Part 13

And the rangers of woods, gazing at the earth and the sky, at length cast their eyes on the brothers--Rama and Lakshmana, covered all over with arrows. And after that Rakshasa had gone away having performed his work, like the God[148] going away, after having showered,--there came to that place Bibhishana with Sugriva. And, mourning Raghu's sons, there also came in all haste Nila and Dwivida and Mainda and Sushena and Kumuda and Angada in company with Hanuman. And moveless; breathing low,--covered with blood,--pierced all over with net-works of shafts; dumb; they[149] were lying on the field. And they were sighing like serpents; and were inert; and deprived of prowess; and washed in blood; and looking like unto golden standards. And as they lay moveless, as become heroes, the leaders of monkeys environed them with tear-charged eyes. And seeing the sons of Raghu lying, covered with showers of shafts, the monkeys, with Bibhishana, were pained (exceedingly). And the monkeys, surveying the sky as well as all directions, could not see Ravana's son in battle enveloped with illusion. And then Bibhishana by means of illusion saw his brother's son staying before, hidden by illusion. And Bibhishana saw that hero of incomparable deeds, who had no compeer in the field and who had energy, fame and prowess,--as he remained invisible in consequence of the Boon received from Brahma. And Indrajit, seeing his own feat and them lying at length, spake in excess of joy, gladdening all the Rakshasas,--"The brothers--Rama and Lakshmana, possessed of great strength, who had slain Khara and Dushana, are themselves slain with my shafts. And all the celestials and Asuras assembled together with the saints, are incompetent to emancipate these from the fetters of my shafts. He for whom my father was exercised with anxiety and tormented by grief, for whom my sire used to spend nights without pressing his bed,--for whom this entire Lanka had resembled a river turbulent in the rainy reason,--that same evil sticking by the root of all, hath been dispensed his quietus by me. And like clouds of autumn, the prowess of Rama and Lakshmana as well as that of all the rangers of the woods, hath been rendered useless". Saying this in the presence of all the Rakshasas, Ravana's son--destroyer of foes--menacing the monkey-leaders, hit Nila with nine arrows, and hurt Mainda and Dwivida each with three powerful shafts. And piercing Jambavan with an arrow in the chest, that mighty bowman discharged ten at Hanuman. And Ravana's son possessed of exceeding impetuosity, pierced in the conflict with two shafts each Gavaksha and Sarabha of immeasurable vigor. And Ravana's son, summoning celerity, pierced the king of Golangulas and Vali's son, Angada, with innumerable arrows. And the powerful son of Ravana, endowed with might, piercing the foremost monkeys with shafts resembling tongues of flames, set up shouts in the field of battle. And tormenting the monkeys with volleys of shafts and striking terror into them, that mighty-armed one, bursting out into a laugh, said,--"Let the Rakshasas behold these brothers, lying fast bound with dreadful arrows, in front of the forces". Thus addressed, those Rakshasas--wily warriors all--resembling masses of clouds, witnessing that deed (of Indrajit), struck with wonder and rejoicing (greatly), set up tremendous roars. And thinking that Rama was slain, they honored Ravana's son. And seeing the brothers--Rama and Lakshmana--motionless, and lying inert on the ground,--they took them for slain. And, experiencing excess of joy, Indrajit--conquerer in conflict--entered the city of Lanka, rejoicing all the Nairitas. Seeing the bodies as well as the limbs of Rama and Lakshmana, covered entirely with arrows, fear took possession of Sugriva. Thereat Bibhishana said unto that lord of monkeys, staying in woe begone guise, with a tearful countenance, and his eyes wild with wrath,--"Do not give way to fear, O Sugriva. Restrain thy rising tears! This is the way of warfare: victory is not (always) sure. But, O hero, if Fortune ultimately smile upon us, this stupor shall go off from these high-souled and exceedingly powerful ones. Therefore, O monkey, do thou cheer me, who am forlorn". Saying this, with his hand Bibhishana washed Sugriva's graceful eyes with water. And taking water, the righteous Bibhishana by means of his knowledge, washed Sugriva's eyes therewith. And washing the face of the intelligent monkey-monarch, Bibhishana spoke these words, seasonable and sedate,--"O foremost of monkey-kings, this is no time for being overcome with stupor. At this hour, even immoderate affection may lead to destruction. Therefore, casting off stupor, which tends to mar all work, do thou bethink thee how thou mayst serve this army headed by Rama. Or do thou protect Rama so long as he doth not regain consciousness; and when the Kakutsthas shall have regained consciousness, all our apprehension shall vanish. This is nothing to Rama, and Rama is not dying. And Lakshmi,[150] who is incapable of being attained by those that are doomed, shall not forsake this one. Therefore do thou comfort thyself, do thou also cheer up thy own forces,--while I am engaged in composing all the troops. O best of monkeys, these with distended eyes, come under the governance of terror, are, stricken with panic, whispering into each other's ears. But seeing me, let the forces rushing about, cheered up,--as well as the monkeys,--cast off all fear, like a wreath that hath been used before". Thus comforting Sugriva, Bibhishana--lord of Rakshasas--again instilled spirits into the flying forces of monkeys. And Indrajit--worker of mighty illusions--accompanied by his troops, entered the city of Lanka and presented himself before his father. And approaching Ravana and saluting him with joined hands, he informed his sire of the welcome tidings that Rama and Lakshmana had been slain. And hearing that his foe had fallen, Ravana springing up in the midst of the Rakshasas, with great joy embraced his son. And scenting the crown of his head, (Ravana) with a delighted heart, asked (Indrajit as to all that had taken place). And on being asked, he (Indrajit) truly related unto his sire how (Rama and Lakshmana) had been rendered senseless and lack-lustre by being fastened with shafts. Thereat, with rapture surcharging his inmost soul, Ravana, hearing the speech of the mighty car-warrior, banished his fear of Dacaratha's son,--and rising up, honored his son with glad words.

