Part 32

Whereupon Ravana heard in every house of Lanka the piteous cries of the she-demons possessed by sorrow. And sighing hard he engaged in meditation for some time. And terrible-looking as he was, Ravana was greatly worked up with ire. Having his eyes reddened with anger, and gnashing his teeth and biting the lips, that one, irrepressible by other Rakshasas, looked like the fire of dissolution incarnate. Thereupon the lord of Rakshasas in anger as if burning down everything with his look, addressed the Rakshas who were near him--Mahodara, Mahaparsha, Birupaksha--"Do ye speedily speak to the soldiers that they should sally out for battle at my command. Hearing his speech--those Rakshas, possessed by fear, asked by the command of the king, the Rakshasa soldiers to be ready. And thereat all those grim-visaged Rakshasas saying 'so be it' and performing benedictory ceremonies proceeded to the battle-field. And those mighty car-warriors, worshipping Ravana, and desiring the victory of their lord, stood before them with folded hands. Thereupon Ravana, beside himself with anger, laughing, adddressed those Rakshasas, Mahodara, Mahaparsha, and Birupaksha, saying--"To-day shall I despatch both Rama and Lakshmana to the abode of Death with arrows resembling the sun at the time of dissolution, discharged off my bow. And slaying the enemies I shall repair the loss of Khara, Kumbhakarna, Prahasta and Indrajit. The atmosphere, the quarters the sky and the deep being enveloped with the cloud of arrows shall become invisible. I shall slay to-day all the heroic monkeys with my winged arrows. Ascending my car gifted with the velocity of the wind shall I churn to day the monkey host with arrow-like waves coming from the ocean-like bow. I shall like an elephant distress to-day the monkey-like pools having their countenances for the blown lotuses, and the lustre of their bodies for the filaments. To-day in the encounter, the leaders of the monkey hosts, with their heads transfixed with arrows, shall cover the earth, like unto lotuses with their stalks. I shall to-day with a single arrow, cleave hundreds of heroic monkeys fighting with trees in their hands. I shall wipe to-day the tears of those whose brother or son has been slain by destroying their foe. In the encounter to-day I shall, with the monkeys deprived of their breath and clept with my arrows, so cover the earth that it may not be seen by any. I shall satisfy to-day with the flesh of the enemies slain by my shafts, the crows, vultures and others who live upon flesh. Get ready soon my car and bring my bow. And let the remaining night-rangers follow me in battle". Hearing his words Mahaparsha addressed the leaders of the army who were near him, saying,--"Get your soldiers ready". And the commanders too quickly went round all the houses in Lanka and asked the Rakshasas to be ready soon. Thereupon began to issue out in a moment terrible-looking Rakshasas, emitting roars, having dreadful faces and with various weapons in their hands--daggers, _Patticas_, maces, clubs, furrows, sharpened _saktis_, traps, various rods, sharpened _chakra_, _parashwadhas_, _vindipalas_, _sataghnis_ and various other excellent weapons. Thereupon at the command of Ravana the commanders brought one _Nijuta_ (a hundred thousand) cars, three _Nijuta_ elephants, sixty million horses, asses and camels and numberless infantry. They arranged the soldiers before the king and in the interval the charioteer brought the car--filled with excellent celestial weapons--richly adorned, containing many an armour, girt with a network of tinkling ornaments, crested with various jewels, having jewelled pillars and a thousand golden jars. Beholding the car the Rakshasas were greatly astonished. And Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, rising up all on a sudden, ascended that car, brilliant like the flaming fire and the aggregate rays of a million sun, quick-coursing, having a charioteer, drawn by eight horses, huge and shining in its native lustre. Thereupon proceeded Ravana, encircled by many a Rakshasa as if rending the earth with the excess of his prowess. There arose a huge sound of bugles accompanied with that of Mridangas, drums, conchs, and _kalapas_. The lord of the Rakshas--wicked, the slayer of the Brahmins--the thorn of the celestials, and who hath brought away Sita by stealth, has come with his umbrellas and chowries to fight with the foremost of Raghus--this cry was heard everywhere. And with his tremendous roar the earth shook. And hearing all on a sudden that sound, the monkeys fled away in fear. And the highly effulgent Ravana, having huge arms and surrounded by his ministers, came there being certain of gaining victory. Being commanded by Ravana, Mahaparsha, Mahodara and the irrepresible Birupaksha ascended the car. They, desirous of winning victory, issued out emitting dreadful roars in delight and as if rending the earth therewith. Thereupon the highly effulgent (Ravana) resembling Death, with uplifted bow, sallied out for battle along with the army of Rakshas. And that mighty car-warrior, went out in his chariot drawn by quick-coursing steeds by that gate which led to where Rama and Lakshmana were. Thereat the sun lost its brilliance--the quarters were enshrouded with darkness; the birds sent forth dreadful cries and the earth shook. The celestials poured down bloody rains--the course of the horses was slackened--the vultures sat on the banners and jackals emitted inauspicious cries, his left eye and the left arm began to shake--his countenance became pale and his voice grew harsher. The Ten-necked Rakshasa thus going out for battle there appeared many bad omens indicating his destruction. From the sky fell a fire-brand accompanied with the sound of thunder; vultures and crows emitted inauspicious cries. Disregarding these dreadful omens which appeared then, Ravana, incited by death, foolishly went out to slay his (enemies). And by the wheel-sound of the chariots of the great Rakshasas the host of monkeys calling each other, excited with anger and willing to gain victory, addressed themselves for fight. Thereupon the Ten-necked one, enraged, with his arrows feathered in gold, made a dreadful slaughter of the army of monkeys. And some of those heroic monkeys were beheaded by Ravana--some had their hearts rent and others were shorn of their ears. Some had their breath choked, some were killed and others had their sides broken. Some had their hands cut off and others had their eyes put out. And wherever in the encounter, the Ten-headed Rakshasa, whirling his eyes in ire, went in his car--the monkey leaders could not stand the vehemence of his arrows.

