Chapter CIII: Section CIV

On being greatly harassed by Kakutstha in anger, Ravana, delighting in battle, came under the sway of a towering passion. And with his eyes aglow, that powerful one from wrath and fury assailed Raghava in mighty encounter. And even as clouds pour down from the sky on a pool, Ravana showered thousands of arrows on Raghava. And covered with vollies of shafts discharged from (Ravana's) bow in the conflict, Kakutstha like unto a mighty mountain did not shake. And that one endowed with prowess stood in the field, resisting those networks of arrows, and took up shafts resembling the rays of the Sun. Then the fleet-handed night-ranger, fired with rage, discharged a thousand arrows at the chest of the high-souled Raghava.--And thereat in that encounter Lakshmana's elder brother, with his body bathed in Mood, appeared like a mighty Kincuka tree in a forest. And with his ire aroused by the blows he received, the exceedingly energetic Kakutstha took up arrows resembling the Sun risen at the time of the universal dissolution. And in the darkness spread by the arrows (discharged), Rama and Ravana both fired with wrath could not be discovered of each other. Then that hero--Dacaratha's son--Rama, overcome with wrath, addressed Ravana, laughing, in a harsh speech, saying,--"Thou vilest of Rakshasas, in consequence of having through lack of sense carried off my wife from Janasthana and brought her under thy subjection, thou hast been deprived of thy prowess. Having forcibly carried away Vaidehi staying in that mighty forest, forlorn and without me, thou thinkest--'I am a hero.' Outraging the helpless wives of others,--doing this craven deed, thou thinkest--'I am a hero.' O thou having thy dignity destroyed! shameless wight! O thou of volatile character, having through thy violence brought destruction on thyself, thou thinkest,--'I am a hero.' A great and' famous act hath been performed by thee,--a hero, and the brother of the Bestower of riches, surrounded with thy forces! To-day receive the mighty fruit of that infamous act done through pride, productive of evil.[399] O wicked-minded one, thou thinkest of thyself--'I am a hero;' but thou that hast taken away Sita like a thief, hast no feeling of shame. Hadst thou forcibly outraged Sita in my very presence, thou, slain by my shafts, wouldst have seen thy brother--Khara. By luck, O thou of an evil soul, thou hast come within the range of my vision. To-day by means of sharp shafts shall I bring thee to death's door. To-day beasts of pray will drag thy head having burning ear-rings, severed by my shafts and covered with the dust of the battle-field. O Ravana, vultures will alight on thy breast, as thou wilt lie low on the ground; and, athirst, they will drink the blood gushing out from thy wounds. To-day fowls of the air will keep pulling at thee pierced with my shafts, and lying lifeless, as birds do serpents". Having spoken thus, that slayer of foes--Rama--showered arrows on the lord of Rakshasas, staying before. And the prowess and strength and spirits and force of arms of Rama burning for the destruction of his foe, were doubled. And all the Weapons[400] presented themselves before that one cognisant of self; and the fleet-handedness of that exceedingly powerful one increased immensely from exhilaration of spirits. Seeing all these auspicious omens coming of themselves, Rama, finisher of Rakshasas, set about smiting his foe more energetically than ever. And assailed with stones by the monkeys and showers of shafts by Raghava, the Ten-necked one felt his heart undergoing a revolution.[401] And when through the stupifaction of his inner self, he could not discharge any weapon, or draw his bow, or put forth his prowess, (Rama) did not persist in smiting him. And the shafts and various arms discharged by him betokened his death; and his last moments were present. And his charioteer, driving his car, perceiving this, calmly took the car away from the field of fight. And then, seeing the king shorn of prowess, and dropt, his charioteer, struck with fear, swiftly turned away his dreadful car having the clatter of clouds, and went away from the field of battle.

[399] Remarks Ramanuya, 'here and in the next world.'

[400] _i.e._ the presiding deities of them.

[401] _Vighurnahridayah:_ had his heart paralysed, according to the
commentator. I prefer the sense given as more graphic.--T.