[148] Indra.

[149] Rama and Lakshmana.

[150] The goddess of prosperity.

SECTION XLVII.

When Ravana's son entered Lanka, after having accomplished his purpose, the foremost monkeys protected Raghava, surrounding him on all sides. And Hanuman, and Angada, and Nila, and Sushena, and Kumuda, and Nala, and Gaya, and Gavaksha, and Panasa, and Samprastha--a mighty monkey--and Jambavan, and Rishava, and Sunda, and Rambha, and Satavali, and Prithu,--all forming themselves into array, and equipped with trees on all sides, and remaining vigilant,--the monkeys kept gazing at all sides, awry and upwards; and even when a straw stirred, they thought it to be a Rakshasa. And Ravana, on his part, experiencing the height of exaltation, summoned the Rakshasis engaged in guarding Sita.--And thereat the Rakshasis--Trijata and others--presented themselves at his command. And then the lord of Rakshasas, delighted, addressed then the Rakshasis, saying,--"Tell Vaidehi that Rama and Lakshmana have been slain in battle by Indrajit. And taking her on Pushaka, show her (Rama and Lakshmana) lying slain on the field of battle. That one depending on whom she had proudly set her face against me,--that husband of hers, along with his brother, hath been slain in conflict. And then Mithila's daughter, her fear gone off with her anxiety, and herself losing all support,--Sita--daughter unto Mithila--decked out in all ornaments, shall seek me. And today beholding Rama with Lakshmana, come under the sway of Time, she, finding no other way, shall desist from her present course. And seeing no other resourse, that one of expansive eyes shall of herself seek me". Hearing those words of the wicked-minded Ravana, the Rakshasis, saying,--"So be it,"--went to where Pushpaka was. Then taking Pushpaka, the Rakshasis at Ravana's command went to Maithili staying in the _acoka_ wood. Then, taking Sita, who was overcome with grief for her lord, the Rakshasis, placed her on the car, Pushpaka. And placing Sita on Pushpaka along with Trijata, Ravana took her all around (Lanka) crowded with ensigns and standards. And the lord of Rakshasas jubilantly proclaimed in Lanka,--"Raghava as well as Lakshmana have been slain by Indrajit in battle". And going about with Trijata, Sita saw all the monkey-troops slain. And she found the flesh-eaters elated in spirits, and the monkeys afflicted with extreme grief at the side of Rama and Lakshmana. Then Sita beheld both Lakshmana and Rama lying in the field, senseless and bound with arrows. And those heroes were lying on the earth, their mail torn, their bows cast off, their bodies mangled all over and thickly pierced with shafts. And seeing those brothers,--foremost of heroes and best of men--having eyes resembling white lotuses, and themselves like unto Kumaras,--lying in the field,[151]--the fire-sprung one, Sita, striken with grief, began to weep piteously. And that black-eyed one of an excellent person, Janaka's daughter--seeing them roll in the dust, broke out into lamentation. And with her eyes shedding plentiful tears, she seeing those brothers, endowed with god-like prowess, concluded them to be dead $ and overwhelmed with grief, spoke as follows.

[151] _Viran nararshabkan--heroes and best of men_--occurs again,--left out on the score of redundancy.--T.

SECTION XLVIII.

