In the battle, Ravana's terrible shafts so distressed the monkeys that, crying out, they sought the shelter of Lord Rama. Lakshmana, after hearing Rama's words, embraced and saluted him and went forth to battle. On the field he found Ravana wielding his dreadful, flaming bow and covering with showers of arrows monkeys whose bodies were already swarming with shafts.1
Seeing Ravana, Lord Hanuman, the exceedingly powerful son of the Wind-god, withstood that downpour of arrows and charged at him. Coming up to his car, he raised his right arm and, striking terror into Ravana, told him that he, whom gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, Yakshas and Rakshasas could not slay, had at last been found by fear, and that from monkeys: this upraised right arm with its five fingers would take the life that had so long dwelt in his body. Ravana, his eyes red with wrath, told Hanuman to strike swiftly, fear notwithstanding, and win lasting renown; once he had taken the measure of Hanuman's might, he would finish him. Hanuman answered that Ravana should first remember his son Aksha, whom Hanuman had slaughtered.2
At this, Ravana dealt the son of the Wind-god a slap. Struck by it, Hanuman shook for a moment; then, staying a moment and calling up his fortitude, he dealt the foe of the immortals a slap in return. Hit by the high-souled monkey, the Ten-necked one trembled as a mountain trembles in an earthquake, and seeing Ravana struck, the saints, Siddhas, celestials and Asuras shouted in glee.3
Recovering a little, Ravana praised Hanuman as a foe whose prowess he could take pride in. Hanuman replied that his prowess deserved scorn, since Ravana still breathed. He told Ravana to strike at the same time, asked why he blustered, and said that then his own blow would send Ravana to the mansions of Yama.4
At these words Ravana's ire flamed up. Carefully clenching his right fist, he brought it down with force on Hanuman's chest. Hit on his broad chest, Hanuman shook over and over again, and seeing the mighty Hanuman overwhelmed, Ravana mounted his car and went against Nila. Hanuman, regaining himself, was eager for the fight and wrought up with rage; but seeing Ravana engaged with Nila, he said that it was not fitting for him to attack Ravana then.5
Struck in the chest by Ravana's arrow, Nila fell to the earth, but by the greatness of his father and his own energy he went down on his knees and was not wholly deprived of life. Seeing Nila senseless, Ravana darted against Lakshmana. In that fight Lakshmana too was deprived of his senses, and Ravana seized him in his arms; but Ravana, who could lift Himavan, Mandara, Meru or the three worlds with the immortals, could not lift Rama's younger brother.6
Then the son of the Wind-god, wroth, rushed at Ravana and struck him on the chest with his clenched fist, like a thunderbolt. Boxed by Hanuman, Ravana went down on his knees, shook and dropped to the earth. Seeing Ravana, of terrible prowess, rendered insensible in the encounter, the saints, monkeys, gods and Asuras set up shouts.7
Then Hanuman took Lakshmana, whom Ravana had racked, in his arms and brought him before Rama. Lakshmana, whom the foes could not move, became extremely light to the monkey, because of Hanuman's friendship and the high reverence in which Hanuman held him. And Lakshmana recovered his senses, his whole body healed, as he remembered that he was a part of Vishnu himself.8
Seeing the monkey army and its heroes brought down, Rama rushed at Ravana. Hanuman drew near and asked Rama to mount on his back and chastise the foe, as Vishnu, riding Garutman, chastises the enemies of the immortals. Hearing Hanuman's words, Rama at once got up on him and beheld Ravana in the battle. Though Ravana struck Hanuman with arrows and resisted him, Hanuman's energy increased greatly; and Rama, seeing the foremost of the monkeys wounded by Ravana, was mastered by wrath.9