6.051. dhUmrAksha to the fore

Hari Om.

Let us begin the fifty first sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

The vAnara camp was ecstatic again. Felled unconscious by venomous snakes turned arrows hurled by Indrajit, the duo rAma and lakshmaNa were up again. The servitor of vishNu, garuDa all of a sudden appeared there and just his appearance was adequate for the reptiles to run away into the ocean! With his magical touch, he wiped the faces of the duo and lo and behold, their complexion, strength and enthusiasm was enhanced two-fold. They were sharp, focused and raring to go. It appeared rAma didn’t know who he was! So garuDa just said their friendship is classic and honoring the same he hastened at once to their service. The valiant garuDa also urged rAghava not to be curious about the friendship! He told him, it would be clear in due course when he accomplishes his aim in the battle. The vAnara warriors sprang up in joy to behold their master up again. The roars sent shock waves in lanka. Onwards…

तेषांसुतुमुलंशब्दंवानराणांतरस्विनाम् ।

नर्दतांराक्षसैस्सार्धंतदाशुश्रावरावणः ।।6.51.1।।

The tumultuous roars let out by the powerful vANaras and the loud noise created by the demons in response was heard by rAvaNa. Hearing that unmistakable and boisterous noise from the vAnara camp, he said to his ministers –

“The vAnaras are ecstatic and are letting out roars like the thundering clouds. Without doubt something very delightful for them has occurred. Their noise is tormenting the ocean as well. The duo of rAma and lakshmaNa have been seized by the arrows. In such a time of grief, this boisterousness from them is making me suspicious. Go at once and find out their reason for joy in this time of grief”.

Upon his command, the confused demons who were near him went to the fort of lanka, climbed up the wall and saw what was going on in the vAnara camp. They saw sugrIva instructing the vAnara army, the duo of rAma and lakshmaNa free from their captivity and having risen again they were moving about swiftly. This worried the demons climbed down and went to rAvaNa with long faces. Experts in articulation, the demons with a heavy heart conveyed to rAvaNa that the duo who were seized with the maze of indrajit’s arrows are free now like the king elephant snaps the ropes that tie it!

यौताविन्द्रजितायुद्धेभ्रातरौरामलक्ष्मणौ ।

निबद्धौशरबन्धेननिष्प्रकम्पभुजौकृतौ ।।6.51.12।।

विमुक्तौशरबन्धेनदृश्येतेतौरणाजिरे ।

पाशानिवगजौछित्वागजेन्द्रसमविक्रमौ ।।6.51.13।।

The mighty demon king was enraged and worried to hear this news and his countenance became sad and dull. He said –

“If my enemy has freed himself from the impregnable maze of glittering arrows that Indrajit has cast, I wonder what my army can achieve. The serpents that seized the duo were equal to vAsuki in their splendour and have immobilized and killed my foes in the past”.

Then he was livid with anger, sighed like a serpent and picked dhUmrAksha from among the demons and ordered that he should go accompanied by a large army and kill the vAnaras and rAma in the battle. Delighted at the opportunity, the demon dhUmrAksha, prostrated and left the palace. He went to the superintendent of the army and asked him to scramble the army at once so that he can go to the battle. Obeying the request of dhUmrAksha and the command of rAvaNa, the superintendent made the army ready.

विविधायुधहस्ताश्चशूलमुद्गरपाणयः ।

गदाभिःपट्टसैर्दण्डैरायसैर्मुसलैर्भृशम् ।।6.51.24।।

परिघैर्भिण्डिवालैश्चभल्लैप्रासै: परश्वथै: ।

निर्ययूराक्षसादिभ्योनर्धन्तोजलदायथा ।।6.51.25।।

The demons were powerful, had bells tied on their waists to remind everyone of their bravery, their appearance was terrifying. They were fully armed with spears, hammers, maces, iron beams, clubs, three pointed spears, darts, axes, crescent and barbed missiles and other weapons. Carrying such weapons, the demons went out in all the directions thundering like the clouds. Some of them rode chariots and wore armours. The chariots had golden windows, well decorated with flags fluttering on them and were yoked to donkeys. Yet others rode swift horses and others went on furious elephants. The tigers among demons went to the battle and were invincible like the tigers.

dhUmrAksha himself rode a chariot which was well decorated and yoked to donkeys that had were decked with gold and had masks of bears and lions. Riding this chariot, dhUmrAksha brayed like a donkey himself and went from the western gate accompanied by a large army to where hanumAn was.

As the mighty dhUrAksha set out, birds screeched and took to the skies indicating bad omen. A giant eagle descended and sat on the flag staff of his chariot. The trunk of a white and huge bird drenched in blood fell near his chariot. The clouds rained blood and the earth shook. Screeching and loud noises were heard near him. The wind was turbulent and visibility was low around the quarters. Recognising these omens that foretold bad times for the demons, dhUmrAksha was a bit upset. Some of the demons around him fainted at these omens.

The strong dhUmrAksha accompanied by a huge army exited the threshold of lanka, eager for the battle. He beheld the endless vAnara army that resembled an Ogha (a very very large number) and was protected by the mighty arms of rAghava.