And seeing her husband, as well as the exceedingly powerful Lakshmana,--slain, Sita, afflicted with grief, burst into bitter lamentation. "The soothsayers had said that I should have sons, and should never be a widow. But on Rama being slain, it seems now that those ones, possessed of knowledge, had spoken untruthfully. And those also, who having celebrated sacrifices and rites, had said that I should become the queen (of Rama),--on Rama being slain, seems to-day to have spoken a falsehood, although they are possessed of knowledge. And they also asserted that I should be honored of the wives of heroic kings as well as of my lord,--but on Rama being slain, they seem to have uttered a falsehood, although possessed of knowledge. And those twice-born ones that in my hearing had said auspicious words, on Rama being slain, seem to-day to have spoken a falsehood, although they were possessed of knowledge. These lotus-marks on the feet, betokening unto gentlewomen possessing them, that they are to be installed in the kingdom in company with their husbands--who are kings,--are on me. And those marks find I none on me by which women of rare fortune come by widowhood,--but I find that in me these good tokens are nullified. Those marks that are pronounced infallible by those versed in such knowledge, on Rama being slain, are nullified in me. My hairs are fine, equal, and blue; my eye-brows touch each other; my hips are devoid of down and round; and my teeth are close. My temples, and eyes, hands, feet, ankles, and thighs are equal. And my fingers are furnished with round nails, and are plump and even in the middle. And my breasts are close and firm and developed, and have their nipples sunk. And my navel is depressed, with high sides. And my chest is swelling. And my complexion is like the hue of gems,--and my down soft. And they said that I was furnished with twelve auspicious signs. And my hands in the middle parts of my fingers contain wheat-marks; and in the spaces between the fingers, have no uneven corners. And my feet also partake of the general complexion. And my laugh is a gentle smile. And those versed in marks of women knew that I was possessed of such marks. And those Brahmanas skilled in telling fortune said that I should be installed in the kingdom along with my husband; but all that hath been falsified. Having purified Janasthana (of Rakshasas), obtained tidings of me, and crossed the Ocean[152] incapable of being Agitated, those brothers have been slain in the footprint of a cow! The descendants of Raghu had obtained Varuua and Agneya and Aindra and Vayava and _Brahmaciras_ weapons.[153] Through illusion have those lords of me, who am forlorn--Rama and Lakshmana, resembling Vasava himself in battle,--been slain. Coming in battle within ken of Raghava, a foe, even if he be endowed with the fleetness of thought,--doth not go back, living. There is nothing which is too hard for Time; and the Destroyer is incapable of being overcome; inasmuch as Rama along with his brother Lakshmana hath fallen in fight. And I do not so much mourn Rama or the mighty car-warrior--Lakshmana--or, for that matter, self,--as I do the wretched Mother-in-law of mine. She ever thinketh of the period of the promise. 'When shall I behold Sita and Lakshmana with Raghava?'" As she was thus lamenting, the Rakshasi, Trijata, said,--"O exalted lady, do not weep thus. Thy lord liveth. And, O dignified one, I shall unfold unto thee potent and probable reasons why the brothers Rama and Lakshmana live. When their leader falleth, the countenances of the warriors in battle are not overspread with passion, or display cheerfulness and vivacity. And, O Vaidehi, if those had lost their lives, this celestial chariot, named Pushpaka, would not have held thee. An army that hath its heroes and chiefs slain--becoming dispirited and drooping, rangeth the field, like a vessel on water that hath lost its helmsman. But, O lorn one, these troops, betraying neither agitation nor anxiety, are guarding the Kakutsthas. This I tell thee of them out of affection. Do thou, at this conclusion bringing in joy, take comfort; and behold the Kakutsthas unslain. This I tell thee from affection. I never told thee untruths heretofore; nor, O Mithila's daughter, will I tell them unto thee now. Thou by virtue of thy character conducive to delight, hast found an access into my heart. These even the celestials and Asuras with Indra (at their head) are incompetent to quell. Seeing such sight, I speak to thee as to their being alive. And behold, O Maithili, this mighty wonder! These are lying insensible with arrows; but of those Grace hath not taken leave. It generally happens that the faces of persons dead and gone, are unsightly to a degree. Therefore, O Janaka's daughter, leave off grief and sorrow and stupor. For the sake of Rama and Lakshmana thou canst not today put a period to thy existence". Hearing her words, Mithila's daughter--Sita--resembling the daughter of a celestial, with hands joined, said,--"May this be so!" Then turning away the car Pushpaka fleet as the mind, the distressed Sita entered Lanka along with Trijata. Then in company with Trijata, alighting from Pushpaka, she along with the Rakshasis entered the _acoka_ wood. And entering that sporting-ground of the Rakshasa lord abounding in woody tracts, Sita, having beheld those princes and reflected on them, became subject to a mighty grief.

