Ramakatha Rasavahini II Chapter 8
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Chapter 8. The Siege hen Rama heard from Angada what had happened at Lanka and learned from him the attitude and alertness Wof the enemy, he called together the chief leaders and commissioned them to decide how best to lay siege to the four gates of the city. At this, the ruler of the monkeys (Sugriva), the ruler of the bears (Jambavan) and the ruler of the demons (Vibhishana) met together; they decided on the division of their forces into four, under com- manders and guides; then, they fell at Rama’s feet and, enthused by his blessings, gave orders for attack. With Rama in their hearts and armed with boulders and trees, the monkeys rolled forward in terror-striking floods. Lanka was reputedly impregnable, but Rama’s blessings helped them to break into it. The Eastern Gate was stormed by the forces under Nala; the Southern Gate was breached by the millions under the command of Angada; the Western Gate fell before the onslaught of the army led by Hanuman. The Northern Gate was guarded by Ravana himself, and Rama fought with him there. The monkeys had no war drums or trumpets; but the “Ram- Ram” they voiced forth in devotion rose as one call from all throats and echoed from the sky. The entire city of Lanka was sunk in confusion and panic. Ravana was blinded by foolish pride; he was exult- ing at the prospect of victory over the opposing forces and reveling in the thought that the festive day of victory had dawned for the demon (rakshasa) sun. The demons had taken up positions over walls and turrets and bastions of the fort, just like clouds on the peaks of the Meru Mountain. They were beating drums and blowing trumpets. Their shouts of “Victory for Ra- vana” confronted the confident shout “Victory for Rama, the Lord.” The boulders that the demons were hurling on the monkeys, who were attempting to scale the walls, were seized before they fell by the monkeys and hurled back with fatal effect on the very demons crowding the walls. The advance of the monkeys gained in momentum as the fight progressed. They killed the demons wherever and whenever they caught them. As a giant storm scat- ters clouds into the four directions, the mounting onslaught of the monkeys so dismayed the demons that they fled into the distance and the city was shrouded in despair. Women, old men, and children began blaming Ravana for bringing about the calamity that had descended on their heads. Some demons gave up the fight and fled with their wives and children, in order to escape certain death. Noticing such groups, Ravana gnashed his teeth in anger and yelled, “Cowards, backing out of battle! I’ll cut you into pieces with my diamond sword!” At this, a few of the fleeing demon stayed in the fray. Meanwhile, the monkey heroes penetrated the enemy lines and, reinforced by their contemplation on Rama, entered the inner fortress of Ravana himself and succeeded in razing it to the ground. They plucked a pillar of gold and, wielding it as a weapon, started their orgy of destruc- tion. Every demon they encountered was given a terrible beating; then, his head was severed and cast away with such force and such aim that it fell right in front of Ravana himself. When darkness fell, the monkeys, after dem- onstrating their superior might and heroism before the demon, presented themselves before Rama. The demons (rakshasas) are nocturnal beings, so when night fell, their acclamation and fury increased many- fold. Their shouts of “Victory to Ravana” fell on the ears of the monkeys like the roar of lions. The monkeys plunged into battle again. The demon generals Akampa and Atikaya, through their magical skill, spread pitch darkness over the four quarters, and, under cover of the blackness, heavy rains of dust, stones and blood were Ramakatha Rasavahini II Chapter 8. The Siege 96 poured on the enemy forces. The monkeys couldn’t distinguish friend from foe. They were afraid to fight with full fury. They prayed, “Rama! Rama,” in a loud voice to gain courage and give the enemy a good fight. Rama heard their cries; he called Angada and Hanuman and told them that the demons’ magic skill had caused the commotion. They were furious at the shameful tactics of the enemy, but Rama coolly pulled out the fire-arrow (agneyastra) from his sheath and shot it into the darkness they had designed. The effulgence of that arrow destroyed the darkness and filled the area with splendid illumination. The monkeys and the bears set about their task of overwhelming and destroying the enemy with redoubled energy and enthusiasm. When the triumphant yell of Angada and Hanuman were