November 9 - Sarga 47 of Sundara Kanda.
Looking at the poetry of this sarga, I decided to cover only just this one sarga today.
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सेनापतीन् पञ्च च तु प्रमापितान्
हनूमता सानुचरान् सवाहनान् ।
निशम्य राजा समरोद्धतोन्मुखं
कुमारमक्षं प्रसमैक्षताग्रतः ॥
"Raja Ravana, on receiving the news of Hanuman's killing of his five generals, along with their contingents and chariots, cast his glance at his worthy son, Prince Aksha Kumara, who stood in the court, eager for battle."
दृष्ट्यर्पणसम्प्रचोदितः प्रतापवान्काञ्चचित्रकार्मुकः "Taking that glance as enough encouragement for him to proceed to battle, that mighty warrior, Aksha Kumara, set out, holding his magnificent bow covered with gold and decorations."
How did Aksha Kumara look? द्विजातिमुख्यैर्हविषेव पावकः "Like the resplendent sacrificial fire rising up when it is fed afresh with oblations by Brahmin chiefs chanting Vedic mantras properly."
Aksha approached Hanuman in a powerful chariot he had won as the boon for his great austerities. It was drawn by eight wonderful horses that advanced at the speed of thought. The chariot did not touch the ground as it flew, unassailable by gods and demons. It was filled up with quivers, eight swords, javelins, and clubs. Aksha's march with his contingent resounded on earth and the mountains.
The awestruck Aksha saw the majestic and huge form of Hanuman seated on the archway and felt great respect. He swelled in his fighting spirit, shining like the sun at the end of winter. He invited Hanuman to battle with three sharp arrows. The ensuing battle was fit to be seen by gods. The sun dimmed and the wind ceased, The sky thundered and the ocean stirred. The three gold shafted arrows struck Hanuman on his forehead. Hanuman looked like the sun, with the arrows stuck and the blood running down his face. Readying himself for battle, Hanuman burnt down Aksha and his contingent with his blazing eyes.
Aksha rained arrows on Hanuman.
कुमारमक्षं प्रसमीक्ष्य संयुगे ननाद हर्षाद् घनतुल्यविक्रमम् "Hanuman was delighted to see the wonderful valour of Aksha and let out a roar like a mighty thunderclap."
Valmiki says the emboldened Aksha advanced, "like an elephant walking towards a pit covered with grass as a trap" गजो महाकूपमिवावृतं तृणैः
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Hanuman roared and leaped high into the sky, spreading his arms and legs terrifyingly. As Aksha rained arrows like a hailstorm, Hanuman moved so swiftly that he could duck the arrows all the time. Hanuman now started thinking about how to finish off Aksha.
अबालवद्बालदिवाकरप्रभः
करोत्ययं कर्म महन्महाबलः ।
न चास्य सर्वाहवकर्मशालिनः
प्रमापणे मे मतिरत्र जायते ॥
"Alas, this young prince, looking like the tender, rising sun, is anything but an amateur. He is fighting like a mighty warrior. Seeing his great prowess in battle, at such a young age, I am loath to kill him."
अयं महात्मा च महांश्च वीर्यता .... असंशयं कर्मगुणौदयादयं सनागयक्षैर्मुनिभिश्च पूजितः
"Undoubtedly, this prince is a great soul, and magnificent in his valour. Undoubtedly, by his deeds and qualities, he must be worshipped by the great nagas, yakshas, and even ascetics."
पराक्रमोत्साहविवृद्धमानसः
समीक्षते मां प्रमुखोऽग्रतः स्थितः ।
पराक्रमो ह्यस्य मानांसि कम्पयेत्
सुरासुराणामपि शीघ्रकारिणः ॥
"This prince's mindscape is enlarged by his great valour and enthusiasm for battle. He is even standing directly in front of me and looking me straight in the eye! I am sure his bravery and valour must be rattling them and causing fear in the minds of even the gods and demons!"
न खल्वयं नाभिभवेदुपेक्षितः न वर्धमानोऽग्निरुपेक्षितः क्षमः "Indeed I should not take him lightly and allow him more slack. He is like a spreading fire that should be put out at once."
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Hanuman increased his speed, and with his incredibly huge palm, struck the eight horses that were capable of carrying even heavy burdens, as they flew in the sky drawing the chariot. That one stroke was enough to kill all the horses, shatter the chariot in its entirety. Everything dropped to the ground. Aksha now leapt up on his own, a sword in one hand and his bow in the other. He looked like an ascetic that rises in the sky by his spiritual power.
Hanuman swiftly caught hold of Aksha's legs as the prince was flying up, reaching into the higher world of Garuda, Vayu and Siddhas.
Catching Aksha like Garuda would a king of serpents, Hanuman swung him in the air at terrific speed a thousand times and threw him to the ground as powerfully as the Wind-god would.
Aksha, the rakshasa prince and son of Ravana, now lay dead, his body shattered into fragments, all his limbs and torso smashed, eyes and all strewn around, blood all over.
***
Ravana was devastated. The rishis and siddhas, celestials, asuras and suras led by Indra, watching the battle, were awestruck by Hanuman's power.
Hanuman went back and stood quietly on the archway again, as if it was a routine day at the office.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
