60 “To-raorrow shall the son ofSumitrd kill the conqueror of Indra in battle. Day alter to morrow thou, O R&rna, shalt kill the ten-faced Rdv'ana.
51* “O Lord of the gods, I see ail this along with the Siddhas in the heavens. Do thou, O God, give me leave, 1 shall go to the abode of the celestials.** 62 So saying nud bidding R&ina farewell the great Rishl Ndrada who was worshipped by the gods, went to the world of Brahmd, which is without blemish.
53 — 64. On hearing of the death of hie brave brother Kumbhakarana by Rdma of unblemished deeds, U&vana became overwhelmed with sorrow, lost consciousness and fell on the ground. Recovering himself he grieved over the death of his brother.
54— 55. On hearing of the death of his uncle and seeing his father greatly distressed Indrajit said to him, ‘‘Do thou, O high-minded sage, leave off all sorrow. With me the highly powerful Meghndda living, O king of kings, O destroyer of the gods, thou possessed of great wisdom, where is time for sorrow. Let all thy grief disappear, do thou, O king, be easy in mind.
56 — 67. “I shall make everything even and going forth shall kill thy enemies. Having gone to Nikumbhlla and forthwith propitiated the fire and obtained cars and the rest, I shall become unassailable by the enemy.*' 58 — 59. So saying he speedily went to the place appointed for the performance of the Horaa sacrifice. There wearing red clothes and a red garland and besmeared with red ungents, he began to perform the tioma in the Nikumbhlla altar in silence.
60. Vibhlshana having beard all that the evil-minded Meghanada had iutended going to do, informed Rama of his performing the Homa.
61. “If this Homa sacrifice of the evil-minded Meghn&da is completed, then he shall, O R&ma, become unconquerable by gods and men.
62. ‘‘Therefore 1 shall forthwith have the son of Ravana killed by Lakshmana, do thou order Lakshmana to accompany me. O thou best of Warriors. Thy brother shall undoubtedly kill Meghn&da."
63. Sri Rdmchandra said, “I shall myself go to kill the enemy, Indra- jlt, by the great fire- weapon which kills all the R&kslmsas.
64-65. Vibhlshana said, “ This Rakshasa caunot be killed by any one except one who has for twelve years lived without food and sleep; by bim has the death of this evil-minded being ordafned by the creator.
66 — 67. “Lakshmana, ever since he came out of Ayodhya with thee, does not, O best of Raghus, know for the purpose of serving thee what it is to oat and sleep. 1 have come to know all. Therefore do thou speedily order Lakshmana who as Sesa supports the earth to go with me. He shall undoubtedly kill Meghn&da.
68. Thou art verily the lord of the worlds, Ntirdyana himself, Laksh- mana is Sesa. For the purpose of lightening the burden of the earth, you have both taken this incarnation as the chief actors in this drama of life.
CHAPTER IX.
(The death of Meghandda.)
1. On hearing this speech of Vibhlshana, Rtima said, ‘‘I know Vibhi- shana all the illusive power of that terrible Rdkshasa.
2. “ He is a knower of the Brahmd weapon, and a brave warrior possessing powers of illusion and highly powerful. I also *kuow the nature of Lakshmana and the way he has been serving me, 3. "Knowing this, I kept silent on account of the importance of the work in hand, when he rendered me this service.” So saying R&ina, the wisest of men, ordered Lakshmana saying: — 4—5. **0 Lakshmana, go with a large army under the command of Hanura&na and the rest of the monkey leaders and kill the son ofR&vapa*. The king of the bears J&mbuvana together with his army as well as Vibhishana shall also accompany thee.
6 — 8. “He knows, the part of the country as well as its loop-holes.” On hearing these words of R&raa, Lakshainana took up another highly powerful bow together with Vibhishana and touching the feet of RAma joyfully said as follows: “This day my arrows shall after piercing through the body of the ion of R&vana go to the nether regions to bathe in the waters of the Bhogavatf.”
9 — 10. So saying and. having bowed and prostrated himself before R&ma, Lakshmana of agile strength went out dosirous of killing Indrajita. Hanum&na followed with thousands of monkeys. Vibhishana also weut with him speedily with his counsellors.
