Part 35

Then the revered Agastya, who, desirous of witnessing the fight, had along with the deities come there,--seeing Ravana spent with the toil of conflict, staying in the field plunged in thought, and stationed before Rama for engaging in encounter,--addressed Rama, drawing near to him, saying,--"Rama, Rama, O mighty-armed one, hearken to the eternal secret, whereby, my child, thou wilt conquer all foes in fight,--_Aditya-hridaya,_[404] sacred, capable of destroying all foes, bringing victory--the recitation, enduring and indestructible,--and supremely good; fraught with all welfare, removing every sin,--chasing away anxiety and grief, bringing length of days; and excellent. Do thou worship Vivacwata's offspring--the Sun--lord of the world, furnished with rays,--who maketh people engage in work, and who is bowed down to by deities and Asuras. This effulgent one, producing rays is instinct with the spirits of all the deities; and he with his rays ruleth all creatures--and the hosts of celestials and Asuras. This Sun is Brahma and Vishnu and Siva and Skanda[405] and Prajapati,[406] and Mahendra and Dhanada[407] and the Destroyer--Yama--and Soma[408] and the Lord of waters; and the Pitris,[409] and the Vasus, and the Sadhyas[410] and the two Acwinis[411] and the Maruts and Manu,[412] and the Wind-god and the God of fire and the creatures and the Creator of life and the seasons. And he is Aditya[413] and Savita[414] and Suryya[415] and Khaga[416] and Pusha[417] and Gavastiman[418] and the Golden-looking and Bhanu[419] and Hiranyareta[420] and Divakara.[421] And he is Haridacwa[422] and Saltasrarchi[423] and Saptasapti[424] and Marichiman.[425] And he subdueth darkness, and he is Sambhu[426] and Tashta[427] and Martandaka[428] and Ancuman.[429] And he is Hiranyagarbha,[430] Sicira,[431] and Tapana,[432] and Ahaskara[433] and Ravi,[434] and Agnigarbha,[435] and Aditi's son,[436] and Sankha,[437] and Siciranacana,[438] Byomanatha[439] and Tamabheda,[440] the one proficient in Rik, Yajus and Sama; and Ghanavrishti,[441] and the friend of the Apas,[442] and he that swiftly courseth in the Vindhya way. And he is Atapi[443] and Mandali[444] and Mrityu.[445] And he is Pingala,[446] and the destroyer of everything, and the Omniscient, and he having the universe for his form,[447] and the exceedingly energetic one, and the beloved of all, and that one lording it over all kinds of actions. And he is the lord[448] of stars and planets and constallations, and the origin of everything, and the one powerful pre-eminently of powerful things[449]--and the one having twelve forms.[450] I bow unto thee (having these forms and functions). Salutation unto the Eastern mount and the mount of the West. Salutation unto the lord of the stellar bodies and salutation also unto the lord of day. Salutation and salutation unto him that bringeth victory, and the joy that springeth up from victory; and unto him of yellow steeds. Salutation, salutation, O thousand-rayed one; Salutation and salutation unto Aditya. Salutation unto him that keepeth his senses under subjection; Salutation and salutation unto the Hero,[451] and unto Saranga[452] and unto him that awakenest the Lotus.[453] And (salutation) unto thee, O fierce one. Salutation unto the Lord himself of Brahma, Icana[454] and Achchyuta,[455] and unto Sura[456] and unto him that constitutes the knowledge of Aditya, and unto him that unfoldeth me and not-me; and unto the devourer of all, and unto the form of the destroyer of the darkness of ignorance, Salutation unto the destroyer of darkness, and unto the destroyer of enemies, and unto him of immeasurable Soul, and unto the destroyer of the ingrate, and unto the deity, and unto the lord of all stellar bodies. And salutation unto him that boasteth of the splendour of burning gold, unto the destroyer of all mental obscurity,--and unto the maker of the universe. Salutation unto the remover of darkness; unto the illuminator of the Soul; unto the all-beholding one of all the worlds. The lord createth everything and verily destroyeth it. And with his rays he sucketh up, and destroyeth and createth (everything). When all are asleep, this one waketh, and he is resident in the hearts of all creatures. This one is both Agnihotra as well as the fruit reaped by the sacrifices thereof. And he constitutes the gods and the sacrifices and the fruit also thereof; and he is the lord of all acts that are performed by creatures. If a person recites this (hymn), he, O Raghava, doth not come by misfortune, when he is in peril of his life, or is ill, or in a lonely place, or in fear. Do thou, with concentration, worship this god of gods, this lord of the universe. By reciting (this hymn) instinct with the three virtues, thou wilt obtain victory in battle. This very instant, O mighty-armed one, thou wilt conquer Ravana". Having said this, Agastya went whither from he had come. Hearing this, that exceedingly energetic one had his grief gone, Then, well pleased, Raghava, exerting himself, contemplated (the hymn). And reciting this, he beholding the Sun, attained excess of joy. And sipping water again and again, and becoming purified, that powerful one, taking up his bow, and viewing Ravana, advanced with a delighted heart, to obtain victory. And he became intent on his death with his dearest energies. Then exceedingly delighted, and filled with rejoicings, the Sun, in the midst of the celestial hosts knowing that the destruction of the Sovereign of the night-rangers was at hand,--spoke unto Rama "Bestir thyself".