SECTION LXLVII.

There the earth was covered with monkeys whose bodies were rent with the arrows of the Ten-necked (Ravana). As the flies cannot stand before the flaming fire so they could not bear the vehemence of Ravana's shafts. Being thus assailed with pointed arrows they fled away crying, like unto elephants being burnt by fire. And Ravana with his arrows pursued in conflict the course of clouds. Thus slaughtering the monkeys the lords of Rakshasas speedily reached in the encounter where Raghava was. And beholding the monkeys assailed and afraid Sugriva placing Sushena in charge of a _gulma_[385] addressed himself for the battle. And placing that heroic monkey, his equal in prowess, in that command Sugriva sallied out with a tree in his hand to meet the enemy. And followed him on all sides the leaders of the monkeys with huge crags and various trees. The heroic Sugriva emitted terrible roars in the conflict and assailed the heroic Rakshasas and many others. The huge-bodied monkey-chief crushed the Rakshasas like unto the wind uprooting the trees at the time of dissolution. He began to make a downpour of crags at the Rakshasa host like unto the cloud pouring down hailstorms at the birds in the forest. And being beheaded by the crags discharged by that monkey chief the Rakshasas fell down like unto mountains cleft. The Rakshasas being thus attacked and shattered by Sugriva and roaring and falling down on all sides, an irrepressible Rakshasa, skilled in archery, by name Birupaksha, pronouncing his own name, got down from the car and mounted an elephant. And mounted on the elephant that highly powerful Birupaksha sent forth leonine roars and dashed against the monkeys. Exciting the joy of the Rakshasas and removing their anxiety he discharged dreadful shafts at Sugriva and his army. And being assailed by the pointed arrows of that Rakshasa that lord of monkeys roared in anger and made up his mind to destroy him. Thereupon uprooting a tree the heroic monkey, skilled in warfare, leaped and struck that huge elephant down in his presence. And being assailed greatly by Sugriva that huge elephant proceeded a little within the range of the bow and roared and died. And being; greatly enraged on the destruction of that elephant the highly powerful Rakshasa dashed forward to face the enemy. That one of quick movements took up his dagger and armour and viling, approached Sugriva. And beholding his movement Sugriva took up a huge crag resembling a cloud and hurled it against Birupaksha. That highly powerful leading Rakshasa, finding the crag about to fall, turned a little away and struck the monkey with his dagger. And being assailed with dagger by that powerful Rakshasa the monkey remained senseless for sometime on the ground. And rising up all on a sudden he, clenching his fist, struck that Rakshasa in the mighty encounter on his breast and got him down. Being struck with the fist the night-ranger Birupaksha greatly enraged cut down with his dagger Sugriva's armour and tumbled him down with his feet. And the monkey rising up again was about to deal him a blow, hard as a thunder-bolt, with a dreadful sound. And receding a little, he baffled its aim and returned one on Sugriva's breast. Finding his aim baffled and himself struck in return by the Rakshasa, Sugriva, the lord of monkeys, was excited with anger. And the monkey-chief was now on the look-out for an opportunity to strike Birupaksha. And immediately in anger he struck him down with a blow on his forehead. And being thus assailed with the fist resembling the thunder-bolt of Mahendra, he fell down on the earth bathed in a pool of blood. And blood gushed out of the person of Birupaksha like unto water issuing out of a fountain. And the monkeys beheld their enemy (Birupaksha) with his eyes disfigured in anger, bathed in a foam of blood, his whole body discoloured, trembling, rolling and crying piteously. Thereupon those two armies of the monkeys and Rakshasas, being ready to engage in the encounter, began to roar like unto two mighty oceans having their banks broken. And observing that highly powerful Rakshasa, of discoloured eyes, slain by the king of monkeys, the monkeys and Rakshasa forces engaged in fight and looked like the rising Ganges.

