The rutting elephants like massive black mountains spread their trumpeting sound in the battle-field. Camels resembling small hills produced hoarse sounds from their throats.
Neighing horses hailing from exalted lands, with big ornaments round their necks, expert in the knowledge of their gaits planted their legs on the heads of elephants and flew like birds.
On seeing the army of the enemy advancing thus, Ambikā kept her bow well-strung. She sounded her bell that distressed the enemy. The lion too shook his manes and roared.
Seeing her bedecked in fine ornaments, holding weapons and stationed on the Himalaya mountain Niśumbha spoke words full of sentiments like a man clever in understanding the emotions of beautiful women.
भवादृशीनां रमणीयविग्रहे दुनोति कीर्णं खलु मालतीदलम् ।। कथं करालाहवमातनोष्यसे महेशि तेनैव मनोज्ञवर्ष्मणा ।। १५ ।।
“Even a petal of the Mālatī (Jasmine) flower thrown on the beautiful body of women like you may distress you. O goddess, how will you carry on a terrible war with the self-same handsome body of yours?”