[404] _Lit_--The heart of the Sun.--the designation of a Vedic Hymn.

[405] The celestial generallissimo. The commentator gives a spiritual interpretation. 'He that by means of his rays openeth up the five organs of perception.'

[406] The lord of all creatures, by virtue of his bringing forth all beings through his energy.

[407] Dispenser of riches, a name of Kuvera.

[408] Furnished with splendour, a name of the Moon. According to some 'endowed with energy.'

[409] _Lit._ the ancestral manes. Here the generator of everything.

[410] An order of semi-divine beings. Here, 'He who is adored by the spiritual.'

[411] In virtue of his omnipresence and his being the healer of all ailments.

[412] All-knowing and being the primaeval sovereign.

[413] 'He from whom all derive sustenance.'

[414] 'The producer of heart and the spiritual faculties by heat, and corn, _etc._ by showers.'

[415] 'Coursing alone, according to the commentator. It may also means--'He that sets people to work.'

[416] 'Coursing the highest heavens,' or says the commentator 'the heavens of the heart.'

[417] 'The maintainer.'

[418] _Gavastiman_--'Ray-furnished, or having the all-permeating Spirit of Auspiciousness.'

[419] _Bhanu_--'having brightness.'

[420] _Hiranyareta_--'instinct with the cosmic energy.'

[421] _Divakara_--'maker of day'

[422] _Haridacwa_--'pervading all sides' or 'having black steeds.'

[423] _Sahasrarchi_--'thousand-rayed. The commentator explains spiritually, He whose cognition points in infinite directions.'

[424] 'He from whom proceed the seven organs of sense of people.' Or 'he who has seven steeds.'

[425] 'Having rays.'

[426] 'He from whom proceed the several sorts of happiness.'

[427] 'He who removes the misfortunes of his votaries.'

[428] 'He that infuses life into the lifeless mundane egg.'

[429] 'Having rays.'

[430] The cause of the creation, preservation and destruction of the Universe.

[431] 'Good-natured.'

[432] _Tapa_--means 'wealth.' _Tapana--the possessor of all riches._

[433] _Ahas_--day and _Kara--maker._

[434] _Rauti--teacheth_--Ravi--_he that teacheth._

[435] _Lit. fire-wombed_. He that carries the fire of doom within himself.

[436] Aditi--'without destruction'--means 'Brahma knowledge.'

[437] Supreme happiness.

[438] The remover of intellectual stupor or evil-mindedness.

[439] Lord of the welkin.

[440] Dispeller of darkness.

[441] He from whom floweth the fruit of acts: or he from whom come downpours. The latter epithet is justified on grounds of Physical Geography, _rain being ultimately dependant on solar heat_.

[442] Apas may mean either 'the good,' or 'water.' Vindhya way means either the way known as Brahmanari or the orbit of the San.

[443] He that is intent on creating the cosmos.

[444] Ray-crowned or adorned with gems.

[445] The bringer of death.

