Part 12

Then those Rakshasas, going to that subduer of enemies, Ravana, informed him that Rama along with the monkeys had laid seige unto the city. Hearing the city beseiged, the night-ranger was enraged. And, hearing that double arrangements had been made (by Rama) in guarding the gateways, (Ravana) ascended the palace. He saw Lanka with her hills, woods, and forests, covered everywhere with innumerable monkeys eager for encounter. And he saw the entire Earth tawneyed with the monkeys; and he reflected within himself how he could destroy these. And reflecting for long, Ravana having expansive eyes, assuming patience, gazed at Raghava and the leader of monkeys. Raghava with his host was fast approaching (the wall); and Ravana saw Lanka defended on all sides by Rakshasas. And Dacaratha's son, seeing Lanka crowned with variegated ensigns and standards, mentally went to Sita, with a sad heart. "For my sake, here that one, Janaka's daughter, having eyes resembling those of a young deer,--is undergoing affliction; and lieth down on the ground". And aggrieved at the thought of Vaidehi, the righteous Rama speedily commanded the monkeys to compass the destruction of the enemies. As Rama of untiring deeds said this, the monkeys, filling (the air) with leonine roars, began to press forward furiously. "We shall cleave Lanka with mountain-peaks, or with our blows"--thus thought the leaders within themselves. And the monkey-leaders stood, raising up gigantic mountain-peaks and tops of mountains, and rooting up various trees. And for doing what was dear unto Rama, that army, divided into separate parties, in the presence of the Rakshasa-chief commenced scaling Lanka. And those copper-faced ones of golden sheen, who had consecrated their lives to the service of Rama, equipped with trees and rocks, began to throng upon Lanka. And the monkeys with trees and hill-tops and blows crushed countless gates and tops of walls; and they filled the moat containing crystal water with dust, tops of crags, straw, and wood. Then leaders of thousands and _kotis_ and hundreds of _kotis_ began to scale Lanka. And the monkeys crushed golden gateways; and, breaking down gates resembling the tops of the summits of Kailaca, bounded roaring, some towards the wall and some all around. And resembling gigantic elephants, they rushed towards Lanka. "Victory to the mighty Rama, and Victory to the exceedingly powerful Lakshmana, and Victory to king Sugriva, who is protected by Raghava". Thus shouting, those monkeys, wearing forms at will, sending up roars, rushed amain towards the wall of Lanka. And Viravahu, Suvahu, Nala and Panaca--leader of monkeys--breaking (a portion of) the wall, took up their post there. In the meantime, (they) arranged the forces in order of battle. And the strong Kumuda, surrounded by ten _kotis_ of victorious monkeys, stood obstructing the Eastern gate. And for backing him, there remained the monkey, Prasabha, as also the long-armed Panaca, surrounded by monkeys. And obstructing the Southern entrance stood the strong and gallant monkey, Satavali, surrounded by twenty _kotis_. And the strong sire of Tara, the powerful Sushena, obstructed the Western gate, backed by _kotis_ upon _kotis_ (of monkeys). And obstructing the Northern gate, remained the puissant Rama himself along with Sumitra's son, as well as the king of monkeys--Sugriva. And that huge-bodied and dreadful Golangula--the mighty and powerful Gavaksha--surrounded by a _koti_, remained by the side of Rama. And that destroyer of foes--the exceedingly mighty Dhumra of the bears of terrific wrath, remained by the side of Rama--where, surrounded by vigilant counsellors, and bearing a mace in his hand, stood the exceedingly strong Bibhishana, endowed with wonderful powers, in complete panoply. And Gaya, and Gavaksha, and Gavaya, and Sarabha, and Gandhamadana, protected the monkey-army, coursing all around. And then, his soul wrought up with wrath, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--speedily ordered the whole host to sally out. Hearing those words, which came out from Ravana's mouth, all of a sudden the night-rangers sent up a dreadful yell. Then awoke the kettle-drums, having moon-like pale faces,--sounded by means of golden sticks. And conchs by hundreds and by thousands, capable of producing loud blares, filled with air proceeding from the mouths of dreadful Rakshasas,--were winded. And with conchs placed in their mouths, those night-rangers, having bodies blue like those of _Cukas_, resembled masses of clouds, with lightning and cranes. And, commanded by Ravana, the troops cheerfully issued forth like the onrushing of the mighty main filling all at the time of the universal dissolution. And then the monkey-army gave a roar, spreading all around; and it seemed as if the sound filled all Malaya with its sides and caves. And sounds of conchs, and drums, as well as the leonine shouts of the impetuous (warriors); made the earth, air, and ocean, resound; and these mixed with the roars of elephants, the neighing of steeds, the rattle of the car-wheels, and the tread of the Rakshasas' feet. And in the meantime there commenced a mighty encounter between the Rakshasas and the monkeys, like that which took place of yore between the gods and the Asuras. And displaying their prowess, they[128] began to slaughter monkeys with maces, and darts, and adzes. And the vehement monkeys (on their side) slaughtered Rakshasas with trees and tops of crags as well as with their nails and teeth. And a mighty sound arose of 'Victory unto king Sugriva!' and 'Victory unto thee, O king,'--each army taking the name of its king. And then other dreadful Rakshasas that were stationed upon the wall, dropping down, pierced the monkeys with darts and _bhindipalas_. And (thereat) the monkeys, flying into fury, descending to the earth and bounding, brought down the Rakshasas with their arms. And that encounter of the Rakshasas and the monkeys was mighty and wonderful, and the ground became wet with flesh and gore.

