Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 13:33 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 13:33
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 6: YUDDA KANDA
SECTION 75
Then, Sugreeva of great majesty, the king of Vanaras spoke (the following) meaningful words to Hanuma, in order to inform him what they should do next.
Since Kumbhakarna and his four sons were killed, Ravana cannot give any defense now. Let those dexterous Vanaras, possessing the strength of Lions, taking torches in their hands, rush towards Lanka quickly, in order to set ablaze the abode of Ravana. Then at the sunset of that awful evening, those foremost of the Vanaras, went towards Lanka, with torches in their hands. When the troops of Vanaras, with torches in their hands, attacked Lanka on all sides, the diversely eyed Rakshasas who were holding the position of guards, suddenly fled away.
Those Vanaras, feeling gladdened, threw fire to the towering gates, attics, streets, various byways and mansions. Then, the fire consumed thousands of houses of Rakshasas. Mansions of mountainous forms fell down on the ground. Aloe, excellent sandalwood of great value, pearls, glossy gems, diamonds and corals were burnt there.
Linen, charming Silk, Blankets of Sheeps Wool, various kinds of Rams Wool, gold Ornaments and weapons were burnt there. The ornaments, saddles etc. of diverse and peculiar designs of Horses, the chains worn round the neck of the Elephants as also their girths and polished ornaments meant for the chariots were also burnt. Coats of mail of the warriors, the armour of the Elephants and Horses, swords, bows, bow strings, arrows, lances, goads and javelins were burnt there.
The fire raging on all sides burnt blankets and rugs made of the hair of animals, whisks made of the hair of the tails, the skins of Tigers, many Birds, palaces inlaid with pearls and gems and various kinds of stores of arms. Then, the fire burnt away many kinds of bright coloured houses of all Rakshasas, who were greedily desirous of their homes. The fire there burnt away hundreds and thousands of inhabitants of Lanka, who were protected by gold coloured armoury and decked with garlands, ornaments and garments, with quivering eyes due to inebriation, moving with lustful walking, who were seized with fury against their enemy, who carried maces, pikes and swords in their hands, who were eating and drinking too or lay fast asleep on splendid beds with their loved ones and who were decamping quickly to all sides, taking their sons with them, frightened and fearing up again and again. The fire there burnt away the houses, which were strong, very valuable, with profound qualities, decked in gold with moon shapes and crescent shapes, which rose high with their top rooms, provided all round with beautiful windows, furnished with seats coaches etc., decorated with gems and Corals, as though touching the sky, rendered noisy with notes of Herons, Peacocks, veena (the indian lute) and the jingling of ornaments as also appearing like mountains. Surrounded by fire, the arch ways shone like a collection of clouds bound by lightning, at the end of a summer season.
The houses, surrounded by fire shone like the peaks of a large mountain, ignited by a forest fire. Getting scorched in fire, beautiful women, while lying fast asleep in their seven storeyed mansions, gave up all connection with their ornaments and screamed loudly, saying ah! Alas! The houses too, surrounded by fire there, fell down like peaks of a great mountain, struck by the thunder bolt of Indra.
Those houses, while being burnt, shone, from afar, like the peaks of Himalayas being consumed by fire on all sides. That City of Lanka at night with its house tops being burnt ablaze with flames, looked like Kimshuka trees in full bloom. With their Elephants let loose by the superintendents of the Elephants and Horses too set free, Lanka was like an ocean, with roaming alligators in it at the end of a world cycle.
Here, seeing a Horse being let loose, an Elephant went back frightened. There, seeing a frightened Elephant, a Horse turned back with an alarm. While Lanka was being burnt, the great ocean, with its image reflected on its waters, assumed like a great sea with red waters. That City burnt by the Vanaras, within a short time, became transformed like the earth burning at the time of terrific dissolution of this world. The noise of the women folk, who were burnt by fire and covered with smoke, roaring loudly, was heard upto one hundred Yojanas (or eight hundred miles).
Then the Vanaras, eager to fight, bounced suddenly upon the other Rakshasas, whose bodies had been severely burnt and who rushed out (to save their lives). The loud noise made by the Vanaras and the cry of the Rakshasas caused resounding of all the ten quarters, the ocean and the earth. Healed of their wounds and unperplexed, both those great souled princes, Rama and Lakshmana seized hold of those two excellent bows.
Thereupon, Rama pulled his excellent bow, making a tumultuous twang, which struck terror in Rakshasas. Rama, drawing his great bow, was as shining at that time as Lord Shiva, stretching his bow, consisting of the Vedas in a great wrath (as at the time of dissolution of the universe). The twang of the bow string of Rama could be heard above both of those sounds. The sound of the Vanaras and the cry of the Rakshasas.
