In the battle, Ravana?s son Atikaya was killed after a fierce and long battle. When his mother Dhanyamalini heard of her son?s death she cried bitterly. Her sorrow touched an emotional chord in Ravana?s heart. He too was saddened and disappointed. Then Indrajeet talked to him about bravery and convinced him that he would avenge his brother?s death in the battlefield the next day.??

In a fierce form, the brave Indrajit sauntered into battle. He had crushed the pride of the Devas in heaven and when Indra had captured Ravana in a fight, it was Meghnad who had freed him. Then he had captured Indra and brought him bound to the court of Ravana. Since then he was called Indrajit, the one who has conquered Indra. It was on Brahma?s word that Ravana had released Indra. All this was narrated to Rama by Vibheeshan to demonstrate the strength and valor of Meghnad.??

Rama sent Lakshman to face Indrajit. The vanara sena was quite disturbed by Indrajit?s arrival. With a roar, he caught both Rama and Lakshman in a serpentine noose, Nagpash. Sugreeva and others were gloomy and distraught to see this.

The gods in heaven protested and began to move hither thither in confusion. Indrajit, filled with pride, returned to the palace.??

Then Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, was approached by Hanuman who prayed to him to eat the snakes and free Rama and Lakshman. As the food of Garuda is snakes, he quickly flew to the battlefield and freed the noose made of nagas (serpents). Shri Rama thanked Garuda heartily. ?

Meanwhile in Ashoka Vatika when Sita heard that Rama and Lakshman had been caught in a Nagpash, she was very sad but soon the news of their release reached her too and she was calm.??

When Indrajit heard that Rama and Lakshman had been freed from the Nagpash, he was furious. With huge angry steps he marched back to the battlefield and challenged Rama and Lakshman while fighting all the monkeys and bears he met on the way.