[128] Rakshasas.

SECTION XLIII.

And as the high-souled monkeys and Rakshasas fought on, their wrath vastly increased at sight of each other's forces. And furnished with steeds in golden trappings; and elephants resembling flames of fire; and cars appearing like (so many) suns; and shining armour,--the valiant Rakshasas issued, making the ten cardinal points resound. The Rakshasas of terrific exploits were burning for victory on behalf of Ravana.--And the mighty monkey-army also, eager for victory, darted against the host of the Rakshas of dreadful deeds. And in the meanwhile, as either party assailed the other, there took place single combats between the Rakshasas and the monkeys. And as Andhaka had combated with the Three-eyed (deity)[129] that Rakshasa, the exceedingly energetic Indrajit, fought with Angada, son unto Vali. Sampati, hard to bear, engaged with Prajangha; and the monkey, Hanuman, entered into conflict with Jambumali. And Ravana's younger brother, Bibhishana, fired with wrath, encountered Satrughna, endowed with exceeding impetuosity. And the highly powerful Nila engaged with Nikumbha. And Sugriva--lord of monkeys--undertook Praghasa, and the graceful Lakshmana was engaged with Virupaksha. And the exceedingly irrepressible Agniketu and the Rakshasa--Racmiketu--and Mitraghna and Yajnakopa, were engaged with Rama. And Vajramubhthi encountered Mainda, and Acaniprabha, Dwivida. And those foremost of monkeys fought with those dreadful Rakshasas,--the heroic and terrible Pratapana, incapable of being overcome in battle, was combating with Nala of terrific force; and that lusty son of Righteousness, well-known as Sushena,--a mighty monkey--battled with Vidyunmali. And other fearful monkeys encountered other Rakshasas; and many were the encounters that took place. And great and fierce was the engagement that took place between the heroic Rakshasas and monkeys burning for victory, capable of making people's hair stand on end. And from the persons of the Rakshasas and the monkeys there flowed a river of gore, having hair for grass (growing on its banks), and the bodies of the warriors for pieces of planks floating (adown the current). Indrajit, growing enraged, with his mace dealt a blow at that tearer of hostile ranks, Angada,--like him of an hundred sacrifices striking with his thunderbolt. Thereat, that graceful monkey, Angada, gifted with vehemence, with his mace crushed his car decked in gold, together with the steeds and the charioteer. Sampati was pierced with three arrows by Prajangha; and the former (in his turn) slew Prajangha on the edge of battle with an Acwakarna.[130] And Jambumali, mounted on a car, possessed of prodigious strength, fired with wrath, with all the access of force derived from his car, wounded Hanuman between his paps. Thereat, getting at his car, Hanuman--son unto the Wind-god--with a slap speedily crushed his adversary's vehicle along with the Raksha. Then the terrific Pratapana, roaring, rushed at Nala; and thereat Nala, with his body pierced with sharp shafts by that swift-handed Raksha, plucked out Pratapana's eyes, and cast them to the earth. And that lord of monkeys, Sugriva, with a _Saptaparna_[131] swiftly slew Praghasa, who appeared to be devouring up the troops. And, tormenting the Rakshasa of dreadful form with a shower of shafts, Lakshmana slew Virupaksha with a single arrow. And the irrepressible