Doha 39

When Śrī Rāma received the news about the enemy, He summoned all His counsellors by His side. “Laṅkā has four massive gates; take counsel as to how we should assail them.” (1) Thereupon the monkey lord, Sugrīva, Jāmbavān, the king of bears, and Vibhīṣaṇa invoked in their heart Śrī Raghunātha, the Ornament of the solar race, and putting their heads together they resolved upon a definite plan. They divided the monkey host into four brigades, (2) and appointed efficient generals to each. They then summoned all the Company Commanders and bringing the Lord’s might home to them, issued instructions hearing which the monkeys rushed forward roaring like lions. (3) They gladly bowed their head at Śrī Rāma’s feet, and with mountain-peaks in their hands all the heroes sallied forth. Shouting “Glory to Śrī Raghunātha, the Lord of Kosala!” the bears and monkey chiefs roared and assumed a challenging posture. (4) Even though they knew that Laṅkā was a most impregnable fortress, the monkeys marched forward undaunted depending on the might of their lord. Encompassing all the four quarters like a mass of clouds spreading over the horizon on all sides, they emitted the sound of drums and kettle-drums with their mouth. (5)

‘Glory to Śrī Rāma, glory to Lakṣmaṇa and glory to Sugrīva, the lord of the monkeys!’ thus roared the monkeys and bears, unsurpassed in their great might, like so many lions. (39)