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INTRODUCTION 1. A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE NARRATIVE IN SANDHIS LVII - XC
YUDDHA - KANDA Sandhi LVII. Vibhīşaņa Insusted by Rāvaņa, Goes over to Rāma.
On hearing the sound of Rāma's war-drums Vibhīşaņa met Rāvana and tried to persuade him to give up Sītā and save himself from sin, and all others from destruction. Rāvana first confessed he was a slave of his senses. But Indrajit flared up against Vibhīşaņa for intimidating them in Rāma's name. Vibhīşaņa persisted in the same vein. Now Rāvaņa too got wild. He ordered Vibhīpaņa to leave Lankā. Smarting under the insult Vibhişaņa along with his army, went over to Rāma. On Hanumat's advice, Rāma welcomed him and promised him the throne of Lankā. At that moment Bhāmandala too arrived along with his army, one thousand Akşauhiņi strong.
Sandhi LVIII. Angada's Mission of Conciliation. Rāma in a final bid to save peace sent Angada to Rāvaņa with an appeal to return Sītā. But Lakşmaņa urged him to adopt an aggressive attitude. Accordingly Rāma, Lakşmaņa, Vibhīşaņa, Sugrīva, Hanumat and others sent provocative challanges to Rāvaņa through Angada. Angada approached Rāvana. The latter ridiculed Rāma's proposal. Indrajit supported him. Angada delivered the challanges and returned. Sandhi LIX. Description of Rāvana's Forces Poised for Battle.
List of prominent warriors; parting scences; spirited vows. Hasta and Prahasta were appointed to command the army, four thousand Akşauhiņī strong. Sandhi LX. Description of Rāma's Forces Poised for Battle.
List of prominent warriors; their strength, spirit and achievements; the army was two thousand Akşauhiņī strong. The heavenly nymphs, come there as spectators, argued as to which of the two sides would win. Sandhi LXI. Fall of Hasta and Prahasta in the First Day's Battle.
The opposite armies joined in battle. In the first encounter Rāma's forces were compelled to retreat. But shortly they rallied, and forced the enemy ranks to disperse. Thereupon: Hasta and Prahasta rushed to the van, confronted Nala and Nīla and eventually got killed by them. At sunset the fighting stopped for the day.
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