Part 24

Hearing Atikaya slain by the high-souled Lakshmana, the king was filled with exceeding great anxiety and spoke thus,--"Dhumraksha exceedingly wrathful,--best of those equipped with all arms--and Akampana and Prahasta and Kumbhakarna--all these exceedingly mighty heroes--Rakshasas ever seeking warfare, conquerers of the forces of foes, and never defeated by antagonists, have together with their hosts been slain by Rama of untiring feats. And other Rakshasas having gigantic bodies and skilled in various arms,--countless high-souled heroes--have also been brought down. These brothers were formerly bound by my son Indrajit of renowned strength and prowess with terrific shafts, obtained as boons. And I do not know by what power or superhuman virtue or stupifying energy did those brothers--Rama and Lakshmana--liberate themselves from those dreadful bonds, which could be loosed neither by celestials nor the highly powerful Asuras combined nor Yakyas, Gandharbas and Pannagas. And all those heroic Rakshasa warriors that marched forth at my bidding, have been destroyed by monkeys of marvellous might. Him see I not that can now slay Rama with Lakshmana,--that hero together with his forces and Sugriva and Bibhishana. Alack! mighty must be Rama and wondrous is his strength of weapon--he coming in contact with whose prowess, these Rakshasas have met with their deaths. Now let this palace be everywhere guarded by a vigilant garrison,--as also the _acoka_ wood where Sita is being guarded. We should always be acquainted with the ingress and egress (of every person). And do ye, surrounded by forces, remain where there are garrisons. And the night-rangers should in the evening, at midnight and in the morning always watch the movements of the monkeys. The monkeys should by no means be slighted. And ye should know whether the enemy putteth forth (fresh) efforts,--and whether they advance or remain stationed where they at present are".--Thereupon those exceeding mighty Rakshasas did as they had been desired. And having directed them, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--bearing the dart of ire (in his heart), in forlorn guise entered his own mansion. And with the fire of his rage blazing up, the exceedingly powerful sovereign of the night-rangers, absorbed with the danger that had befallen his son, began to sigh momentarily.

SECTION LXXIII.

Those Rakshas that remained after the others had been slain, swiftly informed Ravana that all those foremost of Rakshasas--Devantaka and the rest, Triciras, Atikaya and others--had been slain. And suddenly hearing them slain, the king with his eyes charged with brine, thinking of the disastrous destruction of his sons and brothers, was extremely agonized. Thereupon, seeing the king afflicted, and sunk in a sea of sorrow, that foremost of car-warriors--son unto the Rakshasa king--Indrajit, addressed (his sire), saying,--"O father, it doth not behove thee to be overcome with this excessive grief, inasmuch as, O lord of Nairitas, Indrajit yet breaths. Smit by the enemy of Indra, (Raghava) can by no means save his life in encounter. To-day behold Rama along with Lakshmana with their bodies torn with my shafts,--lying down lifeless on the ground, having their persons covered with my sharpened arrows! Hear this vow of the foe of Indra, never swerving and instinct with prowess and divinity,--this very day will I with unfailing shafts slay Rama along with Lakshmana. To-day let Indra and Vaivacwata and Vishnu and Rudra and Sadhyas and Vaicwas and men and the Sun and the Moon, behold my immeasurable prowess, terrific like that of Vishnu at the sacrificial ground of Vali". Having spoken thus, that foe of the lord of celestials endowed with exceeding energy, taking the king's permission, ascended a car having the velocity of the wind itself, yoked with asses, and furnished with every variety of weapons. And ascending the car, resembling the car of Hari himself, that exceedingly powerful repressor of enemies at once set out for the field of battle. And as that high-souled (hero) marched, he was followed by countless mighty (Rakshasas) breathing spirits; bearing bows in their strong hands. And some of those, resembling mountains, were mounted on elephants, and some on superb steeds, and some on bears, and some on beasts of prey, and some on lions and jackals,--and some of the Rakshasas endowed with dreadful vigor were mounted on crows, and some on swans, and some on peacocks,--they were equipped with _pracas_ and maces and _nistrincas_ and axes and clubs. And all sides were filled with the blares of conchs and the sounds of kettle-drums. And then that enemy of the lord of celestials marched forth with impetuosity. And with an umbrella hued like the Moon, that destroyer of enemies appeared like the full Moon stationed in the sky. And that hero garnished in golden ornaments--that foremost of all bowmen--was fanned by an excellent and graceful golden _chowri_. And with Indrajit furnished with the splendour of the Sun himself, and possessed of peerless prowess, Lanka, looked beauteous even as the firmament graced with the glorious Sun.

