once at the base, the righteous Raghava beheld his own formidable army, a force so mighty that it would be difficult for any enemy to withstand. Together with Sugriva, Rama—who understood the proper timing—arrayed the great monkey army, urging them to prepare for battle at the right moment. Then, at the appointed hour, Rama, mighty-armed and surrounded by a vast force, set out at the front, bow in hand, leading the march toward the city of Lanka. Following him were Vibhishana, Sugriva, Hanuman, Jambavan, Nala—the king of bears—Nila, and Lakshmana. Behind them surged a vast army of monkeys and bears, covering the earth as they followed Raghava. The mighty monkeys, resembling elephants in strength, seized mountain peaks and great trees by the hundreds to use as weapons. After a long journey, the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana—destroyers of enemies—finally reached Lanka, the city of Ravana. The city was adorned with banners and shone with beautiful gardens and groves, its variegated ramparts and high walls and gateways making it most difficult to approach. Impregnable even to the gods, Lanka was now besieged by forest-dwellers who, commanded by Rama, pressed in as ordered. Rama, together with his brother and bow in hand, guarded and blocked the northern gate of Lanka, which rose high like a mountain peak. The son of Dasaratha, accompanied by valiant Lakshmana, encamped near the city ruled by Ravana. Reaching the northern gate, where Ravana himself stood, Rama alone was truly capable of defending that gate. The dreadful gate, guarded by Ravana like the ocean by Varuna, was protected on all sides by fierce rakshasas armed for battle. It inspired terror in the weak, resembling the netherworld filled with Danavas, and was defended by many and various troops. Rama saw arrays of weapons and armor set out; meanwhile, Nila, leader of the monkey army, approached the eastern gate. Nila stood there with Mainda and the mighty Dvivida; the powerful Angada took charge of the southern gate. With Rishabha, Gavaksha, Gaja, and Gavaya, Hanuman, the strong monkey, guarded the western gate. Joined by Pramathi, Praghasa, and other heroes, Sugriva himself took position in the central division. Together with all the foremost monkeys, swift as Garuda and the wind, there were thirty-six crores of renowned monkey chiefs. They pressed in and encamped where Sugriva was; by Rama’s command, Lakshmana and Vibhishana were also present. At each gate, Lakshmana stationed a crore of monkeys; to the west of Rama, Sushena and Jambavan took their places. Not far from the central division, they stood with their powerful followers; those foremost of monkeys, like fanged tigers, stood ready for battle, delighted, grasping the peaks of trees and mountains. All had deformed tails, all bore fangs and claws as weapons; all had strange and varied forms, and all had fearsome faces. Some had the strength of ten elephants, some ten times stronger; some matched the might of a thousand elephants. Others had the strength of a great flood, some a hundred times stronger, and there were monkey chiefs of immeasurable power. Their gathering was wondrous and diverse; the assembly of the monkey army was like the rising of swarms of locusts. The sky seemed completely filled, and the earth as well, with monkeys encamped around Lanka and leaping about. Hundreds of thousands of monkey warriors approached the gates of Lanka from all sides, ready to fight. The mountain was surrounded on all sides by these monkeys, and a host of ten thousand divisions advanced toward the city. Lanka became encircled on every side by powerful monkeys wielding trees, making it impenetrable even to the wind. The rakshasas, suddenly beset by monkeys resembling clouds and equal in valor to Indra, were struck with amazement. A great sound arose from the advancing mass of troops, like the roar of the ocean when it is broken open. By that tremendous sound, all of Lanka—with its ramparts, gateways, mountains, forests, and groves—was shaken. The army, protected by Rama, Lakshmana, and Sugriva, became unconquerable even by all the gods and asuras together. Raghava, having thus arrayed his army for the destruction of the rakshasas, consulted repeatedly with his counselors. Desiring immediate action, knowing the proper order and essence of strategy, and with Vibhishana’s approval, he recalled the duties of kingship, preparing himself and his forces for the decisive battle ahead.