The War Begins

The vanara army surrounded all four gates of Lanka. On one side stood the demon army with weapons, chariots and elephants; on the other, vanaras and bears armed with trees, rocks, claws and teeth. The sky rang with cries of 'Jai Shri Ram', and a terrible battle began.

In the very first days Meghnad showed his magic. Hidden in the clouds, he rained arrows and bound both Ram and Lakshman with a nagpash. The brothers fell to the ground. Grief swept the vanara army, while Lanka celebrated.

Then a mighty wind blew from the sky and Garud, king of the birds, appeared. Garud is the enemy of snakes. At the sight of him the serpent-arrows fled. Ram and Lakshman's wounds healed, and the army's spirit returned.

The war went on. Hanuman, Angad, Neel and Sugriv defeated many of Ravan's great commanders. Neel slew Prahast, Ravan's chief general. Day by day, Lanka's champions grew fewer.

Then Ravan himself came to the field. The Valmiki Ramayan has a remarkable scene: Ram cut down Ravan's bow, chariot and crown, leaving him standing unarmed. Ram could have killed him then and there, but he said: you are tired. Go, rest, and come back ready tomorrow. Striking an unarmed foe was not his dharma.