Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Aug 2011 11:42 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 11:42
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 32
Having crossed the mount Kailasa, the highly powerful Dasagriva, with his army, reached the region of Indra. And there arose in the region of Devas an uproar from the Rakshasa army, like unto the sound of the agitated deep. Hearing of the arrival of Ravana, Indra shook on his throne and said to the assembled gods, Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas and Maruts Prepare yourselves, for fighting with the vicious souled Ravana.
Being thus addressed by Sakra, the Devas, his equals in the encounter and gifted with great prowess, armed themselves for fight. And Mahendra, afraid of Ravana, poorly went to Vishnu and gave vent to the following accents: How shall I, O Vishnu, withstand, the Rakshasa Ravana? The highly powerful Rakshasa hath come here for battle. It is by virtu of the boon that he is powerful, not for any thing else.
It is proper to make the words uttered by Brahma, truthful. As resoting to thy prowess I destroyed Namuchi, Vritra, Bali, Naraka and Samvara, so do thou make some arrengements (for his destruction). There is no other excellent refuge but thee in the three worlds, mobile and immobile, O lord, O god of god O slayer of Madhu.
Thou art the graceful, ever existing Narayana, having a lotus navel. By thee the worlds have been settled and myself and Sakra, the lord of the celestial. Thou hast created the three worlds, the mobile and immobile, and in thee all these shall, O glorious deity, end at the time of dissolution.
Do thou tell me, the truth, O god of god that I may myself fight; or do thou, with thy sword and discus, vanquish Ravana." Being thus addressed by Sakra the lord Naranaya; said "Do not fear, hear what I say He is invincible by vitue of the boon, and that vicious souled one is incapable of being vanquished even by the Devas and Asuras. Irrepressible by virtue of his prowess, that Rakshasa, with his son, shall accomplish a mighty object.
O lord of Devas, even if I am requested by thee, I shall not withstand the Rakshasa, Ravana in the conflict. Without slaying the enemies in the encounter, Vishnu doth never go back but it is hard to fulfill my desire from Ravana, well protected by the boon. However I do promise before thee, O lord of the Devas, O performer of hundred sacrifices, I shall, soon become the cause of this Rakshasa s death.
I shall soon destroy Ravana with his family in due time and afford delight unto the Devas. I speak the truth unto thee, O king of the Devas, O lord of Sachi; do thou divested of fear, fight, O thou gifted with great strength, along with the Devas." Thereupon having issued out of the city, Rudras, Adityas, Vasus, Maruts and Aswins well armed with mails, appeared before the Rakshasas.
Meanwhile at the latter part of the night there was audible the uproar of Ravana s army fighting on all sides. Having got up and cast their looks upon one another the highly powerful Rakshasas waited there for the battle, delighted. Thereupon beholding that inexhaustible huge army at the commencement of the battle the celestial host lost heart.
Thereupon there ensued a conflict, setting up a terrible sound, with various weapons between the Rakshasas and Devas. In the interval issued out for encounter the heroic and grim visaged Rakshasas Ravana s councillors. And encircled by Maricha, Prahasta, Mahaparshva, Mahodara, Akampana, Nikumbha, Suka, Sarana, Sanghrada, Dhumaketu, Mahadangstra, Gathodara, Jambumali, Mahahrada, Virupaksha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Durmukha, Khara, Trisira, Karaveeraksha, Suryashatru Mahakaya, Atikaya, Devantaka, Narantaka, all those gifted with great prowess, there entered the battle field, the highly powerful Sumalin, Ravana s maternal grandfather.
And with various sharp pointed weapons, he, highly angered, began to assail the Deva host like unto the winds scattering clouds. Being thus distressed by the night rangers the host of the gods led away into diverse directions like a herd of deer attacked by a lion. In the meantime, entered the battle field, the heroic and brave Savitra, the eighth Vasu, encircled by soldiers and stricking terror into the hearts of the enemies.
And the two Adityas the highly powerful Tushtha, and Pusha united and undaunted, entered the arena. Thereupon there arose with Rakshasas a terrible encounter of the Devas unable to bear their fame in battle. Then the Rakshasas, with thousands of terrible weapons, began to belabour the Devas in the encounter.
And the Devas, as well, began to send the redoubtable, powerful and terrific Rakshasas, with the stroke of blameless weapons, to the abode of Death, In the interim, O Rama, a Rakshasa, Sumalin, by name, getting enraged and with diverse weapons, ran amock of the soldiery, the winds scatter clouds, so, he, under the .influence of rag with various sharpened weapons, committed a havoc amongst the celestial soldiers. Thereupon being assailed by a downpour of huge shafts, maces, Prasas and diverse dreadful weapons, the Devas could not keep their ground upon the field of warfare.
The Devas being thus distressed by Sumalin the eighth Vasu Savitra stood there enraged. And encircled by his own car warriors that highly powerful on with his prowess, repulsed the stricking night rangers. Thereupon there arose a terrible encounter, capable of making down erect, between Sumalin and the Vasu, who did not retire from the field of battle.
His chariot drawn by Nagas was pulled down and destroyed by the high souled Vasu by means of his huge shafts. Having destroyed his car in the warfare with hundreds of arrows Vasu took up mace in his hands for his destruction. Having taken up that mace having a burning head and resembling the rod of Death Savitra struck Sumalin on his head therewith.
Having fallen on his head that mace shone like a fire brand as the thunder bolt, discharged by Indra, falls roaring on the summit of a mountain. By the stroke of that mace his person was reduced to ashes and therefore there was not seen in the battle field either his bone, head or flesh. Having beheld him slain in the warfare the Rakshasas bewailing ran about on all sides and being distressed by Vasu they could not stay in the battle field.
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