January 17 - Sargas 86 and 87 of Yuddha Kanda.
Vibhishana leads Lakshmana, Hanuman, and a large army of vanaras to the vicinity of Nikumbhila.
There is a large rakshasa army protecting the place. Vibhishana urges Lakshmana and the vanaras to attack the rakshasas.
***
As they attacked, the rakshasas responded with their weapons and a tumultuous battle ensued.
Indrajit had to get up in the middle of his Nukumbhila worship. He got on to his chariot readied already.
कृष्णाञ्जनचयोपमः रक्तास्यानयनो भीमो बभौ मृत्युरिवान्तकः "The huge Indrajit, who resembled a large mass of black collyrium, with coppery red eyes and his face reddened in anger, was like Death itself as he attacked.
Meanwhile, Hanuman was consuming the rakshasas rapidly with his unimaginable prowess and struck terror in the enemy. He was then fiercely attacked by the rakshasas who surrounded him and used a wide range of deadly weapons to strike him. But he was unmindful of their onslaught and continued to wreak havoc.
Seeing Hanuman's assault that the rakshasas were unable to defend against, Indrajit ordered his charioteer to proceed in that direction. Indrajit attacked Hanuman with his arrows and other weapons, striking him on his head.
An enraged Hanuman shouted to Indrajit:
युद्ध्यस्व यदि शूरौऽसि रावणात्मज दुर्मते ।
वायुपुत्रं समासाद्य न जीवन् प्रतियास्यसि ॥
बाहुभ्यां संप्रयुद्ध्यस्व यदि मे द्वन्द्वमाहवे ।
वेगं सहस्व दुर्बुद्धे ततस्त्वं रक्षसां वरः ॥
"Oh son of Ravana, the evil-minded Indrajit! Come and fight me if you are really brave! After fighting this son of the Wind-god, you will not return alive.
"Come and engage with me in a one-to-one wrestling fight. Let us see if you can withstand my speed. If indeed you survive, you will prove you are the best among rakshasas."
This was seen by Vibhishana. Not knowing Hanuman's true strength, he said to Lakshmana, "Look! Indrajit is now going to attack Hanuman, using his special weapons. Lakshmana, do not lose time. Use your formidable arrows and repulse him."
***
Vibhishana moved rapidly towards Indrajit's chariot along with Lakshmana.
They entered a wood and Vibhishana pointed out the sacred tree and spot for Nikumbhila worship that had been set up by Indrajit. That was a huge peepul tree. Vibhishana pointed out all the articles there.
"Lakshmana, every time before Indrajit goes to battle, he comes here and propitiates the spirits with sacrifices. This empowers him to remain invisible as he attacks the enemy and kills them with his arrows. So before he comes this time near this tree, you should attack and destroy Indrajit's chariot, charioteer, horses, and him too."
Lakshmana acquiesced and twanged his special bow in readiness. Indrajit came there in his chariot with its flag aflutter. He was wearing special armour and carried a big sword.
Lakshmana addressed Indrajit:
समाह्वये त्वां समरे सम्यग्युद्धं प्रयच्छ मे "Oh Indrajit, I now invite you to battle. Give me a good fight!"
Indrajit saw Vibhishana and turned his attention to him. He spoke in great contempt and rage:
कथं द्रुह्यसि पुत्रस्य पितृव्यो मम राक्षस ! "Oh Rakshasa! You are a son of Lanka. You are my father's younger brother. How can you betray me!?"
न ज्ञातित्वं न सौहार्दं न जातिस्तव दुर्मते ।
प्रमाणं न च सौन्दर्यं न धर्मो धर्मदूषण ॥
"Fie on you, oh evil Vibhishana! You have no regard for your family, no affection for your people, You have no worth, no goodness, you are a disgrace to rakshasas!"
"You have chosen to be servile to others, betraying your own people! You lack good sense! Don't you know you should stick to your own people even if they are lacking in virtue!? By going to others, you will help them destroy your people and thereafter they will eliminate you, too!"
"Vibhishana, you have brought Lakshmana here to attack and kill me. Such a low act is worthy only of someone like you!"
Vibhishana responded with great spirit:
राक्षसेन्द्रसुतासाधो पारुष्यं त्यज गौरवात् ।
कुले यद्यप्यहं जातो रक्षसां क्रूरकर्मणाम् ।
गुणोऽयः प्रथमो नॄणां तन्मे शीलमराक्षसम् ॥
"Oh, son of the lord of rakshasas! Eschew your uncivil harshness and show some respect. Yes, it is true that I have been born in the lineage of rakshasas known for their evil deeds. But my nature is different, and I cherish virtue first and foremost. In this respect, I am not like rakshasas."
"I have never taken pleasure in rakshasa-like behaviour. I have no interest in unrighteous endeavours. Given that his younger brother's nature was very different from his own, yet the elder brother and King should not have abandoned and banished me! When he did so, what is wrong in my going to someone else who is full of righteousness!?"
धर्मात् प्रच्युतशीलं हि पुरुषं पापनिश्चयम् ।
त्यक्त्वा सुखमवाप्नोति हस्तादाशीविषं यथा ॥
परस्वहरणे युक्तं परदाराभिमर्शनम् ।
त्याज्यमाहुर्दुरात्मानं वेश्म प्रज्वलितं यथा ॥
परस्वानाञ्च हरणं परदाराभिमर्शनम् ।
सुहृदामितिशङ्का च त्रयो दोषाःक्षयावहाः ॥
"One in his wisdom abandons the company of those who have slipped from virtue and are intent on doing evil. His wisdom is the same as that of a man who throws away a poisonous snake encircling his arm.
"Anyone robbing others' wealth or stealing their wives forcibly is indeed committing terribly evil deeds, and the wise counsel that such a person should be abandoned much like one flees one's home when it has caught fire.
"Don't you know that stealing others' wealth, abducting others' wives, and mistrusting and insulting one's own kith and kin, are a threesome of misdeeds known to cause surely the destruction of one's lineage?"
"Killing ascetics, estranging and battling all the gods, displaying excessive arrogance, uncontrolled rage, easy enmity, and not thinking twice before going against righteousness, these are all guaranteed to destroy one's life and prosperity. These qualities are resplendent in my elder brother. They are like dark clouds that engulf a mountain and make everything invisible."
"Know that for these reasons I went away from my brother. Know that there is no future for Lanka or you or your father. You are in the grip of Fate that is what makes you behave like this, speaking like this to me.
"Know that you will not make it to the Nikumbhila worship spot under the sacred tree. Fight Lakshmana now. You will not survive this battle."
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
