Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

X. The War in Ceylon - 135
Vain Sugriva’s toil and struggle, Kumbha-karna hurled a rock,
Fell Sugriva crushed and senseless ’neath the missile’s mighty shock!
Piercing through the Vanar forces, like a flame through forest wood,
Came the Raksha where in glory Lakshman calm and fearless stood,
Short their contest, – Kumbha-karna sought a greater, mightier foe,
To the young and dauntless Lakshman spake in accents soft and low:
“Dauntless prince and matchless warrior, fair Sumitra’s gallant son,
Thou hast proved unrivalled prowess and unending glory won,
[147] But I seek a mightier foeman, to thy elder let me go,
I would fight the royal Rama, or to die or slay my foe!”
“Victor proud!” said gallant Lakshman, “peerless in thy giant might,
Conqueror of great Immortals, Lakshman owns thy skill in fight,
Mightier foe than bright Immortals thou shalt meet in fatal war,
Death for thee in guise of Rama tarries yonder, not afar!”
Ill it fared with Kumbha-karna when he strove with Rama’s might,
Men on earth nor Gods immortal conquered Rama in the fight,
Deadly arrows keen and flaming from the hero’s weapon broke,
Kumbha-karna faint and bleeding felt his death at every stroke,
Last, an arrow pierced his armour, from his shoulders smote his head,
Kumbha-karna, lifeless, headless, rolled upon the gory bed,
Hurled unto the heaving ocean Kumbha-karna’s body fell,
And as shaken by a tempest, mighty was the ocean’s swell!
V. Indrajit’s Sacrifice and Second Battle
Still around beleaguered Lanka girdled Rama’s living chain,
Raksha chieftain after chieftain strove to break the line in vain,
Sons of Ravan, – brave Narantak was by valiant Angad slain,
Trisiras and fierce Devantak, Hanuman slew on the plain,
Atikaya, tall of stature, was by gallant Lakshman killed,
Ravan wept for slaughtered princes, brave in war in weapons skilled,