Hearing the lamentations of the wicked-minded Ravana, overwhelmed with
grief, Triciras addressed him, saying,--"O Sire, this second uncle unto
us possessed of mighty prowess hath[240] forsooth been slain in fight.
But, O king, heroes never indulge in grief as thou doest O lord, thou
certainly alone art competent to conquer the triple world. Wherefore
then dost thou vent such sorrow like an ignoble one? Thou hast thy dart
conferred on thee by Brahma; and thy mail and thy weapon--the bow--and
thy car yoked with a thousand asses, sending forth clatter resembling
the rumbling of clouds. The deities and the Danavas have by means of thy
arms been terrified over and over again. And furnished with all arms,
thou ought to chastise Raghava. But stay at thy pleasure, O mighty
sovereign, I will go out to battle; and even as Garuda captureth
serpents, will I capture thine enemies. And as Samvara was vanquished by
the lord of the immortals, or Naraka by Vishnu, will I bringing down
Rama in battle make him sleep (in the field)". Hearing Triciras' words,
Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--urged on by Fate, considered himself as
having regained his life. And hearing the speech of Triciras, Devantaka,
and Narantaka, and the energetic Atikaya also, were wrought up with
martial enthusiasm. And then those foremost of Nairitas--the heroic sons
of Ravana--endowed with the prowess of Sakra himself--roared out, 'I
will go,' 'I will go.' And all could range the sky, and all were skilled
in illusion, and all were crushers of the pride of the immortals; and
all were irrisistible in encounter. And all of them were endowed with
superior strength, and all had achieved wide celebrity. They had never
been heard of as having been beaten in fight even by the gods along with
the Gandharvas, or the mighty serpents accompanied by the Kinnaras. And
all were skilled in weapons and heroic; and all were versed in warfare.
And all were possessed of the higher knowledge; and all had obtained
boons. And then the king surrounded by those sons of his, appearing like
celestials,--capable of injuring the force and fortune of the
foe,--looked splendid like Maghavan environed by the immortals, humblers
of the hauteur of mighty Danavas. And embracing his sons and adorning
them in ornaments,--he sent them to the field with his best
benedictions. And Ravana sent the brothers--Yudhyonmatta and Matta--for
protecting the princes in the field. And then, saluting the high-souled
Ravana--destroyer of creatures,--and going round him, those huge-bodied
ones marched forth. And furnished with every description of medicinal
herbs and perfumes, these six Nairitas--foremost of their kind--endowed
with great strength--burning for battle, marched forth,--Triciras and
Atikaya, and Devantaka and Narantaka, and Mahodara and Mahaparcwa went
out, urged on by Fate. Then Mahodara mounted the
elephant--Sudarcana--sprung in the race of Airavata, and resembling
dark-blue clouds. And accoutred in every weapon, and decked with
quivers, he looked splendid on his elephant like the Sun ascending the
crest of the Setting-hill. And Ravana's son--Triciras--ascended a car
yoked with excellent steeds, and furnished with every variety of arms.
