January 24 - Sargas 97 and 98 of Yuddha Kanda.
It is inconceivable how an arrogant and brutish dictator like Ravana, certain of his own invincibility, is brought down to his knees by Fate.
प्रक्षीणं स्वबलं दृष्ट्वा वध्यमानं वलीमुखैः ।
बभूवास्य व्यथा युद्धे दृष्ट्वा दैवविपर्ययम् ॥
"Seeing Virupaksha dead, and seeing his own rakshasa forces depleted by the vanara army, Ravana was deeply aggrieved and considered the cruelty of Fate."
Ravana approached Mahodara.
जहि शत्रुचमूं वीर दर्शयाद्य पराक्रमम्।
भर्तृपिण्डस्य कालोऽयं निर्देष्टुं साधु युध्यताम् ॥
"Oh, brave Mahodara! Please go and defeat the enemy. Show your prowess now. The time has come for you to pay back in gratitude to me, your lord and master, for all the good life you have enjoyed under me thus far. It is time for you to fight well."
Mahodara entered the battlefield and fought fiercely, using his archery skills and killing and maiming many vanaras. They either fled or finally sought refuge under Sugriva. Sugriva came and attacked Mahodara.
Mahodara was able to pulverize with his arrows the huge rock coming at him from Sugriva. He cut down easily the next missile which was a sala tree. Just then Sugriva saw a parigha lying on the battlefield and picked it up and struck to death Mahodara's horses. Mahodara leapt down and attacked with his mace. There was a terrific duel between them.
Sugriva was able to destroy the gada (mace) with his parigha. He then picked up an iron musala and attacked Mahodara who warded it off with his new mace.
Soon the two warriors were exchanging blows with their fists. When they tired of it, Mahodara picked up a sword and shield lying nearby and attacked Sugriva, who also found for himself a sword and a shield. Valmiki says the two warriors fought expertly and relentlessly.
Mahodara managed just then to strike Sugriva's armour fixed on his chest with his sword. But the sword got stuck in the armour. Mahodara was trying to pull it out when Sugriva with extreme speed was able to strike and cut off the head of Mahodara including his headgear and ear ornaments.
That was the end of Mahodara. The rakshasa army scattered. Just as everyone was celebrating Sugriva's valour, Mahaparshva who was looking on came and attacked the vanaras.
It was Angada's turn to tackle Mahaparshva. The rakshasa was causing severe damage to the vanara forces when Angada picked up a lustrous parigha and attacked Mahaparshva. That one blow felled Mahaparshva as well as his charioteer. Jambavan then came and destroyed Mahaparshva's chariot and horses.
But Mahaparshva recovered enough to strike both Angada and Jambavan with his arrows. He also badly hurt Gavaksha. Angada now came and struck Mahaparshva with his parigha. The rakshasa lost both his bow and arrows as well as his crown helmet.
When Angada gave a terrific blow to his cheek, Mahaparshva was provoked and picked up an axe. That axe was cast in a special iron alloy, was very sharp and tempered. His attempted strike at Angada with the axe was sidestepped by Angada. Angada then struck a fatal blow to Mahaparshva's chest with his thunderbolt of a fist. The rakshasa's chest burst open and he died.
The usual celebrations from vanaras followed just as the rakshasas scattered in dismay.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
