308. Ravana made Seetha to see the bodies of Rama and Lakshmana.

               In the battle field the leading vanaras surrounded Rama to ensure that no rakshash would harm them. Hanuman, Angada, Nila, Sushena, Kumuda, Nala, Gaja, Gavaksha, Panasa, Sanuprastha and the mighty Jambavan with Sunda, Rambha, Shatabali and Prithu, armed with trees, reorganized their ranks, stood alert, surveyed the quarters of the sky up and down and on every side and, even if a grass stirred, they exclaimed "Look, it could be a rakshash!". And they were nervous, too.
          Ravana, after  dismissing his dear son Indrajit, started brooding and after a few moments he nodded all his heads in satisfaction and summoned the rakshashis guarding Seetha. Trijata (do you remember Trijata, the dream girl, I mean rakshashi? No? Then refresh your memory by reading again the "223. Trijata's dream.") accompanied by a few other rakshashis appeared before him. Seeing them, the happy Ravana with smiles on all his ten faces, told them "Hi! girls! Have you heard that just now my son Indrajit killed both that troublesome guys Rama and his bro Lakshmana. Tell Seetha that. And also take her in the Pushpaka viman  and show her the inert bodies of Rama and Lakshmana killed in the battle. She refused to be united with me on the ground that she, as the beloved wife of the mighty mighty Rama (Haa! Haa! - deriding laughter of that ten headed Rakshash) would not even think of anyone else. That mighty mighty Rama and his mighty mighty brother Lakshmana are no more. Tell her that now that I am the mighty mighty chap whom she now can marry merrily. Seeing the dead bodies of Rama and Lakshmana lying in the battle-field, finding no other haven and hoping for nothing else, the large-eyed Seetha will voluntarily seek refuge with me!"

         All the rakshashis nodded and went back to the Ashoka vana in the Pushpaka. They conveyed the sad news to Seetha. She was made to ascend the Pushpaka-plane.
         Ravana, thrilled with rapture, caused Lanka to be garlanded with flags and banners and arranged a proclamation to be made in Lanka announcing that Rama and Lakshmana had been slain by Indrajit in battle.

        Seetha saw all the vanara-troops who had been slain. Seetha saw the rakshashas who were delighted with happy faces and vanaras disturbed with grief, standing round the bodies of Rama and Lakshmana. Seetha beheld those two warriors Rama and Lakshmana lying unconscious on the ground on a bed of arrows, their limbs pierced with arrows, riddled with weapons, their armour shattered, their bows cast aside at a distance and their entire body transfixed by darts.

       On seeing those two brothers  lying stretched on a bed of arrows there in that wretched plight on a bed of reeds, Seetha wailed piteously, stricken as she was with a great agony. The dark-eyed Seetha the daughter of Janaka with her faultless limbs, beholding her lord and Lakshmana lying in the dust, burst into sobs. 

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307. Ravana congratulated his son.

             Then, along with Sugreeva, Vibhishana came to that spot of mourning where Nila, Dvivida, Mainda, Sushena, Kumuda, Angada and Hanuman were grieving for Rama and Lakshmana. Breathing but faintly, bathed in blood, riddled with innumerable arrows, motionless and lying inactive, they lay stretched on a bed of arrows, sighing like serpents, helpless, bereft of prowess, their limbs soaked with voluminous blood of their own, resembling two golden standards, and lying inert on heroes' couch, were surrounded by their vanara leaders, whose eyes were suffused with tears. Seeing the two Raghavas, pierced by a multitude of arrows, all the vanaras as well as Vibhishana became uneasy and anxious. The vanaras surveyed all the quarters in the sky, but could not locate Indrajit, who was very much before them but veiled by his magic powers in the fight.

        Vibhishana, who himself had some magic arts, was able to locate his nephew standing nearby, duly hidden by his occult power. In addition to the fact that he had no peer in a battle field and who had unique exploits, Indrajit had made himself invisible by virtue of the boon he had received in this respect. He was, however, spotted out by Vibhishana, who had some occult power, too.
           Indrajit gazed gloatingly at those two brothers lying inert on the battle ground. As there was no movement whatsoever from any of the two brothers, he concluded that they were dead. Unable to suppress his joy, he happily and gloatingly shouted at his cronies "The so-called exceedingly strong brothers Rama and Lakshmana, the killers of Khara and Dushana have been killed by my arrows. Even devas and asuras cannot make these two brothers to get out of the binding by my arrows. This nonsensical pest was was causing a lot of worry for my dad, who could not sleep for the past three nights and was not able even to touch his couch with his limbs, and remained absorbed in thought and stricken with grief. That apart this scourge made the entire city of Lanka remain agitated, like a river during the rains, has been destroyed by me. As clouds are useless in the autumn, so are all the exploits of Rama, Lakshmana and all the vanaras."

