Having leapt over the wall, the exceedingly powerful and gigantic
Kumbhakarna resembling a mountain-summit, speedily went out of the city.
And then he sent up a mighty shout making the sea resound, and as if
drowning the roar of the thunder and riving mountains. And seeing that
fierce-eyed one, incapable of being vanquished by Maghavan or Varuna or
Yama, the monkeys began to fly away. And seeing them scamper, the king's
son--Angada--said unto Nala and Nila and Gavaksha and the mighty
Kumuda,--"Forgetting your lineage and prowess, whither do ye, exercised
with fear, fly,--like inferior monkeys? Ye amiable ones, desist. Why
should ye save yourselves? This Raksha doth not come to fight,--this is
only a great phenomenon to affright. We shall by our vigor destroy this
fearful phenomenon of the Rakshasas that hath presented itself.
Therefore, let the monkeys desist. Cheered with much ado, the monkeys
rallying, took up trees and advanced to the field of fight. And ceasing
from flight, the wood-rangers waxing enraged, began to assail
Kumbhakarna, like unto elephants in rut. And the exceedingly strong[221]
Kumbhakarna, attacked with towering mountain-peaks and crags and trees
with flowering top, did not shake. And countless crags descending on his
person, were shattered; and trees with flowering tops, being broken,
fell down to the earth. And incapable of containing himself (through
rage), Kumbhakarna on his part fell to agitating the ranks of the
powerful monkeys, even as a fire breaking out burneth down a forest. And
many a prime monkey, crimsoned and drenched (with blood) lay down (on
the ground); and many, resisted dropped to the earth, like trees bearing
coppery flowers. And without looking before or after, the monkeys
bounded and rushed. And on being attacked by the Rakshasa with ease some
of those heroes dropped into the deep, and some entered the wilderness.
And some ran by the same way by which they had crossed the ocean; and
some with pale faces darted into downs. And some of the bears ascended
up trees, and some took shelter in mountains. And others dropped[222]
down; and some ran on. And some fell down to the earth, and some lay
insensible[223] as if dead. Seeing the monkeys break down, Angada
addressed them, saying,--"Stay we shall fight. Desist, ye monkeys. Going
round this Earth place find I none where ye may rest. Stop ye all. What
is the need of preserving your lives. Ye poltroons, if ye fly away
leaving your arms behind, your wives shall deride you; and that is more
painful to honorable persons than death itself. Born in long and noble
lines, whither go ye, suffering from fear, like abject monkeys? When
renouncing your prowess, ye fly away in fear, forsooth ye are base.
Where now is gone that talk of yours anent your nobility and the welfare
(of your king) which you had held in society. He that liveth, despised
(of all), hear the reproach of being a craven. Therefore do ye follow
the way frequented by the worthy, and cast off fear. We will either lie
down on the earth, being slain in consequence of our shortness of days,
and thus attain the region of Brahma incapable of being attained by
dastards; or achieve renown by slaying the foe in fight and slain in
battle, we shall enjoy the wealth of the region of heroes. Like an
insect coming to a glowing and flaming fire, Kumbhakarna, seeing
Kakutstha, shall not away hence living. If we save our lives by flight,
and if the many are brought down by one, we shall lose our fame
utterly". As Angada decked in golden _angadas_ was saying this, the
monkeys, flying away spake onto that hero words not worthy of being
spoken unto an hero,--"Great is the havoc that the
Rakshasa--Kumbhakarna--hath spread amongst us. 'Tis not the time to
stay: life is dear unto us". Having said this the monkey-bands darted to
the ten cardinal points; as they saw that dreadful and grim-eyed one
approach. And as those flower of the forces were on the flight, those
heroes were made to desist by Angada with words of comfort and hope
pointing to the future. On being cheered by the intelligent son of Vali,
all the monkey-bands stood expecting his commands.
[221] _Mahavalah--plu_--evidently a misprint for _mahavalah_--sing.--T.
[222] _For fighting_, remarks the commentator.
[223] _Suptah--sleeping_; but here, I presume, it means _senseless_.--T.