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SETUBANDHA
165
46. Thereafter Lakşmaņa, who had endured the initial assault, and joined a formidable arrow to his bow, was pierced by Rāvana in the chest with a lance, even as a tree is riven by the thunderbolt of Indra.
47. He was given a new lease of life by the plants of a mountain that was brought over by Hanūmat, and began to fight with the demons, equipped with bow and arrows as before.
48-50. Rāma then beheld a chariot descending from heaven, like the king of birds (Garuda), with the rear projecting upward. The surface of the clouds was ruffled by the impact of the hooves of the horses; and the golden flag staff emitted a sweet smell because Indra used to stand leaning against it.
The long yoke bent with the weight of Mātali as he held the reins in his left hand; and the hair of the Cămara whisks19 was smooth and close, being drenched with the spray of the scattered clouds; while the crest of the banner, moistened by frost as it rubbed against the moon, was dried by the rays of the sun.20
51. As Rāma was about to greet him first with a cheerful countenance Mātali, profoundly inclining his head, bowed to him reverently, conveying the high esteem of the gods.
52. He presented Rāma with the armour of Indra, the lord of the three worlds, which lay massive in the chariot. Its great size was revealed when both its arms were raised;21 while the perfumed inside emitted fragrance.
53. That armour, soft on the inside for Indra's eyes pervading his limbs, proved to be slightly loose on Rāma's bosom wasted by the grief of separation from Sītā.
54. When Rāma mounted the chariot, Mātali, alighting on the ground, enveloped the former's body in the armour that had always been fondly touched by Indra's hands.
55. Thereupon Lakşmaņa, approaching Rāma with Nila and Sugrīva, spoke to him as he placed on the ground his hand which held the bow just taken up by him.22
19. See 13.66. 20. The chariot belonged to Indra, Mātali being his charioteer. 21, For lifting it from the chariot.
22. This was a manner of obeisance customary among warriors as pointed out by some of the commentators.
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