           Indrajit then wanted to have some bonus, too. He hit Nila with nine arrows, tormented Mainda and Dvivida with three superb arrows on each. He then smacked the chest-region of Jambavan with an arrow and released ten arrows towards Hanuman. He struck both Gavaksha and Sharabha with two arrows on each of them.

        Not satisfied with that, Indrajit continued by striking Gavaksha  and then Angada. His arrows pierced those jewels among the vanaras  with his arrows having all the attributes of flames of fire and began to shout in triumph.

      Tormenting them with a multitude of arrows and frightening the vanaras, Indrajit heartily laughed and cried "O, rakshashas! At the forefront of the army, behold those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana bound together by me by a terrible net work of my arrows."

       All those rakshashas, hearing the words of Indrajit, were overjoyed. All of them cheered Indrajit unanimously with a roar like thunder, crying "Rama is dead". Seeing the two brothers  Rama and Lakshmana lying motionless and seemingly breathless on the floor, Indrajit was sure that they were dead. Indrajit, full of joy and victorious, returned to his palace, spreading happiness to the rakshashas.
            Sugreeva, seeing Rama and Lakshmana riddled with arrows and pierced in every limb and bone of their bodies, and there was absolutely no movement from any part of their bodies, concluded that they were dead and ipso facto was embraced by a great fear and sorrow. Vibhishana then kindly  consoled the frightened and grieving Sugreeva with "Have no fear, O Sugreeva! Stay this rush of tears. Wars are like this. Victory is not guaranteed. O, warrior! I am sure that the exceedingly strong Rama and Lakshmana are only unconscious. I am sure that sooner than later they will get their consciousness. O, Sugreeva! Be courageous. For those who are devoted to truth and righteousness, there is no fear of death." Vibhishana then kindly and affectionately wiped the charming eyes of Sugreeva with his hand moistened with water.
     Then Vibhishana continued "O, Sugreeva! This is not the time for sentiments like despondency. At this hour, even too much attachment may lead to physical weakness, which in turn will lead to death. Therefore, shedding your despair, which ruins all actions, focus now on how best to serve the troops which have Rama as their most loved and revered head. And Rama and his brother be protected till they regain consciousness. After regaining consciousness, Rama and Lakshmana can indeed drive away the fear in both of us. Both Rama and Lakshmana are now only unconscious. I am sure about it. Therefore don't fret yourself and regain your prowess. I, on my part endeavour to restore confidence in the entire ranks. O, my dear friend, These Vanaras, with their eyes dilated due to fear, are signaling some words into each other's ear. Terrified as they seem to be, I will make them to cast off their fear, like one would discard a used garland."

         Having solaced Sugreeva, Vibhishana went to the disheartened vanara ranks.
         Indrajit, the great conjurer, surrounded by all his forces, re-entered the city of Lanka. Going straight to his dear dad, Indrajit told him that both Rama and Lakshmana had been slain.

           Hearing that happy news, Ravana forthwith sprang up on his feet in joy and embraced his son fondly. Indrajit then explained to his papa how he managed that feat.

        Hearing those pleasing words of Indrajit, Ravana with his heart filled with a gush of joy, relinquished his anguish, caused on account of Rama and applauded his son with pleasing words.

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306 Rama and Lakshmana were wounded.

               Rama  ordered the ten vanaras viz both the sons of Sushena, Nila, the chief of vanaras, Angada the son of Vali, the strong Sharabha, Dvivida, Hanuman, the very strong Sanuprastha, Rishabha and  Rishabha-skandha,  who fortunately were able to realize what they were seeing was not actual and came out of the trance, to search for the whereabouts of Indrajit. 

       All of them, thrilled with enthusiasm, flung into the air brandishing huge trunks of trees and started to explore the ten regions. Indrajit, who was skilled in the use of magic, arrested the impetuous outbreak of the vanaras by his magical arrows. Those vanaras, whose bodies were cruelly pierced by the shafts of those arrows, were unable to see Indrajit in the darkness.

         Indrajit, feeling victorious in the battle, transfixed Rama and Lakshmana by his magical powers making highly venomous serpents as his arrows that lacerated their flesh in a great measure. The bodies of both those warriors, Rama and Lakshmana were densely transfixed with serpentine arrows by the enraged Indrajit. Blood flowed from the wounds of both Rama and Lakshmana and both of them shone like Kimshuka trees in flowering.

         Indrajit, feeling predominant shouted at the two brothers "When I enter into combat, making myself invisible, even Indra will not able to see or approach me. Hi! guys! Having imprisoned you in this net work of arrows furnished with heron's feathers, I, yielding myself up to the violence of my wrath, am about to dispatch you to the region of Yama the Lord of Death." And simultaneously, Indrajit pierced them with more such arrows and shouted exultantly. Indrajit, who was as black as a heap of shattered collyrium, stretching his immense bow, discharged more dreadful serpents as arrows again.

