Ram6 93

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 26 Aug 2011 13:37 and updated at 26 Aug 2011 13:37

VALMIKI RAMAYANA

Previous Index Next

BOOK 6: YUDDA KANDA

SECTION 93

That king, who was dejected and very much distressed, having entered the ssembly hall, sat on his pre eminent seat, snorting like a lion. That mighty Ravana, who was emaciated for his son s death, having joined both his palms in salutation, spoke the following words all those chiefs of army:

"Surrounded by the entire Elephants and Horses, as also graced with columns of chariots and foot soldiers, all of you march forward." "Encircling Rama alone, you have to kill him, by showering streams of arrows upon him, even as clouds pour showers during the rainy season." "Or I shall kill Rama, while the world is witnessing it tomorrow, once his limbs are torn by you with your sharp arrows in the great battle."

Having heard those words of Ravana, those Rakshasas sallied forth for the battle, along with various kinds of armies and speedy chariots. All those Rakshasas hurled iron clubs, sharp edged spikes, arrows, swords and axes capable of destroying the life. The Vanaras too hurled trees and mountains towards the Rakshasas. Towards sun rise, that very terrific battle became tumultuous between Rakshasas and Vanaras.

Those Vanaras and Rakshasas then began to strike each other with multi coloured maces, darts, swords and axes in the battle. While the battle was thus in progress, the surprisingly enormous dust was actually settled down by the streams of blood, proceeding from the Rakshasas and mokeys. With Elephants and chariots as their river banks, with Horses as their fish and with flag staffs as trees, rivers of blood gushed forth, carrying dead Then, all those Vanaras were drenched in streams of blood. Leaping and bouncing on the battle field, the Vanara chiefs broke off flag staffs, armours, chariots, Horses and various kinds of weapons.

With their sharp teeth and nails, the Vanaras tore off the hair, ears, eye brows and noses of the Rakshasas. A hundred Vanara chiefs rushed towards each single Rakshasa in the battle, even as Birds would rush towards a tree laden with fruits. Then, the Rakshasas resembling mountain in size, struck down the terrific Vanaras with large maces, darts, swords and axes.

The huge army of Vanaras, being struck down by the Rakshasas, sought refuge in Rama, the son of Dasaratha, who affords protection. Thereupon, Rama of great splendour and prowess, taking up his bow and entering the army of Rakshasas, streamed forth showers of arrows. Those highly terrific Rakshasas dared not approach Rama, having entered their ranks, was scorching them with the flame of his arrows, even as clouds would not approach the scorching sun in the sky.

Those Rakshasas saw the most terrible deeds only of Rama, when they were actually performed by him in the battle field, which were difficult to perform for others. Those Rakshasas could not actually see Rama, whle he was shaking their huge army and blowing away their great chariots, any more than one could see a gale of wind in a forest. They saw the army torn and pierced with arrows, as also scorched, broken down and tormented with missiles. They could not see Rama, who was so swift in his martial art. The Rakshasas could not behold Rama hitting their bodies, even as created beings are not able to see their individual souls resting in their sense objects.

"Here is Rama, killing the army of Elephants. Here is Rama, destroying great chariot warriors. Here is Rama, killing foot soldiers along with Horses with his sharp arrows". Saying so, all those Rakshasas struck one another with rage in the battle field those who were in similarity of appearance to Rama. Having been thrown into confusion by the great mystic missile presided over by the Gandharvas, those Rakshasas were unable to see Rama, even when he was scorching away their army. Those Rakshasas for their part saw thousands of Rama s in the battle field, while at other times, they saw only one Rama in that great battle.

Those Rakshasas for their part saw thousands of Ramas in the battle field while at other times, they saw only one Rama in that great battle. The created beings saw that Rama in the form of a discus, which was killing the Rakshasas on the battle field, like the Wheel" of Time", for its flame, the arrows for its spokes, his bow for the felly of the wheel, the twanging of the bow string and the clanging of the gauntlet for the sound produced for its revolution, his energy and the virtues for its radiance and the power of his mystic missiles for its edge. Within a matter of three hours, with his arrows looking like tongues of flames, Rama killed an army of Rakshasas, capable of changing their form at will, including ten thousands chariots possessing the swiftness of the wind, eighteen thousand strong Elephants, fourteen thousand Horses with their riders and a full two lacs of Rakshasas fighting on foot.

Those surviving Rakshasas, with their Horses killed, with their chariots destroyed, with thier flag staffs broken and with broken spirits, rushed back towards the City of Lanka. That battle field, with Elephants, foot soldiers and Horses killed, looked like a pleasure grave of the powerful and the enraged the lord of destruction. Then, the Devas along with Gandharvas, Siddhas and great sages acclaimed that feat of Rama, saying "well done, well done!". Then, the virtuous Rama spoke also to Sugreeva, Vibhishana, Hanuma the Vanara, Jambavan, Mainda the foremost of Vanaras and even Dvivida, who were in close proximity to him as follows "Such wonderful power of this missile exists either with me or with the three eyed Rudra the lord of destruction."

Rama, a compeer of Indra the great souled, unwearied in the use of weapons and missiles, having destroyed that army of Rakshasas, was applauded by the rejoiced troops of Devas.

Previous Index Next

Share:- Facebook

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License