heard, the demons took to their heels and fled. But they could not escape; the monkeys caught them by their feet and threw them far out into the sea! The demons retreated into their camp when night advanced. They had no energy left for continuing the fight. The monkeys came into Rama’s presence. When Rama’s eyes fell upon them, they were all refreshed and recouped, with no trace of exhaustion. Malyavantha pleads, Meghanada mollifies Meanwhile, Ravana summoned his ministers and addressed them. “This day, thousands of demons were slain on the battlefield by the monkeys. Now we have to plan our strategy to foil them.” Up rose Malyavantha, the aged minister who was the father of Ravana’s mother and who had served Ra- vana’s father. He counseled various rightful and moral paths for his edification. “Ravana!”, he began, very endear- ingly, “Listen to my words in calmness. Pardon me for speaking outright. Ever since you brought Sita here, bad omens are being witnessed. It is not possible to describe them in detail. The glory of Rama, the Supreme Person, cannot be measured and extolled adequately even by the Vedas. By opposing this cosmic Person, this Hero, you cannot earn any good or win any grace. You would do well to ponder over this calmly. Rama is the very person who slew Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyaksha. He is the repository of all virtues. Don’t entertain hatred against Him. O Emperor! Save Lanka, I pray. Surrender Sita to Rama. Don’t delay any longer. Your safety lies in immediate surrender.” Malyavantha bowed his head and performed obeisance to the ruler. These words hurt Ravana. He was infuriated. He ejaculated, “You seem to be determined to enter the jaws of death. Your senility is pleading with me to pardon you, or else I would have hacked you to pieces. Beware. Get up and get out of my sight.” He hissed like an angry serpent. Malyavantha felt sorry, for he feared Ravana’s end was fast approaching. He laughed within himself at the conceit and ignorance that had blinded Ravana. He concluded that he was yielding to ruinous reasonings and foolish reactions, brushing aside the advice that would save him and his empire, because destiny had decided to close his career. Meghanada rose and said, “Father, don’t hesitate. Tomorrow, during the morning hours, you can witness my skill in war. I shall demonstrate in action much more than I declare in words.” His assurance mollified Ravana’s anger and assuaged him a little. He was filled with joy; it gave him courage and hope. He drew his son near and caressed him fondly. He patted his head and extolled, before all, the bravery and heroic heart of his son. The assembly dispersed about midnight. Each member hied back to his own residence, but not one of them Ramakatha Rasavahini II Chapter 8. The Siege 97 had a wink of sleep. Nor had anyone appetite for food. All were sunk in anxiety and terror about the calamity that might overtake them any moment. Meghanada leads the fight Even as they were rolling in fear, dawn spread over the east. The monkeys and the bears laid siege to Lanka from all directions. Confusion and panic raised their heads. Their roars echoed from the sky. The demon warriors had to take up arms and oppose them, for they had no other alternative. The rain of rocks and hills that fell on the city from the walls around were fought back with arrows and other weapons from billions of demons. They too shouted and yelled, reverberating the sky as on doomsday. But the huge peaks and hilltops that the monkeys threw at them reduced the demon hordes into a mass of lifeless pulp. Enraged at the news that the monkeys had rushed into the city, Meghanada took up arms and advanced to at- tack them. The hordes that followed him beat their war drums and sounded their clarions. Meghanada was famous as Indrajit, for he had once overwhelmed in battle no less a person than Indra, the ruler of the Gods. He was the chief among Lanka’s generals and a terrible warrior. The monkeys lost courage when they saw him on his chariot. Seeing the flight of the enemy forces, Megha- nada shouted in joy. Stringing his mighty bow, he shot a rain of arrows upon them. Drawing the string right back to his ear, he shot the arrows fast and furious; they flew like winged serpents in all directions. The monkeys were afraid to face him; they lost the urge to fight and retreated. Some were felled by arrows; others fainted and fell. Witnessing the pitiable plight of the monkeys, Hanuman was overcome with rage; he hastened toward Meghanada, full of fury and appearing as the God of death Himself! He plucked a mountain peak that was nearby and threw it at the demon leader.