Chapter XXVI: Section XXVII

As Khara was advancing before Rama, that leader of the army named Tricira, approaching him, said, "Do thou employ me, who am possessed of prowess; and thyself desist from this rashness. Behold the mighty-armed Rama brought down in battle. I swear (unto thee) truly; I touch this weapon, (to say) that I will slay Rama, who deserves to be slain by all the Rakshasas. Either I shall prove his death in battle, or he shall prove mine. Restraining thy martial ardour, do thou for a while become a witness. Either, joyed in consequence of Rama being slain, thou shalt repair unto Janasthana; or I being slain, thou shalt enter the field (against him)." Thus satisfied by Tricara, from his desire to meet with death, the latter, on being permitted with "Go," proceeded towards Rama. And like a hill with three summits, Tricira rushed towards Rama on an effulgent car yoked with steeds. And as a mighty cloud pours down shower, (Tricira) discharging vollies of shafts, uttered a roar resembling the sound of a wet kettledrum. And seeing that the Rakshasa Tricira was advancing, Raghava resisted (his attack) by discharging sharpened shafts. And that encounter of those exceedingly powerful ones, Rama and Tricira was fierce, like unto that between a lion and an elephant. Then struck on the forehead by a brace of shafts shot by Tricira, the wrathful Rama enraged, and inflamed with anger, said, "Ah! such is the strength of the heroic Rakshasas! I have been wounded in the forehead with shafts resembling flowers. Do thou also take the arrows shot from my bow." Saying this, (Rama) enraged, and influenced by wrath, wounded Tricira in the breast with fourteen arrows. And that energetic one by means of four shafts having their joints bent, brought down his four steeds. And by means of eight arrows (Rama) laid low the charioteer from the front of the car. And Rama with a shaft severed his upraised standard. Then as that ranger of the night was descending from his broken car, Rama pierced his breast with arrows,--and thereat he was stupified. Thereupon, that one of immeasurable prowess, out of anger by means of three shafts possessed of celerity, brought down Tricira's three heads. And that ranger of the night present in the field, afflicted by the shafts of Rama, after his heads had fallen first, fell, vomitting smoking gore. And the Rakshasas remaining after the rest had been slain, belonging unto Khara' s original forces losing heart, began to flee like deer terrified at a hunter. And seeing them fly, Khara waxing wroth, swiftly making them desist, darted towards Rama, like Rahu darting towards the Moon.