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Sexinc the heroic Lakshmana brought down by the dart discharged by the powerful Ravana, and lying drenched in blood, he (Rama) after having fought furiously with the wicked-minded Ravana,—and having showered vollies of shafts, addressed Sushena, saying,—"“This heroic Lakshmana . Adbhutadarcana—wonderful ‘to behold,—wonderful to witness is the sense.—T.

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brought down to the earth by the prowess of Ravana, lieth like a serpent, enhancing my sorrow. Seeing this hero, dearer to ine than life, what power have I, with my soul overwhelmed with dole, to fight ? If this brother of mine graced with auspicious marks, delighting in battle, breathe his last, what shall life avail me or happiness ? My prowess is ashamed; my bow falleth off from my hand; my arrows droop; my sight is dimmed with tears; my limbs weaken as do those of men in adream; thought racks me; and I even desire death.’ Seeing his brother wounded by the wicked-minded Ravana, crying in preternatural accents, and sore stricken in his vitals, (Rima) overcome by a mighty sorrow, lamented with his senses wildered. “Seeing my brother, Lakshmana, wounded, and lying over the dust of the field, even victory, O hero, doth not seem to me sweet. If the Moon is hid from the sight, whom doth he then delight ? What have I to do with battle ? What have I to do with life? Ihave no more to do anything with fighting, seeing that this Lakshmana wounded, lieth in the field of battle. As this highly effulgent one had followed me into the forest, so will I in the same way follow him to the abode of Yama. Ever seeking my welfare and ever devoted to me, he hath been reduced to this pass by Rakshasas fighting in crooked ways. In land after land one meets with wives, in land after land one meets with friends, but country find I none where a uterine brother may be met with. What, O irrepressible one, shall I do with the kingdom without my Lakshinana ? And what shall I say unto mother Sumitra, fond of her son? And I shall never be able to bear the reproach Sumitra shall cast upon me. And what shall I say unto Kaugaly&, and what unto mother Kaikeyi ? And what shall | say unto Bharata, and what unto the exceedingly powerful Satrughna?g ‘Thou hadst gone to the woods with him. Why then dost thou come (back) without him ?’ 'Tis better (for me) to renounce my life here, instead of bearing

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the censure of friends. What a sin had I committed in another birth, seeing that my virtuous brother, staying before me, hath been slain? Ah, my brother! Thou best of men! O master, who wert the foremost of heroes! Why, forsaking me, dost thou repair to the other regions. Wherefore, brother, dost thou not speak to me, who am lamenting ? Get up. See! Why dost thou lie down? Look on me with thine eyes. O mighty-armed one, in the woods and mountains thou didst ever use to cheer me, tried by grief and pining in despondency, with my mind overwhelmed (with woe).” As Rama was speaking thus with his senses overwhelmed with emotion, Sushena, soothing him, spoke these pregnant words,—"O foremost of men, cast off this train of thought tending to overwhelm thy understanding,—this anxiety giving birth to grief, and resembling the shafts of foes in the van of the embattled forces. Lakshmana enhancer of auspiciousness is not dead. His face is not distorted or blackened. Do thou look at his countenance, which is beautifully bright and cheerful. His hands have palms resembling lotus-petals, and his eyes are pleasant. O king, one dead doth not look thus. (Therefore), O hero, do not grieve. O subduer of enemies, this one is instinct with life. As he is lying down on the ground, stretched at length, his heart, O hero, trembling momentarily, testifieth to his respiration.” Having spoken thus unto Raghava, the highly wise Sushena thus addressed the mighty monkey, Hanuman, saying,—'‘O placid one, hieing hence to the mountain, Mahodaya, which, O hero, had formerly been mentioned unto thee by Jambavan, bring hither the mighty drug sprung at its right summit—Vicalyakarani by name, and Savarnyakaran{,* and Sanjivakarant, O hero, and the potent medicine—Sandhanf. Do thou bring (these) in order that the hero—Lakshmana—may be revived.” Having been thus instructed, Hanumin, repairing to the Medicinal mountain, was wrought up with anxiety, not knowing the drugs. And then * Lit.—that which restores the former complexion.—T, 183

