Chapter XIV: Section XIV

Hearing the words of the lord of Rakshasas, as well as the thundering of Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana addressed the Rakshasa chief, in a pregnant speech, fraught with his welfare,--"Thou hast been bound about thy neck by the mighty and huge serpent, Sita, having her breast for its body anxiety for its venom, smile for its sharp fangs, and her five fingers for its hood. Therefore before the monkeys, resembling mountain-peaks, having teeth for their arms and nails for their weapons,--subjugate Lanka, do thou render Maithili unto Dacaratha's son. And before the shafts shot by Rama, resembling the thunder-bolt and having impetuosity of the wind, cut off the heads of the foremost of the Rakshasas, do thou render Mithila's daughter unto the son of Dacaratha. Neither Kumbhakarna nor Indrajit, neither Mahaparcwa nor Mahodara, neither Nikumbha nor Kumbha nor yet Atikaya, O king, can stay in the field against Raghava. Living, thou, whether thou art protected by the Sun or the winds, or throwest thyself into the lap itself of Vasava, or enterest the sky or the nether spheres, shall not escape death". Hearing Vibhishana's words, Prahasta said,--"Fear know we none whatever from the celestials, or Danavas, or Yakshas, or Gandharbas, or huge snakes; fear know we none in battle with birds and serpents. How can fear at all afflict us proceeding from the king's son, Rama? Hearing Prahasta's speech, Vibhishana, seeking the welfare of the king, and having his intellect grounded in virtue, interest and profit, said words enfolding high sense,--"O Prahasta, like a sinful person being unable to ascend heaven, what the king, Mahodara, thou, and Kumbhakarna, are saying with reference to Rama, shall not prove true. As one without a raft cannot cross over the mighty main, how can I, or thou, or all the Rakshas combined, cause death unto Rama, who, O Prahasta, is versed in the sense of things. Even the gods become stolid before the sovereign of the Ikshwaku race, having righteousness for his principle quality, and being a mighty car-warrior and of such a character, and who is competent in action. As yet the Kanka-feathered, terrible and sharp shafts shot by Raghava, have not pierced into thy body; and therefore thou dost speak so. And, O Prahasta, as yet the sharpened shafts, capable of destroying life and having the impetuosity of the thunder-bolt, have not entered into thy body, and therefore thou dost speak thus, neither Ravana, nor the exceedingly powerful Tricirsha. Neither Kumbhakarna's son Nikumbha nor Indrajit, is capable of bearing in battle the son of Dacaratha, resembling Sakra himself. And neither Devantaka[39] nor Narantaka,[40] neither Atikaya,[41] nor the magnanimous Atiratha, nor the equally strong Akampana, is competent to stay Raghava in fight. And the king, naturally of fierce temper and thoughtless, through the instrumentality of ye who appearing to be his friends are in reality his foes, seeketh to destroy the Rakshasas. Do ye take out and deliver the monarch, who hath through force become subject to a dreadful and mighty, and thousand-headed serpent bursting with immeasurable prowess. As a person possessed by fearfully strong ghosts, is saved by his friends pulling him by his hair, attaining your desire ye should, assembling together, rescue the king. This one is sunk in the Raghava sea having excellent waters. Do ye speedily coming together deliver him. He (the king) hath fallen into the Kakutstha nether regions, I tell thee my full mind,--fraught with the welfare of this city together with the Rakshasas, as well of the king with his adherents. Do thou make over Maithili unto the son of the king. He is a true counsellor who adviseth his master, after duly ascertaining the strength, position, increase or destruction of the enemies as well as of their own party.

[39] _Lit._--destroyer of the Deity.--T.

[40] _Lit._--destroyer of men.--T.

[41] _Lit._--huge-bodied.--T.