December 23 - Sarga 50 of Yuddha Kanda.
Garuda comes and releases Sri Rama and Lakshmana from nagapasha and gives them renewed vigour and vitality.
***
Vibhishana moves about stridently with his gada (mace) trying to marshall the vanara forces. Unfortunately, the vanaras are so distressed that many of them mistake him for Indrajit and start scattering in extreme fear.
Sugriva is annoyed and unable to understand the chaos. Then Angada attributes it to the fact that Sri Rama and Lakshmana seem to be breathing their last, thereby completely destroying the motivation and warrior spirit of the large army.
Then Sugriva discovers the problem. He tells Jambavan
विभीषणोऽयं सम्प्राप्तो यं दृष्ट्वा वानरर्षभाः ।
विद्रवन्त्या परित्रस्ता रावणात्मजशङ्कया ॥
"Look, here comes Vibhishana, a huge warrior carrying his gada. Seeing him, the vanara warriors are scattering in utter fear, mistaking him for his nephew and Ravana's son, Indrajit!"
The misunderstanding is soon dispelled by Jambavan with loud and clear instructions that it is Vibhishana alone and the vanaras should regroup properly.
Meanwhile, when Vibhishana comes to the spot where Sri Rama and Lakshmana are lying flat, pierced by a network of arrows, he feels very distressed. He says,
भ्रातुः पुत्रेण चैतेन दुष्पुत्रेण दुरात्मना ।
राक्षस्या जिह्मया बुद्ध्या वञ्चितावृजुविक्रमौ ॥
"My brother's evil son has employed crooked methods of demonic warfare and defeated these two glorious warriors who always fought with righteous methods (without deceit)."
सुप्तौ दृष्येते शल्यकाविव - "Alas! These two now look like two porcupines, with all those arrows studded into their bodies!"
ययोर्वीर्यमुपाश्रित्य प्रतिष्ठा काङ्क्षिता मया ताविमौ देहनाशाय प्रसुप्तौ पुरुषर्षभौ - "On these two brothers' valour I had pinned my hope of getting my regal status again. Now, these two supreme warriors are lying down courting death!"
Vibhishana needs consolation, which comes from a sure Sugriva. He says, " Vibhishana, don't be disheartened! Do you think Ravana will have his way
!?"
गरुडाधिष्ठितावुभौ राघवलक्ष्मणौ त्यक्त्वा मोहं वधिष्येते रावणं रणे - "Sri Rama and Lakshmana will ride on Lord Garuda as their vehicle after getting rid of their malaise. They will destroy Ravana in battle. Sri Rama will crown you and return triumphantly to Ayodhya with his queen Sita."
***
Now Sugriva approached his father-in-law, the vanara chief Sushena. He advised him that without delay, Sushena should carefully transport the two fallen warriors Sri Rama and Lakshmana to the safe haven of Kishkindha and watch over their revival. Sugriva will in the meanwhile lead the vanara army and defeat and kill Ravana and all his folk. He will release Sita and bring her to Kishkindha.
Sushena is an elderly vanara who has seen much action in his days. He avers that there is a way to revive the brothers now itself. He recalls the ancient big battle between devas and asuras. Asuras always resorted to their occult tricks and tied up the gods in nagapasha again and again. The devas looked lifeless as they lay flat under the onslaught of the asura magical weapons. Then Brihaspati, the guru of devas, sent for some special medicinal herbs in the Himalayan mountains and restored the devas to their full health. Right now, the vanara chiefs Sampati and Panasa should proceed quickly to the mountain peak on the bank of the Kshirasagara (which was churned for Amrita or lifegiving ambrosia by the devas and asuras long ago.) In fact, Hanuman should at once proceed to the two peaks Chandra and Drona on the banks of the kshirasagara. The life-giving herbs Sanjivakarani (life-restorer) and Vishalyakarani (remover of weapons and their injuries) have been created and placed there by Lord Brahma himself. Hanuman should immediately fetch those herbs to revive Sri Rama and Lakshmana.
