Part 30

[362] _Maharatham (ac)_ may also mean _mighty car_. By the way the _samasa_ or junction called _Tatpurusha_ is a frequent source of obscurity in Sanskrit, specially where the gender of the word without _samasa_ is the same with that of the thing signified by the _samasa_, as in this case.--T.

SECTION LXLI.

Having his steeds slain, the night-ranger--Indrajit, standing on the ground, waxing fiercely angered, flamed up in energy. And armed with bows, they, desirous of slaying each other with shafts resembled an elephant and a bull in a forest, came out for securing victory in encounter. And slaughtering owe another, the Rakshasas and the wood-rangers, rushing this way and that, did not (for a moment) leave their lords. Then Ravana's son, gladdening all the Rakshasas, and himself feeling cheered, addressed them in words of praise, saying,--"All sides are entirely enveloped in this gloom,--so that, O foremost of Rakshasas, here we do not know who belongeth onto us and who not.--Do ye fight fearlessly for stupifying the monkeys; and I too, mounted on a car, shall come hither into the conflict. Do ye so act that the high-souled rangers of the woods may not attack me as I enter the city". Saying this, that slayer of foes--Ravana's son, deceiving the wood-rangers, entered the city of Lanka for providing himself with a (fresh) car. And embellishing a chariot, graceful and adorned with gold, furnished with _pracas_ and swords and arrows, yoked with superb steeds, and driven by a charioteer, knowing horses and possessed of instructions (anent his art),--that victor in battle--the exceedingly energetic son of Ravana--ascended it. And that hero, Mandodari's son, urged on by the force of the Finisher, went out of the city, surrounded by the foremost Rakshasas; and drawn by fast-speeding steeds, he presented himself before Lakshmana along with Bibhishana. And seeing Ravana's son seated on the car, the son of Sumitra and the exceedingly powerful monkeys and the Rakshasa--Bibhishana---were highly amazed at the lighthandedness of that intelligent one. And Ravana's son, waxing furious, in that contest began to bring down monkeys by hundreds and by thousands. And that victor in battle--Ravana's son--fired with wrath, summoning all his celerity, slaughtered monkeys, drawing his bow into a circle. And slaughtered by _narachas_ of terrific impetuosity, the monkeys saught the shelter of Sumitra's son, like creatures seeking the refuge of their Lord. Then the son of Raghu, flaming up in martial wrath, severed his[363] bow, displaying his fleethandedness. Thereat, taking another bow, (Indrajit) hurriedly fastened the string to it. And this bow also did Lakshmana cut off by means of a brace of arrows. And when (Indrajit) had his bow severed, Sumitra's son pierced the son of Ravana with five shafts resembling the venom of a poisonous serpent. And the shafts discharged from his[364] mighty bow, piercing his[365] person, dropped to the earth like unto powerful red serpents. And having his bow cut off, Ravana's son, vomitting blood by his mouth, took up a superior bow powerful to a degree and having a stout string. And then aiming at Lakshmana, he, summoning his utmost celerity, showered arrows, as showereth Purandara in the season of rains. Thereat Lakshmana, subduer of enemies, retaining his calmness, resisted that powerful arrowy shower shot by Indrajit. And then that exceedingly energetic one, Raghu's son, possessing himself in calmness, displayed (his prowess) unto the son of Ravana; and this was wonderful (to behold). And then displaying his lightness in the use of weapons, Lakshmana, growing furious, pierced the Rakshasas with three arrows each in that mighty encounter; and the lord of Rakshasas struck him with showers of shafts. And pierced sore by that powerful enemy--slayer of foes--he incessantly sent innumerable arrows after Lakshmana. And ere they reached their destination, that slayer of hostile heroes severed them with whetted arrows; and in the encounter that righteous one and foremost of car-warriors with a dart having bent joints, cut off the head of his charioteer mounted on the car. And deprived of their driver, there the steeds, retaining their calmness, began to go in rounds,--and this was wonderful Then Sumitra's son of steady prowess, fired with anger, in that contest, frightening all, pierced his horses with arrows. And not brooking that act (of his adversary), Ravana's son in the encounter pierced with ten shafts Sumitra's son capable of making people's down stand on end. And his