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the thought sprang up in the mind of the Wind-god’s offspring of immeasurable prowess,—‘I shall go, even taking this (entire) summit of the mountain. In this very summit must that delightful drug have sprung. This I infer, inasmuch as Sushena had forsooth said so. If I fail to take Vicgalyakaranf, I shall come by disgrace,—and if I spend much time (in thought), that would be fraught with evil.”* Having reflected thus, the exceedingly powerful Hanuman,foremost of monkeys, ‘ —swiftly drawing up to that best of mountains, and giving three shakes to the mountain filled with various flowering trees,—raised it up with his hands. And taking that summit of the mountain resembling dark-blue clouds charged with rain, Hanuman from the earth bounded up into the sky. And arriving (at his quarters), that wondrous vehement one, putting down the mountain-peak,and reposing for a while, spoke unto Sushena,—“I did not find the drug, O best of monkeys ; and therefore have I brought this entire summit of the mountain.” When the Wind-god’s offspring had spoken thus, that foremost of monkeys—Sushena—praising him, uprooted the herb and secured it. Seeing Hanum4n’s feat, incapable of being done by even the celestials, the choicest of the monkeys were amazed. Then crushing the healing herb, that best of monkeys—the exceedingly effulgent Sushena, made Lakshmana smell the same. And thereupon the wounded Lakshmana,—slayer of hostile heroes—smelling it, cured of his wound and ailments, speedily rose up from the ground. Seeing Lakshmana rise up from the earth, the monkeys, exceedingly rejoiced, honoring Lakshmana, exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!’ ‘Come!’ said that slayer of hostile heroes—Rama—and with his eyes filled with tears, he deeply embraced Lakshmana. And having embraced Sumitra’s son, Raghava then addressed him, * Explains the commentator: ‘If I take any other medicine by mistake, I shall make a fool of myself; if I spend much time in thought, Lakshmana may die,’—T.

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saying,—"By good fortune it is that, O hero, I see thee returned from (the mansion of) Death.—Verily my life, or Sita, or Victory is worthless (without thee). And thou being dead, what is my life worthy’ When the high-souled Raghava had spoken thus, Lakshmana, aggrieved on account of the words (of Raghava) expressive of infirmity of purpose, said,—“Having bound thyself by that vow, it doth not, O thou having truth for prowess, behove thee to speak like one fickle and feeble. Those speaking the truth, never falsify their promise: the mark of a great one is even observance of vow. O sinless one, do not suffer thyself to be overcome by despair on my account. Do thou to-day by slaying Ravana, make thy promise good. Thy foe coming within the sway of thy shafts, will not hence, living, even like a mighty elephant coming before a sharp-toothed roaring lion. I wish the speedy destruction of this impious one, ere the maker of day, having performed his work, has ascended the Setting-hill. If thou wishest to slay Ravana in battle, if thou desirest to recover the princess, then, O noble one, O hero, to-day speedily set about what I say.” SE@TION Cll. ——ee Hearne the words uttered by Lakshmana, that slayer of hostile heroes—Raghava—endued with prowess, taking his bow, set shafts on it, and in the brunt of battle began to discharge dreadful arrows at Ravana. And mounted on another car, Ravana—lord of Rakshasas—rushed against Kakutstha, even as Swarbhanu rusheth against the Sun. And even as amass of clouds poureth down torrents on a mighty mountain, the Ten-necked one, mounted on his car,

