________________
326
cowardly speech. We also know that no one is a match for our fathers.107 How can we cause shame to them by abandoning battle!" Just as they were saying this, a battle started between their soldiers and Rama's soldiers, resembling a whirlpool at the end of the world. Thinking, "May their army of earth-dwellers not be destroyed by Sugriva and other Khecaras," Bhāmaṇḍala went to the battle with apprehension. The princes, very strong, rose up for a challenge, their coats of mail loosened by their exceeding horripilation. Sugriva and other Khecaras, fighting unhesitatingly, asked Bhāmaṇḍala, when they had seen him in the battle, "Who are they?" When they had learned from Bhāmaṇḍala that they were Rama's sons, they went to Sita, bowed, and sat down before her on the ground.
CHAPTER NINE
Meeting of Rama and his sons (117-167)
Now in a moment powerful Lavana and Ankuśa destroyed Rama's army, they being hard to resist like the ocean raging at the end of the world. Wherever they roamed, excited like lions in a forest, charioteer, horseman, elephant-rider, armed, did not stay there. After making Rama's army first defeated, then put to flight, unhindered by anyone, they approached Rāma and Saumitri in the battle. Seeing them, Răma and Saumitri said to each other: "Who are these handsome princes, enemies of ours? Naturally the mind is affectionate, but is hostile against its will. Why do we desire to embrace them and not to fight them?" As Rāma was talking so, the charioteer Lavana spoke to him in his chariot and Ankuśa to Lakṣmaṇa cleverly and respectfully:
"By good fortune I have seen you, the conqueror of powerful Rāvana unconquerable by the world-I, eager for battle with heroes for a long time. Surely
107 III. I.e., father and uncle.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
