Part 26

On that furious and destructive carnage proceeding. Angada, eager for encounter, approached the heroic Kampana. Thereat, challenging Angada in wrath, he assailed him with impetuosity. And Kampana dealt a blow to Angada with his mace; and thereat, wounded with it, he reeled. Then regaining his senses, that energetic one hurled a mountain-top. Borne down by the blow, Akampana dropped down to the earth. And seeing Kampana slain in the conflict, Sonitaksha mounted on a car, intrepidly rushed against Angada. And he then impetuosly pierced Angada with sharpened shafts, keen and capable of cleaving the body and resembling the Fatal Fire itself in appearance,--with Kshuras[308] and Kshurapras[309] and Narachas[310] and Vatsadantas[311] and Siliumkhas[312] and Karnis[313] and Salas[314] and Vipatas,[315] and countless (other) whetted arrows. And the powerful son of Vali--Angada--endowed with prowess having his person pierced with arrows suddenly smashed (his adversary's) car and arrows and dreadful bow. And thereat, Sonitaksha swiftly took up his sword and shield; and without reflecting for a moment, that vigorous one sprang forward. And the powerful Angada, speedily bounding up, seized his enemy's sword and holding the same with his hands shouted. And then hitting at (Akampana's) shoulder-blade, that powerful monkey--Angada--hewed him in twain, his blow going obliquely down like the sacred thread. And taking that terrific sword, and shouting again and again, in the field, Vali's son rushed against other enemies. And then strong and heroic Yupaksha accompanied by Prajangha,--mounted on a car, wrathfully approached the mighty son of Vali. And taking an iron mace, that hero, Sonitaksha, adorned with a golden _angada_,--attaining a little respite, advanced against Angada. And that redoubtable hero, the powerful Prajangha, also, accompanied by Yupaksha, fired with wrath, equipped with a mace, advanced towards the son of Vali endowed with exceeding prowess. And placed between those two--Sonitaksha and Prajangha--that foremost of monkeys appeared like the full Moon placed between the Visakhas.[316] And Mainda and Dwivida defending Angada, remained beside him, desirous of witnessing the encounter between those two (combatants). And fired with fury, those huge-bodied Rakshasas endowed with dreadful prowess, equipped with swords and shafts and maces,--being on their guard, fell upon the monkeys. And the encounter that took place between those three lords of monkeys combined (on one side), and the three redoubtable Rakshasis (on the other), was dreadful and capable of making people's down stand on end. And they,[317] taking up trees, hurled them in the conflict (against their antagonists); and the powerful Prajangha resisted all those with his swords. And (the monkeys) in the contest showered rocks and trees on the cars (of their enemies) and the exceedingly strong Yupaksha cut them off with vollies of arrows. And the powerful Sonitaksha, endowed with prowess, with his mace severed in the middle the trees which Dwivida and Mainda had uprooted and discharged. And summoning speed, Prajangha darted against Vali's son, upraising a huge scimitar capable of piercing into the vitals of trees. And seeing him approach, that lord of monkeys possessed of exceeding strength and great prowess struck him with an Acwakarna tree; and with a blow smote his antagonist on his arm holding a _nistringa_. And seeing the sword resembling a mace dropped to the earth, that exceedingly mighty one clenched his fist into a blow like unto the levin; and that one, endowed with wondrous energy, smote in the forehead that foremost of monkeys possessed of redoubtable prowess. And thereat he for a moment was staggered. And then recovering his senses, the energetic and powerful son of Vali by means of his clenched fist severed Prajangha's head from his body. Thereat Yupaksha, seeing his uncle slain in battle, with his eyes filled with tears, finding his shafts exhausted, swiftly descended from his car and took a sword. And finding Yupaksha charge, Dwivida, waxing wroth, speedily smote him on the breast; and that powerful one also seized him. And finding his brother taken, the highly energetic Sonitaksha then dealt the mighty Dwivida a blow in the chest. And overcome by that blow, that one endowed with great strength, shook; and