11 — 14. The bears led by Jdjnbuvana went speedily after Lakahmana. Having gone to the Nikumbbila, Lakshmana and the monkey army saw from a distance the Rakshusas army collected in one place for the purpose of protecting Indrajit. Having bent his bow, the son of Sumitrd, of great strength together with the bravo Angada and Jdmbuvana, the king of be>»rs became ready for battle.
Then Vibhishana said to Lakshmana, “See these Rdkshasas. That which appears to thee like a dark cloud is the Rdkshasas army, do thou be ready to break through the mighty host with great effort.
15—16. “The son of the king of the Rdkshasas will be visible on this having been broken through. Do thou run towards it before the sacrifice is completed. Do thou, O brave warrior, kill this vile wretch who is bent upon killing others and is a sinful creature.”
On hearing this speech of Vibhishana, Lakshmana of auspicious fortune rained down arrows upon the son of Rdvana.
17 — 19. The monkeys also attacked the Rdkshasas with stones, boulders of rocks, and trees. The Daityas attacked the monkeys with axes of sharp arrows, daggers, clubs aud tomaras (javelins). Then there was a great tumult aud great destruction of the hosts of both monkeys and Rdkshasas.
20. Seeing the whole of his army thus attacked, Indrajit having relinquished the Nikumbhila and the Hoina sacrifice, came out speedily.
21 — 22. Having mounted his car, bow in hand, he became furious with passion and challenged the son of Suinitrd to battle saying, “O son of Suraitrd, 1 am Meghnada, so long as I am alive thou shalt not escape alive.”
28 — 24. Seeing his uncle there, he said harshly, “Bom and bred up here, the brother of my father, having renounced thy own kith and kin thou hast become a slave of our enemies. How canst thou cherish hosti- lity towards thy son. Thou art a vile wretch of evil mind.”
25 — 26. So saying and seeing Lakshmana standing at the back of Hanurad.ua, Meghufida riding a car full of sharp and bright weapons, holding a great bow and making it twang terribly said, “To-day my arrows shall drink off your life breaths, O monkeys.”
27. Then the conqueror of foes, the son of Daaratha, having drawn his bow up shot his arrows at the lord of the Raksh&sas, panting like an angry snake, 28 — 39. Indrajlt also looked at Lakshmana with eyes red with anger, pierced with the shafts of Lakshmana's bow which were like thunderbolts, he became unconscious for a moment. Then recollecting himself that brave warrior saw standing in front of him the brave son of Dasratha.
30 — 31. He then went towards Lakshmana with eyes red with anger and having pot his arrows to the bow said to him. If thou didst not seo my prowess in the first fight, I shall show it to-day, do thou stand firm.
32 — 33. So saying, he pierced Lakshmana with seven arrows and Hanumdua with ten arrows which were sharp and of superior quality. Then with a hundred arrows that brave Rakshnsa with redoubled passion pierced Vibhishan*. Lakshmana also raiued his arrows upon the enemy.
34. Tom with his arrows Meghndda's armour, which was of the color of gold, became crushed into atoms in the middle of the car and fell on the ground.
-36. Then furious with passion, the son of Rdvana assailed Lakshmana, the brave warrior of terrific strength with a thousand arrows.
36. Lakshmana's armour was also torn and fell upon the ground. Thus each retaliated upon the other, each ran towards the other.
37. Then panting, they again fought terribly. Tbeir bodies became all covered with arrows and dreuched with blood.
38. Thus for a long time those two brave warriors fought each other with sharp arrows, not knowing gain or loss, 39. In the meantime, Lakshmana broke the car, the horses, and killed the charioteer of Meghndda with five arrows.
40. Showing lightness of touch Lakshmana cut off his bow where- upon he readily took up another good bow.
41. That bow also Lakshmana broke with three arrows, shot speedily and with his bow thus broken lie pierced Meghndda with many an arrow.
4*2 — 43. Then Meghndda of terrific strength having taken up another bow attacked Lakshmana as well as all the monkeys with sharp arrows resplendent like the sun and filled all the quarters with his shafts.