Agniketu, the Rakshasa Ragmiketu, Mitraghna and Yajnakopa, with their arrows rendered Rama aflame. Thereat, Rama, growing wroth, in battle severed the heads of those four by means of four shafts, dreadful, and resembling the tongues of a flame. And Vajramushti was slain in conflict by Mainda with a clenched fist; and down came he to the ground along with his car and horses, like a turret toppling (headlong). And Nikumbha in fight wounded Nila resembling a mass of blue collyrium, with sharpened shafts,--as the Sun pierceth clouds with his rays. Again with an hundred arrows, that light-handed night-ranger pierced Nila in the field; and Nikumbha laughed thereat. At this, even as Vishnu did in battle, Nila with a wheel of his[132] car, cut off in conflict Nikumbha's head together with that of his charioteer. And Dwivida, possessed of the touch of the Vajra and thunder-bolt, in the presence of the entire Rakshasa host hurled a mountain-peak at him that was endowed with the splendour of the thunder-bolt. And Acaniprabha in encounter pierced that foremost of monkeys, Dwivida, with shafts resembling thunder-bolts. Thereat, beside himself with wrath, with his entire body wounded with arrows, Dwivida with a _sala_ destroyed Acaniprabha along with his car and horses. And Vidyunmali, mounted on a car, assailed Sushena with shafts decked with gold, and began to shout momentarily. Seeing him mounted on his car, Sushena--best of monkeys--taking up a huge crag, swiftly brought his car down to the ground. Thereat, endowed with lightness, that night-ranger, Vidyunmali, at once extricating himself from his car, stood on the ground with a mace in his hand. Thereupon, that foremost of monkeys, Sushena, growing furious, taking up a gigantic crag, rushed at the night-ranger. And as he was descending, the night-ranger, Vidyunmali, with his mace swiftly hit at the breast of Sushena--greatest of monkeys. Thereat, without thinking at all of the terrific hit of the mace, that best of monkeys in mighty conflict brought down that[133] upon his[134] head. And, assailed with the crag, the night-ranger, Vidyunmali, having his chest crushed, fell down to the earth, deprived of life. And, like the celestials warring against the Daityas, the heroic monkeys warred on and confounded the valiant rangers of the night. And frightful was the field of battle, with darts, and other arms; and clubs, and javelins, and lances, and other weapons; and with broken cars, and war-horses, and mad horses slain, and monkeys and Rakshasas; and wheels and _akshas_,[135] and yokes and standards,--broken and scattered over the ground; and swarms of jackals began to range on all sides of the monkeys and the Rakshasas; and _Kavandhas_[136] began to rise in that terrific encounter, resembling the encounter of the gods and the Asuras. Thus destroyed by the foremost of monkeys, the rangers of night, beyond themselves with the smell of blood,--eagerly wishing for the setting of the Sun,[137] again made active preparations for a renewal of the fight.

[129] Siva, fabled to have three eyes.--T.

[130] A kind of tree.

[131] A tree.

[132] _Nikumbha's._

[133] The crag, which he had at first hit.--T.

[134] _Vidyunmali's._

[135] A part of a wheel.

[136] Spectres having bodies without heads.

[137] This was because, as intelligently remarks Ramanuja, night-rangers grow powerful _at night_.--T.

SECTION XLIV.

