Hari Om.
Let us begin the forty second sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
With their preparations complete, the disciplined army of rAma under his leadership spread out into the proposed formation and laid siege around lanka. Following the principles of statecraft, to give rAvaNa a last chance before the commencement of a bloody war that would lead in great loss of life, rAma conferred with vibhIshaNa and sent angada as his emissary with an ultimatum to rAvaNa to surrender sItA or make preparations for his end. He even highlighted that vibhIshaNa would be the unrivalled king of lanka soon. The foolish rAvaNa tried to flex his muscle at angada when he conveyed this message. The prince angada gave him a bloody nose and embarrassment and came back to rAma. With the last warning turned down, all the four entrances of lanka were marked out by vAnara warriors who led the charge and were assisted by crores of vAnaras. They were wielding huge trees, boulders and mountain peaks as their weapons. Raring to go they made roars that aroused fear in the hearts of the demons. Perhaps this was the first time they were facing an army like this. The rampaging vAnaras began to scale the compound walls of lanka and tried to break in. The demons were initially taken aback, became nervous and regrouping, armed themselves and advanced towards the vAnara army with enthusiasm. The battle had begun. Onwards…
As the vAnaras went on the rampage, the demons ran to the abode of rAvaNa and apprised him of the siege the vAnaras had laid around lanka. The demon king was livid to note that the city was under siege and made arrangements to fight back. He went to the top of his palace to take stock of the situation. He found that the entire earth with its hills and forests were teeming with vAnaras. He was lost in deep thought about how to attack them back. After much thought, he mustered bravery and beheld rAghava and the vAnara warriors.
On the other side rAghava along with his army was much excited to reach lanka that was protected by the rAkshasa army. He beheld lanka that wore festive flags and the thoughts of sItA filled his heart with sadness. He reminded himself that this is where sItA, who doesn’t deserve grief, emaciated and sleeping on the ground is being tortured for my sake. Thinking of sItA who was suffering there, at one, he ordered the vAnaras to attack and vanquish the enemy.
पीड्यमानां स धर्मात्मा वैदेहीमनुचिन्तयन् ।
क्षिप्रमाज्ञापयामास वानरान् द्विषतां वधे ॥
The vAnaras, eager for the battle, upon getting the orders from rAma, let out lion-like roars, armed themselves with mountain peaks, boulders, large trees even as rAvaNa watched and to cause joy to rAghava, they attacked lanka, not caring for their lives at all. With their weapons and bare fists they began to pull down the fort walls and the arches of lanka. Crores and crores of them mounted an offensive on lanka, jumping, leaping, roaring and advancing menacingly like mighty elephants.
“Hail the mighty rAma and laskhmaNa. Hail the king sugrIva, he will win”. With these loud shouts virabAhu, subAhu and nala along with their battalions battered the fort of lanka.
जयत्यतिबलो रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महाबलः ।
राजा जयति सुग्रीवो राघवेणाभिपालितः ।
इत्येवं घोषयन्तश्च गर्जन्तश्च प्लवङ्गमाः ।
अभ्यधावन्त लङ्कायाः प्राकारं कामरूपिणः ॥
[This slogan was given by hanumAn in the Sundara kAnDam. See 5.42]
They stormed into the camp. The eastern gate was attacked by kumuda along with praghasa, panasa and a crore of other vAnaras. The valorous vAnara Satabali with twenty crore vAnaras attacked the southern gate. The father of tArA, sushENa with sixty crore vAnaras surrounded the western threshold. The northern entrance was attacked by rAma and lakshmaNa aided by a crore of vAnaras, Rkshas (bears) along with sugrIva, gavAksha, dhUmra and a number of other warriors along with their battalions of crores of vAnaras. They were adept at swift motion and at vanquishing the enemies. Armed with a mace, vibhIshaNa along with his ministers was ready for action. The vAnaras gaja, gavAksha, gavaya, Sarabha and gandhamAdana were on the move all the time protecting the army.
Seething with anger, the demon king rAvaNa ordered the attack on the enemy. Taking the orders of rAvaNa, the demon forces blew their battle trumpets and blasted thousands of conches to the full capacity of their lungs. Their dark complexioned bodies resembled dark clouds and the blows of the conches was like the thunder. The army hurried for the battle ordered by rAvaNa in an excited manner. The vAnaras also yelled, roared, beat the war drums and blew conches that reverberated across the earth, oceans and the skies.
The neighing of the horses, trumpeting of the elephants and the noises of the chariots created quite a commotion and in the meantime a terrible battle ensued between the demons and the vAnaras like the battle between the gods and the demons in the yore. With their maces, javelins, spears, aces upheld the demons ran towards the vAnaras announcing their valour. The vAnaras said “victory to king sugrIva” and followed it by announcing their own names. And they ran toward sthe demons with upheld trees and mountain peaks and attacked them with their sharp teeth and nails.
राजा जयति सुग्रीव इति शब्दो महानभूत् ।
तथा वृक्षैर्महाकायाः पर्वताग्रैश्च वानराः ।
निजघ्नुस्तानि रक्षांसि नखैर्दन्तैश्च वेगिताः ॥
The demons attacked the vAnaras who were on the ground with their spears and darts from the ramparts. The vAnaras enraged by this, leapt up to the ramparts and threw the demons to the ground. Soon the earth became a slime of blood and flesh as a bloody war broke out between the demons and the vAnaras. The combat was tumultuous.
Here we conclude the forty second sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 6.043. Rampaging vAnaras draw the first blood
Previous: 6.041. lanka under siege as the final warning is served
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 