A female Rakhasi attempts to assassinate Rama, but is stopped and slain by Angada.  The army then advances to Lanka, and Ravana comes forth to meet it.  Kumbhakarna, his gigantic and sleepy brother, is disturbed from his repose to combat.  He is rather out of humour at first, and recommends Ravana to give up the lady, observing:  “Though the commands of royalty pervade the world, yet sovereigns ever should remember, the light of justice must direct their path.”  Ravana answers:—­

“They who assist us with a holy text are but indifferent friends.  These arms have wrested victory from the opposing grasp of gods and demons.  Confiding in thy prowess, sure in thee to triumph over my foes, I have relaxed their fibre, but again their nerves are braced, I need thee not; hence to thy cell and sleep.”  Kumbhakarna replies:—­“King, do not grieve, but like a valiant chief, pluck from thy heart all terror of thine enemies, and only deem of thy propitious fortunes, or who shall foremost plunge into the fight——­I will not quit thee.”

Kumbhakarna’s advance terrifies Rama’s troops, whom the Kshatriya hero addresses thus: 

“Ho! chiefs and heroes, why this groundless panic, the prowess of our enemy untried in closer conflict?  Ocean’s myriad fry would drain the fountain, and before the swarm of hostile gnats the mighty lion falls.”  Kumbhakarna is killed by Rama; on which Indrajit, a son of Ravana, proceeds against the brethren.  By the arrow called Nagapasa, presented him by Brahma, he casts Rama and Lakshmana senseless on the ground, and then goes to Nikumbhila mountain to obtain a magic car by means of sacrifice.  Hanumana disturbs his rites.

Rama and Lakshmana revive, and on being sprinkled with drops of amrita brought by Garura, the latter with a shaft decapitates Meghnada, and tosses the head into the hands of his father Ravana.

Ravana levels a shaft at Lakshmana, given him by Brahma, and charged with the certain fate of one hero.  Hanumana snatches it away, after it has struck Lakshmana, before it does mischief.  Ravana reproaches Brahma, and he sends Nareda to procure the dart again and keep Hanumana out of the way.  With the fatal weapon Lakshmana is left for dead.  Rama despairs:—­

“My soldiers shall find protection in their caves; I can die with Sita, but thou, Vibhishana, what shall become of thee?”

Hanuman reappears and encourages him.  Ravana has a celebrated physician, Sushena, who is brought away from Lanka in his sleep, and directs that a drug (Vishalya) from the Druhima mountain must be procured before morning, or Lakshmana will perish.  This mountain is six millions of Yojanas remote, but Hanuman undertakes to bring it bodily to Lanka, and call at Ayodhya on his way.

He accordingly roots up the mountain, and is returning with it to Rama, via Ayodhya, when Bharata, who is employed in guarding a sacrifice made by Vasishtha, not knowing what to make of him, shoots Hanuman as he approaches.  He falls exclaiming on Rama and Lakshmana, which leads Bharata to discover his mistake.  Vasishtha restores the monkey who sets off for Lanka.  On Hanuman’s return, the medicament is administered, and Lakshman revives.