Chapter XLI: Section XLI

Seeing those ominous signs, Lakshmana's elder brother, Rama, embracing Sugriva, said,--"Without consulting with me, thou hast acted thus rashly. But kings should not act in such a rash way. Placing in suspense, me, this army and Bibhishana, thou, O hero, enamoured of daring deeds, hast put thyself to all this trouble. But, O hero, henceforth, do not act so. O subduer of enemies, if thou come by any mischance, what shall Sita avail me; or Bharata; or my younger brother--Lakshmana; or Satrughna, O slayer of enemies; or, again, my own person? Ere thou hadst come, I had arrived at this determination; albeit, O thou that art equal to the mighty Indra or Varuna, I knew thy prowess full well. Slaying Ravana in battle along with his sons, forces and vehicles, and installing Bibhishana in Lanka, and placing the kingdom in the hands of Bharata, I shall renounce my body, O exceedingly powerful one!" When Rama had said this, Sugriva answered,--"Knowing my own strength, how, O Raghava, viewing Ravana, who had ravished away thy wife, could I forbear, O hero?" As that hero was speaking thus, Raghava addressed Lakshmana having auspiciousness, thus,--"O Lakshmana, occupying some tract furnished with cool water and woods bearing fruits, we shall sojourn, dividing and marshalling our forces. I see a mighty fear present, destructive of people,--and boding destruction unto the foremost heroes among the bears, monkeys and Rakshasas. The winds ruffle; and the earth is tremulous. And the tops of mountains tremble, and the mountains themselves send up loud sounds. And the clouds are goblinish; and fierce; and harsh-sounding. And wearing terrific looks, they fiercely pour down showers mixed with drops of blood. And the Evening resembles the red sandal, and is fearful. And a flaming circle droppeth from the Sun. And exciting great fear, inauspicious birds and beasts, wearing cruel looks, and in distressful guise,--cry in piteous accents, facing the Sun. And at night, the ominous Moon with a black-red brim as at the time of universal wreck, burneth. And, O Lakshmana, there is a crimson, rough, slight, and graceful rim round the Sun; and a blue mark is visible on his disc. And the stars do not course as formerly. Behold, O Lakshmana, all these, prefiguring the Doom. And crows and hawks and vultures drop down. And jackals yell with loud inauspicious notes. The Earth, converted into mud with flesh and gore, shall be covered with darts and javelins and swords, discharged by Rakshasas and monkeys. This very day with all expedition shall we, surrounded on all sides by the monkeys, march towards the city governed by Ravana". Having said this unto Lakshmana, Lakshmana's elder brother possessed of exceeding strength, hastily descended from the top of the mountain. And descending from the mountain, the righteous Raghava surveyed his troops, incapable of being beaten by enemies. And after making the mighty host of the monkey-king equip itself, Raghava versed in season, along with Sugriva, at the proper hour, issued orders for battle. Then in due time that one, accoutred with his bow, surrounded by a mighty army, set out, with the intention of entering the city of Lanka. And those two--Bibhishana and Sugriva--and Hanuman, and Jambavan, and Nala, and the bear-king Nila, and Lakshmana, followed (Rama). Behind them, the mighty array of bears and monkeys followed Raghava, covering a wide surface of land. The monkeys, resembling elephants, capable of resisting foes, took mountain-peaks and tall trees by hundreds. And in a short time those repressors of foes--the brothers Rama and Lakshmana--arrived at the city of Ravana; with pennons streaming over her; charming; garnished with groves and woods; having variegated gateways; inaccessible; and having walls and gates. And urged on by Rama's command, the wood-rangers,[116] as commanded, blocking up (Lanka) incapable of being subdued even by the gods, stationed themselves. Coming to Lanka ruled by Ravana, that hero, Rama, son unto Dacaratha, along with Lakshmana, remained stationed at the Northern gate, where Ravana used to reside. None save Rama was competent to protect that dreadful gate, where Ravana used to reside. None save Rama was competent to protect that dreadful gate, guarded by Ravana himself, like the Ocean guarded by Varuna,--and protected on all sides by terrible Rakshasas equipped with weapons; capable of striking terror into the weak; like unto the nether regions guarded by Danavas. And (Rama) saw there many and various arms and mail of the warriors, ranged together. And coming to the Eastern gate, that leader of the monkey-army, the powerful Nila, along with Mainda and Dwivida,--took up his post there. And the exceedingly strong Angada, accompanied by Rishava, Gavaksha, Gaya, and Gavaya, occupied the Southern gate. And the mighty monkey Hanuman protected the Western entrance. And Sugriva himself, with Prajangha, Tarasa and other heroes, was quartered near the garrision in the centre. And accompanied by all the foremost monkeys resembling Suparna or the Wind, twenty _kotis_ of renowned monkey-leaders, blocking up all sides, stationed themselves near the monkey, Sugriva. And at Rama's command, Lakshmana along with Bibhishana, went from door to door, issuing instructions to _kotis_ of monkeys. On the west of Rama, Jambavan along with Sushena, followed by innumerable troops, remained hard by at the garrison in the middle. And those tiger-like monkeys, furnished