जय श्रीराम!
तेनोत्तीर्य पथा लङ्कां रोधयामास पिङ्गलैः ।
द्वितीयं हेमप्राकारं कुर्वद्भिरिव वानरैः ॥१२.७१॥
Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma then used that bridge to cross the ocean and reach Laṅkā, and besieged it with a ring of tawny-coloured Vānarās, so numerous that their siege looked like another rampart fort around the golden fortress walls of Laṅkā."
Throughout the Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki describes how the citizens of Laṅkā were terrified beyond their wits to see these giant apes lay siege so fiercely that they all realised that the end was near for the race of Rākṣasās.
Throughout the narrative, the citizens of Laṅkā curse their despotic and evil king Rāvaṇa whose excesses had brought upon them this annihilation. Even the most trustworthy loyalists in his court advise Rāvaṇa to abandon his wicked ways, surrender to Śrīrāma, and return Sītā to him with sincere apologies. Such advice falls on deaf ears when one's fateful end is near.
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जय श्रीराम!
