The Ramayan by Valmiki

He ceased; and spurred by warlike pride The impetuous son of Raghu cried: "Soon shall mine arm with wrathful joy That city of the foe destroy. Now, chieftain, now collect the host, And onward to the southern coast! The sun in his meridian tower Gives glory to the Vanar power. The demon lord who stole my queen By timely flight his life may screen. She, when she knows her lord is near, Will cling to hope and banish fear, Saved like a dying wretch who sips The drink of Gods with fevered lips. Arise, thy troops to battle lead: All happy omens counsel speed. The Lord of Stars in favouring skies Bodes glory to our enterprise. This arm shall slay the fiend; and she, My consort, shall again be free. Mine upward-throbbing eye foreshows The longed-for triumph o'er my foes. Far in the van be Nila's post, To scan the pathway for the host, And let thy bravest and thy best, A hundred thousand, wait his hest. Go forth, O warrior Nila, lead The legions on through wood and mead Where pleasant waters cool the ground, And honey, flowers, and fruit abound. Go, and with timely care prevent The Rakshas foeman's dark intent. With watchful troops each valley guard Ere brooks and fruits and roots be marred And search each glen and leafy shade For hostile troops in ambuscade. But let the weaklings stay behind: For heroes is our task designed. Let thousands of the Vanar breed The vanguard of the armies lead: Fierce and terrific must it be As billows of the stormy sea. There be the hill-huge Gaja's place, And Gavaya's, strongest of his race, And, like the bull that leads the herd, Gavaksha's, by no fears deterred Let Rishabh, matchless in the might Of warlike arms, protect our right, And Gandhamadan next in rank Defend and guide the other flank. I, like the God who rules the sky Borne on Airavat mounted high On stout Hanuman's back will ride, The central host to cheer and guide. Fierce as the God who rules below, On Angad's back let Lakshman show Like him who wealth to mortals shares, The lord whom Sarvabhauma bears. The bold Sushen's impetuous might, And Vegadarsi's piercing sight, And Jambavan whom bears revere, Illustrious three, shall guard the rear."

He ceased, the royal Vanar heard, And swift, obedient to his word, Sprang forth in numbers none might tell From mountain, cave, and bosky dell, From rocky ledge and breezy height, Fierce Vanars burning for the fight. And Rama's course was southward bent Amid the mighty armament. On, joyous, pressed in close array The hosts who owned Sugriva's sway, With nimble feet, with rapid bound Exploring, ere they passed, the ground, While from ten myriad throats rang out The challenge and the battle shout. On roots and honeycomb they fed, And clusters from the boughs o'erhead, Or from the ground the tall trees tore Rich with the flowery load they bore. Some carried comrades, wild with mirth, Then cast their riders to the earth, Who swiftly to their feet arose And overthrew their laughing foes. While still rang out the general cry, "King Ravan and his fiends shall die," Still on, exulting in the pride Of conscious strength, the Vanars hied, And gazed where noble Sahya, best Of mountains, raised each towering crest. They looked on lake and streamlet, where The lotus bloom was bright and fair, Nor marched--for Rama's hest they feared Where town or haunt of men appeared. Still onward, fearful as the waves Of Ocean when he roars and raves, Led by their eager chieftains, went The Vanars' countless armament. Each captain, like a noble steed Urged by the lash to double speed. Pressed onward, filled with zeal and pride, By Rama's and his brother's side, Who high above the Vanar throng On mighty backs were borne along, Like the great Lords of Day and Night Seized by eclipsing planets might. Then Lakshman radiant as the morn, On Angad's shoulders high upborne. With sweet consoling words that woke New ardour, to his brother spoke: "Soon shalt thou turn, thy queen regained And impious Ravan's life-blood drained, In happiness and high renown To dear Ayodhya's happy town. I see around exceeding fair All omens of the earth and air. Auspicious breezes sweet and low To greet the Vanar army blow, And softly to my listening ear Come the glad cries of bird and deer. Bright is the sky around us, bright Without a cloud the Lord of Light, And Sukra with propitious love Looks on thee from his throne above. The pole-star and the Sainted Seven Shine brightly in the northern heaven, And great Trisanku, glorious king, Ikshvaku's son from whom we spring, Beams in unclouded glory near His holy priest whom all revere. Undimmed the two Visakhas shine, The strength and glory of our line, And Nairrit's influence that aids Our Rakshas foemen faints and fades. The running brooks are fresh and fair, The boughs their ripening clusters bear, And scented breezes gently sway The leaflet of the tender spray. See, with a glory half divine The Vanars' ordered legions shine, Bright as the Gods' exultant train Who saw the demon Tarak slain. O let thine eyes these signs behold, And bid thy heart be glad and bold."