Seeing him to be of no worth or dignity, his father exiled him to the forest; apart from that sorrow the separation from his young bride is telling on him and above all he is oppressed with terror of me night and day.

The demons devour every night and day many such men as he of whose might you are proud; come to your senses, O fool, and cease to be so obstinate.’

When he thus inveighed against Rama, the monkey prince grew furious; for he who even listens to blasphemy against Hari (Vishnu) or Hara (Shiva) incurs a sin equal to the slaughter of a cow.

The mighty monkey, Angad, gnashed his teeth and struck the earth furiously with his two mighty arms; the earth shook and the councillors were thrown off their seats and took to flight, as though struck by a hurricane of terror.

Ravana too tottered from his seat, but recovered himself and got up. Yet his magnificent diadems lay strewn upon the ground; some he took and set straight upon his heads, some Angad sent flying to the Lord.

When they saw the crowns coming, the monkeys fled, crying, ‘O God, have stars begun to shoot in the daytime? Or is it that Ravana I his fury has hurled four thunderbolts that come with rushing speed?’

‘Fear not at heart,’ said the Lord with a smile: ‘these are neither meteors nor thunderbolts, nor are they the planets Rahu or Ketu; they are Ravana’s crowns that are coming, despatched by Bali’s son, Angad.