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

Canto XXVII. THE EjfMAY4N. 123
Like some huge hill with triple peak
He onward rushed the prince to seek,
Still, like a big cloud, sending out
His arrowy rain with many a shout
Like the deep sullen roars that come
Discordant from a moistened drum.
But Raghu's son, whose watchful eye
Beheld the demon rushing nigh,
From the great bow he raised and bent
A shower of shafts to meet hira sent.
Wild grew the fight and wilder yet
As fiend and man in combat met.
As when in some dark wood's retreat
An elephant and a lion meet.
The giant bent his bow, and true
To Rama's brow three arrows flew.
Then, raging as he felt the stroke,
These words in anger Rama spoke
' Heroic chief ! is such the power
Of fiends who rove at midnight hour ?
Soft as the touch of floweps I feel
The gentle blows thine arrows deal.
Receive in turn my shafts, and know
What arrows fly from Rtoa's bow.'
Thus as he spoke his wrath grew hot,
And twice seven deadly shafts he shot,
Which, dire as serpent's deadly fang,
Straight to the giant's bosom sprang.
Four arrows more,—each shaped to deaf
A mortal wound with barbfed steel,
The glorious hero shot, and slew
The four good steeds the car that drew.
Eight other shafts flew straight and fleet.
And hurled the driver from his seat,
.