And having ascended the car, Triciras bow in hand appeared beautiful
like a mass of burning clouds having lightning and meteors, and crowned
with Indra's bow.[241] And dight with three diadems, Triciras looked
splendid in that superb car, like the monarch of mountains Himavan--with
the three golden hills. And then that foremost of all bowmen--the
powerful Atikaya--son unto the lord of Rakshasas--ascended the best of
cars having excellent wheels and _akshas_, and yoked with excellent
steeds,--and furnished with bottoms and holes; flaming with quivers and
bows; and bristling with _pracas_ and swords and blugdeons. And adorned
with a crown plated with wrought gold and (other) ornaments, he looked
like the Meru swimming in its own splendour And that powerful son of the
king surrounded by the Nairitas looked lovely on that car like the
thunder-handed (Deity) engirt by the immortals. And Narantaka mounted a
white steed resembling Uchchaicrava, caparisoned in gold, having a large
frame and endowed with the velocity of the Wind. And taking a _praca_,
Narantaka appeared like the energetic Guha mounted on the peacock,
grasping his dart. And taking a bludgeon decked in golden ornaments,
Devantaka resembled Vishnu at the time of the churning of the ocean,
holding the Darbhya,[242] and staying burthening (the earth). And the
powerful Mahaparcwa endowed with terrific energy, taking his mace,
appeared like Kuvera holding in his hand a mace in the encounter. And
like immortals issuing out of Amaravati, they marched out with elephants
and steeds and cars sending out clatter resembling the rumbling of
clouds. And them followed high-souled Rakshasas equipped with
mighty-arms. And those sun-bright high-souled princes decked with
diadems appeared splendid like burning planets in the firmament. And the
various gorgeous attires which they had worn resembled rows of cranes in
the sky, looking like autumnal clouds. Resolved on dying or conquering
the foe in fight, those heroes sallied out seeking encounter. And those
high-souled ones, incapable of being repressed in fight, roared and
shouted and discharged shafts and held them. And the earth shook as they
sent up leonine roars and struck at their arms with their hands; and the
sky seemed riven with the leonine roars of the Rakshas. And issuing out
cheerfully, those foremost of Rakshasas endowed with great strength
beheld that monkey-army staying with upraised rocks and stones. And the
high souled monkeys also saw that mighty host of Rakshasas thronging
with elephants, horses and cars, and ringing with hundreds of bell-lets;
resembling dark-blue clouds; upraising mighty arms; and environed on all
sides by Nairitas resembling flaming fire. And seeing that force
advance, the monkeys, finding opportunity, upraising giant crags,
momentarily set up shouts. And thereat, the Rakshasas, incapable of
bearing those shouts, shouted in reply unto the monkeys. And again the
monkeys shouted unto the Rakshas, who were unable to put up with that
cry. And hearing that loud shout of the monkey-leaders, the mighty
Rakshas incapable of bearing that noise expressive of
exhilaration,--shouted still more dreadfully. And then diving into that
dreadful Rakshasa army, the monkey leaders began to range it with
uplifted rocks,--like unto mountains. And equipped with trees and
stones, the monkeys enraged, ranged the Raksha army, now rising into the
sky. and now coming down to the earth. And some among the powerful
monkeys went about taking broad-shouldered trees. And the encounter that
took place between the thronging Rakshas and monkeys was something
terrific. And (the monkeys) began to pour a wonderful shower of trees
and rocks and cliffs. And the monkeys of dread prowess were resisted
with vollies of shafts. And in the contest the monkeys and Rakshasas
emitted leonine roars. And monkeys crushed Yatudhanas with rocks, and,
wrought with rage, (they) in the encounter slew (Rakshasas) covered with
armour and ornaments; and some slew heroes mounted on cars and elephants
and steeds. And the monkeys on a sudden slew heroic Yatudhanas. And smit
with mountain-peaks on their persons, and with their eyes falling off,
the foremost of Rakshasas moved, dropped down, or roared in the scene of
conflict. And the Rakshasas (on their part) pierced the foremost of
monkeys with sharpened and keen darts and clubs and scimitars; and slew
them with darts and _pracas_. And, eager for bringing down each other,
the monkeys and the Rakshasas with their persons, washed with the blood
of their antagonists felled each other. And in a moment the earth was
covered with crags and swords discharged by monkeys and Rakshasas,--and
was drenched in gore. And the field was blocked up with scattered
mountain-like Rakshas influenced by martial ardour,--mangled by their
enemies. And the monkeys thrown down and felled by means of broken crags
and monkeys[243] and arms and legs,--waged a wonderful war. And those
foremost of Nairitas slew monkeys with (the dead bodies of monkeys); and
the monkeys smote Rakshasas with (the dead bodies of) Rakshasas; and the
Rakshasas slew (the monkeys), hurling rocks and crags. And snatching
away their own arms by main force, the monkeys finished Rakshas; and
they slaughtered them with mountain-peaks, and also wounded each other.