                Indrajit, who was aware of their vital parts, set up a continual shouting, digging sharp arrows into the vital parts of Rama and Lakshmana. Those two princes, in the forefront of battle, bounded by that net work of arrows(actually serpents) in the twinkling of an eye, became incapable of even looking up.

          Pierced in their vital parts, exhausted, and covered all over with heads of arrows, those two mighty and courageous archers fell on to the earth, shaking violently like a pair of flag-staffs in honour of Indra.
                Rama and Lakshmana, lying on that heroes' bed of arrows, bathed in blood, all their limbs with bristling arrows and extremely injured and distressed. There was not a square centimeter space on their bodies from the tips of their fingers to the end of their feet that was not lacerated, implanted and pierced by those arrows. Struck down by that ferocious raksash, who was able to change his shape at will, the hot blood gushed forth from both Rama and Lashmana, as water from a spring. Rama fell first, his vital parts pierced by arrows of the wrathful Indrajit, who had formerly vanquished Indra.

        Indrajit continued his attack on Rama relentlessly. Dropping his bow, bent at three places, adorned with gold, with its string loosened away and detached from the hold of his fist, Rama lied down on the battle-ground.

       Seeing Rama fallen, Lakshmana became careless about his own life. Seeing his elder brother Rama, with his eyes resembling lotus-leaves, having fallen on the ground, wounded as he was by a net work of arrows, Lakshmana felt sad. And he, too fell down by an arrow of Indrajit.

        Beholding Rama lying on the ground, the vanaras were grieved and wept terribly. Hanuman and the other vanaras stood surrounding Rama and Lakshmana, who was bound by a net work of arrows and lying down on the battle ground. They were disturbed and afflicted with intolerable sorrow.

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305. Indrajit demonstrated his magical supremacy at night.

          Surya (i.e. the sun) obliged the rakshashas by sinking below the horizon (when it was due, of course). All the rakshashas in that battlefield jumped and cried with joy. Those who were wounded and retreated to safety and licking their wounds and praying for the early sunset, forgot their wounds and jumped into the battlefield with joy and vigour. Then, a nocturnal tussle ensued between the terrific vanaras and the terrible rakshashas.

       Many rakshashas and many vanaras were killed in that battle of the night.

         The relentless vanaras with a terrific rage leapt forward and tore asunder by their sharp teeth, the steeds with gold ornaments on their heads. The angry vanaras dragged the elephants and those mounted on them and the chariots with their banners and flag-staffs duly breaking them to pieces with their teeth and hands. Seeing such gory, grisly, gruesome, shocking, terrible, awful and appalling acts the rakshashas were frightened.

       Rama and Lakshmana killed many of the foremost of the rakshashas, visible as well as invisible, with their arrows. The dust rising from the hooves of horses and the wheels of the chariots blocked the ears and the eyes of the combatants.

       On the battle of that day and night,  rivers with blood started flowing from the battle field. The bodies of the killed vanaras and rakshashas, with their bodies appearing like mountains together with their spears, maces, axes. Part of those weapons were stuck and rendered impassable by the slime formed out of streams of blood, looked like a profusion of flowers on the earth.

        That dreadful,  distressing, appalling, tragic, horrible, formidable and  fearful  night became as calamitous to the vanaras as well as to the rakshashas. In that very terrible darkness, the rakshashas thrilled with rapture attacked Rama with showers of arrows. Yelling in fury, the sound of those rakshashas was like the noise of the oceans at the time of destruction of all the creatures.

       The undaunted Rama in the twinkling of an eye, with six sharp arrows resembling the tongues of flame, struck down six of those rakshashas. The unconquerable Yagnashatru, Mahaparashva, Mahodara, the giant bodied Vajradamshtra, both Shuka and Sarana having been hit by Rama's astras on their vital organs retreated from the battle and somehow survived for the rest of their lives.

          Rama sent quite a lot of the rakshashas to meet their maker. 

       The terrible night  became further terrible by the sound of the kettle-drums and by the roaring sounds of the rakshashas and the vanaras. Long-tailed and black faced vanaras with their gigantic bodies crushed the rakshashas with their arms and threw their inert bodies as a feast to the jackals, vultures etc. waiting for such grub in and around the battle field.

       Angada on his part struck Indrajit, his charioteer and the horses all at once. While that awful and very intense battle was going on, Indrajit a great trickster, leaving the chariot, with its horses and charioteer killed by Angada, vanished from that very spot itself. All the devas, both Rama and Lakshmana together with all sages witnessing the battle from the firmament above, were pleased with that act of Angada, the son of Vali. Since all the living beings knew the supernatural powers of Indrajit in battle, they were pleased on seeing that highly gifted rakshash being defeated by Angada. Seeing the enemy defeated, all vanaras along with Sugreeva and Vibhishana were delighted and praised Angada as a remarkable warrior. Indrajit, on the other hand, became intolerably angry, as he was defeated in the battle by an animal.