with teeth like unto tigers, weilding trees and mountain-tops, stood ready for fight. And all had their tails curled up, and all were armed with teeth and nails, and all had chequered bodies, and all had frightful faces. And some had the strength of ten elephants; and some had strength ten times as much; and some of the monkey-leaders there had the strength of a thousand elephants,--and some had the strength of numbers (of elephants); and some had strength hundred times as much. And others had immeasurable might. And wonderful and astonishing was their meeting. And the concourse at that place of the monkey-forces was like the concourse of locusts. And the air was filled up, and the earth was covered quite with the monkeys coursing towards Lanka and dropping down into it. And hundreds and thousands making up the army of monkeys, arrived at the gate of Lanka; while others were pouring in from all sides for encounter. And that mount was covered with monkeys. And a thousand _ayutas_ were going round the city. And Lanka, blocked up everywhere with powerful monkeys bearing trees in their hands, was incapable of being entered even by the Wind. And the Rakshasas, sore pressed by thousands of monkeys resembling masses of clouds, and like unto Sakra himself in battle, were seized with amazement. And like unto the roar of water on the ocean being riven, there arose a mighty tumult in consequence of the forces surging hither and thither. And with that sound the entire Lanka, with her wall and gateways, her mountains, woods, and forests, began to shake. And that army, protected by Rama and Lakshmana as well as Sugriva, became all the more invincible even by the Asuras and celestials. And having arranged his forces with the view of destroying the Rakshas, Raghava, versed in the resources of war,[117] taking counsel of the counsellors, and deciding again and again his course of action,--intending to adopt further measures,--resolved to abide by the advice of Bibhishana[118], remembering the morality regulating monarchs[119]. And then, calling Vali's son, Angada, (Rama) said,--"O mild one, going to the Ten-necked one, tell him in my words,--'Bounding over the deep and casting off fear and dejection, I have laid seige to the city of Lanka; and have reft thee of thy prosperity and thy wealth; and rendered thee moribund and senseless. Thou hast, O night-ranger, through delusion and pride injured saints and celestials, and Gandharvas and Apsaras, and Serpents, and Yakshas, and crowned heads. But, O Rakshasa, thy pride begot of the boon received from the Self-create hath gone from thee, whose destroyer,[120] I, afflicted in consequence of my wife having been carried off,--weilding the rod, have sat down at the door of Lanka. O Rakshasa, thou shalt, remaining steady in fight, attain the state of celestials and Maharshis and Rajarshis. And, O worst of Rakshasas, do thou display that prowess of thine by which, aided by thy power of illusion, thou hast forcibly carried off Sita, disregarding me. I shall with my sharpened shafts render this world free from Rakshasas, unless rendering back Mithila's daughter, thou throw thyself on my mercy. And, for certain, that foremost of Rakshasas, the righteous and graceful Bibhishana, who hath joined us, shall obtain, without having a thorn in his side, all this wealth of Lanka. For thou, foolish, wicked, ignorant of self-knowledge, and having dolts for counsellors, art not competent to unrighteously exercise kingship for a moment. Fight thou, O Rakshasa, summoning fortitude and heroism. On being slain with my shafts, thou shalt attain peace.[121] O night-ranger, if thou shouldst range the three worlds in the shape of a bird, thou, coming in my ken, shalt not be able to preserve thy life. It is all this for thy good; do thou perform acts for the good of thy body surviving death; and do thou see Lanka well; for thy life is in my keeping.'" Thus addressed by Rama of untiring deeds, Tara's son went through the welkin like the embodied bearer of sacrificial offerings.[122] And arriving near that subduer of enemies, Ravana, in a moment, that graceful one saw Ravana, sitting calmly in the midst of his ministers. And dropping down in his vicinity like a flaming fire, that best of monkeys, Angada, resembling a golden bracelet,[123] stood there. And then introducing himself, Angada delivered unto Ravana along with his ministers all that Rama had excellently spoken unto him, neither extenuating nor setting down aught of himself,--"I am the envoy of the king of Kocala--Rama of untiring deeds; and I am the son of Vali.--I do not know whether thou hast heard of me. And Raghu's son, Rama--enhancer of Kaucalya's joy--hath said unto thee,--'Do thou, O fell one, coming out, give me battle and prove thy prowess. Thee shall I slay together with thy ministers, and with thy sons and relations and friends. And thou being slain, the three worlds shall attain peace. And to-day shall I destroy the enemy of the gods and Danavas, and Yakshas, of the Gandharvas, serpents and Rakshasas,--and the thorn (in the side of) the saints. And on thee being slain, all the wealth shall be Bibhishana's; unless, bowing down (unto me) and paying me homage, thou render back Maithili.'" When that monkey-chief had spoken thus, the lord of the night-rangers was wrought up with wrath. And coming under the sway of passion, he commanded his counsellors, saying,--"Take this one of perverse understanding, and slay him at once".