[446] The motive force of the blood-tube called Pingala.

[447] Or the ornament of the Universe.

[448] _i.e._ the controller of them, remarks Ramanuja.

[449] Such as, observes the commentator, as fire.

[450] _i.e._ the months of the year.

[451] Him that leadeth the senses, and that is endowed with the prowess of slaying Tripura etc.

[452] Him that deservest the _pranaba_, the holiest formula in all Hindu Scripture.

[453] That awakenest the external lotus as well as the lotus of the heart.

[454] Siva.

[455] Vishnu.

[456] The sun.

SECTION CVII.

Then the charioteer fully drove with speed Ravana's car, capable of bringing down the hosts of foes, resembling in form a city of the Gandharvas, having elevated streamers, yoked with surpassingly superb steeds, engarlanded in gold; stocked with war-like implements; furnished with ensigns and standards; appearing to devour the welkin; making the earth herself resound; destructive to hostile hosts; and filling its own party with delight. And as it speedily descended, the monarch of men beheld that Rakshasa-king's resounding car, having huge standards, yoked with black chargers, and endowed with fierce splendour; as if flaming in the firmament; having the resplendance of the Sun himself; with thronging lightning pennons; displaying the glow of Indra's weapon;[457] showering arms; and resembling rain-charged clouds. Seeing the enemy's car resembling a mass of clouds having a chatter resembling the sounds sent by a cleaving mountain rived by the thunder, Rama, vehemently drawing his bow curved like the infant moon, addressed Matali--charioteer unto the thousand-eyed (deity),[458] saying,--"O Matali, behold the enraged chariot of my foe as it courseth on. From the furious speed with which he is again wheeling at my right, it appeareth that he hath set his heart on slaying me in encounter. Do thou therefore heedfully drive the car right against the vehicle of my foe. I wish to destroy this one even as the wind scattereth clouds that have appeared. Do thou with all thy wits about thee, without trepidation, and holding thy heart as well as thy eye in calmness, swiftly drive the chariot ruled by the reins. Worthy of Purandara's car, thou ought not to be taught by me. Desirous of encounter and my whole soul bent on fight, I simply remind thee--not teach thee". Pleased with these words of Rama, the excellent celestial charioteer--Matali--drove the car. Then leaving Ravana's mighty car on the right, he enveloped Ravana with the dust raised by the wheels. Thereat the Ten-necked one, enraged, with his eyes coppery and dilated (in passion), covered with arrows Rama staying in front of his car. Enraged at the smiting, Rama, with his ire aroused, but summoning up patience, took up in the encounter the bow of Indra endowed with exceeding vehemence; as well as highly impetuous shafts having the resplendance of the solar rays. And then there began a furious encounter between those (two) eager for slaying each other; confronting each other like unto flaming lions. And then desirous of destruction of Ravana,--celestials with Gandharvas, and Siddhas and supersaints assembled to go to behold the encounter taking place between the two cars. And for the destruction of Ravana and the success of Raghava, there occurred round about the cars terrible bodements capable of making people's down stand on end. The god poured down showers of blood on the car of Ravana; and a violent tornado eddied on his right. And a mighty swarm of vultures, wheeling in the heavens, pursued the car wherever it moved. And Lanka was enveloped with evening resembling the red _java_ flowers and even in day appeared ablaze. Lightnings and firebrands accompanied by a terrible sound began to fall down on all sides. And beholding these omens inauspicious unto Ravana all the Rakshasas were greatly sorry. And wherever Ravana moved the earth shook and the hands of all the Rakshasas fighting were as if paralysed. The copper coloured, the yellow, the red, and the white rays of the sun falling before Ravana appeared like melted metals of a mountain. And the jackals followed by vultures, vomitting forth fire and casting their looks at him, began to emit inauspicious cries. And in that battle-field the unfavourable wind began to blow raising dust and obstructing the vision of the king of Rakshasas. On the Rakshasa host on all sides dreadful lightnings were showered without the sound of the clouds. All the quarters were enshrouded with darkness and the welkin became invisible being covered with darkness. And setting up a dreadful quarrel hundreds of terrible _Sharikas_[459] began to fall down on his chariot. The horses emitted forth sparks of fire from their hips and tears from their eyes. These and various other dreadful omens arose there announcing the destruction of Ravana. And there appeared on all sides many an auspicious and good sign intimating the approach of Rama's victory. And beholding all those auspicious marks announcing Rama's success, Lakshmana was greatly delighted and considered Ravana as slain. Thereupon beholding all those auspicious signs, Raghava, well qualified to decipher them attained an excess of delight and became anxious to display a greater prowess.

