Part - 24 — Ancient Knowledge

Indra (the lord of paradise) sends a chariot for the use of Śrī Rāma; encounter between Śrī Rāma and Rāvaṇa

Chaupais

dēvanha prabhuhi payādēṃ dēkhā. upajā ura ati chōbha bisēṣā..
surapati nija ratha turata paṭhāvā. haraṣa sahita mātali lai āvā..
tēja puṃja ratha dibya anūpā. haraṣi caḍhaē kōsalapura bhūpā.. [6-88-1]
caṃcala turaga manōhara cārī. ajara amara mana sama gatikārī..
rathārūḍha raghunāthahi dēkhī. dhāē kapi balu pāi bisēṣī.. [6-88-2]
sahī na jāi kapinha kai mārī. taba rāvana māyā bistārī..
sō māyā raghubīrahi bāomcī. lachimana kapinha sō mānī sāomcī.. [6-88-3]
dēkhī kapinha nisācara anī. anuja sahita bahu kōsaladhanī..

When the gods saw that the Lord was on foot, they were exceedingly troubled at heart. Indra (the lord of heaven) forthwith despatched his own chariot, which Mātali (Indra’s charioteer) gladly brought there. It was a heavenly and unique car, which was all splendour; the King of Kosalapura (Ayodhyā) gladly mounted it. It was driven by four high-spirited and charming horses, which knew no decay or death and flew as fast as thought. The monkeys rushed forward with renewed vigour when they saw the Lord of the Raghus mounted on a chariot. When Rāvaṇa felt that the monkey’s onset was irresistible, he took to creating illusions. The illusive creation did not touch the Lord of the Raghus; while the monkeys, nay, even Lakṣmaṇa took it for real. The monkeys saw among a large demon host a number of Ramas and as many Lakṣmaṇa.

Chhands

bahu rāma lachimana dēkhi markaṭa bhālu mana ati apaḍarē.
janu citra likhita samēta lachimana jahaom sō tahaom citavahiṃ kharē..
nija sēna cakita bilōki haomsi sara cāpa saji kōsala dhanī.
māyā harī hari nimiṣa mahu haraṣī sakala markaṭa anī..

The monkeys and bears were much terrified at heart to see numerous Ramas and Laksmanas. All of them, including Lakṣmaṇa, stood gazing like the figures in a picture wherever they were. The Lord of Kosala smiled to see His army at a nonplus; He fitted an arrow to His bow and in a trice Śrī Hari dispersed the delusion to the delight of the whole monkey host.

Dohas

bahuri rāma saba tana citai bōlē bacana gaombhīra.
dvaṃdajuddha dēkhahu sakala śramita bhaē ati bīra..89.. [6-89]

Śrī Rāma then cast His glance on all and spoke in meaningful words: “Watch now my duel (with Rāvaṇa); for all of you, my heroes, are extremely tired.”

Chaupais

asa kahi ratha raghunātha calāvā. bipra carana paṃkaja siru nāvā..
taba laṃkēsa krōdha ura chāvā. garjata tarjata sanmukha dhāvā.. [6-89-1]
jītēhu jē bhaṭa saṃjuga māhīṃ. sunu tāpasa maiṃ tinha sama nāhīṃ..
rāvana nāma jagata jasa jānā. lōkapa jākēṃ baṃdīkhānā.. [6-89-2]
khara dūṣana birādha tumha mārā. badhēhu byādha iva bāli bicārā..
nisicara nikara subhaṭa saṃghārēhu. kuṃbhakarana ghananādahi mārēhu.. [6-89-3]
āju bayaru sabu lēu nibāhī. jauṃ rana bhūpa bhāji nahiṃ jāhīṃ..
āju karau khalu kāla havālē. parēhu kaṭhina rāvana kē pālē.. [6-89-4]
suni durbacana kālabasa jānā. bihaomsi bacana kaha kṛpānidhānā..
satya satya saba tava prabhutāī. jalpasi jani dēkhāu manusāī.. [6-89-5]