[385] The division of an army; a body of troops consisting of nine platoons or nine elephants, nine chariots, twenty seven horses and forty-five foot.

SECTION LXLVIII.

Like unto a pond in the summer both the armies became gradually reduced. Beholding his own army and Birupaksha slain, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, was doubly excited with ire. And observing his army reduced and slain by the heroic (monkeys) he perceived ill omens in the fight and was accordingly pained at heart. And he addressed Mahodara, who was near him, saying, "O thou of great arms, all my hopes of success are now centered in thee. Do thou slay the enemy's force, O hero, and display thy prowess. Now hath come the time of returning the favours of thy master. Do thou fight bravely". Being thus accosted that Rakshasa-chief Mahodara, saying "so be it" entered the enemy's army like unto a fly entering into a flame. Excited by his master's command and empowered by his own prowess that (Rakshasa) gifted with great strength, began to assail the monkeys. And the highly powerful monkeys too taking up huge crags dashed against the dreadful army of the enemies and crushed all the Rakshasas. And Mahodara, greatly angered, severed in that mighty encounter, with his arrows feathered in gold, the hands, feet and thighs of the monkeys. Then the monkeys, in fear of the Rakshasas, fled away to different quarters and some sought shelter of Sugriva. And beholding his powerful monkey force thus assailed in the conflict, Sugriva dashed forward and fronted Mahodara. And taking up a huge and dreadful crag resembling a mountain, the monkey-king hurled it with great vehemence to slay him. Thereupon finding that crag about to fall, Mahodara fearlessly severed it with his arrows. And being sundered into a thousand pieces by the arrow of that Rakshasa, it fell down on the earth like unto a band of vultures. And beholding that crag thus severed, Sugriva was beside himself with ire; and uplifting a _sala_ tree hurled it: and the heroic Rakshasa, the slayer of enemy's force, severed it into several pieces with his arrows. Thereupon excited with wrath he saw a _parigha_ on the ground. And hurling that flaming _parigha_ and displaying his (light-handedness) he struck his excellent horse therewith. And having his horse slain, that hero--the Rakshasa Mahodara, ascended his car, and in great anger took up his club. Those two heroes, with club and _parigha_ in their hands, engaged in battle, roaring like two bulls or clouds accompanied with lightning. Thereupon the night-ranger Mahodara, inflamed with ire, hurled at Sugriva, the club flaming like the Sun. And beholding that dreadful club about to fall the highly powerful Sugriva--the lord of monkeys, uplifting his _parigha_ struck it therewith. And the _parigha_, being sundered, fell quickly down on the earth. Thereupon the effulgent Sugriva picked up from the ground a _musala_ made of iron and ornamented with gold. Taking that _musala_ up he hurled it at the Rakshasa and who again hurled a club; and both of them being severed fell down on the earth. Having their weapons baffled thus, those two heroes, gifted with great prowess and effulgence and resembling the burning fire, were ready to interchange blows. They, emitting roars again and again, struck each other down on the earth with their clenched fists. And rising up speedily they again assailed each other. Thus those two heroes, unsubdued, struck each other with their arms. Thereupon both of them, highly proficient in fighting with arms, were greatly exhausted. Thereupon they took up daggers. And uplifting them, (those two heroes) with their persons trembling in ire, proficient in fighting and skilled in the use of weapons, dashed on roaring. And both of them enraged with each other and anxious to score success, moving in a circle on each other's right side, addressed themselves for action. Thereupon the vicious-minded, heroic Mahodara, gifted with great vehemence and proud of his own heroism, flung his dagger at (the monkey's) armour. And as he was about to extricate his dagger from the armour, that foremost of monkeys severed with his dagger that Rakshasa's head with helmet and _kundalas_. And beholding the Rakshasa-chief fall down on the earth with his head off, his forces fled away from the field. And slaying him that monkey-chief, delighted, began to roar along with other monkeys. There-upon the Ten-necked one became highly enraged and Raghava greatly delighted. And all the Rakshasas, with their hearts broken and countenances rendered poorly and stricken with fear fled away to different quarters. Slaying and striking down on earth Mahodara like unto a portion of a mighty hill severed, that son of the Sun appeared resplendent in his own effulgence and became irrepressible like unto the Sun. And winning victory in the action that lord of monkeys was espied by the celestials, Siddhas and Yakshas along with all creatures on earth, having their eyes flushed with joy.