And the monkeys and Rakshasas emitted leonine roars in the encounter.
And the Rakshasas, slain by the monkeys, having their mail and defence
for the body rent, bled like unto trees exuding sap. And in that
encounter, some among the monkeys destroyed cars with cars, elephants
with elephants, and steeds with steeds. And the Rakshasas rived the
trees and rocks of the foremost monkeys by means of _Kshurapras_ and
crescents and sharpened _Bhallas_ and arrows. And in that encounter, the
earth became impassable, having been scattered with crags baffled and
severed trees and (warriors) slain by monkeys and Rakshas. And those
monkeys, equipped with various weapons, and with their vigor unworn,
entering upon the conflict casting off fear,--cheerfully putting forth
efforts springing from pride of spirit, warred on with the Rakshasas.
And in that fearful conflict, which was being waged, on the monkeys
having been exhilarated and the Rakshasas having been brought down, the
Maharshis and the deities sent up shouts. Then mounted on a charger
endued with the celerity of the Wind, and grasping a whetted dart,
Narantaka entered into that fierce army of monkeys, like a fish diving
into the deep. And that hero by means of an effulgent bearded dart
pierced seven hundred monkeys; and at one time the high-souled enemy of
Indra slew the army of the foremost of monkeys. And the Vidyadharas and
Maharshis saw that high-souled one mounted on horseback, ranging the
monkey-ranks. And his course was discovered, miry with flesh and blood
and blocked up with mountain-like monkeys fallen. And when the monkeys
set their hearts on displaying their prowess, Narantaka, baffling them,
pierced them with shafts. And he consumed the monkey-army, like fire
burning a forest. And when the wood-rangers uprooted trees and crags,
they slain by bearded darts dropped down like mountains riven by the
thunder. And raising a glowing _praca_, the powerful Narantaka began to
range about in the rear[244] of the forces; dashing everywhere (against
the foe) in fight, like the wind in the rainy season. And the heroes
could not appear prominently, or keep their posts. And how could they
then move freely? And that one endued with prowess pierced everyone,
whether springing, or staying, or moving. And broken through by a single
_praca_, resembling the Reaper, and furnished with solar effulgence, the
monkey-ranks began to roll on the earth. And the monkeys were ill fitted
to bear the impetus of that _praca_ having the touch of thunder itself;
and they raised a loud cry. And the appearances of those monkey-heroes
falling were like mountains toppling, having their summits riven with
the thunder-bolt. Those high-souled and powerful monkeys that formerly
had been brought down by Kumbhakarna,--having recovered, were present
with Sugriva in this encounter. And Sugriva, looking around, saw that
monkey-army flying in all directions, agitated with the fear of
Narantaka. And after seeing the army in flight, he saw Narantaka
himself, advancing, wielding a _praca_, and mounted on a steed. And as
soon as he saw (that hero), the exceedingly energetic lord of
monkeys--Sugriva--addressed the heroic prince Angada, endowed with
strength equal to that of Indra, saying,--"Go against this heroic
Rakshasas that is mounted on a steed; and speedily deprive of life that
one who is devouring up the ranks of his foes". Hearing his master's
speech, Angada descended from that host resembling clouds, like the
powerful Sun himself. And resembling a mass of crags, Angada--foremost
of monkeys--adorned with _Angadas_, appeared beautiful like a mountain
with metals on it. And weaponless himself, and furnished only with nails
and teeth, Vali's son attacking Narantaka, said,--"Stay! What shalt thou
do with these interior monkeys? This _praca_, having the feel of the
thunder-bolt, do thou hurl at my heart itself". Hearing Angada's words,
Narantaka was fired with wrath. And knawing his upper lip with his teeth
and sighing like a serpent, Narantaka, wrought with wrath, approached
Vali's son. And then whirling his _praca_, he suddenly discharged that
flaming (weapon) against Angada. And then it was snapped on the breast
of Vali's son, resembling the thunder-bolt, and dropped to the earth.
