We had seen the giant brother of Ravana, Kumbhakarna got killed by the powerful arrows of Rama in the last post. The history of the sleeping demon was also seen, and back then Ravana believes his brother cannot be defeated by anyone. This is one of the reasons why he listens to none of his well-wishers to avoid enmity with Rama. This stubborn, deep-rooted belief of Ravana has been broken by the powerful weapons of Rama who gave him a picture of reality and illusions of defeat. Every bit of this can be seen in the lamentations of Ravana who came to terms with reality in the middle of the battle, something he has overlooked for very long. He neither wants Sita nor kingdom now and looks for his own downfall in the same manner. Such is the pride dented and lesson learned as he weeps for Kumbhakarna amid a sea of sorrowful thoughts. Seeing the plight of Ravana, three of his sons come forward to battle the vanara army and pledge to subdue Rama. How they fare in the battle can be seen in the following chapters as blow after blow rightfully hits Ravana.
In chapter 69, as Ravana is lamenting over the death of Kumbhakarna, Trishira (one of Ravana's sons) consoles him and says that he will go to the battlefield and kill Rama. Hearing the words of Trishira, Ravana's other sons (Devantaka, Narantaka and Atikaya) also come forward to join the fight. Then Ravana sends all them to the battle. He also sends Mahodara and Mahaparshva, his brothers to guard his sons. Mighty demons accompany them. A huge battle ensues and Angada, Narantaka exchange blows of their fists on each other and finally, Narantaka dies.
Trisira consoled Ravana, "The brave like you do not grieve. Armed with the powers granted by Brahma, your weapons and your magnificent chariot drawn by one thousand donkeys, you alone can subdue the three worlds. Do not even come to the battlefield for alone I can destroy the enemy.
The other sons of Ravana, equals of Indra and the mightiest of the mighty, also decided to go. Ravana elated and feeling like one reborn embraced and blessed them. His brothers Mahodara and Mahaparsva were also sent. Reaching the battlefield, they unleashed an unprecedented carnage, stunning the vanaras and making them flee. The demons release arrows towards the monkeys, who see the demons coming in elephants, horses and chariots. The monkeys take huge rocks and trees to fight with the demons. Seeing several demons being killed in battle, Narantaka enters the field with his javelin and kills several monkeys. Meanwhile, those monkeys who were thrown down unconscious by Kumbhakarna earlier regain their consciousness and approach Sugreeva for help. Then, Sugreeva sends Angada for the fight. Narantaka hurls his javelin towards Angada's chest, but the javelin breaks and falls. Angada strikes Narantaka's horse with his hand and the horse falls down dead. Then, Angada and Narantaka exchange the blows of their fists on each other in battle and finally, Narantaka dies.
In chapter 70, Mahodara, Trishira and Devantaka start attacking Angada. Devantaka, Mahodara, Trishira, Mahaparshva are killed in the battle that follows with the vanara strongmen.
When Angada attacks them with trees, they chop off the trees and break away the rocks hurled at them. With a blow of Angada's palm, Devantakas's elephant falls down dead. Seeing Angada being surrounded by three valiant demons, Hanuman and Neela arrive there. With a blow of Hanuma's fist, Devantaka dies. Trishira and Mahodara attack Neela with their arrows. Mahodara dies in the hands of Neela. Meanwhile, Hanuma and Trishira fight each other. Hanuman finally kills Trishira, by chopping off his three heads by Trishira's sword itself. Then, Mahaparshva, the demon comes to the battle field and attacks Rishabha, the monkey-warrior. By banging Mahaparshva's mace on Mahaparshva Rishabha kills him. Witnessing the carnage scattered the remaining rakshasas.
In chapter 71, Seeing Athikaya, the colossal demon, coming towards him on a chariot, Rama asks Vibhishana who he is Vibhishana introduces Atikaya, as being a son of Ravana and Dhanyamali (another consort of Ravana). Atikaya then fights with Lakshmana and gets killed by him with a potent missile.
Athikaya flew into a great rage as he watched brothers, uncles and great rakshasas die. Mounting his chariot, blazing with the brilliance of a thousand suns, he charged at the vanaras. "Perhaps it is Kumbhakarna come to life," feared the monkeys. Even Rama stood in awe of the magnificence before him and asked, "Vibhishana, tell me who he is that glows like Rudra and rides a chariot drawn by a thousand splendid horses."
Vibhishana said, "He is the son of Ravana and Dhanyamali. Athikaya is his name. Invincible to devas and danavas by the boon of Brahma, protected by his might basks Lanka in peace and without fear. Kill him quickly before he kills the entire army. Athikaya fought with such ferocity that even the best among vanaras were unable to withstand his arrows, even as the monkey armies began running away. Unwilling to shoot at them who were racing away in terror, Athikaya strode up to Rama and said, "I refuse to fight fleeing weaklings. Show me him who chafes for war."
Angry at his arrogance, Lakshmana stood before him that very instant. But instead of retaliating, Athikaya said, "You are so young. Why do you want to fight me, who is equal of Yama? Even the Himalayan ranges cannot bear the impact of my arrows. Lakshmana said, "Your bragging does not render you great. Young or old I am like death on the battlefield." In the terrible war that ensued none of Lakshmana's arrows even scathed Athikaya, until advised by Vayu he sent the Brahmastra which beheaded the rakshasa. Beaten, battered and shamed wept the rakshasas as they ran back to Lanka.
