The Ramcharitmanas 3

by Tulsidas

  Hearing this, his fury increased.

  ‘Knowing you to be old, fool, I let you be,

  And now, vile wretch, you dare challenge me?’

  So saying, he let fly a glittering trident.

  Jamvant caught it in his hand, and, rushing forward,

  Struck Meghnad with it on the chest

  So that killer of gods reeled and fell to the ground.

  Then, in his fury, he took him by the foot, and, swinging him around,

  Dashed him to the ground, showing him his strength.

  But as a result of the boon granted him, he did not die—6

  So Jamvant seized him by the foot and tossed him into Lanka.

  At this point, the divine rishi Narad sent Garud,

  Who rushed at once to Ram’s side.

  The lord of the birds caught and devoured

  The swarm of false serpents created by Meghnad’s maya.

  Freed of delusion, the monkey troops

  All rejoiced.

  (74A)

  Armed with mountains, trees, rocks and claws,

  The furious monkeys rushed forth.

  The demons retreated in utter confusion,

  And fled into the fort.

  (74B)

  Meanwhile, Meghnad awoke from his swoon,

  And seeing his father there, felt deeply ashamed.

  He went at once to a deep mountain cave,

  Resolving to perform a sacred sacrifice for victory.

  Meanwhile, Vibhishan, reflecting, gave Ram counsel,

  ‘Hear me, O incomparably mighty and generous king.

  Meghnad, that deceitful scoundrel and tormentor of the gods,

  Is performing an unholy sacrifice.

  If, Lord, he successfully completes it,

  Sire, he will not be easy to overcome.’

  Raghupati was greatly pleased to receive this information,

  And summoning Angad and various other monkeys, he said,

  ‘Go with Lakshman, all of you,

  Destroy Meghnad’s sacrifice.

  And you, Lakshman, you must slay him in battle,

  For it grieves me deeply to see the gods so terrified.

  Kill him by means of your strength or your wit,

  But make sure, brother, that the demon is destroyed.

  Jamvant, Sugriv, Vibhishan,

  Remain by his side, all three, with your troops.’

  When Raghubir had completed his orders,

  Lakshman, resolute in war, fastened his quiver at his waist and strung his bow,

  And, holding the majesty of the Lord in his heart,

  Spoke in a voice as deep as rumbling rainclouds.

  ‘If I return today without slaying him,

  May I be no longer called Raghupati’s servant.

  Even if a hundred Shankars help him,

  I will kill him in Raghubir’s name.’

  Bowing his head at Raghupati’s feet,

  Anant set forth at once.

  With him were Angad, Nil, Mayand, Nal

  And the mighty warrior, Hanumant.

  (75)

  When the monkeys arrived, they saw him sitting there,

  Making an offering of blood and buffaloes.

  The monkeys destroyed the sacrificial ceremony,

  But when he did not rise, they began to taunt him.

  When he still did not stand up, they went up to him, and, grabbing him by the hair,

  Kicked him again and again and ran away.

  At this, he seized his trident and rushed at them, and the monkeys fled,

  Leading him to where stood Ram’s brother, Lakshman.

  Driven by immense rage, he came on,

  With deep and terrible roars.

  Hanuman and Angad rushed at him in fury,

  But he struck them on the breast with his trident, and threw them to the ground.

  He let fly his terrible trident at the Lord,7

  But Anant shot it with his arrow and broke it in two.

  The Wind’s son and the monkey prince rose up again,

  And struck him again in fury, but their blows could do him no injury.

  Despite their every effort, the enemy refused to die, and as the monkey warriors fell back,

  Meghnad rushed at them with a dreadful shout.

  Seeing him come, like Death enraged,

  Lakshman let loose his fierce shafts.

  At the sight of the arrows approaching like bolts of lightning,

  The scoundrel at once became invisible.

  He fought assuming diverse forms,

  Sometimes revealing himself, sometimes disappearing.

  Seeing their enemy undefeated, the monkeys were afraid.

  Then Lakshman, the serpent king incarnate, grew exceedingly wrathful,

  And firmly made up his mind,

  ‘I have played with this sinner enough!’

  Recalling the majesty of Koshal’s king,

  He haughtily fitted an arrow to his bow,

  And let it fly—the arrow struck Meghnad in the centre of his breast,

  And in the moment of his death, the Rakshasa gave up all deceit.

  Calling ‘Where is Lakshman? Where is Ram?’

  He gave up his life’s breath.

  ‘Blessed, blessed is your mother!’

  Cried Angad and Hanuman.

  (76)

  Effortlessly, Hanuman picked him up,

  And laying him down at Lanka’s gate, returned.

  When the gods and Gandharvas all heard of his death,

  They mounted their chariots and gathered in the sky.

  They rained down flowers and beat their drums,

  And sang of Raghunath’s unblemished fame.

  ‘Victory to Anant, victory to the support of the universe!

  Lord, you have delivered all the gods!’ they cried.

  After singing their songs of praise, the gods and Siddhas departed,

  And Lakshman presented himself before the ocean of mercy.

