121. Ravana spurned the advice of Maareecha.

               Ravana stared at Maareecha and shook all his heads in total disapproval. With annoyance on his faces he replied Maareecha with indignation "In deference to your age I was patiently hearing all your prattle. They are decidedly worthless, in effect, like the seeds seeded in wastelands. You should know that it is impossible to scare me away from a war with that iniquitous and imprudent Rama, who is after all a human being, with these words of yours.
                "He that Rama, a human who bolted off to forest on hearing the words of a guileful woman, forfeiting his kingdom, friends and relatives, and even his mother, likewise his father too, will not have the guts to face me in a war. As such I wonder how did you feign to scare me away from such a Rama. But his wife Seetha who is dearer to him more than his life is certainly seizable by me in association with you, as that Rama purposelessly killed Khara in a war. I am very firm on this and no power on this or any other world can make me change it. 
                 "I am the king. As such you should simply obey what I asked you to do. Instead you started giving me your useless opinion and advice. You should be well aware that the king cannot be addressed unless permitted.
                 "It is highly presumptuous on your part to start advising the king knowing well that it is not in the interests of the king. The king being the lord of the land is preceded with gentility, and as such should be addressed with auspicious and beneficial words that do not contradict the interests of that lord, and more so, they shall be inclusive of etiquette.
                 "Oh, Maareecha, even if a beneficial word is said with reprehension will not be appreciated by that king who insists upon honour, for that said word is dishonorable, let alone reprehensible. The kings with infinite vigour embody the five constituents of the natural forces viz. of Agni, Indra, Soma, Yama and Varuna. As such the kings being great-souls personify the sultriness of Fire, sternness of Indra, softness of Moon, suppleness of Rain and harshness of Death. Therefore in all situations they are respectable and reverential.
                "Even though you know all these things, you are ill-advisedly babbling nonsense and presume that you are competent and authorised to talk any nonsense simply because I am at your doorstep. Listen, rakshash, I did not ask you the rights and wrongs concerning me, nor what is expedient for me.
                 "Agreeing to proffer a helping hand in this deed should have been your appropriate response. Anyhow in view of your age I forgive you. Now listen carefully to that task which you have to undertake during the course of your assistance as I detail it to you. On becoming an amazing silver spotted golden deer you move in front of Seetha around the hermitage of Rama, and on alluring Vaidehi you can go away as you like. On seeing you as a wholly illusory golden deer Seetha will become very curious and ask her husband to get that deer for her. 
          "When Rama comes out of his hermitage to get you, you lead him far away from the hermitage and shout very loudly 'ha Seetha' and 'ha, Lakshmana,' mimicking Rama's voice. On hearing that, Seetha would definitely ask Lakshmana to go and probe what happened to Rama. When Lakshmana too leaves the hermitage, I will carry off Seetha effortlessly. Oh, rakshash, on carrying out this stint in this manner you may go as you like. And Maareecha with solemn vows, I will grant half of my kingdom, too to you.
               "Hence, my dear chap, get going on this trouble free path for the easy achievement of my objective. I, myself will follow you to Dandaka forest in the chariot. After getting hold of Seetha without a conflict, I will proceed to Lanka along with you.
               "If you refuse to do as I am telling you, oh, Maareecha, I will kill you now itself. I will get my work done through you even under duress, and indeed, any subject setting against his king will never live peacefully.
               "Your life may be indefinite on agreeing to obey me, but your death is surely definite now itself if you refuse me."
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120. Maareecha advises Ravana.

                  Maareecha hesitantly told Ravana "Oh, King, I am sure that you already know that any one in power will attract sycophants very easily. Such people talk pleasantly just to please the master. As long as their talk pleases the master such people will not hesitate to advise the master to walk straight into a death trap. Oh, king, it is quite hard to get advisers who talk sensibly taking into account the welfare of the master. Such honest people give suggestions that may be apparently insipid, but factually be recuperative. 
            "Obviously you have not been properly informed about the capabilities of Rama who is decidedly dynamic and exaltedly adept. I am sorry to say that you seem to be impetuous and desultory in dealing with your spies. I can vouch from my personal experience that Rama is identical to the thunderous Mahendra and tempestuous Varuna.
            "Oh, boy, if you meddle with Rama in such an obscene manner, he will eradicate the entire rakshasha race from the earth.
             "You have been informed every thing incorrect about Rama. I tell you that he is NOT  forsaken by his father; not at all; there is NO unseemliness in him, not in the least; he is NOT out of character; he is NOT selfish; he is NOT an ignoble Kshatriya, not in the least; and he is neither a debased one insofar as the merits of righteousness are concerned, nor he is atrocious towards living beings, for he takes delight in the welfare of all beings. On seeing his father who is a proponent of truth, and whom Kaikeyi has outwitted, that virtue-souled Rama neatly decamped from Ayodhya declaring 'I will prove my father to be a real proponent of truth.' Discarding the kingdom and all the concomitant royal-comforts Rama entered Dandaka forest only to fulfill the cherish of Kaikeyi, viz., kingdom for her son Bharata, and also that of Dasharatha, viz., to remain loyal to his promise to Kaikeyi.
            "Rama is NOT ruthless; NOT an unscholarly one; unconquered are his senses? Absolutely NOT ; and oh, boy, it is not correct on your part to say something incorrect based on some hearsay from some unreliable source. Rama is the embodiment of righteousness, he is an equable person with truthfulness as his valour, and as with Indra to all gods he is the king of the entire world.
              "Rama's proper resplendence is protecting Vaidehi. How then you really wish to forcibly rob her off from Rama, as though wishing to rob the Sun of his resplendence.
              "Rama will be blazing like fire in battle, and he is invincible and it is not wise to meddle with him recklessly.
              "His bow when stretched by him up to his ear will look like the mouth that spouts flames, the arrows from that bow will look like the tongues of that mouth directing the flame to his adversaries. In a conflict, Rama will become fierce and insufferable when he wields bow and arrows, and oh, dear boy Ravana, it will be foolish to tamper with him. The outcome of such intrusion will cost you your kingdom, comforts and even the dear life of yours.
               "Seetha is guarded not only by the bow and arrows of Rama and his brother but also by the firewall called resplendence. 
                "With her own resplendence coupled with her chastity she is like a spire of blazing ritual fire and as such cannot be abused. Oh, king of rakshashas, what is the use of trying such a futile effort? In a battle with that Rama, his mere glances at you alone will end your life.
               "If you like to live for many more years and enjoy the pleasures and comforts as at present, do not even look in the direction of that Rama.
               "In case you do not like to heed my this advice then deliberate with all of your ministers who have a righteous bearing, duly keeping your brother Vibheeshana at the helm of affairs, and then you take a decision on your own considering rights and wrongs of the case, and bearing in mind about your own strengths and weaknesses, and also on making sure of Raghava's capability in its reality. 
