Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 311

276
CHAPTER SEVEN
War between the Rakṣasas and Vanaras (45-259)
Raghudvaha spent eight days in Hansadvipa and set out, attended by an army, to Lanka like the wind at the end of the world. Having obstructed twenty yojanas in width of ground with the army, Kakutstha remained ready for battle, a mountain of strength. The tumult of Rama's army, like the roar of the ocean, deafened Lankā, as if the ground of the universe were bursting. Dasakandhara's generals, having unequaled universal strength, armed themselves at once, Prahasta and others, holding weapons erect. Heroes assembled around Daśānana, flying up simultaneously, some with elephants as vehicles, some with camels as vehicles, others in chariots drawn by tigers, and others in chariots drawn by donkeys; some with men as vehicles, like Kubera; others with rams, like Agni; some with buffaloes, like Yama; and others with horses like Revanta; some in aerial cars like gods, intent upon the business of battle.
Red-eyed from anger, armed, the eldest son of Ratnaśravas (Rāvaņa) got into his chariot filled with many kinds of weapons. Bhānukarṇa, carrying a trident like another Yama, came and became Daśakantha's attendant. The princes Indrajit and Meghavahana stood at Dasakaṇṭha's sides like arms. Other sons and powerful vassals by the crore, Suka, Sāraṇa, Mārica, Maya and Sunda and others came. Covering the heavens with innumerable thousands of army divisions skilled in fighting, Daśānana left his city. The heroes of Daśāsya's army-some of whom had tiger-banners, some śarabha-banners, some deer-banners, some elephant-banners, some peacock-banners, some serpent-banners, some cat-banners, some cock-banners; some of whom carried bows, some swords, some nailstudded clubs, some hammers, some tridents, some ironbound clubs, some axes, some nooses-dispersed skilfully for the business of battle, calling by name the opposing heroes again and again. Covering the earth for fifty