Thereupon the highly powerful Rama, wroth, stretching his bow, made up his mind to return the blow, And aiming at Rāvana's flag staff he discharged a sharpened shaft flaming unbearably by its own lustre like a huge serpent....
ततो रामोऽपि संक्रुद्धश्चापमाकृष्य वीर्यवान्। कृतप्रतिकृतं कर्तुं मनसा संप्रचक्रमे॥ रावणध्वजमुद्दिश्य मुमोच निशितं शरम्। महासर्पमिवासा ज्वलन्तं स्वेन तेजसा॥