43 — 46. Then taking up the Indrdstra and aiming it) at the son of Rdvana and drawing up t<* his ears that bow of terrible strength, the brave Lakshmana remebering the lotus feet of Rdma said, “ If Rdraa, the son of Dasratha, is a follower of Dharma and of true resolve, having no one who could conquer him in the three worlds, then let this weapon kill the son of Rdvana.”
46. So saying and drawiog up that bow which was infallible up bo the ear, Lakshmana the brave let ib go towards Indrajit.
47. That arrow having severed from the body the head of Indrajit with its head dress and shining ear-rings, threw it on the ground.
48. Then the gods, singing the praises of the best of Rnghus, rained down flowers upon him and repeatedly sang his praises.
49. The Lord Indra together with the gods became happy and in the welkin was heard the sound of the beating of celestial drums.
60. The sky became clear, and the earth, the supporter of all, firm. On seeing the son of Rdvana dead, the word “ victory ” was heard.
51. With his fatigue gone, the son of Sumitrd blew his conch in battle and having roared like a lion made his how twang. With that roar the monkeys became overjoyed and bereft of fatigue.
52—54. Then with fche monkeys uttering his praises, Lakshmana with a cheerful heart went to see R&ma. Together with Hanum&na and the liakshasa humbly he prostrated himself at fche feet of R&ma, his elder brother, who was the all- pervading Ndrdyana himself and said. u By thy grace has the son of Rtivana been killed in bafctle.,, 55. Hearing that speech of Lakshmana uttered with reverence, the best of Rnghus embraced him, smelt him on the forehead and joyfully and in affection said.
56. “ Well done, Lakshmana, well pleased am I, thou hast done a deed which was hard to accomplish. By the death of Meghn&da, all, O conqueror of the foes, has been won.
57 — 58. ** In three days and nights that brave warrior has somehow or other been defeated. I am to-day without an enemy. R&vana will now come out to fight on account of loss of his son and I shall kill* him.”
58 — 59. On hearing of the death of the brave Meghn&da by Laksh- mana, Kdvuna became unconscious and fell on the ground. Recovering himself he grieved piteously over the loss of his son.
60 — 61. Remembering the accomplishments and achievements of his son he wept saying. “ To-day all the gods, the supporters of the worlds, all the great Rishis knowing Indrajio to be dead, shall sleep fearlessly. Thus he mourned over the loss of his son.
62—63. Then in great anger RAvana, the king of the Rdkshasas, said to all the R&kshasas bent upon having them all killed in battle. Burning with grief at the loss of his son the brave R&vana overpowered with anger resolved to kill Sifcd and ran towards her.
64. Seeing him coming up sword in hand, SUA who was surrounded with the Rttkshasa women got greatly frightened.
65. In the meantime his minister Suparswa of pure and great intellect said to R&vana.
66—67. u How cansfc thou, O ten-faced Ravnna, brother of Vaish- r&vana (Kuvera), learned in nil the Vedas and completed his period of studentship, devoted to ihe performance of duty and possessed of various noble attributes wish t > kill a woman. Together with us thou shalt after killing Rilma and Lakshmana iu battle soon obtain Jatlak^.,, Then he turned back.
68, Then the evil-minded Rtlvnna having accepted the advice given to him by his friend went home and grieved over the loss of his son and then again went bo his assembly hall sorrounded by his friends.