And seeing the _praca_ broken in pieces, like a powerful snake severed
by Suparna, Vali's son, raising his hand, dealt a slap at the head of
his (Narantaka's) steed. Thereat, with his legs sinking down and his
eye-balls coming off and his tongue hanging down, and wearing the look
of a mountain,--on being smit with that slap, Narantaka's steed fell
down to the ground, with its head lying at random. And Narantaka seeing
his charger slain and fallen, was seized with a furious wrath, and
raising his clenched fist, that one endowed with exceeding great energy
in that conflict hit Vali's son on the head. Thereat Angada having his
head wounded by that blow, warm blood gushed out plentifully. And
momentarily burning and momentarily swooning, he, regaining his senses,
was amazed. Then Vali's son, the high-souled Angada clenching his fist
into a blow resembling Death itself in energy, and like unto a
mountain-peak, let it descend on the chest of Narantaka. Thereat, with
his breast riven and broken down, vomitting flames and having his body
bathed in blood, Narantaka dropped down to the earth, like a hill
shattered by the impetus of the thunder-bolt. And on Narantaka of
exceeding prowess having been slain by Vali's son in battle, there arose
a tremendous uproar in the firmament from the wood-rangers and the
foremost of celestials. And Angada having performed that difficult deed
of prowess, capable of delighting the mind of Rama, was seized with
amazement;[245] and that one of terrific feats in fight was again
inspired with delight in the encounter.
And seeing Narantaka slain, the foremost of Nairitas--including the
three-headed Devantaka and Pulastya's descendant, Mahodara,--began to
cry (in chorus). And then the vehement Mahodara, mounted (on horseback),
rushed against Vali's son endued with energy. And aggrieved in
consequence of the calamity that had befallen his brother, the strong
Devantaka grasping a dreadful bludgeon, darted against Angada. And
ascending a car resembling the Sun yoked with superb steeds, the heroic
Triciras rushed against Vali's son. Then charged by those three powerful
Rakshasas--crushers of the hauteur of immortals, Angada uprooted a tree
furnished with gigantic branches. And as Sakra hurleth the mighty
flaming thunderbolt, that hero--Angada--at once hurled against Devantaka
that mighty tree having giant branches. And Triciras cut off that tree
in pieces by means of shafts resembling serpents. And seeing the tree
severed, Angada darted up; and[246] then that foremost of monkeys
showered crags and trees. And all those Triciras wrought with wrath cut
off by means of whetted arrows; and Mahodara snapped those trees with
the end of his bludgeon. And then Triciras rushed against that
hero--Vali's son--with shafts; and Mahodara chased him,[247] mounted on
an elephant; and struck Angada in the chest with _tomaras_ resembling
the thunder-bolt. And Devantaka, enraged advancing, hit Angada with his
bludgeon, and then, endowed with velocity, he swiftly turned away. And
attacked simultaneonly by those three powerful Nairitas, the exceedingly
energetic son of Vali possessed of prowess, did not feel any pain. And
that impetuous one incapable of being conquered, summoning his utmost
vehemence, rushing on, pealt a slap at his[248] mighty elephant. And
thereat the elephant fell down in his very sight and expired. And then
pulling out his tusks, the highly powerful son of Vali, darting against
Devantaka, dealt him a blow therewith in that encounter. And thereupon
that strong one overwhelmed like a tree buffetted by the wind, began to
discharge blood profusely, looking like the hue of lac. And then
cheering him, the exceedingly energetic and powerful Narantaka,
violently whirling his bludgeon with might and main, hit Angada with it.