               "Oh, Ravana, I am telling that a confrontation with Rama will not be beneficial to you.
            "I am telling you all this because of my personal experience with him and I like you and want you to live many more years. 
             "At one time I was roaming around the earth with great pride in my valour with the strength of a thousand elephants coupled with my size like a mountain. And my sheen was like a black-cloud. I was rambling the Dandaka forest, wearing ear-knobs and a crown made out of refined gold, with a bludgeon as my weapon, causing terror to the world, and eating the fleshes of rishis.
             "Even the Brahmarishi Vishvamitra was highly scared of me. To have me killed or at least contain me, he approached the king Dasharatha in person and requested him to spare the services of his son Rama for killing me or at least restrain me.
              "I learnt later that the king Dasharatha initially protested arguing that 'This boy Rama is less than twelve years of age, and as such not quite proficient in the use of weapons. Instead I can provide you the entire army of mine. I myself will lead the army personally.'
Comment.
In Bala Kanda the age of Rama as said by Dasharatha to Vishvamitra is 'less than sixteen years.' Here Maareecha is saying that Rama is less than twelve. Expert opinion is that Maareecha knowingly lessened the age of Rama only to intimidate Ravana.
End Comment.
                 "I came to know later that the brahmarishi insisted on Rama only and was not prepared to take any substitute. He told the king 'No force in the world other than Rama can counterbalance that rakshash. No doubt, you were a defender of gods in wars, and oh, king, the exploits you have undertaken on behalf of gods are well-known in the triad of worlds. I agree that your army is a remarkable one. But let it sit tight here alone. And even if this great resplendent son of yours is still a boy he alone is competent to forestall that Maareecha. I wish to take him alone along with me.'
                  "The king had no option but to send Rama with the brahmarishi. The brahmarishi Vishvamitra was highly delighted to get Rama and returned to his own hermitage along with the prince Rama. Then in Dandaka forest Rama twanging his amazing bow stayed nearby the brahmaishi Vishvamitra who entered the vow of Vedic-ritual.
                 "At that time, he did not have any hair on his very smooth soft face of a boy which he really was, but he was magnificent in looks with a peacock-blue complexion, wearing a single cloth, locks of hair, and golden locket, and wielding a bow, and he was irradiating the Dandaka forest with a radiating radiance of his own, and then he appeared like the just risen baby-moon.
                 "I simply laughed seeing the Brahmarishi brought a mere boy to protect him against me, who was like a massive black-cloud, wearing golden ear-knobs, already a forceful one further reinforced with the boon of Brahma. I nonchalantly entered into the interior of Vishwamitra's hermitage.
                 "Rama was very alert and noticed me on my very entry with an uplifted weapon, and on seeing me face to face he without any excitement strung the bowstring to his bow. It was funny to see a little boy trying to stop ME. Ignoring him, I ran towards that Fire-altar of Vishvamitra. He then with a single arrow threw me into the ocean which was a hundred yojanas away. I do not know why Rama did not wish to kill me then, and I am thus saved by that valiant one, oh, dear boy Ravana, but the thrust of Rama's arrow was bewildering and stunning and I was on my last legs. That way I who had been flung into the abyssal water of the ocean by him gained consciousness after a long time and proceeded towards the city of Lanka.
                  "He, however killed effortlessly my helpmates in that escapade. If he, that Rama could do this for me as a mere boy, imagine how powerful he must have grown now as a fully grownup man. In view of these facts, if you wish to confront him, despite my sincere advice against it, you will ruin yourself.
                  "If you do not take my sincere advice you will see the beautiful city of Lanka, dense with skyscrapers and palaces, and decorated with many a gemstone, completely shattered down. Because of your sin numerous righteous rakshashas will get ruined owing to their interdependence with other sinners, like the fish in a lake with snakes.
                 "Without any doubt Lanka will be encircled with an enmesh of arrows and enfolded in the tongues of torches, while her buildings would be utterly gutting down. Oh, king, there is no other sin that is more outrageous and gravest than dalliance with another's wife. If you desire to take pleasure with your beautiful wives and enjoy the company of your friends for a long time, do not do anything undesirable to Rama.
               "I am telling you all this because of my love and affection towards you. If you do not heed them and go ahead with your plan, your army will fade away, and you with your kinsfolk will emigrate to the world of Yama, for your life will be dispatched there by the arrow of Rama." 
               Seeing the faces of Ravana, Maareecha felt that he was not yet convinced. Maareecha, therefore continued his advise. "My dear fellow! What I was telling you so far happened when that Rama was a little boy. Now let me tell you what happened later after he became an adult. Somehow I recovered the shock of being thrown away to the far away ocean by Rama's arrow. After a few years, I unabashedly entered Dandaka forest together with two more rakshashas in the guise of animals.
             "I took the guise of a gigantic carnivorous animal with a torching tongue, incisive teeth and excruciating horns, and with an extraordinary energy, I was on the rove in Dandaka forest while getting at Rama. I was moving about Dandaka forest as an extremely horrible animal, utterly brutalising the sages at ritual-altars, holy bathing places and under the trees of religious sanctuaries.
             "I found Rama who by then has assumed the rectitude befitting to a saint. I was in the shape of an animal with incisive horns. Such as I was I recollected my earlier grudge against that great mighty Rama who takes delight in the welfare of all being, who by then was saintlike on a regulated diet and abiding in the forest, whereby I presumed him to be submissive as a hermit and not retaliate. In that way, I was very extremely infuriated to recollect his earlier assault on me, and I with my two companions indiscriminately dashed towards him, with an intent to kill him, completely disregarding his other faculties.
                  "Stringing out his highly magnificent bow Rama then released three excruciating and enemy eliminating arrows which in their egress matched the Air-god and the Divine-Eagle Garuda. All those three thunderbolt like arrows that had only blood for their board, acutely bent at barbs, and that were highly horrendous had come at us in a coordinated manner.
                  "As I had earlier experienced the power of his arrow, I retreated from there trickily and gingerly, but the other two demons were killed.
Comment.
Here the action of Rama's arrow is indicated. Rama's arrows will not shoot at the back of the opponent. Even when killing Vali, though Rama was not affronting Vali, Rama's arrow pierced Vali's chest. Here because Maareecha was retreating, that third arrow of Rama did not kill Maareecha but followed him in a chasing manner. But the other two rakshashas unknowing about Rama's arrow, they confronted him and the other two arrows eliminated them. 
End Comment.