As the monkeys and the Rakshasas thus fought on, the sun set, and the fatal Night came. And then commenced a night-engagement between the dreadful Rakshasas and the monkeys of fixed hostility, each party burning for victory. And in that profound darknesss, the monkeys and the Rakshasas began to slay each other, exclaiming,--'Thou art a Rakshasa,' and 'Thou art a monkey.' And in that army there was heard a mighty uproar of 'slain,' 'rive!' 'come!' 'why fliest?' And, dark-hued, the Rakshasas, equipped in golden mail, in that deep darkness appeared like elevated hills clad with woods of flaming medicinal herbs. And in that limitless gloom, the Rakshasas, transported with wrath, advanced with impetuous speed, devouring monkeys. And, fired with terrible wrath, they,[138] bounding up, with their sharp teeth tore up steeds caparisoned in gold, and standards resembling venomous serpents. And the lusty monkeys in battle agitated the Rakshasa host,--and, waxing furious, with their teeth pulled and bit elephants and the riders thereof, and cars furnished with flags and standards. And Rama and Lakshmana with shafts resembling venomous serpents, slaughtered the foremost among the Rakshasas--both those that were seen and those that were not.--And the dust of the earth arising from warring combatants, and from the hoofs of horses and the wheels of cars, choked up eye and ear. And as the mighty encounter, capable of making people's hair stand on end, went on, there flowed a fearful river of gore. And the sounds of kettle-drums and _Mridangas_ and _Panavas_, mingled with those of conchs and car-wheels,--were wonderful (to hear). And the sounds of steeds neighing, and Rakshasas (roaring), and monkeys, rejoicing,--were something tremendous. And, with able monkeys slain; and darts and javelins and axes; and slaughtered Rakshasas wearing forms at pleasure, lying mountain-like,--the field of battle, seeming to have offerings of arms representing flowers,--became difficult to recognise, and inaccessible; and the earth was drenched with streams of blood. And that Night, destructive to monkeys and Rakshasas,--was dreadful, and difficult of being out-sped by all,--like unto the Fatal Night of beings. And in that profound darkness, the Rakshasas with great vivacity attacked Rama with a shower of shafts. And the roars of those beings as they advanced, sending up shouts in anger, resembled the dashing of the Ocean at the time of the universal dissolution. And in the twinkling of an eye, Rama by means of six shafts resembling tongues of flames, struck six of the night-rangers; _viz_., Yajnacatru, irrepressible (in fight),--and Mahaparcwa, and Mahodara, and the huge-bodied Vajradanashtra,--and those two--Suka and Sarana. And, pierced in their vitals with Rama's shafts, they, having only their lives left to them, disappeared from the field. Then in the twinkling of an eye, that Maharatha rendered all sides clear (of all gloom) by means of arrows resembling tongues of fire; and those other heroic Rakshasas that were in front of Rama, were destroyed on approaching the place, like insects approaching a fire. And with shafts plated with gold lying in all directions, the night resembled one in autumn decked with fireflies. And in consequence of the uproar occasioned by the Rakshasas, and the sounds of drums, that night, already dreadful (in itself), became all the more so. And on that sound attaining dimensions on all sides, it seemed as if the mount Trikuta, containing numerous caverns, had been speaking. And huge-bodied Goangulas of equal lustre with darkness itself,[139] binding fast the night-rangers with their arms, began to swallow them up. And Angada was present in the encounter, for slaying foes, And Indrajit, fairing sadly at the hands of Angada, abandoning his vehicle, and having his horses as well as his charioteer slain, vanished then and there. And that feat of Vali's son, worthy of being honored, all the celestials with the saints and both Rama and Lakshmana lauded to the eight. All beings were acquainted with the might of Indrajit in battle; and, therefore, witnessing his discomfiture, and seeing that high-souled one, they rejoiced exceedingly, and, seeing the enemy vanquished, all the monkeys with Sugriva and Bibhishana, experiencing high delight, exclaimed,--"Excellent!" "Excellent!" And, beaten by Vali's son of dreadful deeds, Indrajit was fired with a mighty wrath. And, being handled hard in battle, and having vanished from the field, the heroic and wicked son of Ravana, who had received a boon from Brahma, transported with passion,--remaining invisible, began to discharge sharpened shafts of the splendour of the thunder-bolt. And worked up into rage, he in the conflict pierced Raghu's sons, Rama and Lakshmana all over their bodies, with terrific arrows consisting of serpents. And himself engirt with illusion, that night-ranger, given to fighting in crooked ways,--remaining invisible to all creatures,--stupified the descendants of Raghu in battle; and by means of his shafts bound the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. And then in the sight of the monkeys, those heroes and foremost of men were suddenly overpowered with shafts by the enraged (Indrajit). And when the son of the Rakshasa monarch felt himself incompetent to cope with them[140] openly, then that impious one, resorting to illusion, bound those princes (by that means).

