Beheld the demon rushing nigh,

From the great bow he raised and bent

A shower of shafts to meet him 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 Ráma's brow three arrows flew.

Then, raging as he felt the stroke,