  When Dashanan heard of the slaying of his son,

  He fainted and fell to the ground that instant.

  Mandodari wept and wailed aloud,

  Beating her breast and lamenting unceasingly.

  The people of the city were distraught with grief,

  And all declared Ravan a despicable wretch.

  Then the ten-headed one tried to console

  All his wives in every way he could.

  ‘The whole universe is transitory—

  Consider, and realize this in your hearts.’

  (77)

  Ravan gave them wise counsel—

  Though a wretch himself, his words were good and pure.

  There are many who are good at giving advice to others,

  But those who act in accordance with their own advice—such men are not many.

  The night ended and day broke,

  And the bears and monkeys again attacked the four gates.

  Dashanan summoned his warriors and said,

  ‘If there is anyone whose heart flinches at facing battle,

  It is best that he runs away now,

  For there is no virtue in turning and fleeing in the midst of the fight.

  It is relying on the strength of my own arm that I have continued this war,

  And I will take care of any enemy who attacks us.’

  So saying he made ready his chariot, swift as the wind,

  And all the musical instruments of war began to play.

  The heroes, all of unequalled might, set forth

  Like a raging storm of blackness.

  Innumerable ill omens occurred at that time,

  But he took no account of them, so great was his pride in the strength of his arm.

  So great is his pride he does not heed the omens, good and bad.

  Weapons slip from his hands,

  Warriors fall from their chariots, and elephants

  And horses break free and run away screaming.

  Jackals, vultures, crows and donkeys
call

  And great packs of dogs loudly bark,

  While owls, as though messengers of death,

  Give their most terrifying cries.

  Can one intent upon the destruction of created beings, in the grip of delusion,

  Hostile to Ram, and devoted to the pleasures of the senses,

  Expect prosperity, or omens of good fortune,

  Or peace of mind, even in dream?

  (78)

  The vast demon force set forth,

  A fourfold army, complete in all its divisions.

  There were chariots and vehicles of every kind,

  With banners and flags in many colours,

  Innumerable battalions of furious elephants marching forward,

  Like dark clouds driven by the wind in the rainy season,

  And legion after legion of warriors, clad in uniforms of various colours,

  Valiant in battle and well-versed in delusive tricks.

  The magnificent demon host shone resplendent

  As though heroic Spring had mustered his army.

  As it marched forth, the elephants of the eight quarters stumbled,

  The ocean seethed and mountains swayed,

  Dust rose so that the sun was hidden,

  The wind stopped, and the earth grew weary.

  War drums beat with a dreadful sound,

  Like the thundering of storm clouds on the final day.

  Kettledrums, trumpets and clarinets played

  Warlike music that pleased the warriors.

  The heroes roared like lions all,

  And each proclaimed his might and valour.

  Said Dashanan, ‘Hear me, noble warriors,

  Pulverize the bear and monkey hordes,

  And I myself will slay the princes, the two brothers!’

  So saying, he ordered his army forward.

  When the monkeys heard that his army was advancing,

  They rushed forth to meet it in Raghubir’s name.

  Huge and terrifying as death

  The monkeys and bears rush forth

  Like hosts of winged mountains flying,

  Of diverse shades and hues.

  With claws, teeth, huge rocks and enormous trees

  For weapons, they are strong and powerful and know no fear,

  And proclaim the glory of Ram, the lion

  To the mad elephant that is Ravan.

  With shouts of ‘Victory! Victory’ from both directions,

  The warriors each chose their match

  And closed in combat,

  One side praising Ram, the other side Ravan.

  (79)

  Seeing Ravan in a chariot and Raghubir on foot,

  Vibhishan grew apprehensive.

  Great love filled his heart with doubt,

  And bowing at the Lord’s feet, he lovingly said,

  ‘Lord, you have no chariot, no armour to protect your body, and no shoes for your feet—

  How will you conquer that powerful warrior?’

  ‘Listen, dear friend,’ replied the abode of mercy,

  ‘The chariot that leads to victory is a different one.

  Valour and fortitude are the wheels of that chariot,

  Truth and goodness its unwavering banners and flags,

  Strength, discernment, self-restraint and altruism its horses,

  With forgiveness, compassion and equanimity their harness.

  The worship of Shiv is its skilful charioteer,

  With dispassion his shield, contentment his sword,

  Charity his battle-axe, intellect his fierce javelin,

  And supreme wisdom his unyielding bow.

  A clear and steady mind is his quiver,

  Equability, abstinence and religious observance his various arrows,

  And homage to Brahmans and to his guru his impenetrable armour.

  There are no other means to victory equal to these.

  Dear friend, he who has such a chariot of righteousness

  Has no enemy to conquer anywhere.

  Listen to me, my grave and steadfast friend—

  The warrior

  Who has such a powerful chariot,

  Can conquer even the great and unconquerable enemy that is this existence.’

  (80A)

  Upon hearing the Lord’s words, Vibhishan

  Joyfully clasped his lotus feet.

