66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

hacked me thus.”
Kara looked closely at the damage done to her and
thundered, “Death to those two. Not only they, but all human
beings shall be stamped out.” He sprang up to go into
action. Fourteen commanders at once surrounded him and
said, “Does it mean that you have no confidence in us that
you should start out this way yourself? Leave this task to us.
We will go and settle it.”
Kara agreed. “So be it. You are right. If I wage war on
these tiny petty creatures, the gods will mock us. Go and
feast on their blood, but bring back the woman carefully.”
Carrying a variety of arms such as spears and tridents and
scimitars and hatchets, the commanders, led by
Soorpanaka, marched on towards Rama’s cottage.
Soorpanaka stopped at a distance and pointed Rama out to
them. “There he is, mark him.” The fourteen asuras muttered,
“Shall we bind and take him, or toss him in the air and kill
him, or use the piercing lance on him?”
Soorpanaka said, “Bring that man alive. I will deal with
him.” When he saw them approaching, Rama ordered
Lakshmana, “Guard Sita. Don’t leave her side.” He took out
his bow, slung his sword into position, girt himself for the
fight, and emerged from his cottage with the anger of a lion.
The battle began and ended quickly. Rama’s arrows
knocked down the weapons the asuras bore and severed