Arriving at the scene of conflict, that highly powerful repressor of foes arrayed his forces around the car. And then that foremost of Rakshasas with choice mantras duly offered libations unto Fire.[267] And that powerful lord of Rakshasas there worshipping Fire with fragrant wreaths and fried paddy, sacrificed unto it. And arms served for _Kaca_ and _Bibhitakas_ for fuel; and there were red cloths and a ladle made of black iron. And spreading Fire there, with _tomaras_ representing _Kaca_, he seized the neck of a living goat. And then the kindled smokeless fire blazing up brilliantly, displayed signs betokening victory. Thereat, with his right tongue whirling, the Deity of Fire himself looking like one made of gold,--arising, accepted the offering. And then that (Rakshasa) skilled in weapons acquired a Brahma weapon (from that Deity), and inspired his bow and car with _mantras_. On that weapon having been invoked,[268] and on (the god of Fire) also having been worshipped, the firmament furnished with the suns and stars and planets was afflicted with affright. Having worshipped (the god of Fire), that one endowed with the splendour of Fire itself, that one possessed of the prowess of the great Indra and gifted with inconceivable vigor, accoutred in bows and arrows and swords and having steeds and cars and darts,--disappeared in the sky. Then burning for battle, setting up roars went out the Rakshasa ranks, thronging with steeds and cars, and graced with pennons and standards. And they fell to slaughtering monkeys in the engagement with countless shafts, sharp, variegated and decorated; as also with _tomaras_ and _hooks_. And Ravana's son, fired with wrath, seeing those night-rangers, addressed them, saying,--"Do ye, burning with a desire to destroy the monkeys, fight cheerfully". Thereat all those Rakshasas, eager for victory, smitting roars, covered the dreadful monkeys with showers of shafts. And environed by Rakshas in that encounter, he[269] poured on the monkeys _nalikas_ and _narachas_ and maces and clubs. And trembling in the encounter, those monkeys armed with trees at once began to shower rocks and trees on Ravana's son. Then the exceedingly powerful Indrajit, son unto Ravana, endowed with wondrous energy, pierced the bodies of the monkeys (with arrows). And fired with wrath, that (hero) rejoicing the Rakshasas with a single shaft pierced nine and seven monkeys in that encounter. And that invincible hero in that conflict mangled the monkeys with shafts resembling the Sun, decked with gold. And their persons pierced in that contest, and themselves pained with those arrows, they began to fall down, giving up all intention of fight, like mighty Asuras smit by the celestials. And then waxing highly enraged, those considerable monkeys in that conflict hotly pursued (Indrajit) resembling the Sun himself and having terrific arrows for his rays. And all the monkeys, with their bodies riven and deprived of their senses, and bathed in blood and writhing in torments,--pursued (Indrajit). And putting forth their prowess in behalf of Rama, those monkeys, equipped with rocks in the encounter, who had set apart their very lives (for him), paused, shouting up loudly. And they in that conflict showered trees and crags and mountain-tops on Ravana's son. And that destroyer of foes--the exceedingly energetic son unto Ravana--resisted that mighty shower of trees and stones capable of compassing destruction. Then that Lord pierced the monkey-hosts in the encounter with shafts resembling fire or venomous serpents. And piercing Gandhamadana with eight and ten sharp arrows, he wounded Nila stationed at a distance with nine shafts. And that one endowed with redoubtable prowess pierced Mainda with seven shafts capable of piercing into the pith; and he pierced Gaja with five shafts in the encounter. And he pierced Jambavan with ten and Nila with thirty. And then with dreadful sharp