Chapter 286

“Markandeya said, ‘Learning that Kumbhakarna had with his followers,fallen in battle as also that great warrior Prahasta, and Dhumraksha tooof mighty energy, Ravana then addressed his heroic son Indrajit saying,’O slayer of foes, slay thou in battle Rama and Sugriva and Lakshmana. Mygood son, it was by thee that this blazing fame of mine had been acquiredby vanquishing in battle that wielder of the thunderbolt, thethousand-eyed Lord of Sachi! Having the power of appearing and vanishingat thy will, slay thou, O smiter of foes, my enemies by means, O thouforemost of all wielders of weapons, of thy celestial arrows received asboons (from the gods)! Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva are incapable ofenduring the bare touch of thy weapons. What shall I say, therefore, oftheir followers? That cessation of hostilities which could not be broughtabout by either Prahasta or Kumbhakarna in battle, be it thine, Omighty-armed one, to bring about! Slaying my enemies with all their armyby means of thy keen-edged shafts, enhance my joy to-day, O son, as thoudidst once before by vanquishing Vasava!’ Thus addressed by him. Indrajitsaid–So be it,–and encased in mail he quickly ascended his chariot, andproceeded, O king, towards the field of battle. And then that bullamongst Rakshasas loudly announcing his own name, challenged Lakshmanaendued with auspicious marks, to a single combat. And Lakshmana, thuschallenged, rushed towards that Rakshasa, with his bow and arrows, andstriking terror into his adversary’s heart by means of the flapping ofhis bow-string on the leathern case of his left hand. And the encounterthat took place between those warriors that defied each other’s prowessand each of whom was desirous of vanquishing the other, and both of whomwere conversant with celestial weapons, was terrible in the extreme. Butwhen the son of Ravana found that he could not by his arrows gain anyadvantage over his adversary, that foremost of mighty warriors musteredall his energy. And Indrajit then began to hurl at Lakshmana with greatforce numberless javelins. The son of Sumitra, however, cut them intofragments by means of his own keen-edged arrows. And those javelins, thuscut into pieces by the keen-edged arrows of Lakshmana, dropped down uponthe ground. Then the handsome Angada, the son of Vali, taking up a largetree, rushed impetuously at Indrajit and struck him with it on the head.Undaunted at this, Indrajit of mighty energy sought to smite Angada witha lance. Just at that juncture, however, Lakshmana cut into pieces thelance taken up by Ravana’s son. The son of Ravana then took up a mace andstruck on the left flank that foremost of monkeys, the heroic Angada whowas then staying close beside him. Angada, the powerful son of Vali,little recking that stroke, hurled at Indrajit a mighty Sal stem. Andhurled in wrath by Angada for the destruction of Indrajit, that tree, Oson of Pritha, destroyed Indrajit’s chariot along with his horses andcharioteer. And thereupon jumping from his horseless and driverless car,the son of Ravana disappeared from sight, O king, by aid of his powers ofillusion. And beholding that Rakshasa, abundantly endued with powers ofillusion, disappear so suddenly, Rama proceeded towards that spot andbegan to protect his troops with care. Indrajit, however, with arrows,obtained as boons from the gods, began to pierce both Rama and mightyLakshmana in every part of their bodies. Then the heroic Rama andLakshmana both continued to contend with their arrows against Ravana’sson who had made himself invisible by his powers of illusion. ButIndrajit continued to shower in wrath all over those lions among men hiskeen-edged shafts by hundreds and thousands. And seeking that invisiblewarrior who was ceaselessly showering his arrows, the monkeys penetratedinto every part of the firmament, armed with huge masses of stone. Themas well as the two brothers, however, the invisible Rakshasa began toafflict with his shafts. Indeed, the son of Ravana, concealing himself byhis powers of illusion, furiously attacked the monkey host. And theheroic brothers Rama and Lakshmana, pierced all over with arrows, droppeddown on the ground like the Sun and the Moon fallen down from thefirmament.'”