As soon as the army left Janasthana, a large gray cloud appeared in the skies and rained water that was red. On the royal highway the swift-footed horses stumbled and fell. An ominous black circle formed around the sun whose rim blazed like a flaming torch. A huge vulture settled on the golden standard as other birds of prey set up a cacophony of dreadful shrieks. Jackals facing the sun howled fearfully, boding ill. An ominous darkness enveloped the earth causing confusion. Twilight was earlier than usual and all of a sudden a total solar eclipse occurred. Stars came out during the day, water birds and the fish hid themselves, while lotuses withered. Fruit and flower fell from trees and though winds were still, swirling clouds of dust rose like magic. Frightening meteors came crashing down, as the earth with its mountains and forests was shaken. Khara roared from his chariot and his right shoulder twitched. His voice shook, his eyes were filled with tears and his head ached. But Khara in his ignorance did not turn back. He did not care for the many inauspicious signs that boded ill. Reckless and defiant, he said to his army, "I disregard these omens, as the powerful scorn the weak. My sharp arrows can dislodge the stars from the skies and provoked, I can even cause destruction to death. I will not turn back until Rama and Lakshmana, arrogant in their strength, fall prey to my arrows. You are all aware that my sovereignty has never been questioned and I have never been vanquished." The army of demons was delighted with the words of their boastful chief, even as the tentacles of death were reaching for them. The gods blessed Rama with victory as they watched in amusement the impending doom of the rakshasas. Twelve of the mightiest of rakshasas flanked Khara, while four others equally powerful walked with Dooshana.