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Havinc his steeds slain, the night-ranger—Indrajit. standing on the ground, waxing fiercely angered, flamed up in energy. And armed with bows, they, desirous of slaying each other with shafts resembled an elephant anda bull ina forest, Came out for securing victory in. encounter. And * Maharatham (ac.) may also mean mighty car. By the way the samasa or junction called Tatpurusha is a frequent source of obscurity in Sanskrit, specially where the gender of the word without samdsa is the same with that ef the thing signified by the samédsa, as in this case.—T. ;

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slaughtering one another, the R&kshasas and the woodrangers, rushing this way and that, did not (for a moment) leave their lords. Then Ravana’s son, gladdening all the Rakshasas, and himself feeling cheered, addressed them in words of praise, saying,—‘‘All sides are entircly enveloped in this gloom,—so that, O foremost of Rakshasas, here we do not know who belongeth unto us and who net.—Do ye fight fearlessly for stupifying the monkeys; and I too, mounted on a car, shall come hither into the conflict. Do ye so act that the high-souled rangers of the woods may mot attack me as I enter the city.” Saying this, that slayer of foes—Ravana’s son, deceiving the wood-rangers, entered the city of LankAi for providing himself with a (fresh) car. Aud embellishing a chariot, graceful and adorned with gold, furnished with srdgas and swords and arrows, yoked with superb steeds, and driven by a charioteer, knowing horses and possessed of instructions (anent his art),—that victor in battle—the exceedingly energetic son of Ravana—ascended it. And that hero, Mandodari’s son, urged on by the force of the Finisher, went out of the city, surrounded by the foremost Rakshasas ; and drawn by fast~- speeding steeds, he presented himself before Lakshmana along with Bibhishana. And seeing Ravana’s son seated on the car, the son of Sumitra and the exceedingly powerful monkeys and the Rakshasa—Bibhishana—were highly amazed at the lighthandedness of that intelligent one. And RAvana’s son, waxing furious, in that contest began to bring down monkeys by hundreds and by thousands. And that victor in battle—Ravana’s son—fired with wrath, summoning all his celerity, slaughtered monkeys, drawing his bow into acircle. And slaughtered by xdréchas of terrific impetuo- — sity, the monkeys saught the shelter of Sumitr&'s son, like creatures seeking the refuge of their Lord. Then the son of Raghu, flaming up in martial wrath, severed his* bow, * Indrajit’s, 178

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displaying his fleethandedness. Thereat, taking another bow, (Indrajit) hurriedly fastened the string to it. And this bow also did Lakshmana cut off by means of a brace of arrows. And when (Indrajit) had his bow severed, Sumitra’s son pierced the son of Ravana with five shafts resambling the venom of a poisonous serpent. And the shafts discharged from his* mighty bow, piercing hist person, dropped to the earth like unto powerful red serpents. And having his bow cut off, Ravana’s son, vomitting blood by his mouth, took up a superior bow powerful to a degree and having a stout string. Ard then aiming at Lakshmana, he, summoning his utmost celerity, showered arrows, as showereth Purandara in the season of rains. Thereat Lakshmana, subduer of enemies, retaining his calmness, resisted that powerful arrowy shower shot by Indrajit. And then that exceedingly energetic one, Raghu’s son, possessing himself in calmness, displayed (his prowess) unto the son of Ravana; and this was wonderful (to behold). And then displaying his lightness in the use of weapons, Lakshmana, growing furious, pierced the Rakshasas with three arrows each in that mighty encounter; and the lord of Rakshasas struck him with showers of shafts. And pierced sore by that powerful enemy—slayer of foes—he incessantly sent innumerable arrows after Lakshmana. And ere they reached their destination, that slayer of hostile heroes severed them with whetted arrows ; and in the encounter that righteous one and foremost of car-warriors with a dart having bent joints, cut off the head of his charioteer mounted on the car. And deprived of their driver, there the steeds, retaining their calmness, began to go in rounds,—and this was wonderful. Then Sumitra’s son of steady prowess, fired with anger, in that contest, frightening all, pierced his horses with arrows. And not brooking that act (of his adversary), Ravana’s son * Lakshmana’s, Y Indrajit’s

