Rama first sent Angad as a messenger offering peace and forgiveness if Seeta was restored and Ravana apologised. But Ravana rejected the offer, and the war began. The vanara sena attacked Lanka. Ravana’s army was equipped with weapons; the vanaras uprooted whatever they could and used it as a weapon. There was terrible slaughter on both sides. Rama and Lakshmana caused havoc with their arrows. Angad destroyed Indrajeet’s chariot, but he made himself invisible and attacked Rama and Lakshmana with naga-pasha, serpent lances, tying them up. The vanaras grieved seeing Rama and Lakshmana lying unconscious. Indrajeet told Ravana about it and they thought they had won. Ravana sent Seeta in the pushpaka vimana to view the battlefield where they lay. Seeta was miserable, but Trijata reassured her they were only unconscious. Rama recovered first. Suddenly, Garuda appeared. He was a natural enemy to serpents and killed them promptly. Rama thanked him and he flew away.
War Begins
