________________
116
JAIN RAMAYAN
The guard of the hell, ran shouting and screaming and creating a furore to the refuge of Yama. His throat was choked with fear and horror. He could not articulate a single word. He stood before Yama with folded hands, simply making signs and gestures unable to utter a word. Seeing the horror-stricken guard, even Yama fell into deep thoughtfulness for a while. Even before Yama could ask him what had happened, he said in a faltering manner.
Your Excellency! ... we are being killed and
"Oh! destroyed".
"How and by whom ?"
"Your Excellency! Dashmukh Ravan has descended upon Kishkindha like a raging storm destroying everything. He destroyed our hell; and has liberated our enemies, and now..."
"And now the time has come for the death of that villain Dashanan! What does he think of us?"
At once, Yama's face grew red with anger. He became infuriated. He ordered that the gates of the city of Kishkindha should be closed, Trumpets were blown; and their sounds reverberated in the sky. Accompanied by countless soldiers, Yama set off to fight against Ravan.
Dashmukh was ready for a war. The two armies collided and began to fight in a ferocious manner. Within a few moments, the land of Kishkindha was covered with floods of steaming blood.
Yama, at this point, jumped into the fray. He began raining arrows on Dashmukh Ravan, with the aim of making him lick the dust. But Ravan was not an ordinary warrior; he was a mighty hero who had mastered a thousand arts and accomplishments. He shot his arrows in such a way that the arrows of Yama were cut to pieces on the way. The Yamaraj pounced upon Ravan weilding his Yamadanda. Dashmukh Ravan released a supernatural weapon called Kshurapra and broke his Yamadanda into pieces. Again Yama rained a shower of
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