And albeit struck with the bludgeon, the son of the lord of monkeys,
going down on his knees, again darted up. And as he sprang up, Triciras
hit at the temples of the son of the king of monkeys with three
straight-speeding terrific shafts. And seeing Angada assailed by the
three redoubtable Rakshasas, Hanuman and Nila proceeded (to his rescue).
Then Nila hurled a mountain-top at Triciras; and thereat that son of
Ravana severed it with sharpened arrows. And that mountain-top on being
riven, dropped down, aflame and shooting out sparks of fire. And seeing
him[249] yawning in joy, the stalwart Devantaka in that encounter
pursued the Wind-god's son with his bludgeon. And as he rushed on, that
foremost of monkeys--Hanuman--dealt on the crown of his head, a blow
resembling the thunder-bolt itself. And the mighty and heroic son of the
Wind-god hit (at his antagonist); and that redoubted monkey also with
his roars made the Rakshasas tremble (in fear). And thereat with his
head crushed and cleft, and his teeth and eyes falling out, and his
tongue hanging down, that son unto the sovereign of the Rakshasas
suddenly dropped to the earth, deprived of life. On that fierce and
mighty Rakshasa warrior--that foe of the immortals--having fallen in
fight, the Three-headed one, waxing wondrous enraged began to shower
terrific sharpened shafts on Nila's chest. And Mahodara, getting
enraged, again swiftly mounted an elephant like the ray-furnished (Sun)
mounting Mandara. Then even as a mass of roaring clouds poureth down
showers enwheeled with levin on a mountain, he showered arrows right on
Nila's breast. Thereat showered with those shafts, that leader of
monkeys Nila with his person pierced, had his body riven and was
stupified by that exceedingly powerful one. Then that (monkey) possessed
of tremendous vehemence, having regained his senses, uprooting a crag
with a whole tract of trees, struck it at Mahodara's head. And struck by
that mighty enemy, Mahodara, broken down by the impetus of that rock,
deprived of his senses, dropped down dead on the ground, like a cliff
smit with the thunder-bolt.
Seeing his uncle slain, Triciras took up his bow; and inflamed with fury
pierced Hanuman with whetted arrows. And thereat the Wind-god's son,
enraged, hurled a mountain-peak (at his adversary). And Triciras by
means of keen arrows severed the same in shivers. And seeing the
mountain-peak baffled, the monkey in the encounter began to shower trees
on Ravana's son. And Triciras endowed with prowess by means of sharpened
shafts cut off that descending arrowy shower in the sky and shouted (in
delight). Then Hanuman flying into a fury, bounding to the welkin, with
his nails ripped the steed of Triciras, even as a lion cleaveth a
powerful elephant. Then taking a dart even as the Destroyer employeth
the Fatal Night, Ravana's son--Triciras--discharged it at the offspring
of the Wind-god. Thereat catching the dart of resistless course as it
descended from the sky, the powerful monkey snapped it and then shouted.