The raised voice of the Vanaras, the cry of the Rakshasas and even the twang of Ramas bow string these three sounds pervaded all the ten quarters. By the arrows released from Ramas bow, the main gate of that City looking like a peak of Mount Kailasa, tumbled down, shattered, to the ground. Thereupon, seeing Ramas arrows descending on seven storeyed mansions and other houses, the war preparedness of the leaders of Rakshasas got disturbed. To those Rakshasa leaders, who were preparing for the battle and emitting lions roars, that night became a night of final dissolution (presided over by Rudra, the lord of destruction).
The Vanara chiefs were commanded by Sugreeva as follows: O Vanaras! Approaching the nearest gate, begin to wage the war. Even though present at the scene of fighting, he among you who proves futile by an escape, should be overtaken and killed as he will be quality of disobeying the royal command. Seeing those Vanara chiefs, standing at the gate, with flaming torches in their hands, Ravana was enraged with fury. All the ten directions were distracted because of Ravanas act of disorderly movement of his body due to yawning and he looked like the wrath manifest in the limbs of Rudra appearing with a form.
The enraged Ravana sent both Kumbha and Nimkumbha, the sons of Kumbhakarna, along with a multitude of Rakshasas. By the orders of Ravana, Yupaksha, Shonitaksha, Prajangha and Kampana along with the aforesaid sons of Kumbhakarna set out for the battle. Ravana instructed all those mighty Rakshasas thus, O Rakshasas! Proceed now itself, bellowing a lions roar.
Incited by Ravana, the valiant Rakshasas then, wielding shining weapons and roaring repeatedly, sallied forth from Lanka. By the gleams of ornaments worn by their own natural splendour, those Rakshasas and Vanaras with their fires, made the sky fluorescent on all sides. The effulgence of the moon there, the light of the stars and the splendour of the ornaments of both the armies, while blazing, made the sky brilliant. The effulgence of the moon, the splendour of the ornaments and the fluorescence of the blazing planets made the armies of Vanaras and Rakshasas glitter on all sides.
With the flames of the half scorched houses there, the ocean on its part with its agitated waves mingled with water, shone abundantly. That army of Rakshasas was looking awful with flags and banners, with excellent axes shaped like swords, consisting of terrific Horses, chariots and Elephants, crowded with foot soldiers of every description, distinguished by shining pikes, maces, swords, spears, lances and bows, noted for its redoubtable valour and prowess, with shining lances and rendered noisy by hundreds of tiny bells (tied around chariots, Elephants etc), the arms of its warriors adorned with sets of gold ornaments, their axes being brandished, mighty weapons being waved about, arrows fitted to the bows and the whole atmosphere rendered fragrant by the abundance of sandal paste, garlands and wine. Seeing the army of Rakshasas, which came crowded with gallant warriors, thundered like a huge cloud which was difficult to assail, the army of Vanaras marched forth and made a loud noise.
That large army of Rakshasas on its part went springing forward with all speed, towards the hostile army, as moths towards a flame. The excellent army of those Rakshasas, in which iron clubs and the tips of missiles being brandished through the action of their arms, shone all the more brightly. Thereafter, the Vanaras desirous to fight there, striking the Rakshasas with trees, rocks and fists, jumped up as though frenzied.
Likewise, the Rakshasas with their terrific prowess instantly tore off the heads of those Vanaras bouncing upon them, with sharp arrows. The Rakshasas there strolled in the streets of Lanka, with their ears bitten off with teeth, their skulls smashed with fists and their limbs broken by crag blows. Even so, some Rakshasas with terrific form struck those chiefs among the Vanaras, with sharp swords, on all sides of the battle field. One warrior killed the one who was killing another, a second one threw down the one throwing down another a third one scolded another who was scolding the other one while a fourth one chewed the one chewing another.
There, one said Give me the blow. Another said, He is giving. Yet another said, I am giving some talked with one another, saying Wait. Why do you take pains? In that very terrific war between Vanaras and Rakshasas, some weapons were made futile. Some weapons were dug into armours. Long lances were lifted up. Fists, pikes, swords and spears were used as weapons of war. In the battle front, the Rakshasas killed Vanaras in tens and sevens. The Vanaras too threw the Rakshasas down in tens and sevens.
Catching hold of the army of Rakshasas, whose hair and raiments were kept in order with difficulty and whose armours and standards were thrown away, the Vanaras surrounded them on all sides.
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