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smote Rama with shafts resembling) thunder-bolts. And in the encounter Rama, concentrating his thoughts, showered on the Ten-necked one arrows embellished with gold and looking like living fire. And celestials and Gandharvas and Kinnaras declared that there had been no other battle like unto the encounter of Rama stationed on the ground and the Raksha mounted on his car. Then the foremost of celestials—Sakra—hearing their ambrosial speech, summoning Matali, said—‘Taking my car, hie to the best of the Raghus. And reaching the earth, do thou, welcoming (him), bring about great good unto the gods.” Thus accosted by the sovereign of the celestials, MAtali—celestial charioteer —bending down his head, addressed that celestial, saying,— “Speedily shall I go, O lord of the celestials; and I shall also do the office of a charioteer (unto Raghava).” Then yoking with steeds that best of cars, curiously wrought with gold ; adorned with hundreds of small bells; resembling the Sun new risen ; having its pole studded with lapises ; yoked with excellent horses caparisoned in gold ; furnished with white chowris,—drawn by steeds resembling the Sun; decked with golden net-works,—and provided with a golden standard,— the graceful car of the sovereign of the celestials,—M&tali, commanded by the king of the immortals, ascending the car, went out of the celestial regions and came to Kakutstha. And with his hand holding the reins, the charioteer ef the thousand-eyed (Deity) with joined hands addressed Rima, saying,—“O Kakutstha, in order that thou mayst obtain the victory, the thousand-eyed (god) hath sent thee this car. And, O exceedingly powerful one! O graceful (hero)! O thou that slayest thy foes! this is the redoubtable bow of Indra,—and this is the mail resembling fire,—and these are the arrows looking like the very Sun; and this is the dart shining and fraught with fair fortune. Ascend thou this car, * This conversation between R4ma and Lakshmana took place, says the commentator, on the first day of the lighted fortnight —T,

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O hero. Slay the R&kshasa—R4&vana, with me as thy charioteer, even as the lord of the celestials slayeth Danavas.” Thus addressed, Rama, going round the car and saluting it, ascended the same, illumining the worlds with his splendour. And the encounter that took place between the two cars with the mighty-armed Rama (on one side),and the Raksha—R4vana—(on the other), was wonderful to behold. And Raghava highly proficient in weapons with a Gandharva weapon resisted the Gandharva weapon of the Rakshasa king, and with a celestial weapon, his celestial weapon. And then that lord of Rakshasas—the night-ranger —fired with high rage, again discharged an exceedingly dreadful Rakshasa weapon. And the gold-decked shafts shot from Réavana’s bow, becoming furiously venomous serpents, covered Kakutstha. And vomitting living flames, they of terrific aspect, having flaming faces, showered over Rama with gaping mouths. And those flaming venomous serpents, having the feel of Vasuki himself, covered all sides and enveloped all quarters. And seeing those serpents descending in the encounter, Rama employed a dreadful Garura weapon. And discharged from Raghava’s bow, those arrows plated with gold at the feathered parts, and furnished with the splendour of peacocks, becoming golden birds— began to range (the field of battle) as the enemies of the serpents, And the shafts of Rama capable of wearing forms at will, turned into birds, destroyed all the exceedingly swiftcoursing arrows having the forms of serpents. On his weapon having been baffled, Ravana—lord of Rakshasas— waxing wroth, poured tremendous showers of shafts on Raima. And smiting Rama of untiring deeds with thousands of shafts, (Ravana) pierced Ma&tali with vollies of arrows. And with an arrow, Ravana severed the standard; and having brought down the golden standard on the floor of the car, Ravana wounded even Indra’s steeds with a net-work of arrows. And seeing Rama hard pressed,” celestials and

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Gandharvas, and Chiaranas along with Danavas, and Siddhas, and the supreme saints were overcome with sadness ; and the foremost monkeys together with Bibhishana were aggrieved. And seeing a Moon of Rama Chandra in the grasp of a Rabu of Ravana, that bringer of evil unto creatures—Budha —stood, assailing the Prayapatya star—Rohini—beloved of the Moon. And the enraged Ocean, heaving with smoking ‘surges,and flaming as it were,swelled up,seeming to the touch the Sun. And the Sun was blackened and assumed a stern aspect, with his rays dimmed. And he was seen with a headless trunk on his lap, and he was in conjunction with a comet. And that star of the Kogalas, relating to the deities—Indra and Agni—Angiaraka—stood in the sky, attacking Vicakha. And the Ten-necked one, having ten faces and twenty arms, equipped with his bow, looked like the mountain—Mainaka. And Rama reduced to sore straits by the Ten-necked Raksha, could not discharge his arrows in the conflict. And then the enraged Rama with his eyes slightly red, flew into a tremendous passion, as if burning up the Rakshasas. Seeing the face of the enraged Rama endued with understanding, all the creatures were overwhelmed with fear and the Earth herself shook. And mountains abounding with lions and tigers began to tremble, and trees to shiver. And even the deep—lord of streams—was wrought up wondrously. And rough and terrific clouds in the sky sent forth fierce roars. And stormy clouds rumbling went about the heavens. And - seeing Rama wrought up with a mighty passion, and the fearful disastrous omens, all creatures were possessed by ‘fright and Ravana was struck with dismay. And then 4 stationed in the sky, celestials and Gandharvas and mighty serpents and saints and Danavas and Daityas and those related to Garura—fowls—beheld that conflict like unto the universal tumbling, as the two heroes faught on with various dire arms. And as they looked on the mighty encounter, the celestials and the Asuras, who had come to the conflict, from