So saying, the Lord of the Raghus bowed His head at the Brāhmaṇas’ lotus feet even as He urged forward His chariot. Thereupon Rāvaṇa felt much enraged at heart and darted to meet Him, challenging Him in a thundering voice: “Listen, hermit: I am not like one of those warriors whom you have vanquished in battle. My name is Rāvaṇa, whose glory is known all the world over, and whose prison holds within its walls the regents of the spheres! You slew Khara, Dūṣaṇa and Virādha and killed poor Vāli even as a hunter would shoot his game. Nay, you wiped out a host of demon champions and killed even Kumbhakarṇa and Meghanāda. Today I will, wreak vengeance on you for all this unless, O prince, you flee away from the battle. Today I will surely give you over to death; for it is the relentless Rāvaṇa whom you have to deal with.” Hearing his foul talk the All-merciful took him as doomed to death and smilingly replied as follows: “True, true is all your greatness. But prate no more; show your valour if you can.

Chhands

jani jalpanā kari sujasu nāsahi nīti sunahi karahi chamā.
saṃsāra mahaom pūruṣa tribidha pāṭala rasāla panasa samā..
ēka sumanaprada ēka sumana phala ēka phalai kēvala lāgahīṃ.
ēka kahahiṃ kahahiṃ karahiṃ apara ēka karahiṃ kahata na bāgahīṃ..

“Do not ruin your reputation by bragging. Pray, excuse me and listen to a sound maxim. There are three types of men in this world-those resembling the rose, the mango and the bread-tree respectively. The one gives flowers alone, the second flowers and fruit both and the third yields fruit alone. Even so the one talks, the second talks as well as does, while the third does but never goes about proclaiming it.”

Dohas

rāma bacana suni bihaomsā mōhi sikhāvata gyāna.
bayaru karata nahiṃ taba ḍarē aba lāgē priya prāna..90.. [6-90]

Rāvaṇa heartily laughed when he heard Śrī Rāma’s words. “Ah! You teach me wisdom! You did not shrink from waging war against me then; now it seems you hold your life very dear.”

Chaupais

kahi durbacana kruddha dasakaṃdhara. kulisa samāna lāga chāomḍaai sara..
nānākāra silīmukha dhāē. disi aru bidisa gagana mahi chāē.. [6-90-1]
pāvaka sara chāomḍaēu raghubīrā. chana mahu jarē nisācara tīrā..
chāḍaisi tībra sakti khisiāī. bāna saṃga prabhu phēri calāī.. [6-90-2]
kōṭika cakra trisūla pabārai. binu prayāsa prabhu kāṭi nivārai..
niphala hōhiṃ rāvana sara kaisēṃ. khala kē sakala manōratha jaisēṃ.. [6-90-3]
taba sata bāna sārathī mārēsi. parēu bhūmi jaya rāma pukārēsi..
rāma kṛpā kari sūta uṭhāvā. taba prabhu parama krōdha kahu pāvā.. [6-90-4]

Having uttered these taunting words Rāvaṇa furiously began to discharge arrows like so many thunderbolts. Shafts of various designs flew and filled all the quarters, nay, every corner of the earth and heavens. The Hero of Raghu’s line let fly a fiery dart, and in a moment the demon’s bolts were all consumed. Rāvaṇa ground his teeth out of frustration and hurled a fierce lance; but the Lord sent it back alongwith His arrow. The demon then cast a cloud of discs and tridents; but the Lord frustrated them by tearing them asunder without any exertion. Rāvaṇa’s arrows proved as futile as the schemes of the wicked invariably are. Then with a hundred arrows he struck Śrī Rāma’s charioteer (Mātali), who fell to the ground crying “Victory to Śrī Rāma!” Śrī Rāma took compassion and lifted up the driver; He was now stirred up with a terrible fury.