Dwivida seized his antagonist's upraised mace. In the meanwhile Mainda came to the side of Dwivida. And Sonitaksha and Yupaksha, bestirring themselves, began to vehemently and forcibly drag and pull those (two) monkeys. And Dwivida with his nail tore Sonhaksha's face; and that powerful one violently bringing him down to the earth, pressed him with might and main. And fired with wrath, Mainda--foremost of monkeys--grasped Yupaksha with his arms; and that one dropt down dead on the earth. And thereupon the force of the lord of the Rakshasas, having its foremost heroes slain,--and aggrieved thereat, went to where Kumbhakarna's son was. And then cheering up the flying forces, that best (of Rakshas),--the energetic Kumbha--seeing that Raksha host with its mighty heroes slain by highly powerful monkeys crowned with success, began to perform difficult feats in the encounter. And needfully taking his bow, that first of bowmen discharged shafts resembling venomous serpents capable of piercing the body. And his excellent bow with shafts shone resplendent like the very bow of Indra himself affluent with the splendour of Airavata and lightning. And then drawing his bow to its utmost bent, he hit Dwivida with a feathered shaft knobbed with gold. And suddenly wounded with it, that best of monkeys having the splendour of Trikuta, fell down senseless to the earth, stretching his legs wide. And Mainda, seeing his brother, broken in mighty encounter, furiously rushed forward, taking a gigantic crag; and that one possessed of great strength, hurled it at the Rakshasa. And thereat Kumbha severed that crag with fire shafts discharged (from his bow). And then aiming other fair-headed arrows resembling venomous snakes, that exceedingly energetic one smote Dwivida's elder brother in the chest. And struck (with those arrows), that leader of monkey-bands, Mainda, with his marrow pierced therewith, fell down to the earth, deprived of his senses. And Angada seeing his uncles[318] endowed with exceeding prowess, overpowered, darted vehemently at Kumbha staying with bow upraised. And as he descended, Kumbha pierced him with fire shafts; and as one pierceth an elephant with _tomaras_, he also pierced (Angada) with three other arrows. And the powerful Kumbha pierced Angada with a great many arrows, sharp-pointed, whetted, keen and ornamented with gold. And Vali's son Angada, albeit pierced all over in his person, did not shake; and he kept showering on his[319] head stones and trees. And the graceful son of Kumbhakarna cut off and cleft all those (stone and trees) discharged by Vali's son. And seeing him spring up, Kumbha pierced that monkey-leader on the ground with shafts, even as one assaileth an elephant with fire-brands. And blood gushed out of his closed eyes. And then covering his eyes with his hand, Angada with another took a _sala_ that was hard by. And placing on his breast the _sala_ furnished with shoulders, and pulling its branches and bending its top, he cleared it of its foliage, in that mighty encounter. And then in the sight of all the Rakshas he violently discharged that tree resembling the very banner of Indra and appearing like Mandara itself. And thereat he[320] severed it with seven sharp shafts capable of piercing the body. And Angada experienced a sharp pang and fell down deprived of his senses. And seeing the invincible Angada down like ebbing sea, the foremost monkeys informed Raghava of it. And Rama, hearing that Vali's son had come to grief in terrific fight, directed the principal monkeys, headed by Jambavan. And hearing Rama's command, the monkeys, fired with wrath, charged Kumbha, staying with his bow upraised. And those powerful monkeys, with their eyes crimsoned with choler and bearing rocks and trees in their hands, were engaged in defending Angada. And Jambavan and Sushena and the monkey, Vegadarci, wrought with wrath, darted against that hero--son unto Kumbhakarna. And seeing them spring forward; he covered up those exceedingly mighty lords of monkey, with showers of shafts, even as a crag obstructeth the course of a current. And even the great deep cannot see his own shores, those high-souled lord of monkeys, coining within the range of his arrows, could not even see. And seeing those monkeys sore distressed by the shafts, the king of the monkeys, Sugriva, in that