Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

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

Page 362

SITA'S PURIFICATION AND TAKING OF THE VOW
327
your desire for battle was not satisfied even by Rāvana. I will satisfy it and you shall satisfy mine.'
So addressed, Rāma and Saumitri and Lavaņa and Ankusa twanged their respective bows terrifying from the sound. The charioteers Krtānta and King Vajrajangha made Räma's and Anangalavana's chariots approach each other. Virādha and Pộthu, best charioteers, made the chariots of Saumitri and Ankusa attack each other. The foremost charioteers whirled their chariots cleverly and the four, fighting in pairs, attacked many times. Lavaņa and Ankuśa fought carefully, knowing their kinship. Rama and Lakşmaņa fought, indifferent from ignorance. • After they had fought with many weapons, Raghūdvaha, desiring to end the battle, said to Křtāntavadana, "Drive the chariot against the enemy.” Kộtānta said: "The horses have become exhausted, pierced with arrows all over by your adversary. These horses do not go fast even if beaten with whips, and your chariot is damaged, struck by the enemy's missiles. These arms of mine are decrepit from blows of many enemies and are not able to manage the reins or whip, lord.” Padmanäbha said: "Of me also the bow, Vajrāvarta, is relaxed, ineffective like one in a picture. My jewel of a club was not able to split the enemy, but now has become suitable only for threshing grain. My jewel of a plow, which many times has been a goad for ill-behaved elephants of kings, now has become suitable for plowing the ground. What has happened to these weapons of mine, the same which, always guarded by Yakşas, caused destruction of the enemy?”.
Just as the weapons of Aparājita's son were useless, so also were those of Lakşmaņa, adversary of Madanānkuśa. Just then Saumitri, struck in the chest with an arrow from Ankuśa, like an axe, fell unconscious in the chariot. Distracted by Saumitri's swoon, Virădha drove the chariot from the battle toward Ayodhyā. Then