p. 551

Tuen the grim Surpanakha, coming to Raghava’s asylum - pointed out to the Rakshasas those brothers in company with Sita. And they saw the mighty Rama seated in the cottage in company with Sit&, and ministered unto by Lakshmana. And seeing her, as well as the Rakshasas who had come, Rama remarked unto his brother, Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, “O Sumitra’s son, do thou for a while guard Sita I shall slay these that have come to this asylum here.” Hearing these words of Rama versed in the knowledge of self, Lakshmana honored his speech by saying, “So be it.” And the righteous R&ghava strung his mighty bow decked with gold; and addressed the Rakshasas, saying, ‘We that have entered into this untractable forest of Dandaka in company with Sita are the sons of Dagaratha, the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. Why do you intend to do injury unto us. Subsisting on fruits and roots, having our senses under control, carrying on tasceticism and leading a Brahmacharya life, we are passing our days in the forest of Dandaka. It is to destroy you, wicked, and troublesome that I equipped with the bow have come here at the desire of the saints. Stay there content you should not move further. If you have a caré for your lives, desist, ye rangers of the night.” Hearing those words of his, those fourteen grim Rakshasas bearing darts in their hands, exceedingly enraged, with their eyes reddened, breathing high spirits, harshly said unto the sweetspeeched Rama, having his eyes reddened, whose prowess they had not seen before, “Having excited there our lord, the high-souled Khara, it is thou that shalt lose thy life no later than this day, being slain by us in battle. What power hast thou, being one, to stay before us many, in the tield,—what shall I say of thy coping with us in conflict?

p. 552

In consequence of the parighas, darts, and; pathifas disch ged by our arms, thou wilt surely lose thy life, along w thy prowess, and this bow which thou pressest with 1 hand.” Having said this in wrath, those fourteen Rakshas uplifting their weapons and daggers rushed towards Ram and discharged darts at the invincible Raghava. Thereup Kakutstha by means of shafts decked with gold, cut off th fourteen darts of theirs. Seeing this, that exceedingly en getic one, waxing highly enraged, took out fourteen #drdchk whetted on stone, resembling the sun. And even as Satakr hurls the thunderbolt, Raghava drawing his bow and taki his aim at the R&kshasas, let go those shafts. And thc Rikshasas, their breasts pierced with vehemence, a themselves bathed in blood, fell down to the earth, li snakes dropping down from an ant hill. And with th breasts pierced, they, dripping with blood, deformed a deprived of their lives, lay on the ground like trees whc roots have been severed. Seeing them fallen on the grout the Rakshasi, beyond herself in wrath, approaching Khai with her blood a little dried up, again in distressful gui threw herself on the earth, like a plant exuding gum. A in presence of her brother, she set up a mighty roar; a then her face grown pallid, she dropped tears, emitting cri Seeing those Rikshasas slain in battle, Surpanakh& aga hastened (to his brother), and the sister of Khara, related detail the slaughter of those Rakshasas.