Just as this important conversation between Sugriva and Sushena is underway, there is a sudden maelstrom of wind and all-round perturbance. The serpents and snakes in Lanka are all agitated and running helter-skelter. The mountains shake and the ocean displays stormy waves.
ततो मुहूर्तात् गरुडं वैनतेयं महाबलम् ।
वानराः ददृशुः सर्वे ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् ॥
'Then the vanaras beheld in disbelief the incredible persona of Lord Garuda, son of Vinata, arrive and descend from the skies, glowing like a blazing fire."
(Note: We know how Sita compared Hanuman to the Wind-god Vayu and Garuda. Garuda is a god in the form of a giant eagle-like bird, unconquerable, and divinely empowered to be the vehicle of Mahavishnu. He is the ultimate source of fear for the entire snake and serpent world from time immemorial. His loyalty and deeds of valour are everywhere in our Puranas.)
ततः सुपर्णः काकुत्स्थौ स्पृष्ट्वा प्रत्यभिनन्द्य च ।
विममर्श च पाणिभ्यां मुखे चन्द्रसमप्रभे ॥
वैनतेयेन संस्पृष्टास्तयोः संरुरुहुर्व्रणाः ।
सवर्णे च तनू स्निग्धे तयोराशु बभूवतुः ॥
तेजो वीर्यं बलं चौज उत्साहश्च महागुणाः ।
प्रदर्शनं च बुद्धिश्च स्मृतिश्च द्विगुणा तयोः ॥
"The golden-winged Garuda went directly to Sri Rama and Lakshmana and touched them with his wings. He touched them and wished them felicitously, and wiped their moon-like radiant faces with his wings. As soon as they were touched by Garuda, the two brothers' injuries completely disappeared. The arrows which were indeed deadly serpents vanished. The brothers' radiant colour came back to their bodies, and they woke up most cheerfully. Their glowing prowess, physical strength, military might, enthusiasm, and all their famed qualities, as well as their intellect and memory, came back doubled."
Garuda now warmly embraced both the brothers. Sri Rama was very cheerful as he spoke.
भवत्प्रसादाद् "Oh Lord! By your grace, the extreme danger and distress we were subjected to from the attack by Indrajit have been dispelled! We have been instantly restored fully! My heart gladdens as I am meeting you as if I have met my glorious father King Dasharatha or my grandfather." को भवान् रूपसंपन्नः "Pray, tell me, sir! Who are you indeed? You are looking divine and are adorned with divine ornaments!"
Garuda looked at Sri Rama most affectionately as he replied.
अहं सखा ते काकुत्स्थ प्रियः प्राणो बहिश्चरः ।
गरुत्मानिह सम्प्राप्तो युवयोः साह्यकारणात् ॥
"Oh dear Sri Rama! I am your close friend. I am dear to you like your own life, your alter-ego. I am Garuda! I have come here expressly to revive you both."
Garuda discloses that he came to know in heaven of their predicament and came instantly. Garuda says that none else, neither Indra, nor all the gods and gandharvas or anyone else could have released them from these nagapasha bonds. The demons fight a deadly battle and use all evil forces to subjugate the enemy. The nagapasha is nothing but the highly poisonous serpent children of Kadru and they had attacked Sri Rama and Lakshmana in the form of arrows when invoked by Indrajit.
Garuda congratulates Sri Rama that he along with his brother has been revived quickly and restored fully, thanks to Sri Rama's good luck ( his own innate powers?) . They should be very watchful in future, too. They should realise that the rakshasas will fight only using magical weapons, unlike Sri Rama and Lakshmana who use only righteous weapons.
Garuda wants to bid goodbye. He embraces Sri Rama and says that when the war is won, Sri Rama will realize their unique relationship. He assures Sri Rama of his certain victory over Ravana and the happy restoration of Sita.
Garuda circumambulates Sri Rama reverentially and flies away at a great speed.
The vanara chiefs are extremely glad to see their two lords Sri Rama and Lakshmana fully restored and leading them again. There are leonine roars of confidence and the vanaras get ready for the attack on Lanka again, gathering their weapons of boulders and huge trees. Their loud battle cries ring in echoes from all the directions.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
