Chapter 6(60)
The large number of rakshasas who had not been killed quickly went to Ravana and told him that the bulls among the rakshasas, Devantaka, Trishira, Atikaya and the others had been slain. Hearing that they had been violently killed, the king lost his senses and tears flowed from his eyes. Because of the terrible news of his sons being killed and the news that his brothers had been killed, the king thought for a long time. The king was distressed and was deeply submerged in an ocean of grief. Seeing this, Indrajit, the son of the king of the rakshasas, addressed him in these words. ‘O father! O Indra among the rakshasas! You should not lose your senses, not as long as Indrajit is alive. In a battle, a person who has been struck by the arrows of Indra’s enemy will find it impossible to protect his life. Today, you will see the bodies of Rama and Lakshmana mangled and pierced by my arrows. They will lose their lives and lie down on the ground. Their bodies will be completely pierced by arrows. Listen to the pledge taken by Shakra’s enemy. This is properly based on manliness and has fortune to back it up. Today, I will torment Rama and Lakshmana with a flood of arrows. Today, in the sacrificial ground used by Bali, Vishnu’s fierce enemy, Indra, Vaivasvata, Vishnu, Mitra, the Sadhyas, the Ashvins, Vaishvanara,252 the sun god and the moon god will witness my immeasurable valour.’ The enemy of Indra of the gods said this. Without his spirit being distressed, he sought the king’s permission. He mounted an excellent chariot that was like the wind in speed, yoked to excellent donkeys.
The immensely energetic one mounted a chariot that was like Indra’s chariot. The scorcher of enemies swiftly went to the place where the fighting was taking place. As the great-souled one proceeded, many extremely strong ones followed him. They were cheerful and wielded the best of bows in their hands. Some were mounted on the backs of elephants and some were astride excellent horses. They wielded spears, clubs, swords, battleaxes and maces. There were the blaring of conch shells and the terrible and loud noise of drums. Worshipped by the roamers in the night, the enemy of Indra of the gods departed. The slayer of enemies had a white umbrella, with the complexion of a conch shell or the moon. He was as radiant as the full moon in the sky. The brave one was fanned with golden whisks that were also decorated with gold. He was handsome and foremost among all archers, fanned by the best of whisks. Indrajit left Lanka, like the sun in his energy. In his valour, as radiant as the shining sun in the sky, he illuminated the city. He left, surrounded by that large army. Seeing this, Ravana, lord of the rakshasas, spoke to his handsome son. ‘O son! You have defeated Vasava and there is no charioteer who can stand before you, not to speak of a mortal human. You will slay Raghava.’ Having said this, the Indra among the rakshasas pronounced great benedictions over him.
The greatly energetic one, the destroyer of enemies, reached the field of battle. He stationed the rakshasas all around his chariot. His complexion was like the one who devours oblations.253 With the proper mantras, the best among rakshasas offered oblations into the fire. He prepared the oblations, with parched grain and clarified butter, and placed garlands and fragrances in front. The powerful Indra among rakshasas rendered these oblations into the fire. The weapons were used in place of reeds. Vibhitaka254 was used as kindling. There were red garments and ladles made out of iron. He spread out javelins like a bed of reeds and lit a fire. He grasped the neck of a live goat that was completely black. With the kindling that was offered, a fire without smoke resulted. From the signs, it was seen that victory would be obtained. The fire itself arose in personified form and, with flames that were like molten gold in complexion, circumambulated and accepted the oblations. He was supreme among all those who possessed knowledge of the brahmastra. He invited all the weapons to remain on his bow and his chariot. The weapons were invited and oblations were offered into the fire. The sun, the planets, the moon, the nakshatras and the firmament were terrified. Blazing in energy like the fire and like the great Indra in his powers, he offered oblations into the fire. With his bow, arrows, sword, chariot, horses and charioteer, he assumed the unthinkable form of remaining invisible.
