Chapter CVI: Section CVII

Then the charioteer fully drove with speed Ravana's car, capable of bringing down the hosts of foes, resembling in form a city of the Gandharvas, having elevated streamers, yoked with surpassingly superb steeds, engarlanded in gold; stocked with war-like implements; furnished with ensigns and standards; appearing to devour the welkin; making the earth herself resound; destructive to hostile hosts; and filling its own party with delight. And as it speedily descended, the monarch of men beheld that Rakshasa-king's resounding car, having huge standards, yoked with black chargers, and endowed with fierce splendour; as if flaming in the firmament; having the resplendance of the Sun himself; with thronging lightning pennons; displaying the glow of Indra's weapon;[457] showering arms; and resembling rain-charged clouds. Seeing the enemy's car resembling a mass of clouds having a chatter resembling the sounds sent by a cleaving mountain rived by the thunder, Rama, vehemently drawing his bow curved like the infant moon, addressed Matali--charioteer unto the thousand-eyed (deity),[458] saying,--"O Matali, behold the enraged chariot of my foe as it courseth on. From the furious speed with which he is again wheeling at my right, it appeareth that he hath set his heart on slaying me in encounter. Do thou therefore heedfully drive the car right against the vehicle of my foe. I wish to destroy this one even as the wind scattereth clouds that have appeared. Do thou with all thy wits about thee, without trepidation, and holding thy heart as well as thy eye in calmness, swiftly drive the chariot ruled by the reins. Worthy of Purandara's car, thou ought not to be taught by me. Desirous of encounter and my whole soul bent on fight, I simply remind thee--not teach thee". Pleased with these words of Rama, the excellent celestial charioteer--Matali--drove the car. Then leaving Ravana's mighty car on the right, he enveloped Ravana with the dust raised by the wheels. Thereat the Ten-necked one, enraged, with his eyes coppery and dilated (in passion), covered with arrows Rama staying in front of his car. Enraged at the smiting, Rama, with his ire aroused, but summoning up patience, took up in the encounter the bow of Indra endowed with exceeding vehemence; as well as highly impetuous shafts having the resplendance of the solar rays. And then there began a furious encounter between those (two) eager for slaying each other; confronting each other like unto flaming lions. And then desirous of destruction of Ravana,--celestials with Gandharvas, and Siddhas and supersaints assembled to go to behold the encounter taking place between the two cars. And for the destruction of Ravana and the success of Raghava, there occurred round about the cars terrible bodements capable of making people's down stand on end. The god poured down showers of blood on the car of Ravana; and a violent tornado eddied on his right. And a mighty swarm of vultures, wheeling in the heavens, pursued the car wherever it moved. And Lanka was enveloped with evening resembling the red _java_ flowers and even in day appeared ablaze. Lightnings and firebrands accompanied by a terrible sound began to fall down on all sides. And beholding these omens inauspicious unto Ravana all the Rakshasas were greatly sorry. And wherever Ravana moved the earth shook and the hands of all the Rakshasas fighting were as if paralysed. The copper coloured, the yellow, the red, and the white rays of the sun falling before Ravana appeared like melted metals of a mountain. And the jackals followed by vultures, vomitting forth fire and casting their looks at him, began to emit inauspicious cries. And in that battle-field the unfavourable wind began to blow raising dust and obstructing the vision of the king of Rakshasas. On the Rakshasa host on all sides dreadful lightnings were showered without the sound of the clouds. All the quarters were enshrouded with darkness and the welkin became invisible being covered with darkness. And setting up a dreadful quarrel hundreds of terrible _Sharikas_[459] began to fall down on his chariot. The horses emitted forth sparks of fire from their hips and tears from their eyes. These and various other dreadful omens arose there announcing the destruction of Ravana. And there appeared on all sides many an auspicious and good sign intimating the approach of Rama's victory. And beholding all those auspicious marks announcing Rama's success, Lakshmana was greatly delighted and considered Ravana as slain. Thereupon beholding all those auspicious signs, Raghava, well qualified to decipher them attained an excess of delight and became anxious to display a greater prowess.

[457] The rain-bow.

[458] Indra.

[459] A kind of bird (Turdus Salica, Buch).