         After licking his wounds, Indrajit decided to avenge his defeat by taking recourse to an invisible form, which he was capable of by the grant of a boon to him by Brahma. Even in invisible form, he could not harm Rama or Lakshmana. Intrajit decided to resort to magic. Enveloped by illusion, he sought to confuse Rama and Lakshmana and invisible to all beings through his magic arts, Indrajit made everyone see that Rama and Lakshmana were bound with a net work of arrows.

       All the vanaras thought that they were seeing the two brothers being wounded by the serpentine arrows of that enraged rakshash. Not being able to hurt those two princes in his manifest form, Indrajit with his perverse mind, had recourse to magic in order to make them captive.

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304. Eminent Rakshashas chose their opponents.

           The very important, brave, valiant, fearless and gallant rakshashas like Intrajit noticed that the  vanaras fighting against their forces were highly wise and seemed to be quite a match, perhaps more than a match for their forces fighting against them. They thought that if they choose very important vanaras to fight with and vanquish or kill them, then Rama will have no option other than surrendering. And Seetha will, ipso facto, have to agree to the wishes of their king, Ravana. With that aim in their minds those rakshashas marched ahead on steeds with golden trappings or elephants resembling pointed flames, or in chariots flashing like the sun and themselves wearing beautiful and shining armours, creating reverberative sounds in all the ten regions. The great army of vanaras, also eager to triumph, marched opposite to those troops of rkshashas of terrible and terrorising  looks. Extraordinary  duels arose between those rakshashas and vanaras, who ran up towards each other.

         The rakshash Indrajit of immense energy selected Angada, the son of Vali. Their fight is said to resemble the one between Andhaka and Shiva, the Lord of destruction. The ever indomitable Sampati fought with Prajangha. Hanuman was selected by Jambumali. (It is not that Jambumali who was killed by Hanuman during his visit to Lanka in search of Setha. See 239. Hanuman sent Jambumali to meet his maker. Cats may have nine lives, but a rakshash had, has and will have one and only one life.) The rakshash with great fury, Vibhishana the younger brother of Ravana was selected by Shatrughna possessing fiery velocity in battle.

           Gaja of great strength was picked up by the rakshash Tapana and Nila by Nikumbha. Sugreeva the king of vanaras was selected by Praghasa and the glorious Lakshmana was selected by Virupaksha.
        No single rakshash was prepared to meet Rama. Therefore the four rakshashas viz. the invincible Agniketu, Rashmiketu, Mitraghnu and Yajnakopa jointly confronted  Rama.

     Vajramushti confronted  Mainda and Ashaniprabha with Dvivida. Pratapana, the valiant, terrific and invincible in battle selected Nala of intense speed in battle.

       That great vanara called Sushena, the strong son of Yama was selected by Vidyunmali.
      Some other dreadful vanaras, having sent many of their opponents to meet their maker, joined with their mates.
        A very great tumultuous battle continued there between the heroic rakshashas and vanaras, who were eager to triumph. Streams of blood flowed from the bodies of vanaras and rakshashas, with tufts of hair and inert bodies in the stream, like timber. The enraged Indrajit struck the valiant Angada with a mace, like Indra the Lord of devas with his thunder-bolt. But Angada took the hit nonchalantly and  struck the chariot of Indrajit, having a variegated body of gold, along with the horses and the charioteer.
       Sampati, though was struck and wounded by Prajangha with three arrows, killed Prajangha by an Ashvakarna tree.
       Jambumali, standing in his chariot, full of strength and fury banged on Hanuman's breast, with a javelin kept in his chariot. Hanuman, the intrepid son of Vayu, went straight to the chariot and overthrew it together with that rakshash with the palm of his hand. 
       That magnificent, fabulous, marvellous and the sensational Pratapana, running roaringly like a lion towards Nala was got both his eyes suddenly scratched out by the cunning, ingenious, adept, deft and nimble Nala,

          With his entire body covered by the  arrows of Praghasa the swift-handed rakshash, Sugreeva bleeding profusely all over his body, immediately killed Praghasa with a Saptaparna tree.
         Lakshmana  after tormenting Virupaksha with a shower of arrows, killed him finally.
       The so far invincible Agniketu, Rashmiketu, Mitrughna and Yajnakopa wounded Rama at very many places by arrows. Ignoring the wounds and the pain they caused, Rama on his part chopped the hands of those four rakshashas by four terrific arrows having fire-like points.
    Struck with a fist by Mainda, Vajramushti along with his chariot fell on the ground like a watch-tower on a city-wall.