Note. — There are hero several important variations and omissions in the narrative as given in the Valmiki. The Aclhyatma makes the journey of Hanumana for the purpose of bringing Lite Sanjivini herb to take place before the <ieath of Kumbhakarnna in the first fight between Meghn«dn and Rama and Lakshmana while Valmiki makes it to take place at the second fight. There is no mention in Valmiki of Kalnemi having been deputed by RavAna to throw obstacles in the way of Hanumana nor his having disguised himself as a Muni and huilt an a«rama, nor of the transformation of the Apsara Dhanymati, nor of her warning Hanumana against Kalnemi and his death at the latter’s hand. The description of Ilanunmna's journey, as given by Valmiki is very poetic. On hia arrival all the medicinal herbs on the top of the hill disappeared, whereupon Hanumana in anger uprooted the whole hill and Carried ir, " Going by the path of the sun, Carrying that mountain resplendent like the sun, Hanumana shone near the sun like a second sun himself. The son of tho wind looked resplendent with that hill like Vit-hnu with his discus of a thousand edges (Chapter 73). There is here no nllu*iou to plmrata appearing on the scene ns is described in L'ulsidas. and his sending ell II uuumana to Lanka by one shot ot his arrow and thus humbling his ( lei > pride. These incidents form the subject of both popular poetry and painting in India* Hama and Lakshmana recover from their wounds by the mediciues brought by Hanumana. Then Meghnoda ro-appoars on the scene aud in Bight of Hanumana kills an illusive Sita whom he has brought in his chariot. In grief and angor Hanumana informs Kama of it. On hearing this sad new*,URama gives vent to his grief, when in disappointment Laksh* mana tells him that when even ho who was treading tho path of the good and had brought his senses under control, eould not be saved from misfortune, then Dharma was of no avail. If vice led to misery and virtue to happiness, then Havana should bo going to hell and Kama should never meet with misfortune. Out as this was not the case, Dharma and Adharraa were fruitless. Truo it is that wealth and power were the root of virtue. He who is without these, has neither wealth nor power, has no friends. He who has money, even his are relations. Rama ga"e up his kingdom to obey the command of his father and has brought misfortune upon misfortune upon him but say9, I and Lakshmana set it right by forthwith reducing the whole of the Rakshasa army together with its king to ashes. " Vibhishano, however, tells them that it was an illusive Sita who was killed to frighten thorn and Rama aud his brother again prepare for battle. At Vi bhishana’s suggestion Lakshmana is sent to fight Meghnada. There in the battle field Meghnada chargee Vibhishana with being a deserter of the family. “ Thou art,” said he, O vile wrotch, an object of pity of censure by the good, when having deserted thy own kith and kin thou hast gone as a slave to the other side. Kven if one’s own side is bereft of good and tho other side is possessed of it, one’s own side without good is better than the other side. After all tho other side is the other side.” Vibhish&ua’s reply is characteristic of hie goodness. Says he. ** I never take delight in evil nor in cruelty. How cm a brother, who is of a different disposition, be turned out by a brother. One is relieved by renouncing one who is bent upon doing evil and who has fallen from the path of virtue. Plundering of others wealth, ravishing of others wives, treating oue’s friends with suspicion, these three lead to destruction. My brother Havana has done all these. The slaughter of great Rishis, hostility towards the gods, pride, anger, enmity th^se faults in him are destructive of both life and Dresperitv and have overpowered all his other goal qualities like clouds covering the hils (chapter 87). The battle now rages furiously between Lakshmana and Meghnada.
Each shows the lightness of his touch in handling his weapons and so much so that no one oould see when he took up his bow from one hand into the other, applied to it the urrow or shot it forth nor how made his m>trk. Their forms became invisible in the welkin. Finally Lakshmana kills Maghuada by the ludrustra. Thu9 fell one of the bravest warriors of his time, one whose death has formed the subject of many a poem both in Sanskrit and various vernaculars of India, CHAPTER X.
{hdvana’s Homa>) 1. Having thus deliberated in council with his ministers, RdvfVna went out to fight Raiua with the remnant of his Rdkshasas, like a moth rushing together with other moths into a blazing fire.
2 — 3. All those Rakslnsas were killed by R&ma in battle with sharp arrows. Himself piereced in the bre ist by the sharp arrows of R&ma forthwith Havana entered Luuka in great distress.
4. Having more than once witnessed the superhuman prowess of RAma as well as of Hanumana, Havana went to iSukra Ach&rya, the preceptor of the Asnras.
5 — 0. Having bowed to him, the ten-faced Havana said with folded hands. “Sir, K&gliava has destroyed Lanka with its hosts of R&kshasa leaders* All the great Daityas, together with sons and relations, have been slain. How can. I suffer such a load of misery with thee my good preceptor living >•' Thus addressed by the ten-faced Havana, the preceptor said to him.
7 — 9. “ Do thou make heedfnlly libations unto the fire. If there be no impediment in the homa, from the fire there shall arise for thee a great oar, horses, quiver, bows and arrows armed with which thou ahalb become unconquerable.
10 — 12. " Take thou the mantras communicated by me and makethe hotna speedily. Thus directed, Havana, the king of the R&kshasas, forthwith went to his palace aud thero made a cavern like the nether regions.
