March 3 - Sarga 27 and shlokas 1-30 of sarga 28 of Uttara Kanda.
Ravana attacks Indra in heaven.
Indra rushes to Mahavishnu to save the gods from Ravana and his onslaught. Mahavishnu replies that at the right time, he will surely destroy Ravana. Until then Ravana will be unconquerable but his present attack should be repulsed by Indra with every effort.
***
कैलासं लङ्घयित्वा आससाद महातेजा इन्द्रलोकं दशाननः
"The radiant Ravana with his large army crossed over Kailasa and reached Indraloka."
Indra, the lord of gods, at once summoned all the principal gods like Adityas, Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, and the Maruts.
सज्जा भवत युद्धार्थं रावणस्य दुरात्मनः
"Oh gods, know that we are being attacked by the evil Ravana. Please therefore get ready with all your weapons and soldiers for a battle."
As they all got ready with weapons and armour, a worried Indra went to Mahavishnu.
विष्णो कथं करिष्यामि रावणं राक्षसं प्रति
अहोऽतिबलवद्रक्षो युद्धार्थमभिवर्तते
वरप्रसादद्बलवान् न खल्वन्येन हेतुना
तत्तु सत्यं वचः यदुक्तं पद्मयोनिना
न हन्यो देवदेवेश तद्वृते मधुसूदन
गतिः परायणं चापि त्रैलोक्ये स चराचरे
त्वं हि नारायणः श्रीमान् त्वयेमे स्थापिता लोकाः शक्रश्चाहं सुरेश्वरः
असिचक्रसहायसत्वं युध्यसे रावणं प्रति
In his fervent and elaborate prayer, Indra appeals to Mahavishnu:
"Oh, Vishnu! We are under attack from Ravana. What shall I do? Ravana is protected by the infallible boons from Brahma. Indeed, it is obvious that there is no one who can eliminate Ravana except you. Oh, lord, you're Narayana and you are the ultimate refuge for all in the three worlds. You have established the worlds, you have put in place all the regulations. In fact, you have appointed me as Indra. Be so kind as to pick up your Chakra and sword and come to fight Ravana."
Mahavishnu replies:
"Yes, my dear Indra, I am aware of Ravana's attack. I agree with you that Ravana's invincibility is from his boons. But I shall not battle him now."
ना हत्वा समरे शत्रुं विष्णुः प्रतिनिवर्तते
"In fact, as you know, Mahavishnu never returns from a battle without killing the adversary. But the time has to come for me to take care of Ravana. It is not now."
प्रतिजाने हि देवेन्द्र त्वत्समीपे शतक्रतो भवितास्मि यथास्याहं रक्षसो मृत्युकारणम्
"Devendra, I promise you and take a vow that when the time comes, I shall take birth for the express purpose of killing Ravana."
"Meanwhile, Indra, you should marshall your forces and repulse Ravana and his attack."
Hearing this, and bowing down to Mahavisnhu, Indra returns.
Next morning there is a terrific noise raised by Ravana's army on the attack.
The gods are ready too. A most fierce battle ensues.
***
Valmiki lists, starting with Mareecha, Prahasta, Mahodara, Mahaparshva, Akampana, Nikumba, all the several rakshasas who get into battle. Even Ravana's grandfather Sumali enters the battle. Sumali fights with a variety of weapons and is formidable.
***
The rakshasas attacked so fiercely that the gods scattered, much like a herd of deer attacked by lions in the forest. Seeing Sumali on the rampage, the eighth Vasu by the name of Saavitra entered the battle. He was surrounded by able warriors and held many weapons. He made an immediate impact on the battle.
There was now a terrific duel between Sumali and Saavitra. Saavitra destroyed Sumali's chariot with his arrows. He then picked up his massive gada which was emitting fire from its tip and struck Sumali on his head. It was as if Indra's thunderbolt was striking a mountain. Sumali was so smashed by the blow that there was nothing left of him - neither bones nor flesh. In fact, the gada had burnt it all down.
Sumali's death forced the rakshasas to flee in all directions.
***
Meghanada was not amused. He now attacked in his special chariot in the way only he could. His very entry tilted the balance in favour of rakshasas and now the gods were scattering.
Seeing this, Indra sternly told the gods not to run away and he assigned his worthy son Jayanta to lead them back into battle.
Jayanta was in a wonderful chariot. Meghanada at once attacked Matali's son who was the charioteer of Jayanta. Jayanta in turn attacked Meghanada's charioteer.
Meghanada now rained his arrows on Jayanta. He also became invisible and fought such a magical battle that the gods had no answer.
Soon there was utter chaos. Valmiki says the gods were hitting gods, the rakshasas were hitting rakshasas, as it was all very dark.
Then the daitya king Puloma came and caught hold of Jayanta and took him away. He was, through Shachi, wife of Indra, Jayanta's maternal grandfather. He took Jayanta away deep into the ocean for safety.
Seeing Meghanada's antics and finding the gods clueless about Jayanta's disappearance, Indra now summoned his charioteer Matali and entered the battle. His arrival was greeted with ceremonial music from the gods amidst celebrations. His entry into battle occasioned many omens of a terrific encounter. Indra was surrounded by all the chief gods he had summoned.
Seeing Indra coming into battle, Ravana also got ready and entered the fray.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