      Nikumbha wounded Nila by his sharp arrows, like a cloud by the rays of the sun. Seeing the staggering Nila, Nikumbha the swift-handed rakshash further wounded Nila by a hundred arrows and laughed merrily. The hurt and furious Nila, ignoring his pain went straight to the chariot and pulled one of the wheels of it and chopped the head of the charioteer of Nikumbha by that wheel, like Vishnu.
        Dvivida struck Ashaniprabha with a rock. But Ashaniprabha wounded Dvivida, the vanara leader by his thunder bolt-like arrows. With his limbs struck by arrows, Dvivida, though wounded and pained struck back with a Sala tree,  Ashaniprabha, his chariot and the horses.
       Vidyunmali, seated in a chariot, struck Sushena repeatedly with arrows adorned with gold and making a roaring sound. Ignoring the wounds and the concomitant pain thereof, Sushena caused the chariot to fall down, by a huge  rock. Clambering  from the chariot, Vidyunmali, endowed with skill, stood on the ground with a mace in his hand. Then, Sushena, furious as he was, seized a very huge rock in his hands, ran towards that rakshash to hit him with that rock. Vidyunmali struck that approaching Sushena quickly with a mace on his chest. Taking that terrific blow with the mace on his chest without any flinch, Sushena dexterously and quickly threw that huge rock on the chest of the rakshash. That was the last straw for Vidyunmali the rakshash. His chest was crushed and he fell lifeless on the earth.
        The battle-field became frightening with extra-ordinary spears, arrows, maces, javelins, lances and some other weapons with three points, shattered chariots and military steeds, elephants in rut, carcasses of vanaras and rakshashas, wheels, axles and yokes broken and lying on the ground and frequented as it was by herds of jackals. The headless trunks of vanaras and rakshashas sprang up here and there in the midst of that tumultuous conflict, which according to the celestial spectators from the firmament, resembled the war between devas and asuras.
      The rakshashas who were wounded in the battle retreated to a safe location and were nursing their wounds and longed for the sun-set when they hope to retain their strength and will be more fit for combat.

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303. The epical war started.

                 Hearing with all his twenty ears the tumult, din, uproar, fracas, commotion, pandemonium, babel etc., Ravana was piqued as well as disturbed with an annoying pain around his heart which was fluttering exasperatingly giving him a sense of apprehension. While he was considering what to do about that, some rakshashas barged in unceremoniously without seeking any prior permission to enter, and informed him that the city had been besieged by Rama along with his vanaras. Hearing that news, Ravana completely forgot about his heart trouble, went out of his chamber to see for himself with his own twenty eyes what was happening.

