Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

X. The War in Ceylon - 141
And the watchful Raksha females girdled round the sorrowing dame,
Flung them on the path of Ravan to withstand a deed of shame,
“Not against a woman, Ravan, mighty warriors raise their hand,
In the battle,” spake the courtiers, “duty bids thee use thy brand,
Versed in Vedas and in learning, court not thus a caitiff’s fate,
Woman’s blood pollutes our valour, closes heaven’s eternal gate!
Leave the woman in her sorrow, mount upon thy battle car,
Faithful to our king and leader we will wake the voice of war,
’Tis the fourteenth day auspicious of the dark and waning moon,
Glory waiteth thee in battle and thy vengeance cometh soon,
All-resistless in the contest slay thy foeman in his pride,
Seek as victor of the combat widowed Sita as thy bride!”
Slow and sullen, dark and silent, Ravan then his wrath restrained,
Vengeance on his son’s destroyer deep within his bosom reigned!
VIII. Ravan’s Second Battle and Vengeance
[154] Voice of woe and lamentation and the cry of woman’s wail,
Issuing from the homes of Lanka did the monarch’s ears assail,
And a mighty thought of vengeance waked within the monarch’s heart,
And he heaved a sigh of anguish as he grasped his bow and dart:
“Arm each chief and gallant Raksha! be our sacred duty done,
Ravan seeks a fitting vengeance for his brave and noble son,
Mahodar and Virupaksha, Mahaparshwa warrior tall,
Arm! this fated day will witness Lakshman’s or your monarch’s fall!
Call to mind each slaughtered hero, – Khara, Dushan, slain in fight,
Kumbha-karna giant warrior, Indrajit of magic might,
Earth nor sky shall hide my foemen nor the ocean’s heaving swell,
Scattered ranks of Rama’s forces shall my speedy vengeance tell,
Be the red-earth strewn and covered with our countless foemen slain,
Hungry wolves and blood-beaked vultures feed upon the ghastly plain,