                "When I was somehow exempted by the arrow of Rama I got some additional lifespan. But that arrow made me to renounce everything like a monk and drove me to this place, where I am living in a yogic way, self-collectedly like an ascetic. From then on wards, I am seeing Rama at this tree and at that tree, and the other tree, dressed in jute-cloths and black deerskin, and handling his bow like Yama handling a tether.
                "I am now so scared of him, that Rama, I imagine seeing thousands Ramas everywhere including this forest. Even at a place void of people I am envisaging Rama alone. And oh, king of rakshashas, at times he enters my dream making me jolting up and waking up perspiring all over.
                "Oh, Ravana, I am so scared of Rama even the names starting with the syllable 'ra' like ratna (= gemstone) or  ratha (= chariot), and also your name are appalling to me. 
If I hear the first letter 'ra' of any given name, I am scared at the ensuing second syllable presuming it to be 'ma' and if that second syllable of that word I am going to hear is not 'ma' then I relax.
                 "I am well-acquainted with his efficacy, and a war with him will be an unfair thing for you, for that Rama is very capable of killing either the Emperor Bali or Namuchi, the great rakshasha, in a conflict.
Comment.
Emperor Bali was more powerful and mighty than Ravana. 'Aananda Raamaayana' says in a chapter on the 'defeats of Ravana' (raavaNa paraajaya), that Ravana once entered the netherworld to conquer it, where Bali was held captive by Vishnu (as Vamana - see 5. Rama's character and valour revealed.). At that time Bali and his queen were playing a dice game. When Ravana entered, the dice in the hand of Bali slipped to the floor, and Bali asked Ravana to pick and give it before conquering his netherworld. Ravana who lifted Mt. Kailash could not lift that two-inch dice, which was so far handled playfully by Bali. Such was the might of Emperor Bali
End Comment. 
                 "You may either wage a war with Rama if you wish to avenge the killings of Khara and others, or agreeing to my suggestions forgive and forget that Rama, but do not broach the topic of Rama with me if you wish to see me alive. In the world many sagacious and reasonable people who are the practitioners of righteousness are utterly ruined along with their kith and kin, just by the misdeeds of others. Such a saintly one as I am now, I am liable to be ruined by other's misdeeds. Hence you do whatever that is fair to you, but do not involve me.
                  "I reiterate that Rama is the one with exceptional resplendence, exemplary courage and extraordinary power, and for sure, he is highly capable to eradicate the world of rakshashas.
                   "It was Khara positioned in Janasthaana  overstepped his bounds and attacked Rama without any reasonable reason, and if Rama  eliminated Khara in self-defence, what really is the transgression of Rama in that matter?
                 "I am saying this word of advise as I like you and want you to live for many more happy years. If this is disagreeable to you and if you go and meddle with Rama, then you will have to kiss good-bye to your dear life sooner than later." 

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119. Ravana explains his plan to Mareecha.

                 Ravana replied with humility "Sir, You know that you are my best recourse when I am anguished or troubled. Please therefore, pay your earnest attention to my words without interruption until I finish.
                 "You are well aware that I placed my cousin Khara, the mighty Duushana, my sister Shuurpanakha, the fierce Trishira along with a mighty army of over fourteen thousand able and valiant rakshashas at Janasthaana for the purpose of preventing rishis treading a righteous path by any means.
                "Until recently everything was going perfectly well. But recently Khara and his army had to encounter one human named Rama in a combat. In that combat that Rama, a foot-soldier, that too, a human, has completely wiped out those fourteen-thousand demons with flaring fieriness with his fierce arrows. Khara was hewed down thereby rendering that Dandaka forest free from the fear of rakshashas. I understand that he was banished by his infuriated father, and he came to Dandaka forest along with his wife. It is unthinkable that such an ignoble Kshatriya is the slaughterer of that indomitable army of mine.
          "He was thrown out by his father because he is out of character, brutal, firestorm, senseless, selfish, one with his senses unconquered and righteousness discarded, and he is an unrighteous soul just delighting in the disservice of all beings.
           "For no reason other than to flaunt his brawn he disfigured my dear sister by stripping off her nose and ears.  I would like to inveigle such a man's wife Seetha looking like a divine nymph flaunting and swaying her beauty in Janasthaana, and in that matter I want you to be my aide in Dandaka forest. Oh, my dear Maareecha, I know that you are most capable in such matters. That apart, with you and with my brothers standing by my side as my associates, I care a damn for all of the gods if they are going to wage a war against me. Therefore, oh, rakshasa Maareecha, as you are capable of rendering aid in such matters, you should indeed become my aide in this venture.  In valour, war and verve there is none to excel you; you are a topmost stalwart in trickery and a matchless expert in illusive-tricks. I have come to you only for that reason. I will explain as to how you can help me in this matter.
               "As you are a past master in changing yourself to any guise, you take the guise of an astounding golden deer with silver dots and move in front of the hermitage of that Rama. Seeing you in the shape of a such a captivating, bewitching, winsome and an irresistible dear deer, Seetha undoubtedly will demand her husband to get you (in the form of golden deer) forthwith for her. Perhaps even Lakshmana may say 'Let us lay hold of it.' Then in the absence of those two, Rama and Lakshmana, I will comfortably and unimpededly abduct Seetha, as Rahu abducts the shine of moon. Thereafter Rama will be enervated by the abduction of his wife. If in such a condition, he comes to me for getting his wife back I can easily defeat him and kill him." 
                Maareecha was completely nonplussed to hear the suggestion of Ravana.  his mouth was completely dried up, and he was totally frightened. Wetting his dried up lips with his tongue he was staring at Ravan speechless. His whole body shuddered at the thought of his encounter with Rama earlier - see Chapter 5. Rama's character and valour revealed..
Maareecha's heart sank with scare as he was made to aware of Rama's valour when he was in the great forest of Tataka. He was not sure weather Ravana would heed to his persuasion. Anyhow he decided to make a try.
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118. Ravana fell into Shurpanakha's trap.

              Then dismissing his ministers and others, Ravana continued to sit on his throne brooding over the best way by which he could get Seetha to Lanka without any hassle. He got some idea. Smiling and nodding his head (I am not sure one or more heads) he proceeded to his excellent vehicle garage and ordered the charioteer to get the particular chariot chosen by him (i.e. Ravana) ready immediately. As soon as the chariot which was wish-rideable was made ready Ravana got into that chariot and drove north. On the way he viewed the cities, that were replete with elephants, horses, and chariots. On proceeding further, looking at the areas nearby seashore that were levelly and smoothly made. Ravana also viewed the deltas near the shores of that kingly ocean, which were heavenlier. There, Ravana also saw a banyan tree, on which sages were encompassing. The sight of that banyan tree kindled his memory about the story around it. It was like this:
             That tree's branches were stretched out all over each in a hundred yojana in length. Around there were maharishis like, Vaikhanasa, Maasha, Vaalakhilya, and Mariicipa. Also Aja and Dhuumraa [who thrived on fumes and smokes,] were there. And those maharishis were collectively practising their asceticism upside down clasping branches with legs (in other words handing upside down from the branches).  
