Lanka Kaanda
172 - conflict actually begins
Chaupais
Description
Lanka became a scene of great uproar. When the highly conceited Ravana heard it, he with a smile said, "Look at the insolence of these monkeys!" and summoned the demon host. "The monkeys have crossed over here driven by fate, and my demons are all hungry. God has provided them with a meal even at their home." So saying the idiot burst into a horselaugh. "Sally forth in every direction, champions all; and wherever you find the bears and monkeys seize and devour them all." Uma, Ravana's conceit was as great as that of the sandpiper, which goes to sleep with its legs in the air (and thinks that it will support the heavens in case they fall). Taking his orders, the demons sallied forth, armed with excellent slings, javelins, iron clubs and maces, fierce axes, pikes, swords, bludgeons and masses of rock in their hands. As foolish carnivorous birds swoop down upon a heap of rubies the moment they see it, and have no idea of the pain they would have on breaking their beaks against it, so did the man-eating monsters rush forth in their folly.