21 Having carefully closed all the entrances of Lnnkd and collected all the ingredients of the homa as prescribed in books treating of magic shdstra, (abldcharaka,j he entered the cavern and silently began to perform the sacrifice.
13, Seeing the «moke arising, the brother of Rdvana iVibhfshnna) greatly agitated with fear showed to llama the smoke of the homa.
14. “ See Rdma, Havana has commenced performing the homa. If this homa is completed, he becomes unconquerable.
15 — 16. 11 Therefore for throwing obstaclesin the performance of homa, do thou despatch the leaders of the monkeys/' “ Very well,” so saying Rdma sent Sugriva, Angada. Hanumdna, and other powerful warriors.
16 —17. Having jumped over the ramparts of Lanka and gone into the palace of Rdvana, ten crores of monkeys pounded to dust the guards of the place, the horses and the elephants of the asura king in a moment.
18. Then in the morning Sarsa, the wife of “ Viblnshana, indicated by a sign of the hand the place of the homa sacrifice.
19. Having by his kicks broken the stone which had covered the mouth of the cave, Angada of great strength entered it.
20. Seeing Rdvana sitting there in a firm posture with his eyes closed, all the monkeys forthwith entered the cave by order of Angada.
21. There they made tumult, beating the sacrificial priests, and from all sides threw into the fire the things collected fur the homa.
22. Hanumdna, the leader of the monkeys, having angrily and with force snatched ofif the sacrificial ladle from the hand of Kd.vana, forthwith struck him.
23. Although the monkeys were biting with teeth, striking him with sticks on all sides, yet Rdvana did not leave off his meditation from desire of victory.
24. Having entered the palace of Rdvana, Angxda forthwith found Mandodari, his good queen, and brought her dragging by the hair.
25 27. There in presence of Rdvana as she was weeping like one without a protector, Angada tore off her dress which was studded with gems. Her garment tom there fell on the ground with all its jewels. The knot of her nether garment which was studded with gems was also broken and the garments fell on the ground in sightof Havana. AU her ornaments were scattered on all sides.
28. The dughters of the Devas and Qaudharvas were then brought by the monkeys iu great joy to the place of homa.
29 — 32. Then Mandodari crying piteously in presence of Rdvana Baid to him.
'* Thou art a shameless creature, t.hy wife is being dragged by the enemy in thy presence and yet thou art performing this homa and is not ashamed of it.
“ He whose wife is being attacked by vile enemies in his presence, should die that very moment. His death is better than his being alive.
“ Ah, Meghndda, thy mother is being thus insulted by monkeys. If thou wert alive, how Cntild there be such misfortune for me.
“My husband has from desire of life renounced his wile as well as shame.”
3. Hearing that piteous moaning of Mandodari, Rdvana rose up sword in hand saying ‘ leave ofif the queen.”
34. The ten-faced Rdvana then struck Angada forcibly on the thigh. Then having broken the sacrifice, the monkeys left the place and went to tlie forest.
35. Having approached RAma, they were all happy, RAvana also consoling his wife said.
36. “ My dear, all this is due to fate. What does one not meet with in life?
“ Do thou of large eyes, leave off sorrow, having betaken thyself to which admits of no doubt (knowledge ot self) knowledge.
37. ‘‘Sorrow has its root in ignorance. Sorrow destroys knowledge. The notion of 1 in the b >dy and the rest, which are not the A tin A (self) is due to nescience.
38—89. “This notion of I is the root of all connection of sons, wives and the rest. It leads to embodied existence.
40. “ The self (AtmA), on the other hand, is one, pure, unconnected and unattached, of the nature of bliss, intelligence itself, free from all conditions. Of that which exists, there is no union or disunion with any- thing. Thus knowing thy own sell do thou, O faultless one, leave off-all sorrow, 41 — 42. “I shall just now go and after killing Rama and Lakshmana come back. Otherwise the suspicious RAma shall kill me with his arrows, which are like thunderbolts, whereby I shall go to the supreme abode.
43. “ Then thou shouldst perform my funerals and having killed SitA by my order, do thou enter the fire with me/' 44. Hearing this speech of RAvana, Mandodari was greatly distressed and said, “ 0 lord, hear, wh*»fc I tell thee truly, do thou then act upon it.