In the great battle, he left his soldiers behind and quickly attacked the army of the apes. Remaining invisible, he shot nets of fierce arrows. These rained down, like water from dark clouds. Their bodies were mangled by Shakrajit’s255 arrows. They were struck by maya and screamed in hideous tones. In the battle, the apes were like mountains. However, they were brought down, like excellent mountains shattered by Indra’s vajra. In the battle, they could only see arrows that were sharp at the tips penetrate the soldiers of the apes. The rakshasa, the enemy of Indra of the gods, was deep in his use of maya and they were unable to see him. The great-souled lord of the rakshasas covered all the directions with innumerable arrows sharp at the tips. He shrouded the radiance of the sun and caused distress to the Indras among the apes. Spears, swords and battleaxes, resembling a blazing fire, pierced them. They were like raging fires, emitting sparks. This fierce shower rained down on the soldiers of the king of the apes. The leaders of the apes were struck by these blazing and sharp arrows. Afflicted by Shakrajit’s arrows, they were like blossoming kimshukas. They clung to each other and roared in hideous tones. The weapons of the Indra among the rakshasas mangled the bulls among the apes and made them fall down. Struck and with their eyes torn out, some looked up into the sky. Some leaned on each other and fell down on the ground. Hanumat, Sugriva, Angada, Gandhamadana, Jambavat, Sushena, Vegadarshina, Mainda, Dvivida, Nila, Gavaksha, Gaja, Gomukha, Kesari, Hariloma, the ape Vidyuddamshtra, Suryanana, Jyotimukha, the ape Dadhimukha, Pavakaksha, Nala and the ape Kumuda—all of them were struck with spears, javelins and sharp arrows, all invoked with Indrajit’s mantras. The supreme rakshasa pierced all those tigers among apes. The foremost leaders among the apes were mangled with clubs and pierced with arrows that were gold-tufted.
He next rained down arrows that are as radiant as the rays of the sun on Rama and Lakshmana. Rama’s beauty was supreme and he did not think about this shower of arrows, regarding it as no more than a shower of rain. However, looking at it, he spoke to Lakshmana. ‘O Lakshmana! This Indra among rakshasas, the enemy of Indra of the gods, is resorting to the brahmastra again. He is fiercely bringing down the soldiers of the apes. He is engaging with us and afflicting us with these arrows. The great-souled one has obtained a boon from Svayambhu. He is in the sky and has made his terrible form invisible. How can one fight against someone who doesn’t possess a body? How can one raise a weapon and kill Indrajit? I think that the illustrious Svayambhu cannot be thought of and this shows the power of his weapon. O intelligent one! Remain here with me and tolerate this shower of arrows now. This Indra among rakshasas has concealed himself and is enveloping all the directions with his nets of arrows. All the best among the valiant ones have fallen down and the army of the king of the apes is no longer resplendent. Let us fall down, unconscious. Let us abandon all anger and joy and withdraw from the battle. On seeing this, it is certain that this enemy of the immortals will return, having obtained success in the field of battle.’ At this, they allowed themselves to be struck by Indrajit’s nets of weapons. Having caused them distress in the field of battle, the Indra among rakshasas roared in delight. With Rama and Lakshmana, the soldiers of the king of the apes were suddenly immersed in misery in that encounter. He256 returned to the city protected by Dashagriva’s arms.
Chapter 6(61)
In the forefront of the field of battle, the soldiers and the leaders of the apes lost their senses. Sugriva, Nila, Angada and Jambavat did not know what they should do. Vibhishana was supreme among those who were intelligent and he saw that the soldiers were distressed. He spoke these unmatched words of assurance to the brave king of the apes. ‘Do not be frightened. This is not the time for despondency. The two noble ones are disabled and suffering because of the words uttered by Svayambhu.257 That is the reason they have succumbed to the net of Indrajit’s weapons. This supreme weapon was given by Svayambhu Brahma and its force is irresistible. The
two princes have shown it respect and have fallen down. This is not the time for despondency.’
