And witnessing that mighty exploit of the foremost of the monkeys,
Akampana waxed furious with wrath. And transported with passion, he,
twanging his mighty bow, seeing that feat of his foe, addressed his
charioteer saying,--"O charioteer, swiftly conduct thou the car to that
same place. These powerful ones are slaying innumerable Rakshasas in
fight. And all those vigorous monkeys of dreadful deeds stay before me,
armed with trees and rocks. Those, pluming themselves overmuch on their
martial worth, I intended to slay in battle. And all this Rakshasa force
appeared to be harassed by these". Then on a car drawn by moving steeds,
Akampana from a distance attacked the monkeys with showers of arrows.
And thereat the monkeys could not so much as maintain their ground in
the field,--and how could they fight? And broken by the arrows of
Akampana, they began to fly. And the exceedingly strong Hanuman, seeing
his kindred come under the masterdom of Death and follow the course
pursued by the shafts of Akampana, advanced (to the conflict). And
seeing that mighty monkey, all those heroic prime monkeys together
surrounded (Hanuman) in the field. And those best of monkeys, seeing
Hanuman stay, grew strong by relying on that strong one. And even as the
great Indra showereth down rain, Akampana showered shafts on Hanuman
resembling a mountain-summit in grandeur. And without casting a thought
on the showers of arrows poured on his person, that monkey gifted with
exceeding strength, set his heart on compassing the death of Akampana.
And laughing, that exceedingly energetic offspring of the Wind-god
rushed after that Raksha, as if making the Earth herself tremble. And
the form of that one roaring and flaming up in energy, was irresistible,
like unto the appearance of a flaming fire. And thinking that he was
unfurnished with any arms, that foremost of monkeys, waxing wroth,
vehemently rooted up a hill. And taking that huge hill, the Wind-god's
son endowed with prowess, sending up a tremendous roar, began to whirl
it with a single arm. And as of yore Purandara had in encounter pursued
Namuchi with the thunder-bolt, (Hanuman) pursued that best of
Rakshasas--Akampana. And Akampana, seeing that uplifted crag, from a
distance cut it off with mighty crescent-shaped shafts. And finding that
mountain-top severed by the shafts of the Raksha and scattered in
pieces, Hanuman was seized with a mighty wrath. And that monkey, wrought
up with rage and pride, grasping an Acwakarna elevated like unto a hill,
at once uprooted it. And taking that broad-shouldered Acwakarna, that
one furnished with high splendour, with great glee whirled it above the
ground. And thereat rushing amain vehemently, (Akampana) speedily broke
the trees.[173] And (seeing this), Hanuman, transported with passion,
rived the earth with his kicks. And Hanuman slaughtered elephants, and
the riders thereof, and cars with their riders, and dreadful Rakshasas,
and footmen. And seeing the enraged Hanuman resembling the Finisher
armed with trees and destructive, the Rakshasas began to fly fast. And
seeing that one enraged, terrific unto the Rakshasas, the heroic
Akampana was agitated greatly and sent up shouts. And Akampana pierced
Hanuman endowed with exceeding prowess with four and ten shafts,
sharpened and capable of cleaving the bodies of people. And thus covered
with iron arrows and whetted darts, that hero--Hanuman--looked like a
hill covered with trees. And that huge-bodied one endowed with wondrous
prowess and great strength, appeared like a flowering Acoka or a fire
without smoke. And then uprooting another tree, (Hanuman) summoning up
his best impetuosity, swiftly hit Akampana--foremost of Rakshasas--on
the head. And slain with that tree by that high-souled monkey-chief
wrought up with passion, that Rakshasa fell down and died.[174] And
seeing that foremost of Rakshasas--Akampana--slain (and lying) on the
ground,--the Rakshasas were extremely aggrieved, and (appeared) like
trees in an earthquake. And those Rakshasas defeated, leaving their arms
behind, made for Lanka in fear, pursued by the monkeys. And with their
hair flowing loosely, (the Rakshasas), afflicted with affright, and
despirited and beaten, fled fast, with the water of fatigue running down
their persons. And crushing down each other, they entered the city in a
panic, momentarily casting their looks behind them. When the Rakshasas
had entered Lanka, the exceedingly mighty monkeys, assembled together,
paid homage unto Hanuman. And Hanuman, gifted with strength, honored the
seniors each as he deserved in consideration of his lineage. And the
monkeys eager for victory shouted with might and main, and began to drag
the Rakshasas with the view of taking their lives. And that mighty
monkey--son unto the Wind god--having destroyed the Rakshasas and
arrived (in the midst of the host), attained heroic glory,--even as did
Vishnu, having slain that destroyer of enemies--the mighty and dreadful
Asura possessed of exceeding strength,--stationed in the van of the
forces. And then the deities and Rama himself and the highly powerful
Lakshmana, and also the monkeys headed by Sugriva, and Bibhishana
endowed with great strength, honored that monkey.
[173] Why plural? So it is, however, in the text.--T.
[174] This sentence, "And slain......and died" reads foolish. But the
original is answerable for--in logical parlance--this identical
proposition.--T.