In chapter 72, Having been informed that Atikaya, Dhumraksha, Akampana, Prahasta, Kumbhakarna and other mighty demons are killed in battle, Ravana felt anxious. He is surprised as to how Rama and Lakshmana got released from the bind of arrows, made by Indrajit, his son earlier. He feels that no demon is capable of defeating Rama, Lakshmana, Sugreeva and Vibhishana. He enjoins demons to protect the City of Lanka and even Ashoka garden, where Seetha has been kept in capture. He asks the army not to be indifferent to the movements of the monkey-warriors. After issuing the necessary instruction to his army, he enters deep into his palace and remains boarding over the loss of Atikaya, his son.
Hearing that Atikaya had been slain by the mighty Lakshmana, Ravana became extremely anxious and spoke as follows :- "Dhumraksha, who is full of ardour and the most skilled in the use of arms, Akampana, Prahasta, and Kumbhakarna, those valiant titan warriors eager for combat, the destroyers of hostile forces, ever invincible, brave titans of immense statute who were versed in the use of every weapon, have fallen with their troops under the blows of Rama of imperishable exploits. Yet many powerful warriors were struck down by my son Indrajit, who is renowned for his strength and prowess; those two brothers were fettered by his formidable shafts bestowed on us as a boon. All the Gods and Asuras combined, despite their power, could not have broken those fearful bonds, nor the Yakshas, Gandharvas or Pannagas. I do not know by what force, magic or supernatural means, those bonds were severed by those two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana." Those courageous titans, who went out to fight at my command, have all perished in combat with the exceedingly valiant monkeys. Henceforth I do not see who, on the battlefield, will be able to slay Rama and Lakshmana or the powerful Sugriva and his forces.
“How mighty is Rama, how great is the range of his shafts. Those titans, who challenged this warrior, have all been destroyed. Now, on his account, let defenses be set up everywhere, both in the city and round the Ashoka Grove where Sita is being guarded. Let the entries and exits be patrolled continuously by our sentinels, wherever they are posted. Establish yourselves with the foremost battalions everywhere in order to observe the movements of the monkeys, 0 Night rangers, in the evening, at midnight or at dawn, no matter when, do not relax your vigilance in regard to the simian army. Observe what troops are placed in the line by the enemy, how they advance and where they halt; let the gateways and turrets be barricaded at once." All the titans listened to the commands of the mighty Lord and went away to carry them out. Ravana, however, having issued these orders, exceedingly despondent, entered his abode, the fire of his anger smoldering within him, and that powerful monarch of those rangers of the night, reflecting on the misfortune that had befallen his son, Athikaya sighed without ceasing.
In chapter 73, Seeing Ravana, his father looking lamented after hearing the death of Ravana's sons and brothers, Indrajit promises to destroy Rama and Lakshmana. He sets out for the battle, accompanied by his army. After reaching the battlefield, Indrajit performed a sacrificial ritual there, duly making an oblation to the fire. After performing the sacrificial rite, Indrajit goes invisible into the sky. Indrajit then showers a multitude of arrows towards the monkeys and the monkeys lose their consciousness. Indrajit tears under principal monkey-warriors with his maces and arrows. Then, he rains a multitude of arrows at Rama and Lakshmana. Rama says to Lakshmana that he along with Lakshmana can act as though they fell unconscious, so that Indrajit can return to Lanka, boasting of his laurels of victory. Grievously hurt on the battlefield by the missiles of Indrajit, Rama and Lakshmana along with the whole army of monkeys fell unconscious.
Indrajit looked at Ravana who was overwhelmed with grief and said, "Father never sorrow so long as I am here. None have ever survived my arrows and none ever will. The Ikshavaku princes too shall die." Performing all the necessary rituals and sacrifices before going to war and enhancing the powers of his Brahmastra, his bow, his chariot and his charioteer with mantras, he disappeared into the sky. In the show of strength, Indrajit massacred vanaras ten at a time. Beholding the surviving vanaras as they stood stunned and bleeding, he exulted. Disappearing once again, he began the rain of his arrows.
It was then that Rama told Lakshmana that since Indrajit had not only made himself invisible, but was using the most powerful Brahmastra, it would be impossible to kill him. He felt that if they pretended to faint, unable to face the assault, Indrajit would go roaring back with joy to Lanka to celebrate his victory. Grievously hurt on the battlefield by the missiles of Indrajit, Rama and Lakshmana along with the whole army of monkeys fell unconscious.
This concludes chapters 69, 70, 71, 72 and 73 of Yuddha Kanda where we had seen several sons and brothers of Ravana are all killed in a tough battle. One after the other, Narantaka, Devantaka, Mahodara, Trishira, Mahaparshva, Athikaya – the three sons and two brothers of Ravana are all killed by the Vanara army. Athikaya, who has great boons and who is a nearly invincible warrior like Kumbhakarna is also slayed by the Brahmastra from Lakshmana. Displaying a tough face hiding a meltdown, Ravana issues orders to guard the kingdom and Ashoka grove. Deep within his lonely confines, he weeps for everyone lost including the warrior son with many boons. Looking at the state of Ravana, Indrajit pledges to take on the battle with his superior weapons and magical powers. He rains arrows at the monkey army including Rama, Lakshmana and lays them all unconscious. This is already seen once in the beginning of the war and Indrajit, who is equal to Ravana in strength and in exploits on the battlefield, does it again. How the vanara army survives this assault and how the battle progresses can be seen in subsequent chapters.
No comments:
Post a Comment