January 12 - Sarga 76 of Yuddha Kanda.
Pitched battles are fought between heroes from both rakshasa and vanara armies fiercely until the adversaries die one by one.
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In the middle of that raging battle, Angada came forward to face Kampana. A terrific stroke by Kampana's gada (mace) floored Angada. Before Kampana realized it, Angada was back on his feet and brought down a huge mountain rock on Kampana's head. That was the end of Kampana.
Shonitaksha wanted to avenge Kampana. He attacked Angada. He pierced Angada's body with a variety of deadly arrows. Angada in turn attacked Shonitaksha's chariot and destroyed it along with his bow.
Shonitaksha jumped down and attacked with his sword and shield. Angada snatched that sword from his hand and let out a fierce roar. He slashed Shonitaksha with an oblique swish (यज्ञोपवीतेव).
As Angada roamed brandishing that sword menacingly, Yupaksha brought Prajangha and they attacked Angada. Shonitaksha had recovered enough to join the fray with a mace. Angada was fighting Prajangha and Shonitaksha simultaneously and was seen like the moon flanked by the Vishakha duo.
Mainda and Dvivida were looking to choose their battles and joined the melee. Valmiki says that the fierce battle fought by threesomes on both sides was terrific. Prajangha and Yupakasha countered the avalanche of rocks and trees effectively. Shonitaksha was equal to every missile launched at him. Prajangha now attacked with a big sword but Angada threw a big Ashvakarna tree and that dislodged the sword which then fell to the earth. Prajangha now struck with his fist. His strike on Angada's brow incapacitated him for a while. When he came to, Angada gave a fatal strike with his own diamantine fist that separated the head and torso of Prajangha.
Yupaksha was distressed to see his uncle die. He had also lost his bow. Now he attacked with a sword. Dvivida intercepted him and grappled him on his chest. Shonitaksha now struck Dvivida's arms so hard with his mace that he had to let go of Yupaksha. But Dvivida at once snatched the gada from him. Mainda now joined the fray and a fierce battle between the duos ensued. Dvivida was able with his nails to tear open Shonitaksha's face and stub him down hard to death. Yupaksha was crushed between Mainda's vicelike arms and died.
The rakshasa army rushed to Kumbha. Kumbha was a formidable warrior and made a great impact at once. He shot fierce arrows from his bow that resembled Indra's own. He was able to hurt Dvivida who reeled to the ground like a mountain crumbling. Mainda saw this and rushed with a big rock at Kumbha. But Kumbha pulverized that rock with his arrows. He then struck Mainda's chest with an arrow that felled him to the ground senseless.
Angada saw his uncles fall down and attacked Kumbha wielding a bow. But Kumbha countered Angada and hurt him much with his arrows. Angada continued his rain of rocks and trees but Kumbha warded them off. Then Kumbha struck Angada's brow with two sharp arrows. Blood flowed copiously and Angada saw with difficulty. But wiping his eyes clear off blood, Angada managed to fetch a big palm tree with a one-handed snatch. An astonished set of rakshasas saw Angada attack Kumbha with that huge tree. But Kumbha shot seven arrows and shattered that tree.
Angada was disheartened and weak and slunk to the ground. This news was carried anxiously to Sri Rama by the vanaras. Sri Rama commanded Jambavan and others to go to battle. They all attacked Kumbha. They wanted to protect Angada and launched several missiles of rocks and trees at Kumbha. But Kumbha's arrows were so many and in such rapid succession that Jambavan, Sushena, and Vegadarshi were unable to even inch forward toward him.
Sugriva saw his nephew Angada needed protection and the vanara chiefs had been repulsed. He now launched himself on Kumbha like a lion on a tusker elephant. He rained many huge trees on Kumbha.
तां छादयन्तीमाकाशं वृक्षवृष्टिं दुरासादाम् ।
कुम्भकर्णात्मजः श्रीमांश्चिछेद स्वशरैः शितैः ॥
"That hail of trees that covered the sky as it were and was difficult to counter was warded off with sharp arrows by the great warrior son of Kumbhakarna. "
Sugriva was unfazed. He leaped up onto Kumbha's chariot, and in an instant snatched and broke his bow. Jumping down, he looked at Kumbha and addressed him.
निकुम्भाग्रज वीर्यं ते बाणवेगन्तदद्भुतम् ।
संनतिश्च प्रभावश्च तव रावणस्य वा एकस्त्वनुजातोऽसि पितरं बलवत्तरम् ॥
"Oh, elder brother of Nikumbha! Bravo! You fight well with your terrific arrows! You resemble your uncle Ravana in qualities and are a match to your father in prowess."
विक्रमस्व माहाबुद्धे कर्माणि मम पश्य च
"Now, astute warrior Kumbha! Witness my deeds of prowess."
Sugriva taunted Kumbha that he alone stood among rakshasas now, equal to Indrajit in archery and Ravana in bravery. He called all the beings around to witness their battle. Sugriva even gave Kumbha a break, asking him to take time to recover his breath. Kumbha felt humiliated.
Kumbha had no bow. So he attacked Sugriva trying to catch him with two arrows poised as tongs. But Sugriva was adept in wrestling and a fierce match ensued.
Their figures were formidable, their blows and grapples were so fierce that both the earth and ocean were stirred by the force of the fight. Suddenly Sugriva picked up Kumbha and threw him into the ocean hard enough for him to hit the bottom. But Kumbha leaped back and struck Sugriva on his chest! It broke Sugriva's royal armour and even some bones appeared to break. But Sugriva fought back and lifted his fist that shone like the sun in the sky as he brought it down really hard on Kumbha's chest. Kumbha was grievously pained and slid to the ground. It soon became clear that his heart had been shattered and life had left his body.
The earth with her mountains and forests shuddered to have witnessed such a battle. The rakshasa army was again orphaned and deeply aggrieved.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
