Thereupon (Rāvana) having long arms, proud of the boon conferred upon him in the three worlds, beheld the heroic Māndhātā, the lord of Ayodhyā and the foremost of kings. The king of seven islands proceeded in a golden and well-painted car resplendent like that of Mahendra, shining in his beauty and sprinkled with celestial unguents. The Ten-necked demon said to him, “Do you give me battle.” Being thus addressed, he, laughing, said to the ten-necked demon, "If your life is not dear to you, do you fight with me, O Raksasa."
अथापश्यन्महाबाहुस्त्रैलोक्य वरदर्पितः। अयोध्यायाः पतिं वीरं मांधातारं नृपोत्तमम्॥ सप्तद्वीपाधिपं यान्तं चन्दनेन विराजता। काञ्चनेन विचित्रेण माहेन्द्राभेण भास्वता॥ जाज्वल्यमानं रूपेण दिव्यगन्धानुलेपनम्। तमुवाच दशग्रीवो युद्ध मे दीयतामिति॥ एवमुक्तो दशग्रीवं प्रहस्येदमुवाच ह। यदि ते जीवितं नेष्टं ततो युद्ध्यस्व राक्षस॥