Hearing Vibhishana’s words, the intelligent Maruti showed his respects to Brahma’s weapon. Hanumat said, ‘These spirited soldiers of the apes have been struck down. We must comfort those who are still alive.’ In the night, those two brave ones, Hanumat and the supreme among the rakshasas,258 roamed around in the field of battle, with torches in their hands. They had fallen down in every direction, with blood oozing from the wounds in their bodies. Their tails, hands, thighs, feet, fingers and heads had been mangled. The earth was strewn with fallen apes who were like mountains. Blazing weapons could also be seen, fallen down on the ground. Vibhishana and Hanumat also saw Sugriva, Angada, Nila, Sharabha, Gandhamadana, Jambavat, Sushena, Vegadarshina, Ahuka, Mainda, Nala, Jyotimukha, Dvivida and Panasa—brought down in the battle. Sixty-seven crores of spirited apes had been brought down by Svayambhu’s beloved weapon in the fifth part of the day.259
Hanumat and Vibhishana searched for Jambavat and looked at the army that had been afflicted by the arrows, resembling the terrible waves of the ocean. He was naturally old and aged and had been pierced with hundreds of arrows. Prajapati’s brave son260 was like a fire that had been pacified. Having seen and met him, Poulastya261 spoke these words. ‘You have been shattered by these sharp arrows. Are you still alive?’ Having heard Vibhishana’s words, Jambavat, bull among the bears, managed to utter these words with difficulty. ‘O Indra among the nairittas! O immensely brave one! I have recognized you through your voice. My body has been pierced with sharp arrows and I am unable to see you with my eyes. O nairitta! Anjana had an excellent son through the wind god. He is Hanumat, supreme among the apes. Is he still alive?’ Hearing Jambavat’s words, Vibhishana asked, ‘Ignoring the two noble ones,262 why are you asking about Maruti? O noble one! The supreme affection you have displayed towards the son of the wind god is not shown towards King Sugriva, Angada or Raghava.’ Hearing Vibhishana’s words, Jambavat replied in these words. ‘O tiger among nairittas! Listen to the reason why I asked about Maruti. If that brave one is alive, even if this army has been destroyed, we will be alive. If Hanumat has lost his life, even if we are alive, we will be as good as dead. O son!263 Maruti is like the wind. He is like the fire in his valour. As long as he is alive, there is still hope.’
At this, Hanumat, the son of the wind god, humbly approached the aged Jambavat and grasped his feet. The senses of the bull among bears were afflicted. However, on hearing Hanumat’s words, he thought that he had got back his life again. The immensely energetic Jambavat spoke to Hanumat. ‘O tiger among the apes! Come here. You must save the apes. There is no one else who possesses sufficient valour to be a supreme friend to them. This is the time to show that valour. I do not see anyone else. Bring joy to the brave armies of the bears and the apes. Free Rama and Lakshmana from their wounds and the stakes. O Hanumat! You must progressively travel beyond the ocean and go to the supreme spot, the Himalayas, best among mountains. O slayer of enemies! You will see the golden Mount Rishabha there, supreme among mountains, and also see Mount Kailasa. O brave one! In between those two summits, you will see a mountain that is full of herbs. It blazes and is unmatched in its radiance. It has all the herbs. O tiger among apes! You will see four herbs on the summit there. They blaze and illuminate the ten directions. These are the great herbs—mritasanjivani, vishalyakarani, souvarnakarani and sandhani.264 O Hanumat! You must get all of these and return swiftly. O son of the one who conveys fragrances!265 You will thereby comfort them and bring life back to the apes.’