conflict taking his brother's son on his back, rushed against the son of Kumbhakarna, even as a powerful lion rusheth at an elephant ranging on the slopes of a mountain. And that mighty monkey, uprooting many an _acwakarna_ and other mighty trees of various kinds, discharged them (at the foe). And by means of his sharp arrows the graceful son of Kumbhakarna cut off that down-pour of trees covering the welkin; and incapable of being resisted. And being baffled those trees looked like _cataghnis_. And seeing that shower of trees riven by Kumbha, the graceful lord of the monkeys endowed with exceeding strength and prowess, did not feel any mortification. And suddenly attacked, he bearing those arrows, seized Kumbha's bow resembling in resplendence the very bow of Indra. And swiftly bounding up and performing that feat difficult of being achieved, he, exceedingly enraged, addressed Kumbha resembling an elephant shorn of his tusks, saying,--"O elder brother of Nikumbha, marvellous are thy might and the force of thyself as well as the modesty and prowess that are thine and Ravana's. And, O thou equal unto Prahrada or Vali or the slayer of Vritra or Varuna or Kuvera! thou alone walkest in the wake of thy yet mightier father. As mental anguish doth not dog one that hath controlled his senses,--the celestials cannot cope in conflict with thee alone, O repressor of foes, O of mighty arms, bearing thy dart in thy hand. O thou of high intelligence, put forth thy prowess! and do thou also witness my work. It is only by virtue of the boon he hath received, that thy uncle can bear the deities and the Danavas. But Kumbhakarna copeth with the immortals and Asuras by means of his native might. And in the bow equal to Indrajit himself and in power equal to Ravana, thou now in might and energy art the foremost of Rakshasas. And to-day let all creatures witness the mighty and wonderful encounter in conflict between thee and me, like unto the meeting of Sakra and Samvara. And unparalleled is the feat thou hast performed; and thou hast displayed thy skill in weapons. And heroic monkeys endowed with dreadful vigor, have been brought down by thee. And, O hero it is only because of the apprehension[321] of censure of the people that I do not slay thee who art fatigued in consequence of the acts that thou hast performed. And reposing from fight, do thou see my strength!" And being thus honored (by Sugriva) with fair speech, (Kumbha) flamed up like a flame into which oblations have been poured. And then Kumbha seized Sugriva by the arms. And like two elephants in rut, they sighing momentarily, fastened on each other's person, and possessed each other,--and from fatigue emitting from their mouth flames mixed with vapour And with the stamping of their feet, the earth was rent into rivers, and the main was waxed, with its billows surging furiously. Then Sugriva lifting up Kumbha clean, violently plunged him into the salt wash, making his eyes acquainted with the locality of the deep. And in consequence of Kumbha's plunge, the waters heaving up, rolled on all sides like the Vindhya or Mandara. Then springing up, and bringing Sugriva down, Kumbha, transported with wrath dealt a blow on his chest, like unto the levin. And thereat his skin was rent, and blood began to gush out,--and the impetus of that blow broke Sugriva's bones. And the vehemence (of the blow) caused a great fire to blaze up at that spot; even as the thunder-bolt smiting the mountain Meru, maketh place blazed. And the mighty Sugriva--foremost of monkeys--sorely handled by him, fastened his fingers into a box resembling the thunder-bolt, and furnished with all the effulgence of the solar disc having a thousand rays. And then that powerful one made that blow descend right on Kumbha's breast. And agonised with that stroke, Kumbha reft of his senses, dropped like unto a fire that hath lost its brightness. And overpowered by that blow, the Rakshasa anon dropped down, like unto the bright Lohitanga dropping from the firmament urged on by Destiny. And the aspect of the falling Kumbha with his breast broken by the blow, appeared like that of the Sun routed by Rudra. And on his being slain, in encounter, by the foremost of monkeys endowed with terrific strength, the earth with her hills and woods, shook; and a mighty fear took possession of the Rakshas.