Chhands

bhaē kruddha juddha biruddha raghupati trōna sāyaka kasamasē.
kōdaṃḍa dhuni ati caṃḍa suni manujāda saba māruta grasē..
maomdōdarī ura kaṃpa kaṃpati kamaṭha bhū bhūdhara trasē.
cikkarahiṃ diggaja dasana gahi mahi dēkhi kautuka sura haomsē..

When the Lord of the Raghus encountered the enemy on the battlefield, full of rage, the arrows in His quiver vied with one another in their endeavour to shoot forth. The man-eating demons were all seized with terror at the sound of the most awful twang of His bow. Mandodarī’s heart quaked; the ocean, the Tortoise supporting the globe, the earth and the mountains trembled; and the elephants guarding the quarters squealed, and clutched the globe with their tusks. The gods smiled at this amusing sight.

Dohas

tānēu cāpa śravana lagi chāomḍaē bisikha karāla.
rāma māragana gana calē lahalahāta janu byāla..91.. [6-91]

Śrī Rāma drew the bow-string right up to His ear and let fly His terrible darts, which sped forth vibrating like so many serpents.

Chaupais

calē bāna sapaccha janu uragā. prathamahiṃ hatēu sārathī turagā..
ratha bibhaṃji hati kētu patākā. garjā ati aṃtara bala thākā.. [6-91-1]
turata āna ratha caḍhai khisiānā. astra sastra chāomḍaēsi bidhi nānā..
biphala hōhiṃ saba udyama tākē. jimi paradrōha nirata manasā kē.. [6-91-2]
taba rāvana dasa sūla calāvā. bāji cāri mahi māri girāvā..
turaga uṭhāi kōpi raghunāyaka. khaiṃci sarāsana chāomḍaē sāyaka.. [6-91-3]
rāvana sira sarōja banacārī. cali raghubīra silīmukha dhārī..
dasa dasa bāna bhāla dasa mārē. nisari gaē calē rudhira panārē.. [6-91-4]
stravata rudhira dhāyau balavānā. prabhu puni kṛta dhanu sara saṃdhānā..
tīsa tīra raghubīra pabārē. bhujanhi samēta sīsa mahi pārē.. [6-91-5]
kāṭatahīṃ puni bhaē nabīnē. rāma bahōri bhujā sira chīnē..
prabhu bahu bāra bāhu sira haē. kaṭata jhaṭiti puni nūtana bhaē.. [6-91-6]
puni puni prabhu kāṭata bhuja sīsā. ati kautukī kōsalādhīsā..
rahē chāi nabha sira aru bāhū. mānahu amita kētu aru rāhū.. [6-91-7]

The arrows flew like winged serpents. At the first onset they killed Rāvaṇa’s charioteer and horses; then, smashing the car, they tore off his ensign and flags. Even though his strength had inwardly failed him, he roared aloud and, immediately mounting another car, ground his teeth and hurled missiles and other weapons of every description. All his efforts, however, failed like those of a man whose mind is ever intent on harming others. Then Rāvaṇa hurled forth ten pikes, which struck the four horses of Śrī Rāma’s chariot and overthrew them. The Lord raised His horses and, drawing the bow string, let fly His darts in great fury. The arrows of Śrī Rāma (the Hero of Raghu’s line) sped forth like a string of bees to enter Rāvaṇa’s heads, which compared a bed of lotuses. Śrī Rāma struck each of his brows with ten arrows, which pierced through them; and blood gushed forth in torrents. Though bleeding profusely, the mighty demon rushed forward; the Lord once more fitted arrows to His bow. The Hero of Raghu’s line discharged thirty shafts, which shot down his heads and arms to the ground. But they grew afresh as soon as they were severed; Śrī Rāma, however, struck off his heads and arms once more. Time after time the Lord smote off his arms and heads; but they were renewed as soon as they were blown off. Again and again the Lord tore off his arms and heads; for the King of Kosala takes delight in playing. The sky was full of heads and arms like an infinite number of Ketus and Rahus.

