January 15 - Sargas 82, 83 and 84 of Yuddha Kanda.
Seeing the vanaras flee in the face of Indrajit's mighty roar, Hanuman pulled them together and said,
कस्माद्विषण्णा वदना ... "Oh vanara heroes, how come you are crestfallen and running away!? How can you give up your military ardour!?"
पृष्ठतोऽनुव्रजध्वं मामग्रतो - "I shall lead you from the front, come, march forward!..."
Hanuman led the vanaras into a terrific battle and there was much action. Soon the vanaras had gained the upper hand over the Indrajit-led forces. Hanuman said it was time to retire for the day as their job had been well done.
The sight of Sita being killed by Indrajit had brought such grief to Hanuman that he could not come to terms with it. He decided to go and inform Sri Rama. He also raised the point to the vanaras that having seen Sita being slain, the whole war had lost its meaning somewhat.
Seeing Hanuman leave the battlefield, Indrajit decided to use the opportunity to go and propitiate Nikumbhila Devi, a martial goddess who would confer even greater powers on him. He went to the cave temple.
Sri Rama was instructing Jambavan to go and join Hanuman in their attack. Just then Hanuman returned with the vanaras.
Hanuman could not control his grief as he went to Sri Rama.
समरे युद्ध्यमानानामस्माकं प्रेक्षतां च सः ।
जघान रुदतीं सीतामिन्द्रजितद्रावाणात्मजः ॥
"Oh Lord Sri Rama, just as we were fiercely battling the rakshasas, in the full view of our vanara heroes, that despicable Indrajit brought a weeping and suffering Sita and killed her!"
As soon as he heard this terrible news from Hanuman, Sri Rama collapsed in grief. It took quite some time for him to be revived. Then Lakshmana came forward. Their conversation was full of pathos and expressed a bleak view of how Destiny did not do enough for the good people to instill faith in their chosen values. in the midst of apparent inequities of Fate and how evil people always seemed to prosper.
Just then Vibhishana arrived in their midst. He was surrounded by his four mighty lieutenants. When he heard the reason for the dismay being displayed by Sri Rama's camp, he was able to clear the air at once.
"Know that Ravana is besotted and will never allow Sita to be treated badly. There is no question of her being brought and slaughtered like this by Indrajit or anyone else. Know for sure that Indrajit, full of his despicable magical tricks and evil powers, is just now in the process of propitiating Nikumbhila Devi to achieve unassailability in battle. It is high time Prince Lakshmana goes and attacks Indrajit so that his evil plans are foiled."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
