________________
14
Canto XV. Shedding
fears at the death of Prahasta, Ravana goes out to fight, and chases the host of Vanaras out of the battlefield. They are rallied by their leader Nila; and Ravana, hit by Rama's arrows, beats a hasty retreat, the Vanaras making fun of his chariot as he hurries back to Lanka.
Faced with ruin, Ravana wakes up the sleeping Kumbhakarṇa who sallies out after a hearty laugh at the trivial command to kill Rama. At the sight of his stupendous figure the Vanaras run away, dropping their mountains; but, after protracted fighting, his arms and then his lofty head are struck off by Rama's arrows. Hearing of Kumbhakarna's death, Rāvaṇa is on the point of returning to the fray, but is held back by his son Meghanada, who asks him to give him a chance to prove his worth; and promises to kill Rāma, or even outdo him in his feat of withering the ocean (vv. 25-29).
Meghanāda hastens to the battle and routs the Vanaras, but is slain by Lakṣmaṇa as he proceeds to the shrine of Nikumbhila to worship for victory. Smitten with grief and despair, Ravana attacks Lakṣmaṇa and pierces him in the chest with a lance. He is resuscitated by the plants of a mountain brought over by Hanumat, and fights with the demons as before (vv. 46-47).
Matali, the charioteer of Indra, now descends from heaven in his master's chariot, and presents Rama with the massive armour of Indra. As soon as Rama mounts the chariot placed at his disposal, Lakṣmaṇa approaches him with Nīla and Sugriva; and begs him to direct his wrath to something weightier than the killing of Ravana, and relegate the task to one of them. Rama expresses his confidence in their capacity for success, but declines the request, asking them not to snatch Ravana from him, who has come face to face
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