            One day a mammoth elephant and an equally mammoth tortoise were fighting fiercely, but no one was a winner or loser. Noticing this, Garuda flew down on. Garuda held the tortoise and the elephant in his two claws in the first instance and started to settle down on one of the branches by transferring both the prays to one claw and with the other claw he caught hold of the tree branch. But it broke under the combined weight of the three. Garuda did not want that branch to fall down. To avoid injury or disturbance to the rishis hanging on it he grasped it with his claw with which he was about to perch on it and took to flight. While flying in the sky, he held the tree branch in one claw and both the preys in the other and started to eat his preys in the sky with one claw, still upholding the branch from falling. Seeing this feat of Garuda, the sages clinging to that tree branch blessed him to be successful in his next mission and left from that branch. When that tree branch became free from the rishis, Garuda threw it on a province of tribal community. That destroyed the whole of that tribal community. 
               Ravana also remembered that the name of the banyan tree was Subhadra. Ravana comfortably crossed the sea and on going further north he saw a hermitage in the solitary, sacred, and scenic interior of forest. At that place, Ravana saw the rakshaasha Mareecha, wearing a black deerskin and tufts of hairs and jute-clothes, and living on modest meals. Ravana went to meet Mareecha. After the customary formlities Mareecha asked Ravana " Oh, the king of rakshashas, by what reason you have came here again, like a bad penny?
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117. Shurpanakha enticed Ravana with Seetha.

                 However, Shurpanakha,s bitter and violent assault on him, that too in the presence of his ministers and others made Ravana infuriated. Had it been any one other than his dear sister Shurpanakha then this chapter would have been a condolence report of that person. Suppressing his anger he asked Shurpanakha many questions like who that Rama was, how brave was he, what mien and what might he was, why did he come to Dandaka forest, by which weapon he killed Khara, Duushan and Trishira. Then he stared at Shurpanakha and exclaimed "Hi! What have you done with your ugly nose and the repulsive ears? Really you look nice without those horrid appendages!"
                 Shurpanakha replied "Rama is said to be the eldest son of the king Dhasharatha of Khosala kingdom. His arms are lengthy, eyes broad, and he wears just jute-cloths and skin of black-deer. He looks like Kandarpa, his bow with its golden fillets is similar to Indra's Rainbow in sheen, and yanking it out he showered flaring iron arrows that are like the deadly poisonous snakes. His stretching of his bow and shooting arrows were so quick that no one could see it. I saw the entire army being annihilated on the battleground.  I saw the cloudburst of arrows. Like a rich reap is thrashed out by the hailstorms of Indra the fourteen thousand rakshashas of fiendish might were killed. Like that he concluded the battle with the killing of Khara and Duushana.
              "He has come for the protection of the rishis and Dandaka is now restored to safety for their ascetic practices through Rama. He is accompanied by his brother called Lakshmana who looks quite resplendent and matches his brother in bravery, and an adherent devotee of his brother. That chap Lakshmana is an irritable, invincible victor, and a clever, coercive conqueror, and is the right-hand man and the peripherally moving life of Rama.
             "They didn't spare me. Because I am a young and beautiful lady they did not kill me but humiliated me by cutting my nose and ears.
             "Rama is accompanied by his wife. With broad eyes, face similar to a full-moon, with her refined hairdo, fine nose, also with fine-looks she is glorious, and she is a paragon of beauty and moving like an angel in those woods she is beaming forth like a temporal Goddess Lakshmi.
              "Her complexion is in the shade of refined gold, and that auspicious one's nails are rosy and jutting. Her hips are curvaceous and her waist is slim. Seetha is her name. She is the daughter of the King of Videha. She is certainly not any goddess, nor any female gandharva, or yaksha, or kinnaraa. I have not seen such a pretty woman on the surface of earth, earlier.
               "Anyone to whom Seetha becomes wife and with whom she gladly hugs, he lives grandly in all the worlds, even more than Indra. In short she is the beautiful lady par excellence. She by her conduct, by her laudable physique, by her unequaled aspects, she, in my opinion, will be the most appropriate wife for you and you will be her best and most suitable husband. 
               "I wanted to make a surprise and enchanting present to you of that broad-hipped, fatty and bulgy breasted and the most charming faced Seetha. When I went in to their hermitage to take her and bring her to Lanka and present you as a wife, the cruel and ubiquitous Lakshmana pounced on me and disfigured me. Oh, my dearest brother with mighty shoulders! If you see her now that Vaidehi with her face lit like a full-moon, Kama will shoot his arrows on you with impunity and you will be ready to become a slave to her when she becomes your wife. And if an opinion is set on in you to make her as your wife, quickly upraise your right foot aspiring victory and set it on towards Dandaka.
            "Oh, the king of rakshashas, if you have any doubt in my words, I suggest you go and see her yourself and once you set your eyes on her, no power on all the worlds can prevent you from bringing her to Lanka and makeing her your most dear wife. 
              "But keeping in mind that Rama with his powerful and bewildering array of arrows destroyed the entire army positioned at Janasthaana including the mighty Khara and Duushana, it is advisable not to get entangled with any conflict with that Rama or his brother Lakshmana."
              Ravana stared at his sister thoughtfully for a few moments and nodded all his ten heads in agreement. 
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116. The artful maneuver of Shurpanakha.

                         Shurpanakha was apprehensive to inform Ravana the real reason for her defacement as her brother was not irrational or absolutely approving injustice in all cases. She decided that taunting him would be the best course for her. 
Accordingly she started scornfully "Blissfully infatuated with lustful gratifications you are completely unaware of the calamity visited your kingdom.  The same was very much observable by you, but you are unobservant of it for the reason that you are clinging to earthy pleasures.  You seem to have forgotten or ignored that fact that clinging to earthy pleasures by a king is unhonoured by his people, like a crematory fire.
              "A king who does not deal with the concerns of his kingdom in person is liable to be leading his kingdom to ruins.
               "When spies are not utilized properly, or the king is not perceivable or not self-disciplined, people will just eschew such a king as an elephant does the mud of river from a distance.
               "Without keeping the kingdom under your personal control, the administration is shuffled onto the ministers and army personnel like Khara, Duushana, and these figureheads become the tide rip for they quarrel among themselves about the kingship of Lanka after your ruin, and they alone are floating like oceanic tides up above your head and thus you are a submerged sovereign.
                "You are belligerent with sensible gods, gandharvas and other rakshashas, and devoid of intelligent agents. How a vacillating king like you can thrive as a king?