        Ravana became immensely angry to see the city of Lanka, with its mountains, groves and forests being covered by innumerable troops of vanaras and bears raring for action. Seeing the earth looked all brown with innumerable vanaras, Ravana became worried of the thought in all his twenty heads "How can they all be exterminated?"
      Being a highly renowned, capable and valorous leader,  he quickly regained his confidence. Ravana looked Rama and his troops of vanaras without any inhibition. He saw that Rama with full delight was moving forward (on the back of a vanara) along with his army and saw Lanka being guarded on all sides and thronged with rakshashas.
      Seeing that city of Lanka duly decorated with banners and flags, Rama remembered Seetha with a distressed heart. He said to himself, "Here is that daughter of Janaka, whose eyes resemble those of a fawn, tormented with grief, emaciated, with a bare ground as her bed and suffering here."
       As thoughts on Seetha was troubling him, Rama with great difficulty pushed away from his mind such thoughts so that he can concentrate on the war on hand.  He then issued commands to the vanaras to destroy the enemies forthwith. Hearing those words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, the vanaras vying with one another filled the air with their roars resembling those of lions.
       All the vanara generals shouted in unison at their troops "Tear asunder this Lanka with mountain-peaks or with fists or both." And they themselves lifting up mountain peaks and huge rocks and plucking up various kinds of trees, stood prepared for the attack.
          The troops, forming themselves into columns, began to scale the heights of Lanka, while Ravana stood gazing. Those vanaras, of golden hue with coppery countenance, carrying Sala trees and mountain-peaks, marched ahead towards the city of Lanka, ready as they were to lay down their lives in Rama's service. Those vanaras demolished innumerable defensive walls and arches with blows of the trees, mountain-tops and fists. The vanaras filled the moats containing clear water with sands, mountain-tops, grasses and logs of wood.
      The commanders scaled the walls of Lanka, taking with them battalions of vanaras in thousands, in crores and even hundreds of crores. The vanaras systematically tearing up the golden arches and breaking down the gates that equaled the peak of Kailasa the mountainous abode of Shiva the Lord of Destruction. The vanaras looking like elephants hurled themselves towards that Lanka, springing, leaping and roaring and growling and shouting "Victory to the mighty Rama and the valiant Lakshmana!" and "Victory to Sugreeva protected by Raghava!" and  rushed towards the defensive walls of Lanka.
           The generals Virabahu, Subahu, Nala and Panasa were allotted positions for them. In those positions they set up encampments for multitude of military divisions there. The mighty Kumuda, surrounded by a crore of vanaras, who behaved like conquerors, stood besieging the eastern gate while remaining stationed in north-east. Surrounded by other vanaras, the vanaras called Prasabha and the mighty armed Panasa  joined Kumuda. The strong and valiant vanara, Shatabali accompanied by twenty crores of vanaras, approached the south-east and stood there, to obstruct the exit.
        The mighty vanara Sushena, the father of Tara, Vali's widow, going to the western gate from their stationed position in the south-west surrounded by crores and crores of vanaras, stood besieging that gate. Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva, seeking the northern gate while remaining stationed in the north west stood besieging that gate.
        Accompanied by a crore of bears having terrific rage, Dhumra, brother of Jambavan, the king of bears of great prowess and the annihilator of enemies, took up his position by the side of Rama. Vibhishana with mace in hand, clad in defensive armour and accompanied by his watchful ministers, took his position where the mighty Rama is stationed.
         Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana galloping on all sides, defended the army of vanaras.
         Ravana the lord of rakshashas with his mind filled in anger, then commanded for the decamping of the entire army immediately. This command coming from Ravana lips, created a tremendous clamour among the rakshashas. By beating with sticks of gold, the rakshashas stirred up on every side, kettle drums whose discs were white as the moon. Hundreds and thousands of sonorous conches  blared forth, blown with their cheeks extended to the full, by the most ghastly rakshashas. With their handsome limbs equipped with conches, those rakshashas shone like clouds bordered with lightning accompanied by rows of cranes.
    The battalions rushed forth under Ravana's instructions like the rushing forth of the ocean, which is swollen by the clouds, at the time of universal dissolution. Then, from every side a clamour arose from the army of vanaras, reverberating in the  Malaya mountain with its ridges, plains and caves. The sound of conches and drums made by the rakshashas and the lion like roars of those vanara warriors re-echoed over the earth, sky and sea. With the trumpeting of elephants, the neighing of the horses, the clattering of the chariot-wheels and the sounds of the foot-steps, the sound of the conches reechoed over the earth, sky and sea.
       In the meantime, a terrible struggle ensued between the rakshashas and the vanaras, just like the one between devas and asuras. Exhibiting their native prowess, the rakshashas began to strike all the vanaras with their flaming maces, spears, harpoons and axes. The vanaras swiftly retaliated  with trees, mountain-tops, nails and teeth, shouting with their war cry "Victorious is king Sugreeva". Then, some other terrifying rakshashas on their part, shouting "Be winsome! Be victorious!", proclaimed their own respective names. While some rakshashas standing on walls hacked at the vanaras standing on the ground below with hooks and harpoons. The vanaras who were thus attacked, leapt into the air and dragged down the rakshashas on the walls and seized their weapons. That tumultuous combat between the rakshashas and the vanaras transformed into a fierce tussle, leaving a mire of flesh and blood.

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302. Rama sends Angada to Ravana.

         Seeing Sugreeva back without any serious damage to his body, Rama embraced him warmly.  He (Rama) admonished him mildly "Thank God! You have come back safely without any serious injury. In case some serious bodily injury happened to you then our entire project will be completely jeopardized. If you had some misfortune, I would have had nothing to do with Seetha, Bharata, Lakshmana or Shatrughna or even with my own person. Such a reckless act with such a rashness done by you is not becoming of a king. In future consult me when you think of embarking any such acts.
         "Let me tell you what I would do if you had not returned. As per my pre-determined resolve I, having killed Ravana in fight along with his sons and his forces, would install Vibhishana as the king of Lanka, and placing the kingdom of Ayodhya in the hands of Bharata and renounce my life."

       Hearing Rama's words, Sugreeva replied with tears flowing from his eyes   "O, my dear Rama! Seeing Ravana who had taken away your consort and being conscious of my own strength, I just acted  on impulse without thinking."

         Hearing the reply of Sugreeva, Rama smiled with a nod. And then turning to Lakshmana he said "O, Lakshmana! Beside these fresh waters and trees laden with fruit, let us divide this multitude of troops, drawing it up in a battle array and remain alert. I foresee a terrible calamity, boding universal destruction and death to the intrepid bears, vanaras and rakshashas. 

             "O, Lakshmana! In the disk of the sun, a small halo with a black mark, fiery, shorn of its radiance and of coppery hue is seen. The stars are not appearing as they should be, duly foretelling their intention to hasten a final dissolution of the world. Crows, eagles and vultures are whirling round at a lower level. Jackals too are howling inauspicious sounds.