[457] The rain-bow.

[458] Indra.

[459] A kind of bird (Turdus Salica, Buch).

SECTION CVIII.

Thereupon there ensued a mighty and dreadful encounter of two cars between Rama and Ravana, creating terror unto all people. And the army of Rakshasas and the mighty host of the monkeys, although they had weapons in their hands, became stupified (for the time being). And beholding them (Rama and Ravana) fight, all the Rakshasas and monkeys, having their minds agitated, were greatly surprised. With various weapons and hands uplifted for fight, they, greatly wondered, stood there beholding them and did not address themselves to fight with each other. The Rakshasas beholding Ravana, and the monkeys beholding Rama with wonder-stricken eyes, the whole army appeared like a picture. And espieing all omens Raghava and Ravana began to fight, undaunted, firm, resolute and unagitated by anger. And determining that Kakutstha would win victory and Ravana would die, they began to display their own prowess. Thereupon the highly powerful Ravana, setting his arrows in anger, discharged them at the pennon stationed on Raghava's car. Those arrows reaching the flag staff of the Purandara chariot and perceiving its might fell down on the earth. Thereupon the highly powerful Rama, wroth, stretching his bow, made up his mind to return the blow. And aiming at Ravana's flag staff he discharged a sharpened shaft flaming unbearably by its own lustre like a huge serpent. And the effulgent Rama discharged a shaft aiming at (Ravana's) banner which, piercing the Ten-necked demon's flag fell, down on the earth. And beholding his flag staff thus broken down the highly powerful Ravana became ablaze as if burning down every tiling with his unbearable ire And being possessed by wrath he began to make a downpour of shafts. Ravana then, with flaming arrows, pierced Rama's steeds. The celestial horses were not bewildered thereby nor their course was slackened. And they remained thoroughly unagitated as if they were stricken with lotus stalks. Beholding the steeds thus unmoved Ravana was again exercised with wrath and began to discharge afresh his various weapons--_gadas_, _parighas_, _chakras_ and _musalas_, mountain tops, trees, darts and _parashus_ and thousands of other shafts by virtue of his illusive powers. And unmoved was his energy. And that downpour of various weapons became huge and terrible in the conflict creating terror and making a dreadful noise. Thereupon leaving aside Raghava's car he began to assail the monkey-host and enveloped the sky with a continual discharge of arrows. The Ten-necked demon let loose many a weapon even at the risk of his own life. And beholding Ravana in the encounter thus actively engaged in the discharge of arrows, Kakuthstha, smiling, set up pointed shafts, and discharged them by hundreds and thousands. Beholding them Ravana again filled the welkin with arrows--and thus with shafts discharged by them both another flaming sky was created. None (of the arrows) missed the aim, none of them failed to pierce another and none of them was fruitless. And the arrows discharged by Rama and Ravana stricking each other fell down on the earth. And they standing on their right and left began to make a continued downpour of arrows and enveloped the sky entirely. And they opposing each other, Ravana slew Rama's steeds and Rama in his turn slew Ravanan's. They, thus enraged fought with each other and for sometime there ensued a terrible encounter capable of making ones down stand on end. And the highly powerful Ravana and Rama[460] righting with each other in the conflict by means of sharpened arrows, the lord of Rakshasas beholding his flag staff broken down became enraged with the foremost of Raghus.

[460] The epithet in the text is Lakshmana's elder brother.

SECTION CIX.