45. “ RAghava cannot be conquered by thee or any one else in battle. He is the Supreme Lord himself, the Ruler of primeval matter PrAkriti, the purusha.
46. “In the former kalpa becoming a fish, RAghava, who is merciful to his devotees, saved Manu from all calamities.
47. “ In former times KAina became a tortoise extending for a hun* dred thousand yojanas, and at the time of the churning of the ocean bore on bis back the golden mountain Sumeru.
48. “ Hiranyakashyapu, who was greatly addicted to evil, was killed by the great being in the form of a boar when he bore up the earth in a certain place.
49. “ Raghunandan, in his incarnation of Narsingha, killed Hiranya- kashyapu who was a thorn on the side of the three worlds.
50. ** By his three steps the best of Raghus overstepped the three worlds and having bound Ball gave the world to his servant, the lord of the gods (Iudra).
51. ‘‘RAkshasas, in the form of Kshatriyas, were born on the earth, and for the purpose of lightening the load of the earth, he killed all of them as ParashurAma and having conquered the earth gave it to the Muni (Kasyapa).
62. “ He has now incarnated in the family of the Raghus, That best of Raghus has takeu a human form for thy sake.
33. “ Why didst thou forcibly carry off from the forest his wife SitA f For the purpose of having my son killed as well as for thy own destruc- tion thou didst so.
54. “ Having now given SitA back to RAma and installed Vibhfshana in the kingdom, we shall go to the forest/* 65 — 57. On hearing this speech of Mandodari, RAvana 9aid: “ Having caused my sons, brothers and all the hosts of RAkshasas to be killed by RAghava, how shall I live in the forest. I shall fight RAma. Pierced by his sharp arrows I shall go to the supreme abode of Vishnu.
° I know Rdghava fcol>e Vishnu and Jdnaki to do L.aksnmi. Having known this I brought Sitd away from the forest by force.
68. " Killed by Kama, I shall g«» to the supreme abode. Having, my dear, left thee and freed from the world, I shall go with my relations to the supreme abode, 69. *• That goal, whioh is of the highest bliss and which is sought after by those who are anxious for their emancipation, to that I shall go being killed by Rdma in battle.
60. “Having washed off all my impurities, I shall attain bo emancipa- tion which is difficult of attainment.
61. “ Having crossed this ocean of the world with its five waves of Kleshas with the four yugas, its eddies with wives, sons, relations, wealth and friends as its crocodiles, wrath for its fire, affection for its net, 1 shall attain to the feet of Hari."
Note.— T he Kleahas are nvidya, in the shape of mistaking the unreal for the real, the impure for the pure, the painful for the pleasureable, the self for the non-self (2) nescience asraitua the genso of 1, raga (attachment), (Kesha (aversion), abhinivesh (love of life.) These are the root9 of worldly life (sanaara). Whoever wishes to cross it must overcome those.
The story of tho- visit of Ravana to Sukra Aeharya, his performance of horaa and the assaults of the monkeys to throw obstacles In his way, do not find a plnoe in the Valmiki. There is also no allusion there to Angada having brought Mandodari to>the place of the sacrifice and torn off her garments and insulted her or her appeal to Havana’s sense of lhamo. AU these appear to have been taken by the Adlibyatma from some later source.
CHAPTER XI.
(The death of Rdvana.)
I, Having thus spoken affectionately to his queen Mandodari, Rdvaoa went out to fight Rdma in battle.
2 — 4. Taking up a firm chariot with sixteen wheels, a pole and fence to provide against collisions, yoked with asses whose faces were like pishAe chas and fearful to look at, provided with arm9 aud weapons as well as with every other thing, surrounded with fearful RAkshaaas, RAvaua of terrific mien went to battle.
6. Seeing RAvana of terrific appearance and fearful in battle, the monkey army under the command of RAma got frightened.
6 — 8, Then HanumAna ran up to fight RAvana. Having approached him, HanumAna of incomparable prowess held his fist fast and forthwith struck him on the chest. By thati blow of Hanum Ana's fist he got stunned and fell upon his knees in his car unconscious. Then after a short time regaining consciousness he got up and Baid to HanumAna: “ Thou art a brave warrior whom I respect."