Hearing Jambavat’s words, Hanumat, bull among the apes, was filled with strength, the way the ocean is filled with the force of the waters. He stood on the summit of the mountain266 and pressed down on that excellent mountain.267 The brave Hanumat was seen to resemble a second mountain. The mountain was shattered and suffered from the pressure of the ape’s feet. It suffered from that great burden and was incapable of bearing it. Suffering from the force exerted by the ape, the mountain blazed and fell down on the ground. Because of what Hanumat did, the peaks were shattered. As that supreme among mountains was whirled around, the apes were incapable of remaining there. The trees and the slopes of the mountain were crushed and shattered. In the night, Lanka was terrified. The large gates were whirled around and the houses and the turrets were shattered. It was as if the city was dancing. He was himself like a mountain on earth and crushed the earth. The son of the wind god agitated the earth, with all its oceans. As he pressed down on the mountain with his feet, his mouth resembled the mouth of the subterranean fire. He opened it wide and roared fiercely, terrifying the rakshasas. All the rakshasas in Lanka heard the extraordinary sound of his roar and because of their fear, were unable to move. Terrible in his valour, Maruti bowed down before Rama. For Raghava’s sake, the scorcher of enemies resolved to undertake this supreme task. He raised up his tail, which resembled a serpent. He bent his back and contracted his ears. He opened his mouth, like the mouth of the subterranean fire. With terrible force, he leapt up into the sky. As he leapt up, because of the force and speed of his arms and his thighs, clumps of trees, boulders, rocks and ordinary apes were lifted up, and when the momentum was lost, these fell down into the water. He stretched out his arms, which looked like the coils of serpents. With a valour that resembled that of the enemy of the serpents,268 the son of the wind god left for Meru, the excellent king of the mountains, seemingly dragging the directions away with his force. The garlands of waves in the ocean were agitated and all the creatures that dwelt there were severely hurled around. He was like the chakra released from Vishnu’s arm and as he swiftly departed, he looked at all this. Without any exhaustion, he traversed the path followed by the sun.
The best among apes suddenly saw the Himalayas, supreme among mountains. There were diverse kinds of waterfalls there. There were many caverns and springs. The beautiful peaks were like masses of white clouds. He reached the great Indra among mountains. There were tall and terrible peaks that rose up. He saw the great and sacred hermitages, populated by supreme and divine rishis. He saw Brahma’s treasure,269 the abode of silver,270 Shakra’s abode, the place where Rudra released his bow, Hayanana,271 the blazing Brahmashira,272 the servants of Vaivasvata,273 the abode of the vajra, the abode of Vaishravana,274 Suryanibandhana, which blazes like the sun,275 Brahma’s abode, Shankara’s bow and the navel of the earth.276 In the Himalayas, there was the excellent and lofty Mount Kailasa and the excellent, lofty and golden Mount Rishabha. He saw the Indra among mountains that had all the herbs. It blazed and was illuminated because of all the herbs. The son of Vasava’s messenger277 was amazed to see this, blazing like the rays of the fire. That Indra among mountains was filled with herbs and he started to search for the right herbs. The great ape had travelled across thousands of yojanas. The son of the wind god roamed around the mountain that was full of divine herbs. However, knowing that someone had come, all the great herbs on that excellent mountain made themselves invisible. Unable to see them, the great-souled Hanumat became enraged and roared loudly. He was intolerant and his eyes turned as red as the fire.
He addressed the Indra among mountains in these words. ‘O god! It is extremely evident that you do not have the least bit of compassion for Raghava. Behold the great strength of my arms today. O Indra among mountains! You will find yourself shattered.’ There were peaks, summits and trees on that mountain. There were thousands of minerals, including gold. He seized it with force and leapt up. The summit of the mountain was dislodged and the peaks fragmented. He uprooted it and leapt up into the sky, scaring the worlds and the Indras among the gods and the asuras. With a speed and force that surpassed that of Garuda, he proceeded, praised by many creatures who resided in the sky. He seized the summit, which was as radiant as the sun and resorted to the path followed by the sun. He was himself as radiant as the sun and approached the sun, resembling a second sun. That mountain was extremely radiant and the son of the one who bears
fragrances278 was himself like a mountain. He resembled the chakra, with one thousand edges, hurled with a great gust by Vishnu into the sky.
The Valmiki Ramayana Page 108