Rama and Ravana thus opposing each other in battle, all the animals beheld them, stricken with astonishment. And those two great heroes, highly angered, began to dash towards and assail each other; and being determined to slay each other they looked greatly dreadful. And their charioteers drove the cars on, displaying their skill by moving in circles, in rows and diverse other ways. And those two excellent heroes, discharging their shafts and influenced by illusions, assailed each other proceeding and receding, Rama attacking Ravana and Ravana withstanding him. And these two cars coursed the earth for sometime like clouds accompanied by showers. And displaying many a movement in the conflict they again stood facing each other, the forepart of one car touching that of the other and the heads of the steeds touching each other; and the pennons, stationed on one touched those of the other. Rama, with four sharpened arrows, shot off his bow, removed the flaming horses of Ravana to some distance. And finding his steeds thus removed he was exercised with wrath. And the Ten-necked one discharged sharpened arrows at Raghava. And he was pierced by those arrows coming from the powerful Ten-necked demon. He was neither overwhelmed nor pained therewith and he again discharged arrows resembling the thunder-bolts. And the Ten-necked demon again discharged arrows at the charioteer, which fell with great vehemence on the person of Matali. Matali was not the least pained or overwhelmed in that encounter. And beholding his charioteer thus assailed Rama was excited with wrath and overwhelmed his foe with a net of arrows. And the heroic Raghava showered on his enemy's chariot shafts by twentys, thirtys, sixtys, hundreds and thousands. And the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, who was stationed on the car, wroth, attacked Rama in the conflict with maces and _Musalas_. And there again ensued a terrible conflict capable of making one's down stand on end. And the seven oceans were overwhelmed with the sound of maces, _musalas_, _Parighas_ and gold feathered arrows. And those inhabiting the regions under the agitated oceans, all the Danavas and thousands of _Pannagas_ were greatly pained. And greatly shook the earth with her mountains, forests and gardens. The Sun was shorn of its resplendance and the wind blew very rough. Thereupon the celestials, with _Gandharbas_, _Siddhas_, great saints, _Kinnaras_ and serpents were all worked up with anxiety. And beholding the dreadful encounter between Rama and Ravana capable of making people's down stand on end, the celestials with ascetics began to pray,--"May good betide the Brahmins and cows, may people live in peace and may Raghava defeat Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, in the conflict". And the crowd of _Gandharbas_ and _Apsaras_ beholding that wonderful battle between Rama and Ravana, said,--"The ocean resembleth the sky and the sky resembleth the ocean--forsooth this encounter between Rama and Ravana befits them only". Thereupon Rama of long-arms, the enhancer of the glory of Raghu's race, enraged, set his arrow, resembling a serpent, on his bow, and cut assunder Ravana's head wearing shinning _Kundalas_. And that head in the presence of the inhabitants of the three regions fell down on the earth. Instantly there arose another head resembling the former; and it was speedily cut off by the light-handed Rama. As soon as the second head was chopped off in the encounter by means of shafts another appeared again. And that was again severed by Rama's shafts resembling thunder-bolts. And thus were severed hundred heads all equal in brilliance. But the end of Ravana's life was not seen by him. Thereupon the heroic Raghava, conversant with the use of all weapons, the enhancer of Kaucalyi's joy, began to reason within himself in various Ways,--"Verily these are the arrows by which Maricha was killed, and Khara with Dushana was slain--Viradha was destroyed in the forest of Krauncha--the headless demon in the forest of Dandaka--Salas and mountains were broken--the ocean was agitated--and Vali was killed;--I do not perceive the reason, why they are becoming fruitless when discharged at Ravana". Thinking thus Raghava made himself ready In the conflict and began to shower arrows on Ravana's breast. Thereupon Ravana too, the lord of Rakshasas, seated in a car and highly enraged, assailed Rama in the conflict with a downpour of maces and _Musalas_. That dreadful and huge conflict, capable of making hairs stand on end, continued for seven nights before the eyes of the celestials, Danavas, Yakshas, Pisachas, Uragas and serpents stationed in the sky, on the earth or on the mountain-tops. Neither for the night nor for the day, nor for a moment did the fight between Rama and Ravana cease. And beholding the conflict between Dacaratha's son and the lord of Rakshasas, and Raghava's victory, the high-souled charioteer of the lord of the celestials spake speedily unto Rama engaged in the conflict.

SECTION CX.