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in the encounter pierced with ten shafts Sumitra’s son capable of making people’s down stand on end. And his shafts resembling thunderbolts, and like uhto all varieties of venom, touching (Lakshmana’s) mail having a golden splendour, were reduced to naught. Thereat considering Lakshmana as clad in an impenetrable armour, R&vana’s son—I[ndrajit—growing furiously enraged, displaying his lighthandedness-in arms, pierced Lakshmana in the temples with three well-knobbed shafts. And with those arrows lodged in his temples, Raghu’s son, delighting in battle, appeared beautiful in the field like a mountain furnished with three summits. Albeit thus smitten in the contest by the Raksha with shafts, Lakshmana swiftly smote him in turn with five arrows ; and in the encounter Lakshmana drawing his bow, pierced with shafts Indrajit’s face graced with elegant ear-rings. And those heroes—Lakshmana and Indrajit—equipped with exceedingly powerful bows, and endowed with heroism and dreadful prowess, wounded each other with sharp arrows. And both Lakshmana and [ndrajit, with their persons bathed in blood in that encounter, appeared like unto flowering Kingukas. And approaching each other, those bowmen, each setting his heart on victory, wounded each other all over the body with terrific shafts. Then Ravana’s son, carried away by martial rage, pierced Bibhishana in his handsome face with three arrows. And piercing the lord of Rakshasas, Bibhishana, he with three iron-headed arrows, pierced the monkey-leaders each with a shaft. Thereat, enraged at him more furiously. than ever, the exceedingly energetic Bibhishana with his mace despatched the steeds of the wicked-minded son of Ravana. Then jumping down from his chariot with its horses slain, (Indrajit), endowed with great energy, who had his charioteer pounded, discharged a dart at his uncle. And sceing it descend, the enhancer of Sumitra’s joy severed the same with whetted. arrows. and ‘brought it down in ten fragments to the ground, And

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Bibhishana of a tough bew, growing enraged, discharged at (Indrajit), who had his steeds slain, five speeding shafts having the toueh of the thunder-bolt.—And those arrows furnished with gold at the feathered parts, riving his person, were bathed in blood, and resembled mighty red serpents. Thereat wroth with his uncle, Indrajit took up an excellent shaft—bestowed on him by Yama himself—endowed with terrific foree,—the flower of shafts among all the Rakshas. And seeing that mighty shaft: set by him (on the bowstring), the highly powerful Lakshmana, possessed of dreadful prowess, (in his turn) took up another arrow, bestowed by Kuvera himself of immeasurable soul in a dream,—unconquerable, and ineapable of being borne even by the celestials and Asuras with Indra at their head. And on their best of bows being powerfully drawn with their arms resembling bludgeons, they set wp eries hike unto Kraunchas. And on those foremost of shafts set on those excellent bows of those heroes, being drawn, famed upyin exceeding splendour. And those flaming arrows, discharged from the bows, illumining the welkin, with vehemenee struck at each other’s head. And a concussion took place of those arrows of terrific aspects; and a furious fire sprang up thereat, with embers shooting around. And dashing against each other like unto mighty planets, they, reduced to an hundred shivers in the encounter, saught the earth. Seeing their shafts baffled, Indrajit and Lakshmana, staying on the edge of the battle, were seized with shame and wrath. Thereat Sumitr4’s son, flying into a fury, took up a Varuna weapon. And the conquerer of the great Indra intent on battle, in the encounter discharged a terrific Riudra weapon; and the exceedingly wonderful Varuna weapon was baffled by him. Then, waxing wroth, that victor in battle—the wondrous energetic Indrajit—as if annihilating the world, discharged a fliming Agneya weapon. And the heroic Lakshmana resisted it with a Solar weapon. Seeing his