                 "In your carefree and casual approach you are completely ignorant of the looming dangers. The king who does not keep his spies, treasuries and strategies in his personal control will be looked upon like the peasantry among kings. A king should endeavour to make him called a 'prescient king.'
               "I believe that you have no spies worth their profession, and you are associated with artless ministers worthy only to worship you, and you do not seem to perceive the seriousness of the complete ruination of all of your subjects including Khara and Duushana in Janasthaana, that too by a single human. Fourteen thousand rakshashas of dreadful deeds were killed by only one Rama. 
                "That Rama promised security to the sages at the Dandaka forest and did it very well. He assaulted Janasthaana and vanquished it. You have not taken any reprisal for that. It is obviously due to the reason that you are but a greedy and insensate, besides being under the control of others, may they be the appeasers of your lusts, or these artless ministers, or those underpaid unfaithful spies. 
                 "Only such a king who is overbearing, under-payer, insensate, self-conceited, and dubious will be insensitive towards such a strife.
                  "When a king is self-centred and rules with conceit, loves adulation and a spitfire too, even his own people will destroy him.
                  "He who does not rule as per the norms for a king will quickly be overthrown from his kingdom and on becoming debased, he will be looked upon by his own people as a piece of straw. The dried wood-sticks, or even the dried-up globs and even dust are of some avail, but the king collapsed from his position is looked upon as dirt even by his own kith and kin. A derelict king, though functional will be treated in the same way as an used up raiment and a crumpled down flower tassel. 
              "A king who is cautious, clever and a conscientious one with controlled senses can stay sustainably as king. He who keeps his mental eyes of wariness wakeful while he slept well closing his physical eyes and he whose gall and grace are made evident to people without any concealment or cunningness will be revered by his people.
               "But, Oh, dear brother, you have imprudently discarded these merits, and as such you are ignorant of the very great massacre of rakshashas.
                "Humiliating others and hobnobbing with your ravishments, and incognisant of the object for apportionment of time and place for your activities, as to when and where and how the things are to be dealt with, you have completely ignored the required and desired kingly activities. You are mindless in deciding rights and wrongs which are ruining your kingdom and are in imperilment before long."
                    The long and accusing speech of his sister made Ravana pensive.
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115. Shurpanakha rushed to Ravana for reprisal.

                   Hi! I have not forgotten that devil of a rakshashi Shurpanakha. She felt that she was completely screwed up on seeing the fourteen thousand rakshashas of heinous crimes totally perished at the hands of one lone Rama. She could not believe that Duushana, Khara and Trishira about whom she believed were unbeatable in a battle even with a god were killed by a human. A Human!  She went almost mad and started blaring so loud like a thunder. She rushed to her next obvious recourse, the great Ravana, her own eldest brother.
             She saw her dear brother the dazzling Ravana , surrounded by his ministers seated nearly and nearby, like Indra amid the devas.
             Seated similar to the Sun in firmament, on a supreme golden seat, which resembled a golden Fire-altar and he himself resembling the blazing Ritual-fire, when much ghee is poured into that Golden-Fire-Altar.
Comment.
 Ravana was seated, like the Sun in firmament, on a supreme golden throne, which resembled a golden Fire-altar, laid with golden bricks, whereas mud-bricks were used in Vedic-rituals in ordinary fashion, and when much ghee was poured into that Golden-Fire-Altar continually, he himself resembling the blazing Ritual-fire and his glow was heightening for every pour of ghee-oblation.
On conquering all the worlds Ravana assumed indratva i.e. 'Indra-hood.' Ipso facto all the oblations in rituals  belonged to Ravana. Any ritual other than this variety were hindered and spoiled by his group. This was the real problem to all celestials, as they were not getting their due from Vedic-rituals. Ravana's throne itself was the Golden-Ritual-Altar of his kind, and every praise or extolment of Ravana in hymn and any offering into that Ravana-Fire-Altar was making Ravana to aglow to the bedazzlement of all the worlds. 
End Comment.
             No god, gandharva, any sages or supreme embodiment, can repress him in any war, for he was like the Grim Reaper with a gaping mouth. In many combats with the devas  he was bruised by the Indra's most mighty weapon, namely the Thunderbolt, and blotched his chest with the gore of tusk-prongs of Iravata, the Elephant of Indra.
            When Shurpanakha entered the chamber she saw his brother Ravana, with his twenty arms and ten faces, with conspicuous regalia, and with a broad-chest and with all the other attributes for a king seated on his throne majestically. 
He himself was glistening like the gleaming Lapis gems studded in his ornaments.  All his twenty earlobes were decorated with studs of refined gold. His arms were mighty, powerful and strong. With dazzling white teeth and widish mouths he looked like a mountain. He was a great warrior in reality, too.  He fought a number of times with gods and devas. He was assaulted by weapons almost equal to the famous Vishnu-disc, hundreds of times in such wars. He had faced the assault of other missiles hundreds of times in other great wars. In all such wars he returned as the grand winner. Shurpanakha was very proud of her dear brother.
Comment.
The disc of Vishnu called 'Sudarshana Chakra' which is said to be the most powerful weapon. There were other missiles which are almost as powerful as the Sudarshana Chakra. One such was the one among many given to Rama by Vishwamitra. This narration is to portray that Ravana had war-wounds on all over his limbs. Though hit by Thunderbolts and other missiles for umpteen times, he was just wounded but not dead or incapacitated in any way and he was on such a winning spree, ineradicably.
End Comment.
              By getting numerous thrashings from gods and devas in the numerous wars he fought with them with success, his whole body became immune to any kind of assault. That apart he learned from such experience to thwart any weapon. His experience taught him to perturb even the oceans which normally cannot be perturbed, swiftly at his will and wish, and a swift perpetrator of anything at his will and wish.
               He had the power to repress even gods. Such power and capabilities made him so arrogant, he became an extirpator of ethical values, and a molester of others' wives. With impunity he went to the city named Bhogavati, the Capital of Nagas(Serpents), and defeated Vaasuki, the King of Serpents. On going to Mt. Kailash and defeated Kubera, the Lord of Wealth-Management. He also snatched away Kubera's aircraft, namely Pushpaka, which transits at the wish of its helmsman. 
               Performing penance for ten thousand years in a forest to Brahma, he got the boon that  he will not be imperiled or killed by gods, rakshashas, gandharvas, devils, birds, reptiles etc. [In his arrogance he did not specify Humans].
               However, the fear of being killed (somehow) made him a plunderer of the Vedic-rituals at the time of their culmination, namely, at the time of giving bounties and charities to all the cadres in society. He trespassed or caused to be trespassed by his deputies, and caused hindrance to all Vedic-rituals, the slayer of those Brahmins who conducted Vedic-rituals contrary to his wishes, which in the eyes of the affected brahmans an evildoer.
