Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 13:29 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 13:29
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 6: YUDDA KANDA
SECTION 54
The devastation of his army through Angada s prowess filled the mighty Vajradamshtra with anger. Stretching his terrific bow, like unto Indra s thunder bolt, he assailed the Vanara battalions with a flood of arrows.
Then, the foremost of the Rakshasas mounted on chariots, fought the battle with every kind of weapon. The Vanaras, those valiant bulls among the Plavagas, assembling on all sides, fought with rocks. Then in that battle there, the Rakshasas abundantly hurled thousands of weapons on the foremost of Vanaras. The Vanaras of mighty prowess, resembling Elephants in rut, showered down giant trees and huge lumps of rock on the Rakshasas.
Between those courageous warriors, the Rakshasas and the Vanaras, who never retreated in battle, a tremendous struggle ensued. Some Vanaras and Rakshasas, with their shattered heads, but bereft of arms and legs, lay on the earth bathed in blood with their bodies wounded by weapons, a prey to Herons Vultures and Crows or devoured by troops of Jackals. Vanaras and Rakshasas fell on the battle field headless trunks leaps up to the terror of all the fearful, their limbs hacked to pieces in the combat.
Thereafter, under the eyes of Vajradamshtra, all his army of Rakshasas were killed and broken up by the Vanara troops. Seeing the Rakshasas terrified with fear and decimated by the Vanaras, that powerful Vajradamshtra, his eyes red with anger, bow in hand, penetrated the army of Vanaras, sowing panic among them. Thereafter, in his fury, the vigorous Vajradamshtra dispatched those Vanaras with arrows resembling wings of an eagle that flew straight to their target and pierced seven, eight, nine or five of his opponents simultaneously, thus destroying them.
With their limbs crippled by those arrows and frightened, those Vanara battalions sought refuge with Angada, as all creatures with Brahma the Lord of Creation. When he beheld those Vanara troops fleeing in disorder, Angada the son Vali exchanged glances of hatred with Vajradamshtra. Both Vajradamshtra and Angada fought against each other like a lion and an Elephant in rut. They strolled din a tremendous fury. Thereafter, that Vajradamshtra knocked the mighty Angada at his vital organs with his arrows resembling hundred thousand flames of fire.
With all his limbs drenched in blood, the mighty Angada having a terrific prowess threw a tree on Vajradamshtra. That unperplexed Rakshasa, seeing that tree falling on him, cut it into innumerable pieces which fell in heaps on earth. Witnessing the strength of Vajradamshtra, Angada that lion among the Vanaras seized hold of a large rock and emitting a shout, threw it on him.
As the rock descended, that vigorous Vajradamshtra leaping down from his chariot, armed with his mace, stood waiting unperplexed, on the battle field. Meanwhile, the rock thrown by Angada, falling into the forefront of the battle, then crushed the chariot with its wheels shafts and Horses Thereafter, Angada the Vanara, seizing another large peak of a mountain adorned with trees, threw it on Vajradamshtra s head.
Beginning to vomit blood, Vajradamshtra became fainted, clenching his mace convulsively and breathing heavily for a moment. Regaining his consciousness, Vajradamshtra the Rakshasa was very much enraged and hit Angada full on the chest with his mace. Leaving his mace, he performed a pugilistic encounter there. Both the Vanara and the Rakshasa thus hit each other in that combat. Exhausted by the blows, spitting blood, those valiant warriors were like the planets Mars and Mercury.
Then, Angada the lion among the Vanaras, possessing a great splendour, uprooted a tree full with many flowers and fruits and stood waiting. The Rakshasa too seized hold of a shield covered with the hide of a bull as well as a great beautiful sword decorated richly with a multitude of golden bells. Thirsting for victory, the Vanaras and the Rakshasas, making roaring sounds, roamed about in different ways and collided with each other.
With their gaping wounds, they shone like a pair of kimshuka trees in blossom. Exhausted were both of them while fighting and they sank their knees on the earth. Angada, the foremost of the Vanaras, just after a moment, with his glittering eyes, rose up like a serpent struck with a stick. The mighty Angada assaulted the giant head of Vajradamshtra with a well sharpened and stainless sword.
Struck by the sword, that charming head of Vajradamshtra, with his limbs drenched in blood and eyes rolling, fell into two pieces. Seeing Vajradamshtra having been slain, the Rakshasas, deluded with fear, fled panic stricken towards Lanka, harassed by the Vanaras with their down cast faces, their heads bowed in shame. The mighty Angada experienced a great joy amidst the Vanara forces, honoured by them for his high courage and he resembled the Lord of a Thousand Eyes surrounded by the Devas.
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