[308] Arrows having razor-like edges.

[309] Crescent-shaped shafts.

[310] Arrows made entirely of iron.

[311] Arrows resembling the teeth of calves.

[312] Arrows resembling the feathers of the Kanka.

[313] Arrows furnished with two sides resembling _cars_.

[314] Arrows with short leads.

[315] Arrows resembling the tops of Karaviras--Tirtha.

[316] The asterisks so named.

[317] The monkeys.

[318] Maternal uncles.

[319] Kumbha's.

[320] Kumbha.

[321] _i e._ Lest people should censure me, saying,--'Sugriva slew Kumbha when he was fatigued in fight'.--T.

SECTION LXXVII.

Seeing his brother slain by Sugriva, Nikumbha, gazed at the lord of the monkeys, as if consuming him with his passion. And then that one endowed with calmness, grasped a bludgeon entwined with wreaths, and furnished with an iron ring measuring five fingers, and resembling the top of the Mahendra;[322] plated with gold and embellished with diamonds and lapises,--and looking like the rod of Yama himself; dreadful, and capable of removing the fear of the Rakshas. And whirling this, that highly powerful one, resembling the banner itself of Sakra in energy, Nikumbha possessed of terrific strength, with his mouth wide open, set up shouts. And with gold adorning his breast, and _angadas_ placed on his arms and a pair of curious and variegated earrings, Nikumbha, with his ornaments and that same bludgeon, appeared beautiful like a mass of roaring clouds laughing with lightning and furnished with the iris. And the head of that huge-bodied hero's _parigha_ undid the conjunction of the Seven[323] Winds and appeared[324] like a noiseless and smokeless flame. Along with the gyration of Nikumbha's _parigha_ the whole welkin, together with the excellent city[325] of the Gandharbas, and the planets, stars and the moon, began to whirl. And Nikumbha was hard to approach like unto the fire of dissolution, being resplendent with the brilliance of _parigha_ and other ornaments and having his anger for its fuels. And the Rakshasas and monkeys did not dare stir even out of fear. And the heroic Hanuman, spreading his breast, stood before him. And thereat the powerful (Nikumbha) having long-arms[326] threw his _parigha_ resembling the Sun at the breast of that powerful one. And falling on the firm and spacious breast of Hanuman it was broken into hundred pieces. And the broken portions, being scattered, appeared like hundreds of fire-brands in the sky. Like unto a mountain standing still even at the time of an earthquake that mighty monkey was not moved albeit struck with the _parigha_. Being thus hurt that highly powerful Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys, with great velocity clenched his fist. And with this, the powerful (monkey) gifted with great impetuosity, and resembling the wind in prowess, struck Nikumbha on his breast. And with that fist, his (Nikumbha's) armour[327] was riven and blood gushed out. And a light rising out of his breast suddenly disappeared like unto lightning disappearing in a mass of clouds. And being struck with his (Hanuman's) fist Nikumbha was greatly moved and restoring himself attacked the mighty Hanuman and pulled him up. And beholding in conflict the terrible and powerful Hanuman pulled up by Nikumbha, the residents of Lanka began to shout with joy. Being thus put to shame by that Raksha, Hanuman the son of the Wind, struck him with his iron fist. And releasing himself from the grasp of Nikumbha, Hanuman the Wind-god's son instantly planted his foot on the earth. Inflamed with ire, he, throwing down Nikumbha, began to crush him; and gifted with vehemence, he, with great impetuosity, leaped up and sat on the breast (of the Raksha). And holding his head with two hands, he, emitting loud roars, displaced his head. Nikumbha being thus slain in conflict by the Wind-god's son, there ensued a terrible conflict between the highly enraged armies of the son of Dacaratha and the lord of Rakshasas. And Nikumbha being deprived of his life, the monkeys began to shout--as if resounding all the quarters. And with it the whole earth moved and the abode of the celestials dropped down. And the Rakshasa-hosts were greatly terrified.

[322] The mountain, so named.

[323] This indicates the length of the Parigha.

[324] This might refer to Kumbha as well.

[325] Some say _Vitapabati_ and some say _Alaka_.

[326] _Lit_. arms resembling _parighas_.

[327] Some texts read _charma_ (skin) in the place of _Barma_--(armour) _i.e._ his skin was rent--This equally indicates Hanuman's strength.--T.

SECTION LXXVIII.

Beholding Kumbha and Nikumbha slain, Ravana was excited with ire like unto flaming fire. And being beside himself, simultaneously with wrath and grief Ravana[328] spoke unto Makaraksha, Khara's son, having spacious eyes, saying--"O child, do thou proceed at my command with the army and destroy Raghava and Lakshmana with all the monkeys". Hearing the words of Ravana, Khara's son, Makaraksha, proud of his own prowess, delightedly spoke unto the night-ranger, saying, "Be it so". And saluting and circumambulating the Ten-necked one, that hero, at Ravana's behest, issued out of the house. And Khara's son spoke unto the commander who was near him, saying,--"Do thou speedily bring the chariot here and all the soldiers". And hearing his words, that commanding night-ranger, soon led before him the army and the chariot. And going round the chariot and addressing the charioteer that night-ranger (Makaraksha) said,--"O charioteer, do thou soon drive the chariot". And Makaraksha addressed those Rakshasas, saying,--"O Rakshasas! do ye all fight before me. I have been commanded by the high-souled Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, to slay both Rama and Lakshmana in conflict. I shall slay to-day, O night-ranger, with my excellent arrows, Rama, Lakshmana, Sugriva and all other monkeys. Like unto fire consuming dry fuel, shall I to-day slay the host of monkeys with my darts". Hearing those words of Makaraksha, the mighty night-rangers, (addressed themselves for fight). They were armed with various weapons, cautious; assuming shapes at will, crooked, having fearful teeth, coppery eyes; roaring like elephants, having dishevelled hair and terrible. And encircling the huge-bodied son of Khara, those gigantic (Rakshasas) began to proceed, delighted and moving the earth (with the weight of their persons). There arose a terrible noise on all sides from the sound of conches, and thousands of bugles, and from the moving of the arms of the heroes. And all on a sudden the reins slipped off (the hands of) the charioteer and the flag of the Rakshasas dropped down. And the course of the steeds was thus slackend and they began to move slowly and poorly with their heads drooping down. There blew a terribly rough wind mixed with dust when the fearfully wicked-minded Makarakshas issued out for battle. Those powerful Rakshasas neglecting those bad omens proceeded towards where Rama and Lakshmana were. They were all black like unto clouds, elephants and buffaloes, and had marks of swords and maces on their persons. And all those night rangers were skilled in the art of warfare and began to range to and fro (in the battle field) saying, "I shall go first".

[328] Nairita is another name of Ravana.

SECTION LXXIX.