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weapon resisted, Ravana’s son, transported with passion,toek up an Asura arrow, capable of rending foes. And from that weapon issued daggers and clubs and darts and dhugundis and maces and swords and axes.* And in the conflict, seeing that dire and dreadful weapon, irrisistible to all creatures and capable of riving all arms, the effulgent Lakshmana baffled it with a Mahegwarat weapon. And the encounter that took a between them was wonderful and capable of making people’s down stand on end. And beings stationed in the sky surrounded Lakshmana on all sides. And in that terrific encounter of the monkeys and the Rakshasas resounding with dreadful roars, the welkin was covered with innumerable beings seized with wonderment. And saints and P7trzs and deities and Gandharbas and birds and serpents, placing Satakratu in their front, protected Lakshmana in the conflict. And then that hero,Raghava’s younger brother, fixed (on his bow) another superior shaft, having the feel of fire itself,and capable of riving the son of Ravana ; furnished with fair feathers ; tapering ; having elegant joints ; symmetrical; and plated with gold,—an arrow capable of finishing the body, irrisistible; dreadful; terrific unto Rakshasas ; resembling the venom of poisonous serpents ; and worshipped by the celestial hosts; by which the exceedingly energetic and wonderful Lord riding the horset{—Sakra— of old in the war between the celestials and the Asuras had defeated the Danavas. And Sumitra’s son, Lakshmana,graced with auspiciousness, drawing on his best of bows that foremost of shafts—the Aindra weapon—invincible in conflict, spoke these words, tending to bring about his success,§— * This arrow resembled somewhat the bomb-shells in modern European warfare.—T. +t te. belonging to Maheewara or Siva. $ The celestial steed, Uchchaigrava, sprung from the ocean on the occasion of the churning of the deep.— -T. § Words addressed to the deity presiding over the weapon.

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“If Dagaratha’s son—R&ma—is righteous and truthful, and if in prowess he hath no rival, then slay this son of Ravana.” Saying this, the heroic Lakshmana in that conflict, drawing the straight-speeding arrow up to his ear,* discharged it at Indrajit. And shooting the Aindra weapon, that déstroyer of hostile heroes—Lakshmana —severing from its trunk the head of Indrajit with its corslet, graced with burning ear-rings, brought it down tothe ground. And the mighty severed head of the R&akshasa’s son, resembling one made of yold, was seen covered with blood. And slain, Ravana’s son dropped to the earth, with his armour and corslet on, and his bow fallen (from his grasp). And then all the monkeys with Bibhishana set up cheers, even as the immortals cheered at the destruction of Vritra. And in the sky there arose the victorious shouts of all beings and high souled saints, and also of Gandharbas and Apsaras.. And knowing (Indrajit) fallen (in fight), the mighty army of Rakshasas, attacked by monkeys burning for victory, fled in the ten cardinal directions. And assailed by the monkeys, the Rakshasas, pursued (by their foes), with their senses lost, rushed towards Lanka, leaving their arms behind. And overwhelmed with fright, R&akshasas fled in an hundred directions, all renouncing their arms—béarded darts, and swords, and axes. And harassed by the monkeys, sonve hurriedly entered Lank, and some plunged into the sea, and some saught shelter in the mountains. And seeing Indrajit slain and lying down on the field of battle, thousands of Rakshasas fled away. As when the Sun sets, his rays remain no longer, on that Rakshasa having fallen, the Rakshasas dispersed in the ten cardinal quarters, like unto the Sun when his rays have been rendered mild, or fire which hath been extinguished. And the mighty-armed (Indrajit) was utterly reft of life. And on the son of the R&kshasa-chief falling, the world, having its foe slain, with its huge affliction gone off, experienced * i.e, drawing the bow to its utmost stretch,

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the height of joy. And on that unrighteous Rakshasa having been slain, the reverend Sakra together with the Maharshis was filled with delight. And sounds of kettledrums were heard in the sky proceeding from the celestials. And_ blossoms were showered by dancing Apsarés and high-souled Gandharbas. And this was wonderful (to behold.) And on that Rakshasa of fell deeds having been slain, the dust was laid, the water became transparent, the sky looked bright, and the deities and D&navas were filled with rejoicings. And on that Dread of all creatures having been slain, the gods, Gandharbas and Danavas, assembled together in joy, said,—‘‘Now let the Brahmanas who have their sins removed, with their anxiety gone off, range about.” And then the monkey-leaders, seeing that foremost of Nairitas of unparalleled prowess slain in battle, began to gladly pay homage (unto Lakshmana). And Bibhishana and Hanuman and Jambavan—leader of bears—saluted and hymned Lakshmana on the score of his victory. And shouting and bounding and roaring, the monkeys at this hour of high joy stood surrounding Raghu’s son.* And flourishing their tails and striking the earth (with them), the monkeys shouted,—‘Victory unto Lakshmana!’ And embracing each other, the monkeys with delighted spirits began to converse in various ways touching Raghava’s welfare. And beholding that deed, difficult of being done, performed by their beloved friead—Lakshmana—and hearing their foe— Indrajit—slain (in battle), the celestials attained the summit of joy. * Descendant, that is. wont -