             "The earth, crowded with rocks, darts and daggers discharged by vanaras and rakshashas, will become a slime of flesh and blood. Now surrounded by the vanaras from all sides, let us poise for an attack on that well defended citadel ruled by Ravana, quickly and swiftly."
          Then Rama climbed down from that mountain-peak and held a review of his army and satisfied himself that it would be verily difficult for an enemy to conquer it.

        Rama along with Sugreeva made ready their army and commanded it to advance for the battle. Rama marched in front, wielding a bow, towards the city of Lanka. Then, Vibhishana, Sugreeva, Hanuman, Jambavan the king of bears, Nala, Nila and Lakshmana accompanied Rama.

             That great army of bears and vanaras followed Rama. Vanaras looking like elephants, took hold of mountain-peaks and hundreds of well-grown huge trees as their arms. 

        They reached the city of Lanka, garlanded with banners, beautiful and splendid with pleasure-gardens, having an unusual rampart which was inaccessible with its elevated arched door-ways and invincible even by the suras. Reaching the city of Lanka ruled by Ravana, Rama the son of Dasharatha accompanied by Lakshmana, halted near the northern gate.
         Rama noticed various types and multitude of weapons and shields being handled by the warriors there. Nila, the valiant army-chief of vanaras together with Mainda and Dvivida reached and halted before the Eastern gate. Angada of very mighty prowess, together with Rishhabha, Gavaksha, Gaja and Gavaya took charge of the Southern gate.

       The strong vanara Hanuman together with Prajangha, Tarasa and other warriors, guarded the western gate. Sugreeva, along with some of  the chiefs of vanaras equal to the strength of Garuda as well as Vayu  were stationed  in the middle of the fort.

          Thirty six crores of vanaras commanded by the highly renowned generals under the direct command of Sugreeva  was giving a lot of pressure to the rakshashas guarding that post. Meanwhile, under Rama's command, Lakshmana along with Vibhishana distributed a crore each of his vanaras at each gate.

        Behind Rama and not far from him, Sushena together with Jambavan, followed by a multitude of forces, stood at the intermediate post. Those lions among the vanaras, possessing the teeth of tigers, taking hold of trees and rocks, waited delightedly for the signal to demonstrate their might and capability.

        All of them were lashing their tails feverishly, using their jaws and nails as weapons, trembling in every limb in anticipation and had their faces set grimly. Some were having the strength of ten elephants, some a ten times of that and some were equal to the strength of a thousand elephants. And some were having the strength of an ogha* of elephants. Some were endowed with the strength of ten times of that. Some others there were chiefs of vanaras, having an immeasurable strength.

      * In Ramaana time
A hundred thousand crores is reckoned as a Shanku. A hundred thousand Shankus are said to be one Maha Shanku. A hundred thousand Maha Shankus are called one Vrindam here. A hundred thousand Vrindas are said to be one Maha vrindam. A hundred thousand Mahavrindas are called one Padmam here. A hundred thousand padmas are said to be one Mahapadmam. A hundred thousand Mahapadmas are called one Kharvam here. A hundred thousand kharvas are said to be one Mahakharvam. A hundred thousand Mahakharvas are called one Samundram. A hundred thousand Samudras are said to be one ogha here. A hundred thousand oghas are acclaimed a one Mahaogha. 

       Marvellous and astonishing was the gathering of those troops of vanaras there, like a swarm of locusts. By the vanaras who reached Lanka and by those stationed already beneath its walls, the air and earth seem to be completely filled. A hundred divisions of one lakh each of bears and vanaras poured towards the gates of Lanka, while others proceeded to fight on every side.

        Those vanaras covered the mountain on every side. A crore of them ranged round that city. Even winds were unable to penetrate Lanka which was being surrounded on all sides by the heroic vanaras holding tree trunks and huge stones in their hands.

        The rakshashas, who in their valour equaled Indra the ruler of gods, seeing themselves besieged, as by clouds, were struck with sudden terror. The advancement of the vanara troops created a tremendous clamour resembling the roar in the ocean beating against its shore. By that great tumult, the entire Lanka with its ramparts, arches, hills, woods and forests began to tremble.
       That army of vanaras led by Rama, Lakshmana and Sugreeva looked even more invincible than that of suras and asuras put together. Having thus ranged his forces, with a view to destroy the rakshashas, Rama who knew about the four expedients (to be used against an enemy in the shape of conciliation, gift, sowing dissension and punishment) employed in succession, took counsel again and again with his counsellors before arriving at a decision. Calling to his mind the duty of the kings, Rama in consultation with Vibhishana, summoned Angada the son of Vali and told him "My dear gentle Angada, go through the city of Lanka without fear and anxiety and approaching Ravana, the unfortunate rakshash devoid of sovereignty and who has lost his splendour because of his inclination to die, convey this admonishment from me 'O, Ravana the Ranger of the Night! In your reckless arrogance, rishis, devas, gandharvas, apsaras, nagas, yakshas and kings have been oppressed by you. From now on, that arrogance, born of the boon you received from Brahma, shall be subdued.
           "The time has now come for the world to be cleansed of you. If you come out into the open and fight and die in battle, your sins will be washed away and you will gain a place in the world above as a hero. But if you love your life, humbly restore Seetha to me, her lord and beg for forgiveness. 

