Then Rama, accompanied by the monkey-leaders, along with Sugriva,
ascended the top of Suvela, measuring a circumference of two _yojanas_.
And staying there for a while and looking at the ten cardinal points, he
saw Lanka finely placed on the charming summit of Trikuta,--graced with
elegant groves; and (he also saw) the unconquerable lord of Rakshasas,
stationed at the top of the gateway, fanned with white _chamaras_;
graced with the umbrella betokening victory; smeared with red sandal;
adorned in red ornaments; resembling masses of sable clouds; and
apparelled in golden attire,--his breast bearing scars from the
tusk-ends of Airavata; covered with a sheet hued like the blood of
hares; and appearing like clouds lighted up by the evening sun. And on
seeing the Rakshasa-chief, Sugriva suddenly rose up in the sight of the
lords of monkeys as well as Raghava. And influenced by wrath, he,
mustering strength and vigor, rising from the brow of the mountain,
bounded to the gateway. And pausing for a while and eying the Rakshasa
intrepidly, he, slighting the Raksha, addressed him in harsh speech,
saying,--"O Rakshasa, I am the friend as well as the slave of Rama--lord
of men. Me, backed by the energy of that king of the Earth, shalt thou
not escape to-day". Saying this, he, suddenly springing up, descended on
him; and snatching away his variegated crown, let it fall on the earth.
And seeing him come abruptly, the night-ranger spoke to him thus,--"Thou
that wert Sugriva beyond my ken, shalt be neckless[102] near me". Having
said this, he rose up swiftly and dragged him[103] down to the earth.
Thereat springing like pith, the monkey pushed down his antagonist with
his arms. And each having his body bathed in sweat and his person
covered with blood, each choking and annuling the efforts of the
other,--and resembling a _Salmali_ or a _Kincuka_, and dealing blows and
slaps, and hitting with his arms and hands,--those exceedingly strong
ones, the lord of the Rakshasas and that of the monkeys, fought
wonderfully. And having for a long time encountered each other in combat
on the dais belonging to the gate,--they, now lifting up their persons
and now lowering them, went down, each felling the other with his legs.
And smiting each other, they, their bodies fastened together, went down
between the wall and the moat,--and again stood upon the ground. And
heaving breath, they, resting for a space, grappled with each other; and
they fast bound each other with their arms serving for ropes. And each
fired with wrath, and each having both strength and skill, they now bore
themselves in the lists like a tiger and a lion, furnished with teeth;
or like the young of the foremost elephants engaged in encounter,--and
restraining and pushing each other with their arms, they simultaneously
both came down to the ground. Then starting again to their feet, they,
vituperating each other, ranged the lists, displaying feats expressive
of skill and strength. Nor did those heroes speedily come by fatigue.
And resembling mighty elephants, they, resisting each other by means of
their powerful arms like unto the trunks of elephants, fought for a long
while, swiftly wheeling about the arena. And approaching each other,
they strove to slay each other, like unto two cats seated, momentarily
encountering each other over some food. And the lord of monkeys and
Ravana, accomplished in fight, coursed the arena, displaying wonderful
mandalas,[104] various _sthanas_[105] curious _gomatrakas_[106]
_gatapratyagatas_, _tiraschi-nagatas_, _vakragatas_, _parimokshas_,
_varjanas_, _paridhavanas_, _abhidravanas_,[107] _aplavanas_,[108]
_savigrahavasthanas_,[109] _paravrittas_,[110] _apavrittas_,[111]
_apadrutas_[112] _avaplutas_,[113] _apanyastas_,[114] and
_upanyastas_.[115] In the meanwhile the Raksha attempted to put forth
his power of illusion. Knowing this, the king of monkeys shot into the
sky. And Ravana, overpowered by fatigue and out of breath, thus baffled
by the monkey-king, stood where he was. Thus the master of the foremost
monkeys, securing fame in fight, beat the night-ranger, causing him to
experience fatigue. And bounding beyond the spacious sky, the offspring
of the Sun came to the side of Rama in the midst of the monkey-forces.
And having done that deed, the son of the Sun,--lord of monkeys--with
his heart surcharged with rejoicing, entered that host having the speed
of the wind; enhancing the martial ardour of the son of the foremost of
the Raghus, and honored by the monkeys.
[102] The text has _hinagriva--neckless_. There is a pun here, turning
on the word _griva_--neck. Ravana says: "Thou wert Sugriva
(good-necked) in my absence,--but now thou shalt be
_hinagriva_--neckless".--T.
[103] Sugriva.
[104] A _mandala_ is of four kinds, _viz., chari, karana, khanda and
mahamandala._ Proceeding with one leg advanced is _chari_, with
two alternately advanced is _karana_; proceeding after the manner
of _karana_, with some special movements, is _khanda_; and two or
three _khandas_ combined is a _mahamandala_.--T.
[105] A particular adjustment of the steps successively; awry, etc.--It
is of six kinds, _viz._, _Vaishnava, Sampada, Vaicakka, Mandala,
Pratyalirha_ and _Analirha.--T._
[106] A kind of motion resembling cow's urine flowing, as its name
signifies.
[107] Swiftly fronting the antagonist.
[108] Proceeding 'like a summer's cloud.'
[109] Standing before the adversary, after making others engage in
combat. What this means in the passage under notice is hard to
divine.
[110] Turning away from a foe.
[111] Moving off from the side of the enemy.
[112] Movement with low posture for seizing at the thighs of the
adversary.
[113] Going for a kick at the adversary.
[114] Distending the chest, so that the antagonist may not catch the
arms.
[115] Stretching forth the arms for seizing those of the enemy.