[152] The commentator assigns a metaphorical sense to ocean,--but this is hardly necessary.

[153] _'And did they not remember this now?'_ completes the sense.--T.

SECTION XLIX.

Bound up terribly with shafts, Dacaratha's sons, lying down bathed in blood, sighed hard like unto serpents. And all those foremost monkeys, along with Sugriva, possessed of exceeding strength,--overwhelmed with sorrow, remained surrounding those high-souled ones. In the meanwhile, the powerful Rama, albeit fast bound by the shafts, awoke by virtue of the exceeding toughness of his person, as well as his might. Then, seeing his brother, having a distressful countenance, covered with blood, feeble, and fast bound by the shafts,--Rama, greatly aggrieved, began to mourn. "Of what use unto me is the recovery of Sita, or life either, when to-day I see my brother vanquished in fight and lying down in the field? Seeking in the world (of men), I may light upon a woman like Sita; but never on a brother, or a helper, or a warrior like unto Lakshmana. If that enhancer of Sumitra's joy have met with his end, my life I must renounce in the sight of the monkeys. What shall I say unto Kaucalya: and what shall I say unto Kaikeyi? And what shall I say unto mother Sumitra, eager for a sight of her son? And if I go (back) without him, how shall I soothe her, like unto a cow reft of her calf; and trembling; and resembling a mourning Kurari? And how shall I say unto Satrughana and the illustrious Bharata,--'He went with me to the forest; but I come (back) here without him?' I shall not be able to bear the rebuke of mother Sumitra. Therefore even here shall I renounce my person; for certainly I dare not live. Fie on me, who am wicked and base; for me this Lakshmana, brought down, lieth in the field of battle, like one that is without life. O Lakshmana, thou ever comfortest me when I am dispirited. But to day, having lost thy life, thou canst not speak to me, who am afflicted. Thou, O hero, who hadst in battle slain innumerable Rakshasas lying around, hast (at length) thyself been slain in the field with shafts. And lying down in the battle-field, bleeding, and covered with arrows, thou appearest like the Sun when he hath gone up the Setting-hill. And in consequence of shafts piercing thy vitals, thou canst not speak; but thy visible expression, albeit thou art dumb, betokens pain. O thou endowed with exceeding splendour, even as thou didst follow me into the forest, will I follow thee unto the mansion of Yama. Thou, having dear friends, and ever following me, hast come by this plight in consequence of my reprehensible conduct. I do not remember having heard any harsh speech from the heroic Lakshmana, even when he had happened to be exceedingly wroth. He that could discharge at one shot five hundred shafts,--that Lakshmana is superior to Karttaviryya himself in that weapon--the bow. He that with his arms could resist the arms of Sakra himself,--that one worthy of a costly couch--lieth down on the ground, slain. And that false babble shall now, without doubt, consume me; for by me hath not Bibhishana been made monarch of the Rakshasas. Do thou, O Sugriva, this very moment retrace thy steps. Bereft of thy strength through me, thou wilt be worsted by Ravana. And, O Sugriva, placing Angada to the fore, do thou, taking thy host as well as the equipage, in company with Nila and Nala, cross over the Ocean. By thee hath been achieved a mighty feat incapable of being done by another in battle. And pleased am I with the king of bears, and the lord of Golangulas; and Angada hath quit himself nobly, as also Mainda and Dwivida. And Kecarin and Sampati have both fought terribly. And Gavaya, and Gavaksha, and Sarabha, and Gaja,--and other monkeys have fought as others are incapable of fighting,--determined to lay down their lives (for me). But, O Sugriva, man cannot overrule Destiny. Thou, my friend, fearing righteousness,[154] hast done what lay in thy power. And, Ye foremost of monkeys, ye also have acted as becometh friends. Now, with my permission, go ye whithersoever ye are minded". Hearing Rama's lament, the monkeys--those dark-eyed and others--began to shed tears from their eyes. Then Bibhishana, quieting the army, taking a mace in his hand, swiftly went to where Raghava was. And seeing him fast making his way, resembling a mass of dark collyrium, the monkeys taking him to be Ravana's son,[155] began to run away.

[154] _Dharma-bhiru--fearing righteousness_--is the epithet generally applied to persons fearing not in fact _righteousness_, but unrighteousness. This may be taken as an _idiotism_ in Sanskrit.--T.

[155] Indrajit. Such was the fear he had spread by his redoubtable deeds!--T.

SECTION L.