         " 'I shall inflict a fitting penalty for your ruthless abduction of my consort. I am now stationed along with the army of vanaras at the gate of Lanka. Slain by me, you will attain the region of Gods of all the great sages and all the royal sages.

        " 'O, the worst rakshash! Demonstrate the same courage and magic that you did employ in bearing Seetha away from me. If you do not make an appeal to my clemency by returning Seetha, I shall make this world devoid of all rakshashas. This pious minded Vibhishana, the foremost of rakshashas has joined me. Surely, this illustrious rakshash will obtain the kingdom of Lanka, which will henceforth be free from troubles.

        " 'You, a sinful rakshash having stupid followers around you, cannot indeed enjoy the kingdom forever by this unrighteousness. O, rakshash! Otherwise, get ready for a battle, by gathering courage and laying hold of your valour. Having been slain by my arrows in combat, you will be laid in peace.

       " 'Even if you range the three worlds in the form of a bird, you will not return alive, when you come into my range of sight. I give you this salutary counsel to prepare for your obsequies. Let Lanka be obliged to be seen well by you as your last sight, as your survival tomorrow is in my hands. ' "

           Hearing the words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, Angada the son of Tara, leapt into air like the god of fire personified and forged ahead. Reaching Ravana's palace in an instant, the illustrious Angada saw Ravana, seated coolly along with his ministers.

       Angada, wearing golden bracelets, descended. He told Ravana in the presence of his ministers "I am the son of Vali, Angada by name. I have come as a messenger from the king of Koshala, Rama of imperishable exploits. Has my name ever reached your ears? I, hereby convey the message of Rama who is born in Raghu dynasty and who augments the joy of Kausalya 'O, obnoxious rakshash! Come forth and enter into combat. Prove to be the representative of your race!

       " 'I shall kill you along with your ministers, sons, cousins and other relatives. You being dead, all the three worlds will be rid of fear. Now, I shall uproot you, a thorn to rishis and an enemy to devas, danavas, yakshas, gandharvas, urgas and rakshshas. If you do not restore Seetha honourably, by bowing respectfully before me, you will be slain and Vibhishana will be crowned as the king of Lanka.' "

        Hearing these harsh words from Angada, Ravana the Lord of the rakshashas was infuriated. The enraged Ravana shouted at his  his attendants, commanding them "Let this stupid vanara be seized and put to death." Hearing Ravana's words, four terrible looking rakshashas seized Angada who, in his splendour, resembled a blazing torch.

         The prudent and heroic Angada, the son of Tara did not offer any resistance. He coolly allowed himself to be seized, so that he could surprise everyone there by demonstrating his prowess to the host of rakshashas including Ravana. When verily seized by those attendants who held him firmly by clinging his both arms, Angada leapt on to the pinnacle of the palace that resembled like a mountain.

        All those four rakshashas were shaken out by Angada's  unexpected, swift, abrupt, hasty, impulsive and unforeseen leap and fell on the ground there under the eyes of their king. That roof of the palace, trampled by Angada, crumbled like a peak of Himalayan range shattered long ago by lightening, before Ravana's gaze. After destroying the roof of the palace, Angada proclaimed his name again and with a triumphant roar, rose into the air. Causing restlessness to all the rakshashas but delight to the vanaras, Angada returned to Rama, who was stationed in the middle of the vanara forces.

         Ravana became absolutely angry seeing the damage to the roof of his palace. A piercing feeling in the region of his heart made him feel that this incident forecasts his own destruction in the near future, and as such he became verily despondent.                                 Surrounded by many vanaras, roaring with delight, Rama on his part was proceeding ahead for the battle.

          Sushena one of the highly valiant vanaras, was stationed there like the head of the mountain surrounded by innumerable vanaras, who were able to change their form at will. As per the orders of Sugreeva, the invincible Sushena was patrolling the gates and wandering like a moon among the stars. Seeing hundreds of divisions of those vanaras encamped under the walls of Lanka, marshaled on the shores of the sea, the rakshashas were amazed and some of them were terror-struck while others, overjoyed at the prospect of fighting.
      However, seeing the entire extensive space between the walls and the moat being occupied by the valiant vanaras, like unto a second rampart, all the rakshashass cried out, "Woe! Alas!". Seeing the reaction of that appalling tumult in the capital city of the rakshashas, the soldiers of Ravana seized hold of their great weapons and sallied forth like the winds that blow at the dissolution of the worlds.

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