“The word ‘Śilīmukha’ in the original bears a double meaning. It denotes both an arrow and a bee. Hence the sentence has been translated as above.”

Chhands

janu rāhu kētu anēka nabha patha stravata sōnita dhāvahīṃ.
raghubīra tīra pracaṃḍa lāgahiṃ bhūmi girana na pāvahīṃ..
ēka ēka sara sira nikara chēdē nabha uḍata imi sōhahīṃ.
janu kōpi dinakara kara nikara jahaom tahaom bidhuṃtuda pōhahīṃ..

It seemed as though multitudes of Rahus and Ketus were rushing through the air, streaming with blood; hit by the terrible shafts of Śrī Rāma (the Hero of Raghu’s line) again and again, they could not fall to the ground. The arrows, as they flew through the air, each transfixing a set of heads, seemed like so many rays of the angry sun each strung all over with a number of Rahus.

Dohas

jimi jimi prabhu hara tāsu sira timi timi hōhiṃ apāra.
sēvata biṣaya bibardha jimi nita nita nūtana māra..92.. [6-92]

As quickly as the Lord struck off his heads, they were renewed without end, like the passions of a man, which grow ever more and more even as he enjoys the pleasures of sense.

Chaupais

dasamukha dēkhi siranha kai bāḍhaī. bisarā marana bhaī risa gāḍhaī..
garjēu mūḍha mahā abhimānī. dhāyau dasahu sarāsana tānī.. [6-92-1]
samara bhūmi dasakaṃdhara kōpyō. baraṣi bāna raghupati ratha tōpyō..
daṃḍa ēka ratha dēkhi na parēū. janu nihāra mahu dinakara durēū.. [6-92-2]
hāhākāra suranha jaba kīnhā. taba prabhu kōpi kāramuka līnhā..
sara nivāri ripu kē sira kāṭē. tē disi bidisa gagana mahi pāṭē.. [6-92-3]
kāṭē sira nabha māraga dhāvahiṃ. jaya jaya dhuni kari bhaya upajāvahiṃ..
kahaom lachimana sugrīva kapīsā. kahaom raghubīra kōsalādhīsā.. [6-92-4]

When the ten-headed monster perceived the multiplication of his heads, he thought no more of his own death, but was seized with burning wrath. The fool roared in his great pride and rushed forward with all his ten bows drawn. Flying into a rage on the battle- field, the ten-headed monster discharged a shower of arrows and screened with it the chariot of Śrī Rāma (the Lord of the Raghus), which was lost to sight for nearly half an hour, even as the sun is obscured by mist. When the gods raised a piteous cry, the Lord took up His bow, full of wrath. Intercepting the enemy’s arrows He struck off his heads, which covered all the quarters as well as the intermediate points of the compass, as well as heaven and earth. The severed heads flew through the air and struck terror into the monkeys’ hearts as they uttered the cries of “Victory, Victory!! Where is Lakṣmaṇa? Where is Sugrīva, the lord of the monkeys? Where is the hero of Raghu’s line, the lord of Kosala?”

Chhands

kahaom rāmu kahi sira nikara dhāē dēkhi markaṭa bhaji calē.
saṃdhāni dhanu raghubaṃsamani haomsi saranhi sira bēdhē bhalē..
sira mālikā kara kālikā gahi bṛṃda bṛṃdanhi bahu milīṃ.
kari rudhira sari majjanu manahu saṃgrāma baṭa pūjana calīṃ..

“Where is Rāma?” cried the multitudes of heads as they sped. The monkeys took to flight as they saw them. The Jewel of Raghu’s line smilingly fitted arrows to His bow and shot the heads through and through. Taking a rosary of skulls in their hands a large number of Kalikas (female attendants of Goddess Kali) collected in numerous batches, as though having bathed in the stream of blood they had proceeded to worship the banyan tree of the battle.