Comment.
 The problem with Ravana was that nobody should surpass him or his boons, by conducting various Vedic-rituals, appeasing the gods to get better boons, or say 'a boon to kill Ravana...' itself. That being his preconceived fear he did not let anyone to conduct any Vedic sacrifice. Secondly, he became one with Indra by the boon of Brahma, so any ritual should be centered on Ravana, not Indra. He was not a routine Brahmin slayer for he himself was of Brahminic origin and his teachers were Brahmins, but goes against those Brahmins who dared to conduct rituals for Indra and other divinities. 
End Comment.
                   After Ravana got all the boons he desired and usurped the kingdom of Lanka, he went on a winning spree withe devas and other gods. He then mused an idea of giving a jolt to Shiva, the god of all gods. Accordingly he went to the Mt. Kailash, the living abode of the god Siva and lifted with all his twenty hands. Mt. Kailash started shaking. Siva's consort Parvathi  became highly scared and hugged tightly her husband. Lord Shiva was happily enjoying that feeling. 
When the shaking went beyond the endurance of Nandi, sivaganas etc. all of them prayed the Lord Shiva for protection. Shiva nodded and just pressed down the Mt. Kailash with his left big toe causing Ravana's twenty hands buried under the Mt. Kailash. Ravana could not extricate even one hand. He started to yell in pain for a thousand years, terrifying all the worlds. Then, as advised by his ministers, Ravana started extolling Shiva in a stotram, danDakam, a rhythmical eulogy. That heavily worded eulogy is still available in the name of raavaNa kR^ita daNDaka. Then, Shiva released Ravana's hands from under Mt. Kailash and blessed him to be renowned as 'Ravana' then onward. This will be found in the Uttara RamayaNa seventh book. Thus, Ravana is the etymological derivation of the word from the root ru 'to make noise or weep...' Before this Ravana was known as Dashagriiva, or Dashakantha, or Dashaanana, or Dashakandhara.
End Comment.
                 Shurpanakha was proud to see such a great dear brother who though a reprobate was great  and mighty one. He was excellently attired and bejeweled and shining forth with excellent garlands. Shurpanakha, a fearless one in her movements, now defaced by Lakshmana, was now perplexed by the fear of Lakshmana, but with a lusty craving for Rama. With well rehearsed words with which to represent her side she moved towards her brother determinedly and steadily.
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114. Ravana informed of the obliteration of Khara and his forces.

                One rakshasha named Akampana in the service of Khara, was actually a spy of Ravana who placed him at the employment of Khara. When Akampana sensed that the battle with Rama was not going in favour of Khara, he (i.e. Akampana) maneuvered to keep himself alive so that he can report the matter to his master Ravana. On seeing the fall of Khara, Akampana just slipped away and went straight to Lanka.
              There he went to Ravana and told him "Your Majesty! There was a great battle at Panchavati between the army of Khara and one human named Rama who just massacred the entire army of Khara and killed Khara, too. I slipped away to report the matter to you."
              Ravana was highly skeptical. He thundered at the spy  "Who is he so powerful and capable to destroy my indomitable Janasthaana?  It cannot be Indra or Kubera. Yama? NO, He would not dare; why even Vishnu would not dare to meddle with me. I am Yama to Yama. The gods for Fire, Air, Rain etc. as well as the Sun obey my wishes implicitly." 
                "Akampana became terribly nervous and sought the clemency of His Majesty with a stuttering voice. And His Majesty Ravana granted the same with grace.  Then he said "Sir. He is a youth with mighty shoulders, round and lengthy arms, built like that of a lion. He is said to be the son of the King Dasharatha and known as Rama. He is blue-black in complexion. His handling of the bow and arrows is magnificent.  He was the one who slew Duushana and Khara in Janasthaana."
                 Ravana asked the spy "Who came with that Rama at Janasthaana? Indra with all of the immortal gods?"
                Akampana pondered for a moment to recollect his thoughts and said softly and nervously "Your Majesty! Rama came to Dhanda forest with his brother called Lakshmana. But Rama alone fought Khara and his forces. 
               "I made inquiries and collected information about Rama. Rama is highly resplendent, an ablest archer among all archers, one who is endowed with divine missiles and divine attributes, and he is the one who conducts warfare with a supreme conduct. And his younger brother Lakshmana is also a mighty one with redly eyes and drumbeat like voice, and whose face is shiny like the full-moon. But Rama alone fought the battle and destroyed Janasthaana.
                "I thoroughly checked and no god, deva, asura, human or animal was helping Rama. I saw with my own eyes that his gold-finned and feather-winged arrows after released from his bow became five-faced serpents which started consuming the rakshashas.
               "To whichever nook or corner the rakshashas smitten by fear of those serpents were fleeing, they saw to their amazement and horror Rama standing before them alone in that nook or corner with his ominous bow and arrow. Oh! Your Majesty! in this way your Janasthaana is totally ruined by that Rama."
                 On hearing Akampana, Ravana said "Is it so? Then I Myself will to go to Janasthaana and kill Rama along with Lakshmana."
                Akampana was not only a very competent spy but was a very intelligent, clever and smart, too. And he was very much devoted to his master Ravana. He therefore told Ravana "I beg your pardon your Majesty. But that does not seem to be a good idea. From what I observed I have come to the conclusion that Rama was a chap with a spirit and grit.
He is highly renowned and said to be almost invincible. It is said about him that he can collapse even the firmament along with its starlets, stars and planets, and he even can elevate the earth if it were to collapse.
                 "It is said that on breaching the shoreline of the ocean with his arrows that Rama can deluge worlds, and he can stem the tide of turbulent ocean, or can even stall the agent of that turbulence, namely the wind.
                 "Oh, Sir, in view of the above I feel that it is not a good idea to fight him in a straight battle. In view of the superb capability of Rama as a warrior, you will lose face in case you could not defeat him in a battle, either singly or along with the hosts of the rakshasha allies of yours.
                "I have an idea to kill him from a different approach. Rama has come to the Dhandaka forest with his wife too. A real beauty of all the worlds of all times, a youthful one with symmetrical limbs and a slender waist known as Seetha. No goddess can match her beauty. It is needless to say that Rama loves her so dearly and he cannot live without her. I, therefore suggest you abduct her."
                 Ravana after chewing over the suggestion, liked it. He told Akampana "Agreed! I will go early in the morning with a charioteer and delightfully bring that beautiful wench into the elegant city Lanka." 
                 In the following early morning Ravana started as planned to get Seetha. On the way he noticed the hermitage of Maareecha at a distance. Remember Maareecha? If not read chapter 5. Rama's character and valour revealed. Another idea occurred to Ravana. He went to the hermitage of Maareecha, the son of Tataka.  Maareecha received Ravana and entertained him with with special sweetmeats and savories.