shafts obtained as boons, he rendered Sugriva and Rishabha and Angada and Dwivida (almost) lifeless. And transported with passion, and resembling the Five arisen at Doomsday, Indrajit, harassed other principal monkeys with countless arrows. And in that terrific conflict, he agitated the monkey-hosts with swift-speeding shafts, resembling the Sun himself, deftly discharged (from his bow). Then in that encounter, leaving his army, Indrajit became suddenly invisible unto the monkey-hosts,--and began to shower fierce arrows, like dark clouds pouring rain. And with their persons torn by the arrows of the conqueror of Sakra,--slain by his power of illusion,--with their teeth uprooted, those mountain-like monkeys fell down in the field, emitting frightful cries,--like a mountain smit with Indra's thunderbolt. And in the conflict they could only see sharp pointed shafts among the monkey-ranks; but that foe of the celestial chief--the Rakshasa, hidden by virtue of illusion, they could not discover there. And then the high-souled lord of Rakshas covered all sides with sharp-pointed shafts resembling the rays of the Sun; and he rived the foremost monkeys. And whirling darts and _nistraicas_ and axes, flaming and having the effulgence of Fire,--and furnished with flames shooting forth sparks,--he discharged them furiously at the forces of the sovereign of monkeys. And the monkey-leaders struck with Sakrajit's shafts resembling flames, appeared like laughing Kincukas. And some looking at the sky were struck at their eyes. And they gradually began to hide themselves in each other and drop to the earth. And that foremost of Rakshasas--Indrajit--with _pracas_ and darts and whetted arrows, inspired with _mantras_, pierced all those powerful monkeys,--Hanuman and Sugriva and Angada and Gandhamadana and Jambavan and Sushena and Vegadarcin, and Mainda and Dwivida and Nila and Gavaksha and Gavaya and Kesari and Hariloman and the monkey Vidyutdanshtra and Suryyanana and Jyotimukha and the monkey Dadhimukha and Pavakaksha and Nala and the monkey Kumuda. And having pierced those foremost monkeys with golden-hued maces, he showered on Rama and Lakshmana arrows resembling the rays of the Sun. And showered with those vollies of arrows, Rama, without heeding that discharge resembling a very downpour,--reflecting, spoke unto Lakshmana,--"O Lakshmana, this lord of Rakshasas, this foe of the lord of celestials, having obtained the Brahma weapon,--after having brought down the monkey-hosts, are assailing us with sharpened shafts. And that high-souled heedful one, having been given a boon by the Self-sprung, hath rendered his dreadful body invisible. How can we slay him, who is fighting with upraised weapons, but who hath hid his body. The reverend Self-sprung, I deem, is incomprehensible. And this is his weapon, embodying his energy. Therefore, O intelligent one, do thou to-day along with me calmly bear this. And let this foremost them all--this lord of Rakshasas--cover all sides with the showers of his shafts. And in consequence of this, the army of the monkey-king with its greatest heroes fallen, doth not appear to advantage. And seeing us also fallen senseless, and desisting from fight with our joy and anger gone off from us, for certain will the enemy of the immortals, taking the Fortune of fight seek his home". And assailed by Indra with networks of arrows, they were then sore distressed the field. And having struck them with sadness, Indra from joy shouted in the encounter. And having thus worst in battle that monkey-army and Rama along with Lakshmana he speedily entered the city ruled by the hand of the Ten-necked one. And extolled by the Yatudhanas, he, filled with delight, related everything unto his sire.

[267] Hutabhoktaram--_eater of sacrificial offerings_--a designation of Fire.

[268] _i.e._ on the deity presiding over that weapon, being invoked.

[269] Indrajit.

SECTION LXXIV.