Chapter LXXXV: Section LXXXVI

When things were in this condition, Ravana's younger brother addressed Lakshmana in words fraught with evil to foes and conducing to the welfare (of his own party), saying,--"Do thou without delay bring on an engagement between this cloud-black Rakshasa army, which thou beholdest, and the monkeys having rocks for their arms. O Lakshmana, do thou exert thyself to break through his[354] mighty army; and when the ranks are broken, the son of the Rakshasa-lord shall be visible. And scattering among the foes shafts resembling Indra's thunder-bolt, charge him while he hath not yet finished this ceremony. Slay, O hero, this wicked one, this son of Ravana, given to illusion, and of terrific feats,--the fear of all the worlds". Hearing Bibhishana's words, Lakshmana graced with auspicious marks began to shower arrows on the son of the Rakshasa-chief. And bears and monkeys, given to fighting excellently with trees, in a body rushed towards that army (of Rakshas) drawn up there. And the Rakshasas (on their part) burning to slaughter the monkey-forces, rushed in the encounter with sharpened shafts and darts and _tomaras_. And there took place a tremendous onslaught of the monkeys and the Rakshasas. And Lanka resounded all around with that mighty tumult; and the sky was covered with weapons of various shapes, and whetted arrows and trees and dreadful upraised mountain-tops. And Rakshasas having frightful faces and arms, plying their arms among the foremost monkeys, began to spread terror (there). And in the same way the monkeys in the conflict fell to slaying and wounding the Rakshasas with trees and hill-tops. And great was the terror that was spread among the warring Rakshasas by the flower of the bears and monkeys, possessed of gigantic persons and endowed with prodigious strength.

Hearing his own army hard beset by the enemies, and drooping,--the unconquerable one, ere yet he had finished his rites, rose up. And issuing from the gloom of the trees, Ravana's son, fired with wrath, ascended his car, which had already been well yoked (with steeds). And accoutred in a dreadful bow and arrows,--that one resembling a mass of collyrium, having a red face and eyes, looked dreadful like the Reaper--Death. And soon as they saw him mounted on his car, that host of Rakshas possessed of dreadful impetuosity, eager to engage with Lakshmana, stood on their ground. At this time that subduer of enemies--Hanuman--resembling a mountain, uprooted a giant tree incapable of being bandied. And in that encounter, the monkey, consuming (the forces) like the fire risen at Doomsday, made that army of Rakshasas insensible with innumerable trees. And finding the Wind-god's son, Hanuman, suddenly spreading devastation among the Rakshasas by thousands, (they) showered (shafts) on him. And approaching on all sides that one resembling a hill, those bearing whetted darts attacked him with darts; those bearing swords in their hands, with swords; those bearing javelins in their hands, with javelins; with _patticas_, those equipped with _patticas_; and with bludgeons, and maces and graceful _kuntas_; and with hundreds of _sataghnis_, and iron clubs; and with terrific axes; and with _bhindipalas_; and with boxes like unto thunder-bolts; and slaps resembling the _acani_. And fired with fury, he (on his part) spread a huge havoc among them. And Indrajit saw that foremost of monkeys, resembling a hill, the offspring of the Wind-god--possessing himself in calmness, while destroying his foes. And thereat, he[355] addressed his charioteer, saying,--"Go where the monkey is. Being disregarded by the Ratkshasas, he makes havoc among us". Thus accosted by him, the charioteer went where the Wind-god's offspring was, carrying the exceedingly invincible Indrajit seated on the car. And rushing forward, that irrepressible one--the Rakshasa--began to shower on the monkey's head arrows and swords and _patticas_ and scimitars and axes. And bearing all those dreadful arms, the Wind-god's offspring, overcome with a mighty rage said,--"O wicked-minded son of Ravana, if thou art a hero, fight on. Combat with me with thy arms. If in the encounter, thou bearest my impetus, then, O thou of perverse sense, thou indeed art the foremost of Rakshasas". Then Bibhishana pointed out unto Lakshmana the son of Ravana, who with his bow upraised, was eager to slay Hanuman. "This one that, mounted on his car, is eager to slay Hanuman, is the son of Ravana that hath vanquished Vasava himself (in battle). Do thou, O son of Sumitra, with peerless shafts capable of resisting enemies,--dreadful, and competent to finish the lives (of foes),--slay the son of Ravana". Thus accosted by Bibhishana terrific unto foes, that high-souled one saw (Indrajit) of dreadful prowess, difficult to get at, and resembling a hill,--stationed on his car.

[354] Indrajit's, that is.

[355] Indrajit.