                 After the usual formalities Maareecha asked Ravana "Oh, king and supremo of Rakshashas,  I am anxious to know whether everything is safe and secure in your kingdom. Please let me know to what I am indebted to the honour of your visit."
                 Ravana replied "Oh, sire, One human named Rama has completely ruined my security stationed at Janasthaana. I do not like to stoop to fight with a human.  I wanna hit him back in a different manner. I have decided to kidnap his wife and I want your friendly help in the kidnapping."
                 Maareecha with a grave face asked Ravana "My dear fellow! Who broached the subject of Seetha with you? He must be an enemy in the guise of a friend. Who is that censurable one who is so unhappy with you for giving such a disastrous advise?
                 "I am sure that the chap who contrived to make you do this dreadful thing is an undoubted enemy of yours. This is like extricating the fangs of a snake from its mouth by bare hands. It is as good as his hitting you hard on your head while you are fast asleep.
                  "Oh, Ravana, it will be catastrophic to raise an eye to see Rama in war.Take my advice.  Do not even dream to rouse that sleeping lion.
                  "Oh, lord of Lanka, do not tinker with Rama. If you do then you will regret it later. Go back to Lanka. You take delight in your plethora of wives, and let Rama be delighting with his only wife in forests." 
                    Ravana took the advice of Maareecha and went back to Lanka. 
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113. The end of Khara.

            Seeing the very valiant and brave attitude of Khara, Rama admired him and at the same time pitied him, too. He told the rakshasha "With your might coupled with a gigantic force abounding with elephants, horses and chariots, you have perpetrated heinous deeds in the Dandaka forests which were uncalled for and unwarranted besides loathsome to all. You should have known that the sufferings you caused are bound to rebound on you in some way.           
             "The residents of Dandaka forest are highly benevolent sages who always tread the path of virtue. What benefit did you gain in killing them?
              "You should have known that indulgence in profanity is like devouring some venomous food.
              "I am the king who has come here to exterminate the lives of those who perpetrated, perpetrates and contemplate to perpetrate hideous sins or evils to the disapprobation of the world.
             "Now I am going to kill you with my arrows. Let the supreme sages who were earlier slain by you may now, abiding on their aircrafts in the firmament, see your abidance in hellish death pangs when assaulted with my arrows.
             "Attack me if you want. Now I am going to toss your head down like a palm-fruit." 
             Khara was terribly incensed and uncontrollably infuriated to hear what Rama told him. Convulsed in anger, he shouted at Rama with bloodshot eyes and laughing boisterously "On killing some average asuras in war, oh, son of Dasharatha, how you praise yourself as a great warrior! 
Those who are really mighty and victorious do not boast about themselves, for they will be modest of their own valour.
              "Oh, Rama, you are a classical example of how an undignified Kshatriya who is frivolous and irresolute in self-confidence will boast. 
               "Okay! As you do not have much time to live, boast as much as you want and can!  You are like a small fire on a small grass-blade that quickly burns through with a golden hue, but it cannot sustain its flame to burn other things. It just burns the grass-blade on which it sits. Your boasting is like the manifestation of gold on the tip of the grass-blade burnt by fire, where the fire on grass-blade is no fire, and the bulb of fire appearing at the tip of grass-blade as a bulb of gold, is no gold.
              "You are now seeing me wielding this mace. This is quite adequate to squeeze the life out of you. There are quite a lot of things I can say about you, but I am not going to for the reason that the sun is getting at the dusk thereby disruption to war occurs whereby your life is prolonged by a night. You have killed fourteen thousand rakshashas and on killing you I will wipe the tears of the wives of those dead rakshashas today itself." 
              Saying thus that highly infuriated Khara hurled his mace towards Rama. It was a fierce looking mace around which there were superb golden cinctures, and which was extremely glaring like a thunderbolt. Forcefully discharged from Khara's hands that highly fiery and stupendous mace rendering trees and shrubs down to ashes darted towards Rama.
             When that monstrous mace was swooping down, Rama smashed it to smithereens with his arrows while it was still sky rocketing. That mace splintered with the arrows of Rama fell crumbling onto the surface of earth as a springing female snake would fall down by the charms of the snake charmer.
              The mace was the most powerful weapon Khara had and he was absolutely sure that it would kill Rama. But it was smashed by Rama, apparently without effort. Rama was the most scrupulous follower of the protocol of just war/battle/duel, besides an ardent observer of right virtues. In similar circumstances any one who was a scant observer of such protocol would have killed nonchalantly and merrily his opponent without any emotion and gloat about it. But Rama the 'dharma vatsala' (observer of righteousness)  told smilingly the weaponless and flustering Khara "My, my! My dear chap! So, this is all the strength of your most powerful weapon you were gloating about! You wretched rakshasha, you were vaunting aloud futilely! I find it a trifling. This mace of yours in which you rested your bombastic aplomb, is now completely battered with my arrows and has gone onto the surface of earth, taking along with it your vanity.
            "Your proclamation that 'I will dab the tears of the demons whose kinfolk are dead here...' now sounds shamming.
             "In boasting you are knavish, in character roguish, and in behaviour ghoulish. As such, I propose to take your life away as the Divine Eagle Garuda took away Ambrosia. Now, my arrows will rip and chop off your throat, and then the earth will guzzle the blood gushed therefrom garnished with froth and foam. You will go to eternal sleep embracing the earth, when both your arms are knocked down to slide on earth, and limbs smeared with dirt. While you are in permanently profound sleep, oh, notorious rakshash, this Dandaka forest will become a shelter to the shelter-worthy sages and saints.
                "When the strongholds of rakshashas in your Janasthaana are cleansed with my arrows, the sages in this forest will move about everywhere fearlessly and happily. The rakshashis who terrorized others so far will be pitiably terrorized now, and they will flee away very quickly with tear-wet faces as their kinsmen are killed.
               "You are atrocious in conduct because you countervail against Vedas, debased by conscience because you counteract to Vedic rituals, and you are countermanding Vedic procedures because you have always been bothersome to Brahmans, and those Brahmans becoming vexed of your deeds of hindrance, they are hesitatingly consigning oblations into Ritual-Fire, which are to be swiftly dropped into fire to the chants of hymns and even on time, hence you are countervailing against Vedas and counteracting to their rituals, and countermanding their procedures." .
              Before Rama could finish what he wanted to say, Khara started to intimidate him rancorously "Priding yourself resolutely that you are undaunted even in a fearful situation, thereby you have indeed gone into the control of death, and for sure you are unmindful of what is speakable and what is not. Such of those men on whom the end closes in, they will not know what is to be done and what not, for all of their six senses will be rendered insensible." 
