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Castine his eyes on Lanka, the monkey, his wish attained, increasing his person and bursting with spirits, considered as to how to give the coup de grace to his exertions. ‘What recently is to be done by me here to finish this business, that may afflict them the more? I have ravayed the wood, and slain the choice R&kshasas, and destroyed by main force a portion of the army. Now it remains to demolish the fortifications. On the fortifications being destroyed, my work shall have its toils crowned with joy. By undergoing slight labor in this business,I shall have my pains furnished with fruit. That bearer of sacrificial offerings* ‘who flameth on my tail,—it is my duty to ‘propitiate him with these excellent edifices.” Thereat that mighty monkey, with his tail aglow, and resembling a cloud (luminous)with lightning,began to range before the dwellings in Lanka. And that monkey with a calm mind, eying (all round), ranged one house from another, and gardens, and stately piles. And that one gifted with exceeding vehemence, and in strength resembling the Wind, bounding up set fire unto the dwelling of Prahasta. Then Hanuman endowed with prowess, leaping up, set unto Mahapargwa's mansion fire resembling that at the universal dissolution. And (then) the mighty monkey darting up, set fire unto Vajradanshtra’s ; and (then) that highly energetic one set fire unto Suka’s and unto the intelligent Sadrana’s. And the leader of monkey bands in the same way burnt down Indrajit’s mansion ; and then he burnt the abodes of Sum4li and Jamvumili ; and Ragmiketu’s mansion and Suryyacatru’s, and Hraswakarna’s, and the Rakshasa Romaga's; and the houses of Yuddhonmatta, and Matta, and the Rakshasa Dwajagriva, and the calm * Vide ante.—T.
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Vidy ujjibhwa, and Hastimukha ; and of Kar&la, and of Vigala, and of Sonitaksha; and Kumbhakarna’s mansion, and Nikumbha’s, and the residence of Yajna¢atru, and of Brahmagatru. And leaving alone the dwelling of Vibhishana, that exceedingly energetic one—foremost of monkeys—by and by burnt (all the houses there). And in those costly mansions and dwellings, that famous one, that foremost of monkeys, burnt all the wealth of those affluent persons.— Having passed the dwellings of all, that powerful and auspicious one approached the residence of the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana. And in that foremost of mansions, adorned with various gems, resembling Meru or Mandara, graced with diverse auspicious things, he set unto the same, fire flaming at the end of his tail. And the heroic Hauuman roars, resembling a cloud (appearing) at the end of a Yuga. And assisted by the wind, that highly powerful and vehement one (Fire) flaimed up, like fire at the wreck of all, and the fire attained energy. And the wind spreading the flaming fire all round those dwellings, those mansions furnished with golden networks ; and containing pearls and gems; enjewelled and magnificent, were shorn of their splendour. And cracked edifices began to topple down to the ground, like the mansions of Siddhas falling from the firmament on the exhaustion of their righteousness. And there arose a mighty uproar of those Rakshasas, as, bereft of their good fortune, despairing of preserving their abodes, they rushed in afl directions,—‘‘Forsooth it is Fire himself that hath come hither in the form of a monkey.” And females crying with babes on their breasts, suddenly plunged (into the fire). And some fair ones with hair dishevelled, and surrounded on all sides with fire, as they fell down from dwellings, looked lovely like lightning from the welkin. And he (Hanum§n) saw various kinds of metals, mixed with diamonds, and coral, and lapises and pearls and silver, runmg down in streams from the mansions. And as Fire is not
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cloyed with wood and straw, Hanum&n never at all felt satiety on slaying those foremost of R&kshasas. And the Earth could not contain the Rakshasas slain by Hanumin. And as Rudra had burnt down Tripura, the vehement and high-souled monkey, Hanuman, burnt down Lank&. And rising to the brow of Lank&'s mount,* the fire of terrific energy kindled by the impetuous Hanum§&n, spread wide his tongues. And with the Wind assisting him, the smokless Fire in the dwellings, with his flames feeding on the bodies of the R&kshasas representing sacrificial offerings, spread his magnitude, touching the horizen—resembling the conflagration kindled at the universal dissolution. And possessing the fierce energy of a kot: suns, the mighty Fire completely encompassing the entire Lank&, increased (in volume), riving the mundane Egg with various sounds resembling thunder-claps. And the Fire of terrific might, having his flames resembling Kinguka blossoms, rising up to the sky, clouds caused by volumes of smoke arising from extinguished fire, in hue resembling blue lotuses, louked exceedingly beautiful. ‘Either the thunder-bolt-bearing Indra the Great—chief of celestials, or Yama himself, or Varuna, or the Wind-god, or the Fire generated by Rudra’s third eye, or the Sun, or Dhanada, or Soma. This is no monkey,—this is verily Aé/at himself. Or is this the Rakshasa-annihilating Fire of Brahm& himself—the Greatsire of all, the four-faced Disposer of the world’s destinies,— come hither, wearing the form of a monkey? Or is this Vishnu’s Energy, inconceivable, unutterable, infinite and sole, and of surpassing power,—now come hither in its own illusory nature, assuming a monkey-form ?” Seeing that city suddenly consumed, with her souls, dwellings, and trees, Rakshasas of note, assembled together, thus talked unto each other. And then Lank&, suddenly consumed with Rakshasas, * Trikuta on which Lanké4 rested.—T. t A name of Yama.—T.
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horses, cars, serpents, crowds of birds, beasts and trees, began to bewail tumultuously and loud in forlorn guise, —*‘O father! O son! O love! O friend! O lord of my life and frame ! all our religious merit is abolished.” Indulging in various lamentations, the Rakshas thus created a mighty and frightful uproar. And with the flames encircling her, and her -foremost heroes fallen, and her warriors destroyed, Lank§&, overcome by the might of Hanum4an’s wrath, became as if she had been blighted by an imprecation. Then the mighty-minded Hanuman beheld the Rakshasas in terror and trepidation and castdown, and Lanka marked by fire and bright flames,even as the Self-sprung eyeth the world destroyed by his rage, And devastating the forest filled with many excellent trees, slaying many a terrible Rakshasa_ in conflict, and burning down the city of Lanka filled with picturesque houses, the monkey, Hanuman, Wind-god’s son, stationed himself there. And destroying many a R&akshasa, felling many trees in the forest and setting fire to the houses of the Rakshasas, the high-souled (monkey) became engaged in thoughts touching R&ma. Thereupon all the celestials praised highly the high-souled, excellent and mighty’ son of the Wind-god, foremost of heroic monkeys, gifted with the velocity of the Wind. And all the celestials, the foremost ascetics, the Gandharbas, the Vidhydédharas, the Pannagas, and all other great heroes, attained excess of delight. And having devastated the forest, slain the Rakshasas in conflict and burnt the grand city of Lank&, the great monkey appeared there. And seated on the variegated top of a splendid and high mansion, the foremost of monkeys,spreading the rays of his burning tail,looked like unto the sun of many rays. And having consumed the city of Lank&, the great monkey juenched the fire of his tail in the ocean. Thereupon peholding Lank& burnt down, the celestials along with Gandharbas, Siddhas, and the great ascetics, were struck with wonder.