Lanka Kaanda
164 - Sri Rama crosses the ocean with the whole army and encamps on Mount Suvela; Ravana feels agitated at the news
Chaupais
Description
The gracious Lord of the Raghus and His brother laughed at the sight of this amusing spectacle and marched. The Hero of Raghu's line reached the other shore alongwith the host: the throng of monkey chiefs was beyond all description. The Lord encamped Himself across the ocean and commanded all the monkeys to go and regale themselves on the delightful fruit and roots. As soon as they heard this the bears and monkeys ran off in all directions. All the trees bore fruit in the interest of Sri Rama in season or out of season without any regard to the laws of time. The bears and monkeys would eat the luscious fruit, shake the trees and hurl hill-tops towards Lanka. If they ever found a straggling demon anywhere, they all hemmed him in and teased him not a little; nay, they would bite off his nose and ears and let him go only after reciting to him the Lord's fair renown. Those who had thus lost their nose and ears went and related everything to Ravana. The moment he heard that the sea had been bridged the tenheaded monster exclaimed in consternation with all his tongues at once (using different phraseology with each):-