"Beholding Sumālin slain and reduced to ashes by Vasu and being assailed
by the deities the Rākshasa host fled into diverse directions. And
collecting all the Rākshasas stood there the highly powerful Meghanāda,
enraged, the son of Rāvana. Like unto flaming fire approaching towards
forest that great car-warrior encountered the enemies in a precious car
coursing at will. And as soon as he, armed with various weapons, entered
the field the celestials, at his very sight, fled away to all
directions. None could stand before him, well-versed in war-fare.
Thereupon beholding the deities terrified and pierced with shafts,
Indra, the king of gods, said—’Be not afraid, O ye celestials; do not
fly away; come back to the battle; this my son, who has never been
vanquished, goes to battle.’ Thereupon Sakra’s son, known as divine
Jayanta, proceeded towards the field of action in a wondrous car. And
having encircled Sachi’s son and encountered Rāvana’s son the deities
began to assail him. And the encounter between Mahendra’s son Jayanta
and Rāvana’s son Meghanāda, and that between the deities and Rakshas was
like one between gods and demons. Thereupon Rāvana’s son began to
assail, with shafts feathered in gold, his (Jayanta’s) charioteer
Gomukha, Mātali’s son. Sachis’ son too, enraged, assailed on all sides,
Rāvana’s son and his charioteer. And the powerful Rāvani, stricken with
ire and with eyes expanded, covered Sakra’s son with arrows. Thereupon
Rāvana’s son struck the celestial host with thousands of huge mountain
summits, Sataghnis, maces, Prasas, clubs, daggers, Parashus and various
other sharp pointed weapons, Rāvana’s son thus striking Indra’s army the
quarters were enshrouded with darkness by his illusory power. Being
overpowered with arrows on all sides the celestial army, leaving aside
Jayanta, became restless. The deities or the Rākshasa—they could not
recognize one another—and being distressed they ran about on all sides.
Being enveloped with darkness and having their senses bewildered the
celestials killed their own kith and the Rākshasas their own men—and
others fled away. In the interim a heroic and powerful
Daitya-chief—Pulomā by name, taking Sachi’s son disappeared. And taking
his own grand-son he entered into the ocean—Pulomā was his grand-father
for by him Sachi was begotten. And thinking that Jayanta was slain all
the deities greatly sorry and distressed fled away on all sides.
Thereupon Rāvana’s son, enraged and encircled by his own powerful
followers, pursued the celestials emitting loud cries. Not beholding his
son and observing the flight of the deities the king of the celestials
said to Mātali—’Bring my car.’ By Mātali was brought, the celestial,
highly dreadful, huge and quick-coursing chariot, that was ready. (And
he having) ascended the car, the huge clouds, with lightnings, being
driven by winds, began to emit forth loud mutterings before the chariot.
And the Gandharvas began to play on various instruments and the Apsarās
began to dance. And taking up various weapons, Indra, the king of
divinities, set out for the field of action, in the company of Rudras,
Vasus, Adityas, the two Aswins and Maruts. He, having set out for
battle, the wind began to blow high, the sun was divested of its
brilliance and the huge fire-brands began to send out flames. In the
interval the heroic and the highly powerful Daçagriva ascended the
celestial car, constructed by the Architect of the deities, encircled by
the huge-bodied serpents capable of making down erect and by whose
breath the battle-field was ablaze. Surrounded by demons and
night-rangers and with the celestial car he encountered Mahendra in the
battle-field. And having desisted his son he himself stood there. And
having come out from the field of action Rāvana’s son too stood silent.
Thereupon there arose an encounter between the Rākshasas and the deities
and there began a downpour of weapons in the conflict like clouds. And
the vicious-souled Kumbhakarna armed with various weapons came there—but
he did not know,⁹⁴ O king, with whom the conflict was going on. And by
him enraged, the celestials were assailed with his teeth, feet, arms,
hands, Saktis, Tomaras and clubs or any weapon whatsoever. Thereupon the
night-ranger engaged with the highly powerful Rudras and was wounded, in
the conflict, with incessant strokes of weapons. Thereupon the Rākshasa
army began to fight with Maruts and they were overwhelmed in the
encounter with the stroke of various weapons. Some fell down on earth
slain and torn and others became insensible on the back of their
carriers in the battle. And they all stood there in a half-sensible
mood, some holding the car, some elephants, some asses, some camels,
some serpents, some horses, some porpoises, some boars, some
Pisaca-mouthed animals and some embracing the Pannagas. And other
night-rangers, having their bodies sundered by the deities gave up their
being. The Rākshasas being slain and lying down on earth the action
appeared wondrous like a painting. And there issued out in the
battle-field a river from weapons having blood for its silent waters and
infested with crows and vultures. Having beheld his own army slain by
the deities the highly powerful Daçānana, enraged, entered the ocean of
celestial army and slaying the deities in the conflict confronted Sakra.
Thereupon Sakra took up his huge bow by the twang where-of the ten
quarters Were filled. Having unstrung his huge bow Indra struck Rāvana,
on his head, with arrows resembling the flame of fire and the rays of
the sun. And the Rākshasa-chief Daçānana, having long arms, also
assailed Indra with hundreds of shafts discharged off his bow. They
having been thus engaged with each other with the downpour of dreadful
shafts, all the quarters were filled with darkness and in consequence
thereof nothing was visible."
⁹⁴ For he was asleep till then so he was not acquainted with the
particulars of war-fare. He used to sleep for six months at a
time.