Chapter 284

“Markandeya said, “Then Prahasta, suddenly advancing up to Vibhishana anduttering a loud yell, struck him with his mace. But though struck withthat mace of terrible force, the mighty-armed Vibhishana of great wisdom,without wavering in the least, stood still as the mountains of Himavat.Then Vibhishana, taking up a huge and mighty javelin furnished with ahundred bells, inspired it with mantras and hurled it at the head of hisadversary. And by the impetuosity of that weapon rushing with the forceof the thunderbolt, Prahasta’s head was severed off, and he thereuponlooked like a mighty tree broken by the wind. And beholding that wandererof the night, Prahasta, thus slain in battle, Dhumraksha rushed withgreat impetuosity against the monkey-host. And beholding the soldiers ofDhumraksha, looking like the clouds and endued with terrible mien,advancing up towards them, the monkey-chief suddenly broke and fled. Andseeing those foremost of monkeys suddenly give way, that tiger amongmonkeys, Hanuman, the son of Pavana, began to advance. And beholding theson of Pavana staying still on the field of battle, the retreatingmonkeys, O king, one and all quickly rallied. Then mighty and great andfearful was the uproar that arose there in consequence of the warriors ofRama and Ravana rushing against each other. And in that battle whichraged terribly the field soon became miry with blood. And Dhumrakshaafflicted the monkey-host with volleys of winged shafts. Then thatvanquisher of foes, Hanuman, the son of Pavana, quickly seized thatadvancing leader of the Rakshasa. And the encounter that took placebetween that monkey and the Rakshasa hero, is desirous of defeating theother, was fierce and terrible, like that of Indra and Prahlada (in daysof yore). And the Rakshasa struck the monkey with his maces and spikedclubs while the monkey struck the Rakshasa with trunks of trees unshornof their branches. Then Hanuman, the son of Pavana, slew in great wraththat Rakshasa along with his charioteer and horses and broke his chariotalso into pieces. And beholding Dhumraksha, that foremost of Rakshasa,thus slain, the monkeys, abandoning all fear, rushed against the Rakshasaarmy with great valour. And slaughtered in large numbers by thevictorious and powerful monkeys, the Rakshasas became dispirited and fledin fear to Lanka. And the surviving wreck of the Rakshasa army, havingreached the city, informed king Ravana of everything that had happened.And hearing from them that Prahasta and that mighty archer Dhumraksha,had both, with their armies, been slain by the powerful monkeys, Ravanadrew a deep sigh and springing up from his excellent seat, said,–thetime is come for Kumbhakarna to act.–And having said this, he awake, bymeans of various loud-sounding instruments, his brother Kumbhakarna fromhis deep and prolonged slumbers. And having awaked him with greatefforts, the Rakshasa king, still afflicted with anxiety, addressed themighty Kumbhakarna and said unto him when seated at his ease on his bed,having perfectly recovered consciousness and self-possession, thesewords, ‘Thou, indeed, art happy, O Kumbhakarna, that canst enjoy profoundand undisturbed repose, unconscious of the terrible calamity that hathovertaken us! Rama with his monkey host hath crossed the Ocean by abridge and disregarding us all is waging a terrible war (against us). Ihave stealthily brought away his wife Sita, the daughter of Janaka. andit is to recover her that he hath come hither, after having made a bridgeover the great Ocean. Our great kinsmen also, Prahasta and others, havealready been slain by him. And, O scourge of thy enemies, there is notanother person, save thee, that can slay Rama! Therefore, O warrior,putting on thy armour, do thou set out this day for the purpose ofvanquishing Rama and his followers! The two younger brothers of Dushana,viz., Vajravega and Promathin, will join thee with their forces!’ Andhaving said this unto the mighty Kumbhakarna. the Rakshasa king gaveinstructions to Vajravega and Promathin as to what they should do. Andaccepting his advice, those two warlike brothers of Dushana quicklymarched out of the city, preceded by Kumbhakarna.”