SECTION LXLIX.

Mahodara being thus slain by Sugriva, the highly powerful Mahaparshwa, having his eyes reddened with ire, looked towards him. And the Rakshasa, with his weapons, assailed the dreadful army of Angada as well as the leading monkeys. The Rakshasa severed the heads from the bodies of the monkeys like unto the wind throwing away the fruits from trees. And he cut off, with his arrows, the arms of some and some were deprived of their sides. The monkeys were thus assailed by Mahaparshwa with a shower of shafts. All the monkeys were thus stricken with grief and rendered senseless. And hearing of the anxiety of his own army thus assailed by the Rakshasa, Angada, gifted with great vehemence, taking his _parigha_ made of iron and resembling the rays of the sun, dashed on like the rising deep during the lunar half of a month. And that foremost of monkeys encountered Mahaparshwa, who, thus struck by the monkey, became insensible with his charioteer and fell down on the earth. Thereupon leaped on the battle-field the highly powerful and effulgent lord of bears, having the hue of red collyrium, with his army resembling the cloud. And excited with ire, he, taking up a huge crag resembling the summit of a mountain, speedily struck down his horses and broke down his car. And regaining his senses in a moment the highly powerful Mahaparshwa, again assailed Angada with many arrows. He struck Jambavan, the lord of bears, on his breast with three arrows and assailed Gabaksha with many shafts. And beholding Jambavan and Gabaksha overwhelmed with arrows, Angada, beside himself with ire, took up a dreadful _parigha_. And holding with two hands that _parigha_ made of iron and bright like the rays of the sun, Angada, the son of Vali, with his eyes reddened in wrath, hurled it at Mahaparshwa who was stationed at a distance, to slay him. And being hurled by the highly powerful (Angada) the _parigha_, struck down from his hands the bow with arrows and the helmet of the Rakshasa. And approaching him vehemently, Vali's son, gifted with great prowess, in anger, struck him, with clenched fist, on his ears having excellent _kundalas_. There-upon Mahaparshwa gifted with great vehemence and effulgence, highly angered, took up in his hands a huge _parashivadha_, sharpened with oil, bright and hard as iron and discharged it at Vali's son, and struck him therewith on his left shoulder. And Angada baffled that _parashwadha_. Thereupon that hero, powerful like his own father, clenching his fist, hard as thunder-bolt and resembling even Indra's _acani_, dealt it, in great anger, upon the Raksha's breast. And being struck with that fist the Rakshasa's breast was shattered and lie fell down on earth. He falling down on earth slain, his soldiers were greatly sorry and Ravana attained to an excess of ire in the conflict. The noise set up by the delighted monkeys like unto a dreadful leonine roar, as if rending the city of Lanka abounding in edifices and gates, resembled the great roar of the celestials along with Indra. And hearing the noise of the celestials and monkeys, the lord of Rakshasas, the enemy of the gods, in great anger, again proceeded towards the battle field.

SECTION C.