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 56
Seeing that very great exploit executed by the chiefs of Vanaras in the battle, Akampana was seized with a fierce anger. Witnessing that work of the enemies, his features were distorted by anger and brandishing his powerful bow, Akampana addressed his charioteer in these words.
"Drive the chariot quickly to that place, for, those Vanaras are killing innumerable Rakshasas on the battle field." "Those arrogant Vanaras of terrific ferocity, armed with trees and rocks, dare to affront me here." "I wish to kill those andicious Vanaras, who are seen herassing all the army of Rakshasas."
Thereafter, in his chariot, drawn by fast moving Horses, Akampana the most skillful of chariot warriors, with a hail of darts, assailed the Vanaras from a distance. The Vanaras were no longer able to maintain their formation, much less fight in the battle. all of them were crushed under the shifts of Akampana and took to their heels. Seeing those companions, getting under the sway of death pursued by Akampana s darts, the mighty Hanuman went to their rescue.
Seeing Hanuman their great leader, all those valiant and the best of the Vanaras together rallied and grouped themselves boldly round him. Observing Hanuman s courage, those excellent Vanaras took shelter in his powerfulness and became powerfulness and became powerful indeed. Akampana, like Mahendra, assailed a hail of arrows on Hanuman, who remained as firm as a rock. Heedless of the flood of weapons that fell upon his body, the mighty Hanuman resolved in his mind to slay Akampana.
Laughing heartily that Hanuman, the son of Maruta the wind god and possessing a great splendour, leapt on the Rakshasa, causing the earth to shake as it were. As he roared burning with energy, the form of Hanuman became difficult to overpower, like a blazing fire. Knowing himself to be bereft of any weapon, Hanuman the excellent Vanara, with a rage, uplifted a mountain quickly.
That valiant Hanuman, seizing a very great mountain with one hand and letting up a roar, began to spin it rapidly. Thereafter, as formerly in an encounter Indra hurled his thunderbolt at Namuchi, Hanuman rushed towards Akampana. Beholding that crag flying towards him, Akampana shattered it even from a distance by means of his great crescent shaped arrows.
Seeing that rocky peak shatterd in the air by the Rakshasa s arrows and falling in pieces, Hanuman became mad with anger. Approaching an Ashwakarna tree as large as a mountain, in the transport of rage that possessed him, that Hanuman uprooted it speedily. Taking hold of that Ashvakarna tree with large branches, in his great strength, Hanuman with immense delight spinned it, while standing on the ground. Then, the highly enraged Hanuman began to run with great strides, breaking down the trees by his strength and tearing up the earth with his feet.
Hanuman struck down Elephants as also who rode upon them and charioteers with their chariots and the terrific infantry of Rakshasas. Seeing that Hanuman, like unto Yama the Destroyer of vital Breaths, full of wrath armed with a tree and taking off lives, the Rakshasas took of flight. The valiant Akampana, beholding that Hanuman who was enraged and rushing on, sowing terror among his soldiers, was greatly perturbed and set up a mighty shout.
With fourteen sharp arrows that tore the flesh, that Akampana pierced the highly valiant Hanuman. Riddled with sharp pointed shafts, that warrior Hanuman appeared like a mountain on which a number of plants shooted up. That mighty Hanuman of great strength with a large body shone like a fire without smoke and resembled a blooming Ashoka tree.
Thereafter, showing a great haste in uprooting another tree, Hanuman struck the head of Akampana the General of Rakshasas. Struck with a tree by that high souled and enraged Hanuman, that Rakshasa fell down and died. Seeing their leader Akampana lying lifeless on earth, all the Rakshasas trembled as the trees do during an earthquake. All those defeated warriors, throwing their arms, escaped in the direction of Lanka, terrified, pursued by those Vanaras.
Their hair loosened, bewildered, their pride broken by defeat, their limbs dripping with sweat, those Rakshasas fled, blowing out their breaths. Mad with fear, looking back again and again and crushing each other in haste, they entered the city. When those Rakshasas had entered Lanka, all the mighty Vanaras approached Hanuman and paid homage to him.
That Hanuman, of noble nature honoured all those delighted Vanaras, in accord with their rank and the occasion. The triumphant Vanaras shouted in accord with their nighty and once again dragged the Rakshasas who were still alive there on the battle field. That great Vanara, born of Maruta having encountered and killed the Rakshasas, enjoyed the same renown as Vishnu when he overcame the mighty and terrific Rakshasa of immense power destroying his enemies in the forefront of the battle.
Then, the troops of deities along with Rama himself, the exceedingly strong Lakshmana, Sugreeva and other Vanaras and the mighty Vibhishana paid homage to Hanuman.
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