shafts resembling thunderbolts, and like unto all varieties of venom, touching (Lakshmana's) mail having a golden splendour, were reduced to naught. Thereat considering Lakshmana as clad in an impenetrable armour, Ravana's son--Indrajit--growing furiously enraged, displaying his lighthandedness in arms, pierced Lakshmana in the temples with three well-knobbed shafts. And with those arrows lodged in his temples, Raghu's son, delighting in battle, appeared beautiful in the field like a mountain furnished with three summits. Albeit thus smitten in the contest by the Raksha with shafts, Lakshmana swiftly smote him in turn with five arrows; and in the encounter Lakshmana drawing his bow, pierced with shafts Indrajit's face graced with elegant ear-rings. And those heroes--Lakshmana and Indrajit--equipped with exceedingly powerful bows, and endowed with heroism and dreadful prowess, wounded each other with sharp arrows. And both Lakshmana and Indrajit, with their persons bathed in blood in that encounter, appeared like unto flowering Kincukas. And approaching each other, those bowmen, each telling his heart on victory, wounded each other all over the body with terrific shafts. Then Ravana's son, carried away by martial rage, pierced Bibhishana in his handsome face With three arrows. And piercing the lord of Rakshasas, Bibhishana, he with three iron-headed arrows, pierced the monkey-leaders each with a shaft. Thereat, enraged at him more furiously than ever, the exceedingly energetic Bibhishana with his mace despatched the steeds of the wicked-minded son of Ravana. Then jumping down from his chariot with its horses slain, (Indrajit), endowed with great energy, who had his charioteer pounded, discharged a dart at his uncle. And seeing it descend, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy severed the same with whetted arrows and brought it down in ten fragments to the ground. And Bibhishana of a tough bow, growing enraged, discharged at (Indrajit), who had his steeds slain, five speeding shafts having the touch of the thunder-bolt.--And those arrows furnished with gold at the feathered parts, riving his person, were bathed in blood, and resembled mighty red serpents. Thereat wroth with his uncle, Indrajit took op an excellent shaft--bestowed on him by Yama himself--endowed with terrific force,--the flower of shafts among all the Rakshas. And seeing that mighty shaft set by him (on the bow-string), the highly powerful Lakshmana, possessed of dreadful prowess, (in his turn) took up another arrow, bestowed by Kuvera himself of immeasurable soul in a dream,--unconquerable, and incapable of being borne even by the celestials and Asuras with Indra at their head. And on their best of bows being powerfully drawn with their arms resembling bludgeons, they set up cries like unto Kraunchas. And on those foremost of shafts set on those excellent bows of those heroes, being drawn, flamed up in exceeding splendour. And those flaming arrows, discharged from the bows, illumining the welkin, with vehemence struck at each other's head. And a concussion took place of those arrows of terrific aspects; and a furious fire sprang up thereat, with embers shooting around. And dashing against each other like unto mighty planets, they, reduced to an hundred shivers in the encounter, saught the earth. Seeing their shafts baffled, Indrajit and Lakshmana, staying on the edge of the battle, were seized with shame and wrath. Thereat Sumitra's son, flying into a fury, took up a Varuna weapon. And the conquerer of the great Indra intent on battle, in the encounter discharged a terrific Raudra weapon; and the exceedingly wonderful Varuna weapon was baffled by him. Then, waxing wroth, that victor in battle--the wondrous energetic Indrajit--as if annihilating the world, discharged a flaming Agneya weapon. And the heroic Lakshmma resisted it with a Solar weapon. Seeing his weapon resisted, Ravana's son, transported with passion, took up an Asura arrow, capable of rending foes. And from that weapon issued daggers and clubs and darts and _bhucundis_ and maces and swords and axes.