9 — 10. HanumAna said bo him: ** Fie upon me, that thou, 0 RAva^ta, livest. Do thou now strike me with thy fist upon the cheek Thereafter killed by me thou 9haU give up thy iife; there is no doubt in this.”
II. ** Very well/' So saying RAvaija struck HanumAna on the chest with his fist. With that blow he gob stunned for a while and with eyes rolling was somewhat distressed. Regaining consciousness the king of the monkeys gob ready to kill RAvana.
12—14. Then from fright RAvana, the king of the Rdkshasas, went elsewhere. Then HanumAua, Angada, Nala and Nila assembled together and saw in front of them four leaders of the RAkshasas, named, Angnl Varna, Sarproma, Karagroraa and Vrishchikaroma. They then killed these terrific Rdkshasas one by one and having made a lionine roar went to Rdma, 15 — 17. Then the cruel ten-faced Havana angrily biting his lips, opening his eyes wide ran towards Rama. Krom his car he assailed R&ma with arrows like thunderbolts and terrific in appearance like a cloud striking a mountain with its showers.
In the presence of K&ma he also attacked all the monkeys.
18. Then R&ma heodfuliy showered upon the ten-faced R&vana arrows blazing like fire and resplendent like gold.
19. Seeing R&vana riding a chariot and ltdma standing on the grouud, Indra having called out Matali, his charioteer, said to him* 20. “ Do thou forthwith go with my car to R&tnu who is standing on the ground. Having speedily gone to the earth, do thou do my work, O sinless one.
21—22. Thus ordered Matali, the charioteer of the gods having bowed to Indra and yoked the car with green horses, came down from the heavens for the purpose of securing victory to Rama. Sitting in a car which was invisible to others with folded hands, Matali said to Kiraa “ I have been sent by the king of the gods, O best of Raghu9.
23—25. “ This car of the king of the gods has been sent by him for thy victory, O lord. This highly decorated Indra bow, as woll as this armour which cannot be broken through, this sword and this pair of quivers, have been sent by him, O great king. Having mounted this car, do thou, O R&ma, kill Udvana, with me as thy charioteer, like the king of the gods killing Virtrd.”
26—27. Thus addressed by Matali, lUma circumambulated and bowed to the best of chariots, and mounted it gracing the worlds fortu- nate by his good fortune. Then there took place between Rdma of great soul and RiUana of great wisdom a terrible fight whicb made the hair stand on end. R&ghava, the koower of all weapons, struck the fire weapon of the Rdkshasa king with the Indra weapon, the celestial weapon with the celestial weapon and the fire weapon with the fire weapon.
28—29. Then in great fury Rftvana discharged at R&ghava a dire R&kshasa weapon. Discharged from the bow of Rdvana, its arrows be- coming serpents full of poison and shining like gold fell on all sides of R&ma.
30. By those arrows having their mouths like serpents and vomitting forth fire all the quarters and the sub-quarters became filled.
31. Seeing serpents filling the space all round, R&rna applied the dire garada weapon in battle.
32 The arrows discharged by RAma then becoming garudas cut off those serpent arrows on all sides, they beiug the enemies of the serpents.
33. On his weapon being thus nullified by Rdma, the ten-faced R&vana then rained down upon Rdrna terrific showers of arrows.
34. Having again attacked Rdma of unblemished deeds with arrows he turned to Matali.
35. Having thrown into the middle of the car the golden flag of the chariot, Rdvana wild with anger killed the horses of Indra.
36. Seeing Hari as if in distress the Devas, gandbarvas, charanas, the pitris and the great rishfs became troubled.
Note. — The deva gandharvas are celestial ohori9tors. The charanas are heavenly bards and the pitris are the departed forefathers.
37 — 38. The leaders of the monkeys and Vibhfshana also became troubled. The ten-faced and the twenty-armed Rkva^a, bow and arrow in hand, looked like a second Mainuka mountain.
39—40. Then Rdma having contracted his eyebrows and with eyes 12 red with anger, got furious as if he was going to scorch the Rakakaaa, Taking up a bow of the shape of the bo\7 of the king of the gods (raiiv bow), which was wonderlul in shape and au arrow which was equal unto the fire at the end of a knlpa, he was seen near the enemy as if he was burning him with his looks.
