Hearing Rāma’s resolute words, Lakṣmaṇa, accompanied by the mighty Vibhīṣaṇa, took up another excellent bow, ready for battle. Clad in full armor, with his sword at his side, a quiver of arrows on his back, and his bow held firmly in his left hand, the delighted Saumitri approached Rāma. With reverence, Lakṣmaṇa touched his elder brother’s feet and spoke with determination: “Today, the arrows released from my bow will pierce Rāvaṇa’s son and descend upon Laṅkā like swans upon a lotus pond. Today itself, my arrows, loosed from the great bowstring, will penetrate and destroy the body of that fierce one.” Having declared his intent, the radiant Lakṣmaṇa, eager to confront Rāvaṇa’s son, swiftly advanced before his brother. He saluted his teacher’s feet, circumambulated him with reverence, and set out toward Nikumbhilā, the sacred grove guarded by Rāvaṇa’s son. Vibhīṣaṇa, steadfast and valiant, accompanied Lakṣmaṇa, who had received Rāma’s blessings and now moved with swift resolve. Surrounded by thousands of monkeys led by Hanumān, and accompanied by Vibhīṣaṇa and his ministers, Lakṣmaṇa pressed forward quickly. As they advanced, the great monkey army moved with speed, and on their way, they saw the formidable force of the king of bears stationed there in readiness. After covering a long distance, Saumitri, the joy of his friends, saw from afar the army of the lord of the rākṣasas, drawn up in battle formation. Arriving at the battlefield, bow in hand, Lakṣmaṇa—the subduer of enemies and delight of the Raghu line—stood firm, observing the ordinances of Brahmā and ready to conquer by his skill. With Vibhīṣaṇa at his side, along with the heroic Aṅgada and the mighty Hanumān, Lakṣmaṇa stood resolute. Entering that dense, banner-filled, impenetrable army, which gleamed with spotless weapons and mighty chariots and was terrifying in its immeasurable speed, Lakṣmaṇa shone like darkness itself to his enemies. At this juncture, Vibhīṣaṇa, Rāvaṇa’s younger brother, spoke words of wise counsel to Lakṣmaṇa—words meant to bring victory and defeat the foe. “Behold this army of rākṣasas, dark as rain clouds,” he said. “Let the monkeys swiftly attack them with their stone weapons. Once you break through this formidable host, Lakṣmaṇa, you will see the son of the rākṣasa king when the formation is breached. Therefore, shower the enemies with arrows like Indra’s thunderbolts and charge quickly, so that this task is not left unfinished. O hero, strike down that wicked one, the master of illusion and unrighteousness, Rāvaṇa’s son, cruel in his deeds and a terror to all the worlds.” Heeding Vibhīṣaṇa’s advice, Lakṣmaṇa, blessed with auspicious marks, unleashed a rain of arrows upon the son of the king of the rākṣasas. At the same time, the bears and monkeys, skilled in the art of combat with trees, rushed together upon the arrayed rākṣasa army. The rākṣasas, eager to destroy the monkey forces, advanced in battle with sharp arrows, swords, spears, and formidable tomaras. A tumultuous clash erupted between the monkeys and rākṣasas, their battle cries resounding throughout Laṅkā and echoing on all sides. The sky became thick with a hail of weapons—sharp arrows, massive trees, and even terrifying mountain peaks hurled aloft. The rākṣasas, their faces and arms distorted with rage, hurled their weapons at the monkey chiefs, spreading immense terror among their foes. The monkeys, in turn, battered the rākṣasas with every kind of tree and mountain peak they could wield. From the mighty-bodied and powerful leaders among the bears and monkeys, great fear arose in the hearts of the rākṣasas as they fought desperately. Hearing that his own army was disheartened and oppressed by the enemy, the formidable Indrajit, though his task was not yet complete, rose up in anger. Emerging from the darkness of the trees, filled with rage, Rāvaṇa’s son mounted his well-controlled and ready chariot. He appeared dreadful—wielding a terrible bow and arrows dark as a mass of black ointment, with a blood-red mouth and eyes, resembling Death himself. As soon as the rākṣasa army saw Indrajit standing upon his chariot, fierce and eager for battle, they turned back, rallying to confront Lakṣmaṇa. At that moment, Hanumān, difficult to approach and resembling a mountain, the subduer of enemies, seized a great tree. Like the fire of destruction, Hanumān burned through the rākṣasa ranks, laying waste to them with many trees and rendering them senseless. Seeing the havoc wrought by the son of the wind god, thousands of rākṣasas showered Hanumān with weapons. Those armed with sharp spears attacked with spears, others wielded swords, lances, and pattiśa weapons, while still others struck with iron clubs, maces, javelins, shataghnis, and iron mallets. The rākṣasas, with terrible axes and maces, and with fists and palms like thunderbolts and lightning, surrounded Hanumān on all sides and struck at him as if attacking a mountain. But Hanumān, enraged, wrought great slaughter among them, undaunted by their assault. Indrajit observed Hanumān, the foremost of monkeys, unshaken and fearless, destroying his enemies and resembling a mountain in his might. Addressing his charioteer, Indrajit commanded, “Go to where that monkey is; if left unchecked, he will surely bring ruin to the rākṣasas.