[138] _i.e._ the monkeys, as appears from the context.--T.

[139] Irony.

[140] Rama and Lakshmana.

SECTION XLV.

Then, anxious to ascertain his[141] course, the kings son possessed of prowess, and endowed with exceeding strength, Rama, ordered ten of the monkey-leaders. And that repressor of foes ordered Vali's son--Angada, the vigorous Sarabha, Dwivida, Hanuman, the mighty Sanuprastha, Rishabha and Rishabhaskandha. Thereat with alacrity those monkeys, weilding mighty trees, shot up into the sky, and began to scour the ten cardinal points. And Ravana's son, skilled in arms, resisted the impetuous march of those vehement ones by means of a powerful weapon as well as arms more forceful (than the force of their rush). And the exceedingly vehement monkeys, cut and mangled with _narachas_, saw him in the dark like the sun enveloped in clouds. And that conquerer in battle, Ravana's son, with shafts sorely pierced the persons of Rama and Lakshmana. And both Rama and Lakshmana had their bodies entirely covered by the angry Indrajit with shafts turned into serpents. And from their wounds blood began to gush out in streams; and they looked like flower-crowned _Kincukas_. Then that one having red corners unto his eyes and resembling a mass of crushed collyrium, Ravana's son, said unto the brothers, as he vanished,--"When I fight remaining invisible, even Sakra--the lord of the celestials--cannot see or approach me,--and who are ye? And I, with my soul surcharged with wrath, shall, assailing them with showers of weapons furnished with Kanka feathers, send Raghu's sons to the abode of Yama". Having spoken thus unto the brothers--Rama and Lakshmana, cognizant of righteousness--(Indrajit)--pierced them with sharpened shafts, and shouted in joy. And stretching his large bow, that one sable like unto a mass of crushed collyrium again discharged terrific shafts in battle. And that one versed in the inner sense of things, with whetted arrows pierced the vitals of Rama and Lakshmana and shouted momentarily. And fast bound by the shackles of shafts on the edge of battle, they[142] could not attain respite for a moment. Then with their persons pierced with shafts and darts, and resembling the flags of the Great Indra let loose from the cords and trembling (in the air),--and with their bodies bristling with arrows,--those heroes and mighty bowmen--lords of the earth--tormented in consequence of their vitals having been pierced, dropped down to the earth. And those heroes, bathed in blood, and their persons covered with arrows,--pained and suffering terribly, lay down as became heroes. And there was not so much room unpierced in their persons as could be measured by a finger; and they were wounded with arrows up to the fore-parts of their hands.[143] And they being wounded by that fell one capable of assuming shapes at will, blood violently gushed out of their bodies like water from a spring. And Rama fell first, pierced in the vitals with the shafts. And the same Indrajit who had formerly wrathfully routed Sakra.(now) pierced (Rama) with _narachas_ knotted with gold, and having polished heads; swift-speeding; and resembling dust carried about by the wind; and half-_narachas_; and darts resembling _anjalis_;[144] and _vatsadantas_;[145] and _sinhadanshtras_;[146] and razors; and, resigning his stringless bow decked in gold and curved in three places,--with its part for grasping shattered--he[147] lay down like a hero. And seeing Rama--foremost of men--down within arrow-range, Lakshmana despaired of his life. And seeing his brother, Rama, having eyes resembling lotus-petals and ever delighting in battle, himself the refuge of others,--lying down in the field; (Lakshmana) began to weep. And the monkeys also, seeing him, were plunged in sorrow; and they, their eyes flooded with tears, began to cry in grief of heart. And when they had been bound and had laid themselves down as become heroes, the monkeys stood around them,--and, conversing with one another, they, headed by the son of the Wind, were seized with extreme sorrow.

[141] Indrajit's.

[142] _i.e._ Rama and Lakshmana.

[143] This _sloka_ is rather obscure, and the Bengali translators have conveniently passed it by!--T.

[144] The hands joined at the lower sides, with the palms hollowed.--T.

[145] Weapons resembling the teeth of a calf.

[146] Weapons resembling the lion's teeth

[147] Rama.

SECTION XLVI.