GARUDA

At this crucial juncture, Garuda came to Rama and Lakshmana's rescue. Knowing vultures to be the eternal enemies of serpents, Rama thought of his vulture friend, Garuda. Feeling that someone was calling him. Garuda flew towards Lanka.

Seeing Garuda flying towards them, all the serpents slithered away. Now the Ayodhya princes were free.

Garuda came near Rama and Lakshmana and softly stroked them with his wings. Both Rama and Lakshmana were restored to life. Rama then thanked Garuda for saving his and Lakshmana's life.

Garuda assured Rama, "You shall surely slay Ravana and rescue the chaste Sita.

Seeing Rama and Lakshmana well again, their army was overjoyed.

Ravana then sent four of his best demons to fight against Rama and his army. After a violent fight, all the four demons were killed.

The news of another defeat enraged Ravana. Seeing his father's anger, Indrajit swore, "I will slay Lakshmana today!"

Indrajit safely hid behind the clouds and hit arrows at the Ayodhya princes and their army. Because he was invisible, he could not be located. No one knew how to kill him without knowing from where he shot the arrows.

Then Indrajit hit a powerful arrow at Lakshmana who fell unconscious on the ground. Sushena, the physician, came and told Rama that Lakshmana and the vast number of wounded monkeys could be revived by the Sanjeevani Booti (a herb) found on the Gandhamadhana Hill near the Himalayas.

Hanuman at once headed towards the north of India. He leaped across the vast expanse of water between Lanka and India and flew towards the Himalayas. On reaching the Gandhamadhana Hill, he could not identify the Sanjeevani Booti. So he lifted the entire mountain and carried it all the way to Lanka.

Sushena immediately identified the herb and used it on Lakshmana and the wounded monkeys. They all gained consciousness and recovered.

Rama embraced Hanuman and said, "None can equal you in strength and devotion."

When Indrajit saw Lakshmana and the army having recovered and ready to fight, he realized his limitations in killing them.