I shall war and fight on the battle-field for my master and illuminate the fourteen spheres with my glory; if I lay my life for the sake of Raghunatha, well, I shall be a gainer either way. (If I win, I will have served the cause of my master; if I die, I will attain the eternal abode of the Lord. There will thus be sweets of bliss in both my hands.)

He who is not numbered among the virtuous nor counted among Rama’s devotees lives in vain in this world; he is a useless burden to the earth ad an axe to fell the tree of his mother’s youth.’

The Nishada chief, no longer downcast, aroused the zeal of his men and, fixing his thought on Rama, forthwith demanded his quiver, bow and buckler.

‘Make haste, brothers,; he cried, ‘to get ready the necessary equipment, and when you hear the word of command, let no one play the coward.’ ‘All right, my lord,’ they all joyfully responded and roused one another’s zeal.

Greeting their chief one after another, the Nishadas marched out, gallant warriors all, eager for the fray. Invoking the sandals of Rama’s lotus feet, they girt themselves with quivers and strung their bows.

They donned their coats of mail, placed the helmets on their heads and sharpened their axes and lances and spears; some of them who were exceptionally clever at fencing, sprang with such agility that it seemed they never touched the ground and moved in the air.

Equipping themselves with their weapons and forming themselves into batches, they all went up to their chief, Guha, and greeted him. When he saw his gallant warriors and found them, each by his name, and duly honoured them.