Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

X. The War in Ceylon - 142
For his great and gallant brother, for his brave and beauteous son,
Ravan seeks a fitting vengeance, Rakshas be your duty done!”
House to house, in Lanka’s city, Ravan’s royal hest was heard,
Street and lane poured forth their warriors by a mighty passion stirred,
With their javelin and sabre, mace and club and axe and pike,
Sataghni and bhindipala, quoit and discus quick to strike.
And they formed the line of tuskers and the line of battle car,
Mule and camel fit for burden and the fiery steed of war,
Serried ranks of armed soldiers shook the earth beneath their tread,
Horsemen that on wings of lightning o’er the field of battle spread.
[155] Drum and conch and sounding trumpet waked the echoes of the sky,
Pataha and loud mridanga and the people’s maddening cry,
Thundering through the gates of Lanka, Ravan’s lofty chariot passed,
Destined by his fortune, Ravan ne’er again those portals crost!
And the sun was dim and clouded and a sudden darkness fell,
Birds gave forth their boding voices and the earth confessed a spell,
Gouts of blood in rain descended, startled coursers turned to fly,
Vultures swooped upon the banner, jackals yelled their doleful cry,
Omens of a dark disaster mantled o’er the vale and rock,
And the ocean heaved in billows, nations felt the earthquake’s shock!
Darkly closed the fatal battle, sturdy Vanars fell in light,
Warlike leaders of the Rakshas perished neath the foeman’s might,
Mahodhar and Virupaksha were by bold Sugriva slain,
Crushed by Angad, Mahaparshwa slumbered lifeless on the plain,
But with more than mortal valour Ravan swept the ranks of war,
Warriors fell beneath his prowess, fled before his mighty car,
Cleaving through the Vanar forces, filled with vengeance deep and dire,
Ravan marked the gallant Lakshman flaming like a crimson fire!
Like the tempest cloud of summer Ravan’s wingéd coursers flew,
But Bibhishan in his prowess soon the gallant chargers slew,