Hearing Ravana's speech, four grim-visaged night-rangers seized (Angada) flaming in energy like fire itself. And Tara's son suffered himself to be taken, in order that the hero might then display his prowess before the Yatudhanas.[124] Then Angada, taking them up, who were pressed against his arms, like insects,--leapt up on a palace resembling a hill. Thereat, in consequence of the impetuosity of his bound, the Rakshasas, slipping off, fell on to the ground in the very sight of the Rakshasa king. Then the powerful son of Vali with his legs attacked the top of that palace, elevated like a hill,[125] of the lord of Rakshasas. And thereat, as formerly the summit of the Himavan had been cleft by the thunderbolt, the palace, thus assailed, was split in the very presence of the Ten-necked one. Having reft the top of the edifice, and proclaimed his name, Angada, setting up a mighty roar, sprang into the sky. And, aggrieving the Rakshasas and rejoicing all the monkeys, he came back to the side of Rama in the midst of the monkeys. Ravana was transported with wrath in consequence of the breaking down of the palace. And, finding his destruction (at hand), he began to heave sighs. And Rama, surrounded by innumerable delighted monkeys setting up shouts,--anxious for slaying his foe, prepared for battle. And at the command of Sugriva, the exceedingly powerful monkey--Sushena--resembling a mountain-summit, surrounded by a large number of monkeys capable of assuming shapes at pleasure, began to range from door to door;[126] like the Moon ranging the stars. Seeing the hundred _akshauhinis_ of the wood-rangers, stationed in Lanka, extending down to the sea, some of the Rakshasas were struck with astonishment, while some came under the influence of fear; and some experienced delight from the (anticipated) delight of battle. And the space between the well and the moat all was flooded with monkeys. And the distressed Rakshasas saw the wall thronging with monkeys;[127] and thereat exclaiming "Alas" "Alas," the Rakshasas were extremely terrified. And on that frightful uproar arising, the warriors of the Rakshasa monarch,--Rakshasas--seizing mighty arms, began to patrol about, like unto winds blowing at the time of the universal dissolution.

[116] Monkeys.

[117] conciliation, &c.

[118] Which was,--"If Ravana should seek thy succour, thou shouldst
confer on him his kingdom".--T.

[119] In this connection, the principle referred to is: "If a king can
accomplish his purpose by conciliation, he should not employ
punishment".--T.

[120] _Dandadhara_--lit.--rod-bearing, a name of Yama,--who is described
as weilding a rod for chastising wrong-doers.--T.

[121] i.e. _attain heaven_.--T.

[122] Fire.

[123] This simile is hardly happy; but the lure was even the name of the
monkey, _Angada_ suggested _kanakangada_--golden bracelet. This
typifies the tendency prevailing to this day of Hindu authors to
exercise their ingenuity in _puns_.--T.

[124] Rakshasas.

[125] The commentator, however, would make _dadarca--saw_--understood.
"_Angada saw that_ the palace was high like a hill, etc". This is
unnecessary.--T.

[126] For protecting the entire army, as well as for procuring
information of the movements of the enemy.--T.

[127] A translator cannot help a feeling of disappointment at the
difference--to the disadvantage of English--between Sanskrit and
English. The original for 'thronging with monkeys' is a verbal
attributive--_vanarikrita_--lit. _monkeyed_.--T.