December 28 - Sarga 58 (shlokas 26-62) and 59 (shlokas 1-31) of Yuddha Kanda.
Prahasta is killed in a fierce battle with Nila. Then Ravana decides to enter the fray. His arrival is truly impressive.
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Valmiki describes Prahasta's fierce battle and the mayhem that resulted from the relentless confrontation between the well-armed rakshasas and the powerful vanaras in a most gruesome, gut-wrenching, way. He leaves no detail untold about how the earth was flooded by blood, a river whose banks were dead bodies and broken armour and chariots and weapons. The flotsam of organs and entrails and hair and so on that was seen everywhere would make anyone retch. The shlokas show at least one thing. The foremost, the first, poet of Sanskrit (because he was a hermit and had no one to copy from) left no description incomplete, whether it was of nature, or human behaviour, or emotions, or battlefields.
Nila now saw how much damage the formidable rakshasa chief Prahasta was causing to the vanaras with his rain of deadly arrows. He decided on a suitable response. Nila, who was the commander of the vanara forces, attacked the rakshasas like a whirlwind that scatters away even dense clouds.
The rakshasas fled for their lives. Prahasta had to respond now.
स धनुर्धन्विनां श्रेष्ठो विकृष्य परमाहवे ।
नीलाय व्यसृजद् बाणात् प्रहस्तो वाहनीपतिः ॥
"Then Prahasta, the chief of rakshasa forces, who was foremost among archers, set arrows to his bow fiercely and released them, attacking Nila."
Nila was felled by those serpent-like arrows. Nila was badly hurt. He responded by plucking a huge tree and attacking Prahasta. Prahasta was now struck hard and provoked into great fury. He escalated his attack on Nila. Nila closed his eyes as the arrows came and pierced him all over. With great fortitude, he bore the onslaught. Then he plucked a big palm tree and struck and killed Prahasta's chariot's horses. He also attacked and broke Prahasta's bow itself.
Prahasta now picked up a huge pestle (मुसल) which in his hand was a mighty weapon. He leapt from the chariot and engaged Nila directly. Nila with his trees and Prahasta with his pestle were made for each other. The battle raged violently with each matching the other in speed and dexterity. Valmiki says they fought like two lions.
Prahasta struck Nila on his forehead and as a result, Nila bled profusely. But Nila was undeterred. He struck Prahasta on his chest with a huge tree. Prahasta was unmindful as he chased Nila. Nila understood the force of the attack and suddenly picked up a huge rock. He struck Prahasta with lightning speed on his head.
Prahasta's head was shattered, and Prahasta died a gory death instantly. The rakshasa warriors were deeply disheartened now and ran back into Lanka, and stood in front of Ravana in a pitiable state describing Prahasta's end.
Nila received the ovation he richly deserved for his heroism, from Sri Rama and everyone around.
***
Ravana repents that he underestimated the enemy. Prahasta who had once defeated Indra was laid low! This enemy was not to be slighted.
स्वयमेव गमिष्यामि रणशीर्षं तदद्भुतम् - "The time has come, and I shall personally enter this glorious battle!"
अद्य तद्वानरानीकं रामं च सहलक्ष्मणम् ।
निर्दहिष्यामि बाणौघैर्वनं दीप्तैरिवाग्निभिः ॥
अद्य संतर्पयिष्यामि पृथिवीं कपशोणितैः ।
"I shall burn down the entire vanara army along with Rama and Lakshmana like a raging forest fire destroys the entire forest leaving nothing. I shall perform a sacrificial oblation profusely to the earth with the blood of the vanaras."
Ravana mounted his wonderful chariot that glowed like a divine vehicle. The whole sight was dazzling as he entered the battlefield. There was a huge tumult of military music announcing Ravana. He was flanked by formidable warriors.
Ravana saw on the battlefield the incredible vanara army, all ready to respond. They were armed with boulders, trees and other heavy objects.
***
तद्राक्षसानीकमतिप्रचण्ड-
मालोक्य रामो भुजगेन्द्रबाहुः ।
विभीषणं शस्त्रभृतां वरिष्ठम्
उवाच सेनानुगतः पृथुश्रीः ॥
"Then Sri Rama, whose arms resembled the mighty lord of serpents, who graced the earth with his radiance and valour, addressed the supreme wielder of weapons, Vibhishana, about the magnificent army of rakshasas entering the fray against his own formidable vanara army."
"Oh Vibhishana, I see so many glorious flags and festoons, so many glorious royal umbrellas, So many wonderful weapons wielded by seemingly unconquerable, brave, warriors, with horses, elephants and chariots in plenty - tell me who is leading this rakshasa force?"
Valmiki uses the most poetic metres in this sarga, heralding the supreme rakshasa Ravana himself coming and making a huge impact. The shlokas are all very interesting but I shall leave them for brevity.
Vibhishana starts by describing the great warriors around Ravana.
"That mighty warrior on the elephant is Akampana II. There is Indrajit on his chariot, wielding his bow shining like a rainbow. There is Atikaya with his mighty bow. There is Mahodara, roaring like a lion. There is Pishacha on his horse. There is Trishiras, with his trishul. That fearsome warrior is Kumbha. Here is Nikumbha. Over there is Narantaka. "
असौ किरीटी चलकुण्डास्यो
नगेन्द्रविन्ध्योपमभीमकायः ।
महेन्द्रवैवस्वतदर्पहन्ता
रक्षोऽधिपः सूर्य इवावभाति ॥
"And this, Sri Rama, sporting a great crown, with his pendulous earlocks, truly immense like the king of mountains, Vindhya! This is he who tamed the pride of Lord Indra and Lord Yama themselves! This is verily the supreme lord of all rakshasas, Ravana, who is dazzling like the sun!"
Sri Rama expresses his unstinting admiration.
अहो दीप्तमाहातेजा! रावाणो राक्षसेश्वरः!
न व्यक्तं लक्षये ह्यस्य रूपं तेजःसमावृतम्!
देवदानववीराणां नैव एवं विधं भवेत् यादृशं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य वपुरेतद् विराजते!
दिष्ट्या यमद्य पापात्मा मम दृष्टिपथं गतः ।
अद्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यामि सीताहरणसम्भवम् ॥
Sri Rama exclaims, " Lo and behold! What a dazzling persona this lord of rakshasas Ravana is! Indeed his lustre makes it difficult for me to perceive him. He is surrounded by so many formidable warriors, too! I don't think anyone else, either among gods or demons, can come anywhere near Ravana's corporeal radiance.
"Now that this foe has appeared in my sight, see me unleash my fury in battle, occasioned by his heinous act of abducting my Sita!"
Much action ahead!
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
