Chapter XXXI: Section XXXI

Then the spies of the king informed him of the forces of Raghava, incapable of being agitated, which had stationed themselves on mount Suvela. Hearing the arrival of Rama's mighty army from the spies, Ravana was a little agitated, and he spoke unto the ministers,--"Let the ministers speedily present themselves, having their wits about them,--the time forsooth hath come for counsel". Hearing his mandate, those Rakshasas, his counselors, swiftly presented themselves. And then he consulted with his Rakshasa counselors. Having deliberated duly, that resistless one, dismissing his ministers, entered his own abode. Then, taking with him the highly strong Vidyujjibha, huge-bodied and gifted with the powers of illusion, he entered where Mithila's daughter was. And the lord of Rakshasas said unto Vidyujjibha, skilled in illusion,--"Do thou bring Janakas daughter under the sway of illusion. And, O ranger of the night, do thou, taking an illusory head of Raghava, as well as a mighty bow with the shaft (set), present thyself before me". Thus accosted, the night-ranger, Vidyujjibha, saying, "So be it," displayed that desired illusion unto Ravana. Thereat, the king, eager to meet with Sita in the Acoka woods, well-pleased, conferred an excellent ornament on him. Then the exceedingly powerful lord of the Nairitas, the younger brother of the Dispenser of riches, entered (into that place) and saw (there Sita) distressed, albeit unworthy of distress,--with her head hung down, overwhelmed with woe,--sitting on the ground, staying at the _acoka_ woods, engaged in the contemplation of her lord, conciliated by dreadful Rakshasis remaining near. Then, drawing near Sita, Ravana, proclaiming his exultation, said these haughty words unto the daughter of Janaka,--"O gentle one, he depending on whom thou, being soothed by (me), slightest me--that slayer of Khara, thy husband, Raghava, hath fallen in battle. Thy roots have been competely severed, and thy pride hath been destroyed by me. In consequence of this calamity, O Sita, thou shalt become my wife. O foolish (girl), renounce this idea. What wilt thou do with him that is dead? O meek (wench), be thou the mistress of all my wives. O thou of slender religious merit! O thou whose object hath been defeated! O thou that presumest to be wise! Hearken unto the destruction of thy lord, like the dreadful destruction of Vritra! Surrounded by a vast army gathered by the sovereign of the monkeys, Raghava had presented himself on the shore of the sea, for compassing my destruction. And on the sun having set, Rama stationed himself with his mighty army, oppressing the northern shore (of the sea). Then at midnight (my) spies coming to that host, thus stationed, fatigued from travel, and sleeping soundly (in consequence),--first ranged it. Then my mighty forces led by Prahasta slew his host overnight, where was present Rama along with Lakshmana. And repeatedly upraising _patticas_ and bludgeons, swords, rods and other mighty weapons; and (discharging) showers of arrows, and darts, and daggers and maces and sticks and crows and bearded darts and discuses and clubs;--the Rakshasas discharged these among the monkeys. And while Rama was sleeping, the furious Prahasta by means of a mighty falchion, with speed cut off his head clean. Bibhishana, who was flying at his will, was taken captive. And Lakshmana along with the monkey-army hath departed somewhere. And, O Sita, Sugriva--lord of monkeys--hath his neck broken; and, O Sita, with his jaw fractured, Hanuman hath been slaughtered by the Rakshasas.--And Jambavan, endeavouring to spring up with his thighs, was slain in the conflict; being severed by bearded darts, even as a tree cut off. And the stalwart Mainda and Dwivida--those foremost of monkeys--sighing and lamenting, bathed in blood,--destroyers of foes--were cut off with a sword. And Panaca is rolling on the earth like a (veritable) Panaca.[86] And mangled by many iron arrows, Darimukha lieth in a cave. And the exceedingly energetic Kumuda, dumb, is slain by shafts. And torn by innumerable (arrows) discharged on all sides by Rakshasas, Angada, vomitting blood, lieth on the ground.[87] And the monkeys, hard pressed by elephants, and others by networks of cars, lie low in the field, having been agitated like clouds by winds. And others afflicted with affright, flee, attacked (by the enemy) in the rear, and followed by the Rakshasas, like mighty elephants pursued by lions. And some have fallen into the sea, and some have taken refuge in the sky; and the bears have mounted up trees along with the monkeys. And on the shore of the sea, and in mountains and woods many are the tawny-hued monkeys that have been slain by Rakshasas of frightful forms. Thus hath thy lord been slain by my forces, along with his army; and I have his head, washed in blood and besmeared with dust". Thereat, the exceedingly irrepressible lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, spake unto a Rakshasi, in the hearing of Sita,--"Bring (hither) the Rakshasa, Vidyujjibha of cruel deeds, who hath personally brought Raghava's head from the field". Thereat, Vidyujjibha, taking the head along with the bow, bowing down the head (unto Ravana), stood before him. Then spake king; Ravana unto the Rakshasa, Vidyujjibha of the long tongue, who was staying by,--"Do thou at once hold before Sita the head of Dacaratha's son. Let her clearly behold the ultimate sad plight of her lord". Thus addressed, that Raksha, throwing that graceful head before Sita, swiftly vanished. And Ravana cast down the mighty blazing bow, famed through the three worlds, saying,--"This is Rama's. This is the bow of thy Rama with the string fixed. Slaying that man over night, Prahasta brought it hither".

[86] The tree of that name.--T.

[87] This _sloka_ has 'Angada' twice. One, of course, is left out.--T.