  ‘You have taken this opportunity to give me a lesson in wisdom,

  O Ram, accumulation of mercy and bliss!’

  (80B)

  From one side Ravan defiantly called and taunted,

  From the other, Angad and Hanuman.

  The demons against the bears and monkeys, each side

  Fought the other invoking its own lord.

  (80C)

  Brahma and the other gods, and numerous Siddhas and munis,

  Mounted upon their chariots, watched the battle from the sky.

  I, too, was with them, Uma,

  Watching Ram’s exploits upon the field of battle.

  The warriors on both sides were drunk on war—

  The monkeys were winning for they had Ram’s might with them.

  With shouts of defiance, each closed in single combat,

  Crushing his adversary and grinding him into the ground.

  They beat, they bite, they seize, they throw,

  They tear off heads and hurl those heads as missiles.

  They rend stomachs, rip out limbs,

  Grab feet and dash warriors to the ground.

  The bears buried the demon warriors in the earth,

  And over them piled great heaps of sand.

  The valiant monkeys battling the enemy

  Looked like innumerable forms of furious Death incarnate.

  The monkeys shone like furious Death incarnate,

  Their bodies streaming with blood.

  They crushed the mighty warriors of the demon army

  And roared like storm-cloud thunder.

  They threatened them and beat them,

  Tore at them with their teeth, and crushed them underfoot.

  Yelling and shouting, the bears and monkeys used strength

  And every stratagem to diminish the demon host.

  They tore out their cheeks, ripped open their bellies

  And hung their entrails around their own necks

  As though Prahlad’s Lordxiv had assumed multiple bodies

  And was amusing himself on the battlefield.

  Dreadful cries of ‘Seize! Kill! Bite! Throw!’

  Filled the earth and sky.

  Glory to Ram, who can in truth turn a blade of grass into a thunderbolt,

  And a thunderbolt into a blade of grass!

  When he saw his own army in disarray,

  Ten-headed Ravan mounted his chariot,

  And, armed with ten bows in his twenty arms,

  Set forth proudly to rally them, urging them to return to the fray.

  (81)

  In greatest fury, Dashkandhar rushed forth,

  And the monkeys, with warlike whoops, advanced to meet him.

  Taking in their hands trees, rocks and boulders,

  They flung them, all together, at him.

  The massive boulders struck his adamant-hard body,

  And shattered at once into tiny pieces.

  He did not flinch, but stopping his chariot, stood as firm as a mountain,

  The war-drunk Ravan, terrible in his anger.

  This side and that he assailed and attacked the monkey warriors,

  Crushing and killing them, and growing ever more furious.

  The numerous bears and monkeys fled

  Crying, ‘Save us, save us, Angad, Hanuman!

  Protect us, save us, Lord Raghubir!

  This Rakshasa is devouring us like Death!’

  When Ravan saw all the monkeys in flight,

  He fitted an arrow to each of his ten bows.

  Fitting the arrows to his bows, he let loose a fusillade—

  They flew and struck like
snakes.

  The arrows filled the earth and sky in each and every direction—

  Where could the monkeys run?

  A terrible uproar arose amongst the panic-stricken monkeys and bears,

  Who called out in frantic despair,

  ‘O Raghubir, ocean of mercy! O friend of the distressed!

  O Hari, protector of your devotees!’

  Seeing his own army distraught,

  Lakshman tightened his quiver at his waist, took his bow in his hand,

  And, after bowing his head at Ram’s feet,

  Set forth in great wrath.

  (82)

  ‘Vile wretch! You kill monkeys and bears, do you?

  But now look at me, I am your doom!’

  ‘I have been searching for you, you killer of my son!

  Today I will soothe my heart by killing you.’

  So saying, Ravan let loose his terrible arrows.

  Lakshman shattered them all into a hundred pieces.

  Countless missiles did Ravan hurl at him,

  But Lakshman warded them off by reducing them to the size of sesame seeds.

  He then assailed him with his own arrows,

  Broke his chariot and killed his charioteer.

  He shot a hundred arrows at each of his ten heads—

  They lodged there like serpents boring into mountain peaks.

  Then with a hundred arrows more he struck him in the breast—

  Ravan fell to the ground, insensible.

  Reviving, the mighty Rakshasa rose

  And let fly the spear given him by Brahma.

  That terrible spear, Brahma’s gift,

  Struck Anant full in the breast.

  The hero, wounded, fell to the ground. Dashmukh tried

  To pick him up, but failed—so much for the glory of his matchless strength!

  He upon whose head rests the entire universe

  As lightly as a grain of sand—

  It was him that that fool Ravan tried to carry off!

  He did not recognize the king of the three worlds.

  Seeing Lakshman lying upon the ground, the Wind’s son rushed forward,

  Hurling harsh words at Ravan.

  But as the monkey came near,

  He struck him a dreadful blow with his fist.

  (83)

  The monkey fell to his knees, but did not fall to the ground.

  Recovering, he stood up again, full of rage,

  And struck Ravan such a blow with his fist,