It is the poor soft-hearted sea that has stood as a protector of their lives. Then tell me all about the ascetics (Rama and Lakshmana) whose hearts tremble for fear of me.

Did you meet them or did they turn back on hearing the report of my fair renown? Why don’t you tell me about the enemy’s might and magnificence? Your wits seem utterly dazed!’

‘My lord,’ said Shuka, ‘just as you have so kindly put these questions, so do you accept my report and be not wroth. No sooner had your brother met him than Rama applied the sacred mark of royalty on his forehead.

When the monkeys heard that we were Ravana’s spies, they bound us and ill-treated us in various ways. They were about to cut off our ears and noses, but when we adjured them by Rama not to do so, they let us go.

You asked, O king, about Rama’s army; but a thousand million tongues would not describe it. He has an army of bears and monkeys of various hues and gruesome faces, huge and formidable.

He who burnt the city and slew your son is the weakest of all the monkeys. The army includes innumerable warriors with as many names, fierce and irresistible monsters of enormous size, as strong as countless elephants.

Dvivida, Mayanda, Nila, Nala, Angad, Gada, Vikatasya, Dadhimukha, Kesari, Nishatha,Shatha and Jambavan are all valiant champions.