December 29 - Shlokas 32 to 98 of Sarga 59 of Yuddha Kanda.
Having made his intentions clear, Sri Rama picked up his bow and arrows. Lakshmana joined him.
Meanwhile, Ravana addressed his commanders who were around him. "Be fearless, and take your positions strategically at the various vantage points near the gateways and on the ramparts of Lanka.
Know that the vanaras would consider it a great opportunity to attack Lanka right now as all our warriors are assembled outside here around me. This will only make it easy for the vanaras to cause extensive damage to the defenceless inner parts of Lanka. But this should not be allowed. Therefore you should go and take guard as I tell you."
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Valmiki says that Ravana now attacked the vanaras fiercely.
व्यदारायद् वानरसागरौघं माहाझषः पूर्णमिवार्णवौघम् - "Ravana wreaked havoc among the vanaras much like a great whale churns up the ocean fiercely."
Sugriva saw Ravana arraigned with his bow and arrow and attacked him with a huge piece of a mountain. Ravana saw that mountain with its blooming trees and shot many golden feather-tailed arrows such that the mountain was blown to bits. He then set a deadly serpent-arrow (माहाहिकल्पं शरमन्तकाभम्) and attacked Sugriva. The arrow is compared by Valmiki to the deadly Shakti shot by Karttikeya in battle. Sugriva was struck and reeled to the ground crying aloud in distress. Seeing Sugriva unconscious, the rakshasas applauded.
Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sushena. Rishabha, Jyotirmukha, Nala, and others now attacked Ravana all at once with rocks. Ravana not only dispersed all the missiles easily, but his arrows also floored all these vanara heroes. They were shrieking in pain. The remaining vanaras all rushed to Sri Rama for protection. As Sri Rama stepped forward, Lakshmana said, bowing down to him,
काममार्य सुपर्याप्तो वधायास्य दुरात्मनः विधामिष्याम्यहं चैतमनुजानीहि मां प्रभो - "Oh, lord! By myself, I can deal with this evil rakshasa and kill him. Kindly order me and I shall do the needful."
Sri Rama was pleased, and replied, "Yes, Lakshmana, go ahead! But be fully prepared to deal with the enemy. Ravana is a fiendish force when provoked and extremely adept in war. No one in the three worlds will find it easy to cope with his challenge. Look out for chinks in his defence, just as you should guard your own weak points against Ravana. You should have single-pointed concentration and use your eyes as well as your bow to defend yourself." Saumitri Lakshmana nodded, embraced his brother warmly, and moved forward.
Lakshmana saw the extensive damage Ravana was causing to the vanaras.
Hanuman now approached Ravana, brushing aside his arrows, and addressed him. He raised his right arm and said, "Oh rakshasa! After all, your boon protects you only from devas, danavas, gandharvas, and yakshas. So, know that you are vulnerable to attack from vanaras! Look at my raised right hand with the fingers open. Today I am going to strike you and separate your soul from your body."
Ravana, enraged, replied, "well, oh vanara! Do whatever you think you can while there is still time for you to earn fame, for I will then destroy you."
"Bah! Ravana! Remember I already sent your son Aksha to the next world in battle." As Hanuman was speaking, Ravana struck Hanuman on his chest with his left hand. Hanuman was momentarily disoriented and hurt. But he recovered quickly and furiously struck Ravana with his palm. Ravana shook and looked like mountains during an earthquake. The siddhas, rishis, gods, and demons assembled in the skies and all the vanaras around rejoiced and applauded.
The lustrous Ravana soon recovered his composure and complimented Hanuman,
साधु वानर वीर्येण श्लाघनीयोऽसि मे रिपुः " Oh Vanara! My congratulations on your great prowess! You are a worthy foe for me."
Hanuman replied, धिगस्तु मम वीर्यस्य यत्त्वं जीवसि रावण! "Fie on my prowess, Ravana, that you are still alive! Try and strike me again. Then I will use my fist and send you, Ravana, express speed to Yamaloka."
Ravana now struck hard with his fist on Hanuman's chest. Hanuman again reeled a bit.
Ravana now turned to Nila. He shot ten fierce arrows and tormented the chief of vanara forces. Nila ducked and released a huge mountain rock at Ravana. By then Hanuman recovered and rushed at Ravana, only to see him engaged with Nila. He shouted, "it is not meet for me to attack you, Ravana, when you are fighting Nila."
Ravana meanwhile pulverized the mountain rock coming at him from Nila. Nila was enraged and now rained a whole lot of huge trees on Ravana. Ravana dispelled all those missiles and in turn, covered Nila with arrows. Nila suddenly shrank to a miniscule form and went and perched himself on the flagstaff of Ravana's chariot. Ravana looked on in fury as Nila roared deafeningly. Nila was able to hop from Ravana's flag to his bow to his crown and so on so adroitly it astonished Sri Rama and everyone around. Ravana was also non-plussed.
Ravana found it tough-going. Just as vanaras started laughing at Ravana's discomfiture caused by Nila, Ravana picked up the deadly Agneyastra. "Oh vanara, I see your magic and your nimbleness. But try and survive this great weapon now. " Nila was struck and badly wounded when he was hit in his chest by the Agneyastra and fell to the ground. The arrow burned him. But Nila was the son of Agni, the Fire-god. So he got off with his life intact. Ravana gave a loud roar of triumph having rendered Nila insensate and now turned his attentions to Lakshmana. He advanced, and confronting Lakshmana, and twanged his bow fiercely.
Lakshmana addressed Ravana, "Oh king of rakshasas, you should stop fighting with vanaras now that we are face to face."
Ravana spoke in rage, "Oh Raghava (a descendant of the Raghu dynasty)! Now that you are in front of me, I shall send you to the next world. Get ready!" Lakshmana saw Ravana's bared canines (rakshasas have them) and heard the words spoken in Ravana's enraged voice. He replied calmly,
राजन्न गर्जन्ति माहाप्रभावा विकत्थसे पापकृतां वरिष्ठ!
जानामि वीर्यं तव राक्षसेन्द्र बलं प्रतापं च पराक्रमं च ।
अवस्थितोऽहं शरचापपाणिरागच्छ किं मोघविकत्थनेन ॥
"Oh king, know that great warriors don't roar wasteful words like you. You are after all the foremost among evil-doers!
I well know your bravery, prowess and valour (these words are full of irony as Ravana had hidden and used a ruse to abduct Sita when Sri Rama and Lakshmana were diverted by the golden deer, instead of facing them in battle.)
" I am waiting for you right nere, Ravana, with my bow and arrows. Come on, and stop blabbering."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
