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

Canto XXV. THE HAMj^YAS. 113
Trembling to see the prince oppose
His single might to myriad foes.
But waxing wroth, with force tinspent,
He strained his bow to utmost bent,
And forth his arrows keen and true
In hundreds, yea in thousands flew,-^
Shafts none could ward, and none endure
Death's fatal noose was scarce so sure.
As 'twere in playful ease he shot
His gilded shafts, and rested not.
With swiftest flight and truest aim
Upon the giant hosts they came.
Each smote, each stayed a foeman'e breath,
As fatal as the coil of Death.
Each arrow through a giant tore
A passage, and besmeared with gore,
Pursued its onward way and through
The air with flamy brilliance flew.
Unnumbered were the arrows sent
From the great bow which Rdma bent,
And every shaft with iron head
The lifeblood of a giant shed.
Their pennoned bows were cleft, nor mail
Nor shield of hide could aught avail.
For Rd,ma's myriad arrows tore
Through arms, and bracelets which they Wore,
And severed mighty warriors' thighs
Like trunks of elephants in size,
And cut resistless passage sheet*
Through gold-decked horse and charioteei*.
Slew elephant and rider, slew
The horseman and the charger too.
And infantry unnumbered sent
To dwell 'neath Yama's government,