And seeing that dreadful dart broken by Hanuman, the monkeys,
transported with delight, sent up shouts, even as clouds rumble. Than
upraising his sword, that foremost of Rakshasas--Triciras--brought it
down on the breast of the monkey-chief. Overpowered with the sword-blow,
Hanuman--son unto the Wind-god,--endowed with energy, dealt the
Three-headed one a slap on the head. And smitten with that slap, the
highly powerful Triciras, with his hands and attire dropping off, fell
down to the earth, deprived of consciousness. Then that mighty monkey
resembling a hill broke his sword as he fell, and roared, terrifying all
the Rakshasas. But not brooking that uproar, that night-ranger sprang
up; and springing up, he dealt a blow at Hanuman. And at that blow, the
redoubtable monkey was wrought up with wrath; and inflamed with rage, he
smote that foremost of Rakshasas about his diadem. And then with a sharp
sword the Wind-god's son cut off his heads decked with diadems and
furnished with ear-rings; even as Sakra had severed the heads of
Tashtri's son.[250] Thereat even as burning stars, loosened, drop down
from the course of Indra, the large organs of sense, and eyes flaming
like glowing fire, and heads of that foe of Indra, dropped down to the
ground. On Triciras--enemy of the immortals--having been slain by
Hanuman endowed with the prowess itself of Sakra, the monkeys shouted,
the earth shook, and the Rakshas began to fly on all sides. And seeing
Triciras and Yudhyonmatta slain and seeing also the irrepressible
Devantaka and Narantaka slain (in the encounter), that highly irascible
and powerful Rakshasa--Matta--was transported with passion, and then
took up a flaming mace entirely wrought with iron inlaid with gold;
frothy with flesh and gore; mighty to behold; gratified with the blood
of foes; with its end flaming in splendour; decked with red wreaths; and
capable of striking terror into Airavata and Mahapadma and
Sarvabhauma.[251] And flaming up like the Fire arisen at the end of a
Yuga, that foremost of Rakshasas--Matta--wrought with fury,--rushed
against the monkeys. Then the mighty and powerful
monkey--Rishabha--springing up before Ravana's son, stood before the
hosts of Matta. And seeing that mountain-like monkey staying before
(him), Matta, enraged, dealt him a blow on the breast. And smit with the
mace, that foremost of monkeys, with his breast riven and trembling,
began to bleed copiously. And regaining his senses after a long while,
Rishabha--lord of monkeys--inflamed with wrath, pouting out his upper
lip, gazed at Mahaparcwa.[252] And then impetuously approaching the
Rakshasa, that foremost of heroic monkeys resembling a hill, endowed
with vehemence, clenching his fist, suddenly smote him with a blow on
his breast. Thereat like a tree whose roots have been severed, he
suddenly dropped on the ground, covered with blood. And thereupon,
(Rishabha) swiftly snatched his dreadful mace resembling the rod of Yama
himself; and shouted. Only for a moment did he[253] remain like one
dead. Recovering his senses, the enemy of the immortals, looking like
evening clouds in hue, suddenly springing up, attacked the son of the
king of waters.[254] And thereat, he dropped down to the earth,
senseless. In a moment regaining his consciousness, he again bounded
up,--and whirling the mace resembling a peak of the foremost of
mountains, in that encounter dealt (Matta) a blow therewith. And
descending on the body of that dreadful one--the enemy of deities,
sacrifices and Vipras--that terrific mace rived his breast; and he began
to bleed profusely, even as the lord of mountains discharges minerals
and water. And taking the terrific mace of the high-souled (Matta) and
swinging it again and again, (Rishabha) rushed (against the Rakshasas).
And that high-souled one began to slaughter Matta's forces in the field.
And broken down by his own mace, Matta dropped down like a hill, with
his teeth and eyes shrivelled up; and he dropped to the earth deprived
of strength and life, with his eyes paling. And on that Rakshasa
falling, the Rakshasa forces began to fly. And on that brother of Ravana
having been slain, that host of Nairitas appearing like the ocean in
grandeur, leaving its arms behind,--solely for life rushed away, like
unto the deep riven (by the winds).
[240] _Evameva--forsooth_, as I render it. The commentator, however,
says it means _such as thou hast described him_.--T.
[241] The rain-bow is sometimes called _Indra's bow_ and at others
_Rama's bow._--T.
[242] The mountain Mandara which served as the the churning stick.--T.
[243] _i.e._ the carcasses thereof.
[244] _Sangramante_, I presume, means _rear of the forces_; although
literally it means, _at the conclusion of the conflict_,--because
this interpretation would not be proper, the battle being now at
its hottest.--T.
[245] Probably, _at his own prowess_.--T.
[246] The text has _Angada_, avoided for euphony.
[247] The text has Vali's son.
[248] Mahodara's.
[249] Triciras.
[250] Vicwarupa.
[251] Elephants of the cardinal points.--T.
[252] Otherwise called Matta.--T.
[253] Matta.
[254] Varuna.