and seized and devoured the whole swarm of false serpents. The delusion was dispelled, and all the monkey host rejoiced again. Tearing up with their claws the trees and rocks of the mountain, they rushed forward, while the demons fled in utter confusion and climbed up into the fort.
When Meghnad recovered from his swoon, he was greatly ashamed to look his father in the face, and arose and went in haste to a cave in the mountain, intending to perform a sacrifice that would ensure victory. But Vibhishan gave the caution: “Hearken, O king of unbounded might and generosity. Meghnad is preparing an unholy sacrifice—wretched sorcerer and scourge of heaven as he is—and if he bring it to completion, Sire, it will not be easy to conquer him.” On hearing this, Raghupati was highly pleased and said to Angad and the other monkeys: “Go, my brothers, you and Tat-abnân, and put a stop to his sacrifice. It is for you, Lakshman, to fight and slay him; I am distressed to see the terror of the gods. Kill him, either by open force or by stratagem; one way or another—mark me, brother—the demon must be got rid of. But you three, Jambavan, Sugriva and Vibhishan, remain with the army.” When Raghubir had finished his commands, the hero girt his quiver by his side and took his bow, and with the glory of his lord impressed upon his heart cried aloud with a mighty voice as thunder: “If I return today without slaying him, may I be no longer called Rama’s servant; though a hundred Sivas give him help, I will slay him yet, in the name of Rama.”
When Meghnad recovered from his swoon, he was greatly ashamed to look his father in the face, and arose and went in haste to a cave in the mountain, intending to perform a sacrifice that would ensure victory. But Vibhishan gave the caution: “Hearken, O king of unbounded might and generosity. Meghnad is preparing an unholy sacrifice—wretched sorcerer and scourge of heaven as he is—and if he bring it to completion, Sire, it will not be easy to conquer him.” On hearing this, Raghupati was highly pleased and said to Angad and the other monkeys: “Go, my brothers, you and Tat-abnân, and put a stop to his sacrifice. It is for you, Lakshman, to fight and slay him; I am distressed to see the terror of the gods. Kill him, either by open force or by stratagem; one way or another—mark me, brother—the demon must be got rid of. But you three, Jambavan, Sugriva and Vibhishan, remain with the army.” When Raghubir had finished his commands, the hero girt his quiver by his side and took his bow, and with the glory of his lord impressed upon his heart cried aloud with a mighty voice as thunder: “If I return today without slaying him, may I be no longer called Rama’s servant; though a hundred Sivas give him help, I will slay him yet, in the name of Rama.”