              Saying so to Rama that nightwalker Khara then knitting his brows tightly looked for everywhere for an assault weapon for use against Rama. And he found one not far away from him, namely a huge saala tree. He curled his lips in frown and started to extricate that Saala tree, and that great-mighty Khara on forcefully uprooting that tree with both of hands hurled it aiming at Rama, braying loudly and shouting at him 'you are dead.'
                Rama found that huge tree a trifling compared to the mace. He therefore shredded the tree effortlessly. He then decided to kill Khara and shredded him with a thousand arrows. Copious frothy blood gushed out from the gashes made by the arrows, on the mountainous body of Khara, like the rapids on Mt. Prasavana, and it overflowed on earth too.
Comment.
Mt. Prasavana is depicted in Kishkindha canto where Rama admires and eulogises the rainy season when waiting for Sugreeva's help.
End Comment.     
             In spite of the fact that his entire body was gashed with the arrows of Rama, Khara swooped towards Rama, obviously with the intention of killing or harming Rama with his hands and teeth. Seeing Khara descending boisterously with his body bathed in blood on him, Rama in surprise reared a step or two.
Comment.
           The word 'surprise' is inserted by me thinking that it was the real reason for Rama's rearing. On this back stepping, backtracking, or the scrape Rama took in that war, [ scrape = to draw the foot backwards in making a bow] much discussion is afloat discussing as to how the great Rama can retrace his step.  It is said that stepping back in war is prohibited for a valorous warrior and particularly to the epical hero. I am NOT an expert in Valmiki/Valmiki Ramayana/Sanskrit. I am just a devotee of Bhagwan Shri Rama. I feel that Shree Rama reared due to surprise.
End Comment.
                  Then, Rama quickly took an arrow which was similar to the Ritual-fire, and secondary only to the ultimate missile, namely the Brahma-missile and shot it at the rakshasha. That particular arrow was one of the weapons given to Rama by the Maharishi Agastya. 
                  That formidable arrow, like the thunder of a thunderbolt plunged in the chest of Khara. Khara fell down stone dead on to the earth and on being burnt by the radiation of that arrow he was like the demon Andhaka, who once was very completely burnt by Rudra in Shveta-araNya, the White-forest.
Comment.
Andhaka is the son of Danu, the wife of Kashyapa Prajaapati, and her progeny is termed as daanavas. Shiva burned this Andhaka with his Third-eye in Shveta-forest, which was said to be at the confluence point of River Kauvery in ocean.
End Comment.
                  The gods and others witnessing the battle from the firmament drummed celestial drums from all over and showered flowers on Rama from all over. 
                  All the kingly-sages and elite-sages along with the Sage Agastya, who also came to witness the battle of Rama, happily told Rama "He that great-resplendent one, the controller of demon Paka, and the destroyer of enemy's cities, namely Indra, once came to the meritorious hermitage of Sage Sharabhanga only in connection with the elimination of rakshashas. For the purpose of eradicating these rakshashas who were the evildoers by nature and the natural enemies to saintly people you are led to this countryside by the great sages. That which is the task of ours is accomplished by you, oh, son of Dasharatha. Now that Dandaka is unimpeded these great-sages will be practising their respective sacred devoirs in it." 
                   Seeing that the battle was over, Lakshmana exiting from the mountain cave came along with Seetha to their hermitage. And then all the great-sages residing there reverenced Rama, and he entered the hermitage while Lakshmana came forward to greet him.
                  And Seetha on seeing her husband safe but for a some gashes all over his body, embraced her husband. 
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112. Khara's valiant fight with Rama.

              Khara was shocked to see the brave and highly capable Duushana and Trishira killed by the human Rama. He started realizing the competence and the intrepidity of Rama. Khara was alarmed to see the unbearable and brutish demonic forces killed by the one and only human, Rama. His vanquishing of Duushana and Trishira as well as the manner in which they were killed was something unimaginable to Khara.  Seeing the destruction of almost all his forces that rakshasha Khara became less of vainglorious.  However, Khara was by no means a coward. With determination, the brave Khara shot iron-arrows, which ingest blood  and followed them by snaky-venomous arrows towards Rama. Fidgeting his bowstring in many ways, exhibiting missiles by his training in warfare, Khara moved about the battleground and spilled his arrows in many ways while going on his chariot. Acknowledged as a great warrior, Khara, in all the stretches and inter-stretches, started to fill his arrows, which made even Rama startled. However, as Rama was a past master in the warfare, started to fill his very great bow with arrows. Rama with those verily unendurable arrows that were glinting fires, made the sky less of leeway, as the raining clouds would fill the sky. The sky was completely covered with those sharp arrows unloosened by Khara and Rama, and there was no space that was unfilled in the sky.
            Then, Khara shattered the bow of Rama with its arrow, at its fist-place. Khara again on taking seven other arrows hit at the armour [crucial parts] of Rama infuriatingly and those arrows equaled the radiance of Indra's thunderbolts. Then hitting with a thousand arrows of great vitality at Rama, Khara blared a loud blare in that combat.
             Well shot by those well bumping arrows released by Khara, the armour of Rama fell down on the field. Then Khara rained very powerful arrows which covered the entire body of Rama. This flared up Rama and made him to decide to end the battle with the end of the enemy Khara. Rama took the very admirable bow of Vishnu presented to him by the maharishi Agastya. With this thunderously blasting bow, Rama proceeded to end this battle. Then with arrows that were with golden fins and curved barbs Rama fragmented Khara's flag and flagstaff. Severally shattered was that eye-pleasing golden flagstaff which fell onto the ground, like the falling of sun onto the earth by the damnation of gods.

By that Khara was enraged and dashed four arrows onto Rama's entire body. This made Rama's entire body drenched with his blood making him highly indignant and disconcerted. Rama then taking the great bow released six arrows targeting pointedly. One arrow on head, two on hands are set on and then with three demilune arrows Rama hit Khara's chest. Then with iron arrows that are sun-similar, infuriately shot at that rakshash, thirteen arrows in all, all were stone-grind. With one arrow the yoke of the chariot, with four, four of the dappled horses, and with eight the head of the charioteer of Khara are dismembered. With three arrows the three-pronged shaft from yoke to the base of chariot, with two arrows the axle and with twelve arrows Khara's bow with its arrow were devastated.

                On devastating the chariot, with the next arrow, Raghava impaled Khara. His bow and chariot were completely shattered. His charioteer and the horses were killed, too. Handling a mace Khara hopped down onto to the ground from the shattered chariot, and then stayed there, staring belligerently at Rama and silently challenging him for a duel to the finish.
             At that deed of Rama, the gods and the great-sages assembled in heaven, worshipped Rama with their adjoined palms.
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