[366] And in the conflict, seeing that dire and dreadful weapon, irrisistible to all creatures and capable of riving all arms, the effulgent Lakshmana baffled it with a Mahecwara[367] weapon. And the encounter that took place between them was wonderful and capable of making people's down stand on end. And beings stationed in the sky surrounded Lakshmana on all sides. And in that terrific encounter of the monkeys and the Rakshasas resounding with dreadful roars, the welkin was covered with innumerable beings seized with wonderment. And saints and _Pitris_ and deities and Gandharbas and birds and serpents, placing Satakratu in their front, protected Lakshmana in the conflict. And then that hero, Raghava's younger brother, fixed (on his bow) another superior shaft, having the feel of fire itself, and capable of riving the son of Ravana; furnished with fair feathers; tapering; having elegant joints; symmetrical; and plated with gold,--an arrow capable of finishing the body; irrisistible; dreadful; terrific unto Rakshasas; resembling the venom of poisonous serpents; and worshipped by the celestial hosts; by which the exceedingly energetic and wonderful Lord riding the horse[368]--Sakra--of old in the war between the celestials and the Asuras had defeated the Danavas. And Sumitra's son, Lakshmana; graced with auspiciousness, drawing on his best of bows that foremost of shafts--the Aindra weapon--invincible in conflict, spoke these words, tending to bring about his success,[369]--"If Dacaratha's son--Rama--is righteous and truthful, and if in prowess he hath no rival, then slay this son of Ravana". Saying this, the heroic Lakshmana in that conflict, drawing the straight-speeding arrow up to his ear,[370] discharged it at Indrajit. And shooting the Aindra weapon, that destroyer of hostile heroes--Lakshmana--severing from its trunk the head of Indrajit with its corslet, graced with burning ear-rings, brought it down to the ground. And the mighty severed head of the Rakshasa's son, resembling one made of gold, was seen covered with blood. And slain, Ravana's son dropped to the earth, with his armour and corslet on, and his bow fallen (from his grasp). And then all the monkeys with Bibhishana set up cheers, even as the immortals cheered at the destruction of Vritra. And in the sky there arose the victorious shouts of all beings and high souled saints, and also of Gandharbas and Apsaras. And knowing (Indrajit) fallen (in fight), the mighty army of Rakshasas; attacked by monkeys burning for victory, fled in the ten cardinal directions. And assailed by the monkeys, the Rakshasas, pursued (by their foes), with their senses lost, rushed towards Lanka, leaving their arms behind. And overwhelmed with fright, Rakshasas fled in an hundred directions, all renouncing their arms--bearded darts, and swords, and axes. And harassed by the monkeys, some hurriedly entered Lanka, and some plunged into the sea, and some saught shelter in the mountains. And seeing Indrajit slain and lying down on the field of battle, thousands of Rakshasas fled away. As when the Sun sets, his rays remain no longer, on that Rakshasa having fallen, the Rakshasas dispersed in the ten cardinal quarters, like unto the Sun when his rays have been rendered mild, or fire which hath been extinguished. And the mighty-armed (Indrajit) was utterly reft of life. And on the son of the Rakshasa-chief falling, the world, having its foe slain, with its huge affliction gone off, experienced the bright of joy. And on that unrighteous Rakshasa having been slain, the reverend Sakra together with the Maharshis was filled with delight. And sounds of kettle-drums were heard in the sky proceeding from the celestials. And blossoms were showered by dancing Apsaras and high-souled Gandharbas. And this was wonderful (to behold.) And on that Rakshasa of fell deeds having been slain, the dust was laid, the water became transparent, the sky looked bright, and the deities and Danavas were filled with rejoicings. And on that Dread of all creatures having been slain, the gods, Gandharbas and Danavas, assembled together in joy, said,--"Now let the Brahmanas who have their sins removed, with their anxiety gone off, range about". And then the monkey-leaders, seeing that foremost of Nairitas of unparalleled prowess slain in battle, began to gladly pay homage (unto Lakshmana). And Bibhishana and Hanuman and Jambavan--leader of bears--saluted and hymned Lakshmana on the score of his victory. And shouting and bounding and roaring, the monkeys at this hour of high joy stood surrounding Raghu's son.[371] And flourishing their tails and striking the earth (with them), the monkeys shouted,--'Victory unto Lakshmana!' And embracing each other, the monkeys with delighted spirits began to converse in various ways touching Raghava's welfare. And beholding that deed, difficult of being done, performed by their beloved friend--Lakshmana--and hearing their foe--Indrajit--slain (in battle), the celestials attained the summit of joy.