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feeling of regard,* cheerfully spoke (these words). And the Asuras staying there said unto the Ten-necked one, ‘Be victorious ;’ and the celestials again and again said unto Rama, ‘Be victorious! In the meantime, the impious Ravana, desirous of slaying Raghava, from wrath took up a mighty weapon, fraught with the essence of the thunderbolt ; sending terrible sounds; capable of destroying all foes,—furnished with forks resembling mountain-peaks ; tending to strike terror unto mind and sight ; sharp-pointed, resembling the smoking fire risen at the hour of universal dissolution ; exceedingly terrible ; irrisistible (in battle) ; unbearable even by the Destroyer,—the terror of all creatures—terrific ; and competent to rive (all things). Flaming up with wrath, Ravana took this dart. And fired with furious wrath, that powerful one took the dart in the encounter, surrounded in that contest by many heroic. Rakshasas. And uplifting (the dart), the huge-bodied Ravana, with his eyes reddened in passion, emitted mighty roars. And the shouts of the Rakshasa severeign made the earth and the sky and the cardinal quarters and all sides tremble. And at the roars of that wicked-minded and huge-bodied one, all creatures were struck with terror, and the sea was vexed.t And the exceedingly energetic Ravana, taking that mighty dart, and sending up furious shouts, addressed Rama in a harsh speech, saying,—“O Rama, I in wrath uplift this dart having the strength of the levin. This will utterly deprive of life thee who art assisted by thy brother. O thou that delightest in battle, to-day swiftly slaying thee, I shall make thee even with those heroic Rakshas slain in the van of the forces. Stay now. O Raghava, thee shall I slay with this dart.” Saying this, the lord of the Rakshasas hurled the dart. And discharged from Ravana’s hand, (the dart), surrounded with garlands of * i.e. each party out of regard for the warrior to whom it wished well.—T. } ‘The still-vexed Bermoothes,’—Tempest.

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lightning, furnished with eight bells, sending mighty roars,—~ rising to the sky, looked exceedingly splendid. Seeing the dart, flaming and of terrific aspect, Raghu’s son—Rama— endowed with prowess, drawing his bow, discharged arrows. And with vollies of shafts Raghava resisted the descending (dart), even as Vdsava extinguisheth the fire of doomsday with his showers. Then even as a flame consumeth insects, the mighty dart of Ravana burnt up those shafts shot from the bow of Rama. Seeing those shafts reduced to ashes and crushed on coming in contact with the dart, as they were coursing in the sky, Raghava was transported with passion. And then waxing wondrous wroth,—Raghu’s son—Raghava ——took up a javelin, liked by V&sava himself, brought by M&tali. And on being wielded by that strong one, the javelin, resonant with bells, made the welkin blaze up, like a burning meteor on the occasion of universal rack. And when hurled, it alighted on that same dart of the Rakshasachief. And thereat, with its splendour lost, the mighty dart, riven, dropped (to the earth.) Then Rama, shooting straight-speeding arrows, pierced his (Ravana’s) exceedingly fleet steeds. And then he pierced Ravana in the chest with whetted arrows. And the energetic Raghava hit (Ravana) in the temples with three feathered shafts. And thereat with all his limbs pierced (with arrows), and his body laved in blood, the lord of Rakshasas furnished with many limbs, looked like a flowering Agoka. And with his person pierced with the shafts of Rama, the lord of night-rangers having his body drenched with blood, was stricken with sadness in the midst of his forces;—and was also overwhelmed with terrific wrath,