Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

X. The War in Ceylon - 131
Listen more, my gentle Sita, though a captive in our keep,
For thy woes and for thy anguish see a Raksha woman weep,
Though thy Rama armed in battle is our unrelenting foe,
For a true and stainless warrior see a Raksha filled with woe!
[142] Fainting on the field of battle, blood-ensanguined in their face,
They shall live to fight and conquer, worthy of their gallant race,
Cold nor rigid are their features, darkness dwells not on their brow,
Weep not thus, my gentle Sita, – hasten we to Lanka now.”
And Trijata spake no falsehood, by the winged GARUDA’S skill,
Rama and the valiant Lakshman lived to fight their foemen still!
III. Ravan’s First Battle – The Javelin-Stroke
’Gainst the God-assisted Rama, Ravan’s efforts all were vain,
Leaguered Lanka vainly struggled in her adamantine chain,
Wrathful Rakshas with their forces vainly issued through the gate,
Chiefs and serried ranks of warriors met the same resistless fate!
Dark-eyed chief Dhumraksha sallied with the fierce tornado’s shock,
Hanuman of peerless prowess slayed him with a rolling rock,
Iron-toothéd Vajra-danshtra dashed through countless Vanars slain,
But the young and gallant Angad laid him lifeless on the plain,
Akampan unshaken warrior issued out of Lanka’s wall,
Hanuman was true and watchful, speedy was the Raksha’s fall,
Then the mighty-armed Prahasta strove to break the hostile line,
But the gallant Nila felled him as the woodman fells the pine!
Bravest chiefs and countless soldiers sallied forth to face the fight,
Broke not Rama’s iron circle, ’scaped not Rama’s wond’rous might,
Ravan could no longer tarry for his mightiest chiefs were slain,
Foremost leaders, dearest kinsmen, lying on the gory plain!
[143] “Lofty scorn of foes unworthy spared them from my flaming ire,
But the blood of slaughtered kinsmen claims from me a vengeance dire,”