41. To show his prowess, burning with splendour, he marched up to the enemy in the form of deatli in the sight of all creatures.
42 Having drawn his bow up, llama pierced Rdvuna with it and gladdening the hearts of the monkey army shone like death himself.
43. Seeing lldma with his angry face and running towards his enemy, all the creatures became frighlcued and the earth was agitated.
44. Seeing Rdma in this highly terrible form dire omens appeared. Creatures were terrified and Rdvaua became much frightened.
45. The gods in their celestial cars, the Siddhas, the Gandharvas and the Kinnaras witnessed that fight which was like unto the dissolution of the creation. Then taking up the Iudra weapon he cut off the head of Rdvana.
46. Many heads of Rdvana drenched with blood then fell down from the welkin like fruit from a palm tree (and joined themselves to his body).
47. Neither day nor night, neither the twilights, nor the quarters were visible, nor was the shape of Rdvana seen in that battle.
48 — 49. Then Rdma became struck with wonder. One hundred and one resplendent heads of Rdvana were cut off, but lldvana did not turn away from battle from loss of life.
50—53. Then the knower of all the weapons and the firm minded enhancer of Kausalyd’s joy, liagliava armed with diverse weapons anxiously thought as follows: — “ All these weapons with which daityas possessed of terrific strength were killed, have become nullified in killing Rdvana/' Unto Rdma thus troubled with anxiety Vibhlshana, who was standing near, said; “ This Rdvana has obtained a boon from Brahmd. Eveu though his arms and heads were cutoff, they shall soon reappear/’ so said the lord of the creation who is uncreate.
63 — 64. In his navel is the water, of life in the form of a circle, do thou dry it up by the fire weapon, then his death shall take place.
64 — 65. On hearing this speech of Vibhlshana, Rdma of agile pro- wess having taken up the fire weapon pierced bis navel with it.
Then that powerful warrior out off his heads even though they were many in number.
56—67. Then dauntlessly taking up a spear which was of a terrible shape, the ten-faced Rdvana furiously hurled it in order to kill Vibhlshana. Rdma cut it off with arrows which were sharp and decked with gold. * 58. Because of the cutting off of his fearful heads, a light issued forth and Rdvana’s face fell.
59 — 60. Rdvana then appeared with only one chief head and two arms. Again in anger he rained showers of arrows and weapons upon Rdma. Rdma also rained down his arrows upon him. Then there was a fight between the two which was to behold and which made the hair stand on end.
61 — 3. Terrible Matali then reminded Rdma of the manner of Rdvana’s death and said: “ Do thou, best of Raghus, discharge the Brah- md weapon for the destruction of this Rdkshasa. The time of his death, which had been ordained, has come to-day. But, 0 Rdghava, his head should not be cut off by thee. 0 lord, he is not to be killed through the head but through his chest/' Thus reminded by Matali, Rdma seized that weapon with the arrow blazing and panting like a serpent.
63 — 66. The wind was on its sides, on its head were the sun and fire, its body was made of space, and it was heavy as the Meru and Mandara mountains. Upon its knots were placed *the guardian of the world of groat strength. It) was resplendent) and.shining like the sun.
66—68. Having invoked that dire weapon which was terrible, destructive of the worid and wonderful, Kdma of powerful strength applied to it the arrow and aimed it according to the ordinances of the Vedas. On that dire weapon being welded by Rdghava, all beings gob terrified and the earth became troubled.
69. Having angrily bent that bow he hurled the arrow at Ravana very heed fully in order to pierce his breust.
70. Unassailable like a thunderbolt and discharged by a hand which was like lightning, that arrow of a mouth like the terrible king of death fell over Ravanu’s breast.
71. That weapon which was the destroyer of life, penetrated the chest of Rdvana aud forthwith tore up the heart of that great being.
72. Having taken off the life-breaths of Rdvana, iti penetrated the earth. That arrow having killed Rdvana returned to Rdtna’s quiver.
73. From his hand fell down the great bow with the arrow. Bereft of life and whirled by the force of the weapon, the Rdkshasa fell on the ground.