‘Listen, you fool! I am the same mighty Ravana, the might of whose arms is known to Kailasa (the peak sacred to Shiva) and whose valour to Uma’s lord, in whose worship I offered my heads in place of flowers.

Times innumerable have I removed my lotus heads with my own hands and worshipped Tripurari (Shiva). The prowess of my arms is well known to the guardians of the quarters, whose hearts, you fool, still smart under the injuries inflicted by them.

The hardness of my breast is known to the elephants of the quarters, whose fierce tusks, whenever I impetuously grappled with them, failed to make any impression on it but broke off like radishes as soon as they struck against it.

He at whose movement earth quivers like a little boat when a savage elephant steps into it, even that Ravana am I, famed all over the world, for his might. Did you never hear of him, you lying chattrer?

And that’s the Ravana you belittle while you exalt a mortal man? Ah, barbarous monkey, infamous wretch, now I see the depth of your wisdom!’

‘Upon hearing this, Angad replied indignantly: ‘Take care what you say, you pitiful boaster! He whose axe was like a fire to consume Sahasrabahu’s unbounded forest of arms,

he whose axe was like the salt sea in whose swift tide kings innumerable have been drowned time after time, he at the sight of whom the same Parashurama’s pride too to flight – can he be accounted a man, you wretched Ten-headed?