Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 318

283
THE KILLING OF RĀVANA which Kumbhakarņa, blind from anger, raised, like a bird escaping from a cage. Bibhīşaņa approached in a chariot to fight with the sons of Rāvaņa in order to release Bhamaņdala and the lord of the Kapis. Indrajit and Meghavähana thought: “Our father's younger brother comes himself to make battle with us. How, indeed, can we fight with him who is like a father ? Departure from here is fitting. There is no disgrace to those fearing one entitled to respect. These two foot-soldiers, bound by nooses, will certainly die. Let them remain right here, so our father (uncle) will not follow us." With these reflections the wise sons of Rāvaņa disappeared from the battle and Bibhīsaņa stood looking at Bhāmaņdala and the lord of Kapis. Rāma and Lakşmaņa stood there, their faces dark from anxiety, like the sun and moon whose bodies are concealed by a mass of snow.. Then Rāmabhadra recalled the god Mahālocana, the best of the Suparņa-gods, who had promised him a boon formerly. The god came, knowing the situation) by clairvoyance, and gave to Padma the vidyā Sinhanināda, the pestle, chariot, and plow. He gave Lakşmaņa the vidyā Gārudi, a chariot, and the club Vidyudvadanā which destroys enemies in battle. He gave both other divine weapons of water, fire, wind, et cetera and umbrellas. As soon as they had seen that Garuda had become the vehicle of Saumitri, the serpents of the nooses of Bhãmandala and Sugrīva disappeared. A cry of “Victory! Victory!" arose on all sides in Rāma's army and the god--the sun—went to rest as well as the army of Räkşasas.
At dawn again Raghūdvaha's and Daśāsya's soldiers went to the battle-field, the best parts of the whole armies. They commenced a great battle terrifying from flashing weapons resembling the teeth of Křtānta; commencing the encounter unexpectedly. The army of the Vānaras was stirred up by the angered Rākşasas, like a pond by swine burned by the midday-heat. Seeing that most of the army was broken, Sugrīva and the others,