Ram6 42

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 13:26 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 13:26

VALMIKI RAMAYANA

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BOOK 6: YUDDA KANDA

SECTION 42

Then, the Rakshasas there, approached Ravana and informed him that the city had been besieged by Rama along with his Vanaras.

Hearing that the city has been attacked, Ravana exhibiting his anger, doubly made the necessary arrangements for the war and ascended his mansion. That Ravana caught a glimpse of the city of Lanka, with its mountains, groves and forests all being covered by innumerable troops of Vanaras, waiting for war. Seeing the earth made all brown with innumerable Vanaras, Ravana in great perplexity reflected: How can they be exterminated?

Having pondered for long, regaining his confidence and with his eyes widened by surprise, Ravana gazed on Rama and his troops of Vanaras. Full of delight, Rama passed forward (on the back of a Vanara) along with his army and saw Lanka being guarded on all sides and thronged with Rakshasas. Seeing that city of Lanka duly decorated with banners and flags, Rama remembered Seetha with a distressed heart.

He said to himself, Here is that daughter of Janaka, whose eyes resemble those of a fawn, tormented with grief, emacitated, with a bare ground as her bed and suffering here on my account. Reflecting on Seetha being troubled, the virtuous Rama speedily issued a command to the Vanaras to destroy the enemies forthwith. Hearing those words of Rama, who was unwearied in action, the Vanaras vying with one another filled the air with their roaring resembling those of lion. We shall tear asunder this Lanka with mountain peaks or with fists alone. thus resolved all the Vanara generals.

Lifting up mountain peaks and huge rocks and plucking up various kinds of trees, the Vanara generals stood prepared (for the attack). In order to fulfill Ramas cherished desire, those troops, forming themselves into columns, began to scale the heights of Lanka, while Ravana stood gazing. Those Vanaras, of golden hue with coppery countenance, fighting with Sala trees and mountain peaks, marched ahead towards the city of Lanka, ready as they were to lay down their lives in Ramas service.

Those Vanaras demolished innumerable defensive walls and arches with blows from trees, mountain tops and fists. The Vanaras filled the moats containing clear water with sands, mountain tops, grasses and logs of wood. The commanders scaled the walls of Lanka, taking with them battalions of Vanaras in thousands, in crores and even hundreds of crores.

The Vanaras stood tearing up the golden arches and breaking down the gates that equaled the peak of Kailasa the mountainous abode of Shiva the Lord of Destruction. The Vanaras who resembled great Elephants hurled themselves towards that Lanka, springing, leaping and roaring. The Vanaras, who were able to change their form at will, shouting Victory to the mighty Rama and the valiant Lakshmana! Victory of Sugreeva protected by Raghava! and roaring, rushed towards the defensive walls of Lanka. Those Vanara generals Virabahu, Subahu, Nala and Panasa, having position on them. Meanwhile, they formed an encampment of a multitude of military divisions there.

The mighty Kumuda, surrounded by a crore of Vanaras, who behaved like conquerors, stood besieging the eastern gate (while remaining stationed in north east). Surrounded by other Vanaras, a Vanara called Prasabha and the mighty armed Panasa too up their position, in order to assist Kumuda himself. The strong and valiant Vanara, Shatabali accompanied by twenty crores of Vanaras, approached the southern gate (while remaining stationed in south east) and stood there, to obstruct the exit.

The mighty Vanara named Sushena, the father of Tara (Valis wife), going to the western gate (while remaining stationed in the south west) surrounded by crores and croes of Vanaras, stood besieging that gate. Rama along with Lakshmana and Sugreeva the mighty lord of the Vanaras, seeking the northern gate (while remaining stationed in the north west) stood besieging that gate. Accompanied by a crore of Rikshas having terrific rage, Dhumra (brother of Jambavan, the king of Rikshas) of great prowess and the annihilator of enemies, took up his position by the side of Rama.

Vibhishana of great energy with mace in hand, clad in defensive armour and accompanied by his watchful ministers, took his position where the mighty Rama is stationed. Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sharabha and Gandhamadana, galloping on all sides, defended the army of Vanaras. Ravana the lord of Rakshasas with his mind filled in anger, then commanded for the decamping of the entire army immediately. At this command coming from Ravana lips, a tremendous clamour arose among the Rakshasas.

By beating with sticks of gold, the Rakshasas stirred up on every side, kettle drums whose discs were white as the moon. Hundreds and thousands of sonorous couches blared forth, blown with their cheeks extended to the full, by the most ghastly Rakshasas. With their handsome limbs equipped with couches, those rangers of night shone like clouds bordered with lightning accompanied by rows of cranes.

The battalions rushed forth under Ravanas instructions like the rushing forth of the ocean, which is swollen by the clouds, at the time of universal dissolution. Then, from every side a clamour, arose from the army of Vanaras, which filled Malaya mountain with its ridges, plains and caves. The sound of couches and drums made by the Rakshasas and the leouine roars of those Vanara warriors re echoed over the earth, sky and sea.

With the trumpeting of Elephants, the neighing of the Horses, the clattering of the chariot wheels and the sounds of the foot steps, the sound of the couches reechoed over the earth, sky and sea. In the meantime, a terrible struggle ensued between the Rakshasas and the Vanaras, as in the former times between Devas and Asuras. Exhibiting their native prowess, the Rakshasas began to strike all the Vanaras with their flaming maces, spears, harpoons and axes. Then, the gigantic Vanaras swiftly struck those Rakshasas with trees, mountain tops, nails and teeth Victorious is king Sugreeva thus arose a loud war cry.

Then, some other terrifying Rakshasas on their part, shouting Be winsome! Be victorious!, proclaimed their own respective names. While some Rakshasas standing on walls hacked at the Vanaras standing on the ground (below) with hooks and harpoons. The enraged Vanaras, who wee standing on the ground, leapt into the air and dragged down the Rakshasas stationed on the walls by seizing them with their arms. That tumultuous combat between Rakshasas and Vanaras transformed into a wonder, leaving a mire of flesh and blood.

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