THE RÁMÁYAN OF VÁLMÍKI, VOL. III - Gujarat Knowledge Centre

112 TEE RAmJ^YAN. Book 111.
His fearful bow, their arrows rained.
With sword and club, with raace and pike.
With spear and axe to pierce and strike.
Those furious fiends on every side
The unconquerable hero plied.
The giant legions huge and strong.
Like clouds the tempest drives along,
Kushed upon Rdma with the speed
Of whirling car, and mounted steed,
And hill-like elephant, to slay
The matchless prince in battle fray.
Then upon Rama thick and fast
The rain of mortal steel they cast,
As labouring clouds their torrents shed
Upon the mountain-monarch's' head.
As near and nearer round him drew
The warriors of the giant crew.
He showed like Siva girt by all
His spirits when night's shadows fall.
As the great deep receives each rill
And river rushing from the hill, •
He bore that flood of darts, and broke
With well-aimed shaft each murderous stroke.
By stress of arrowy storm assailed,
And wounded sore; he never failed,
Like some high mountain which defies
The red bolts flashing from the skies.
With ruddy streams each limb was dyed
From gaping wounds in breast and si^e,
Showing the hero like the sun
'Mid crimson clouds ere day is done.
Then, at that sight of terror, faint
Grew God, Gandharva, sage, and saint,
' Eimfilaya,