[363] Indrajit's.

[364] Lakshmana's.

[365] Indrajit's

[366] This arrow resembled somewhat the bomb-shells in modern European warfare.--T.

[367] _i.e._ belonging to Mahecwara or Siva.

[368] The celestial steed, Uchchaicrava, sprung from the ocean on the occasion of the churning of the deep.--T.

[369] Words addressed to the deity presiding over the weapon.

[370] i.e. drawing the bow to its utmost stretch.

[371] Descendant, that is.

SECTION LXLII.

Having in the conflict slain that conquerer of enemies, Lakshmana graced with auspicious marks, with his body bathed in blood, experienced delight. And then supporting himself on Bibhishana and Hanuman, the exceedingly powerful Lakshmana endowed with prowess, taking Jambavan, Hanuman and all the monkeys with him, speedily went to the place where Sugriva and Raghava were. And then going round Rama and saluted him, Sumitra's son stood before his brother, like Indra's brother staying before Sakra. And approaching with a look which of itself was significant,[372] the heroic Bibhishana described unto the high-souled Raghava the dreadful destruction of Indrajit. And then the delighted Bibhishana related unto Rama how the high-souled Lakshmana had cut off the head of Ravana's son. And as soon as that exceedingly powerful one heard of the destruction of Indrajit by Lakshmana, he experienced a huge accession of joy, and thus delivered himself,--"Excellent, O Lakshmana! Pleased am I (with thee). Thou hast performed a difficult feat. The son of Ravana having been slain, know for certain that we have been victorious". And then smelling the head of the bashful Lakshmana, enhancer of fame, (Rama) endowed with prowess, from affection forcibly hugged him into his lap. And making him seat on his lap, and overpowering him with embraces,[373] (Rama) again and again tenderly eyed his brother, Lakshmana. And moved with grief, that best of persons, Rama, smelling the head of Lakshmana, wounded with darts and having his person pierced (with arms), sighing and breathing hard--and nursing his body with his hand, addressed Lakshmana, soothing him,--'To-day his son having been slain, I deem Ravana himself as slain in fight. On that wicked-minded enemy of mine having been destroyed, I am victorious (in encounter). By luck, O hero, hast thou in conflict severed the right arm of the fell Ravana. Verily he (Indrajit) was his stay. Both Bibhishana and Hanuman have done mighty deeds in battle. In three days and nights, (my enemy) hath been brought down. To-day have I been made foeless. Now Ravana will for certain march forth,--backed by a mighty phalanx. Ravana will for certain sally out, hearing his son brought down. That unconquerable lord of Rakshasas, aggrieved for the destruction of his son, marching out,--shall I slay, environed with a mighty force. O Lakshmana, the conqueror of Sakra having in battle been slain by thee--who art my lord--Sita and the (entire) earth are not incapable of being obtained by me". Having thus soothed and embraced his brother, Raghu's son--Rama--highly rejoiced, calling Sushena, said,--"Do thou so act that this highly wise son of Sumitra, devoted to his friends, may be healed and be eased. Do thou without delay heal Sumitra's son, attached to his friends, of his wounds. And do thou also carefully relieve all those heroes in the army of bears and monkeys fighting with trees,--as well as others, who have been wounded and have got sores (in consequence)". Thus addressed by Rama, the high-souled monkey-leader administered a potent medicine to the nose of Lakshmana. And smelling the same, he got healed; he was relieved of his pain and his outgoing vitality was shut up. And at the mandate of Raghava he likewise treated his friends headed by Bibhishana and all the principal monkeys. And restored to his natural condition, Sumitra's son, healed, and with his exhaustion removed, and his suffering gone off in a moment, experienced exhilaration of spirits. And Rama and the monkey-king and Bibhishana and the powerful lord of bears along with their hosts, seeing Sumitra's son risen hale, rejoiced greatly in delight. And the high-souled son of Dacaratha honored exceedingly that exceedingly hard feat of Lakshamana; and the monkey-king, hearing that the conquerer of Sakra had fallen in fight, was filled with joy.

[372] _i.e._ of the destruction of Indrajit.

[373] _Avapiritam--(ac) pained_. Ramanuya says this epithet refers to Lakshmana's having been wounded in the encounter. I differ from him.--T.

SECTION LXLIII.