When Mandodari came to know that Shri Rama has arrived with his entire sena (army) at Lanka. She was very frightened. She went toRavana and described Rama’s might. She tried to convince Ravana to give Sita upto Rama and seek refuge with Rama. He would definitely forgive you and grantyou fearlessness from his fury. Ravana exclaimed, “You are perhaps not aware ofmy prowess. I had lifted the entire Kailash Parvat (mountain called Kailash).All gods and digpals are at my mercy. Rama is anyway weakened at being partedfrom his wife. Men and monkeys are our food. How can we be frightened of them?”Mandodari was thus silenced.

At nights Ravana sent his spies Shuk and Saran to thecamp of Rama to assess the number and strength of the enemy.

Both the spies took the form of monkeys and enteredRama’s camp in the evening. But the alert vanars (monkeys) recognized them andcaptured them and threatened to cut off their ears and noses. The spies quicklyburst out, “Whoever tries to cut off our nose and ears, may the name of Ramarestrain them from doing so.” The monkeys took the two spies to Rama. They givethemselves up to Rama so he forgives them and lets them go. Rama then climbedon a hill and surveyed Lanka that lies before them.

It was evening and Ravana was relaxing in his pleasureplace engrossed in entertainment. Sugreeva got agitated and leaped to standbefore Ravana. He wrestled with Ravana, gives him a show of his strength andreturned to Rama. Shri Rama explained to him that one should not actunthinkingly.

Ravana planned out his battle strategy. Rama too wasengrossed in arranging his troops for the fight ahead.

Rama consulted with his ministers. As the protocol ofwarfare demanded, they sent Angad as an envoy to warn Ravana in his court.