By Kambar (Kavichakravarthy Kamban)
Translated in English by P. R Ramachander
Kamba Ramayanam-Yudha Kandam 11 (Padalam 26)
Yudha Kandam (contd)
26. Nikumbalai Yaga Padalam
Chapter on fire sacrifice in Nikumbila
(The army lead by Lakshmana reaches Nikumbila and destroys the Rakshasa army. A great battle ensues and Indrajit when he is getting defeated vanishes from there goes and requests Ravana to release Sita .Ravana shouts at him andstarts for war himself.Indrajit takes leave from him and again goes to war.)
8934. The valorous Rama after his doubt was erased hugged Vibheeshana to his body ,As his desire and soul had become one and said, “Oh Vibheeshana ,What a great job, You did by removing my sorrow and you and God are there to help me ,And Hanuman is there to support me and our penance and Vedas also support us.”
8935. As soon as Rama told this Vibheeshana said , “If the fire sacrifice ,Is completed by him, no body would be able to win him and victory,Would go to the side of Rakshasas and so give us leave so that ,I would go along with Lakshmana , would take away soul of Indrajit,And also destroy the fire sacrifice being done by him ,Rama said , “please do it” and started giving some advices.
8936. Rama hugged his brother Lakshmana and told him “brother ,If he sends the arrow of Lord Brahma who sits on the lotus flower ,Oh valorous one , then only just to prevent that arrow from coming to you,You should use your Brahmastra but if you send it otherwise ,Not only he , but the world of devas as well as earth would get destroyed,And so avoid using it like that.”
8937. ”Oh brother with great fame , there is a possibility that that he would send,The arrow of the three eyed Lord Shiva or the arrow of Lord Narayana with the wheel.Of his own accord and if he does that send the same arrows ,And make his arrows powerless and by using the power of your ,Return back after taking away his soul.”
8938. ”Oh brother who is like God of death , after examining deeply Dharma ,Follow its path and even before Indrajit starts doing his acts of illusion,And destroy them completely and seeing for a proper opportunity ,When Indrajit is weak , kill him who is God of death of Devas.”
8939. ’Oh brother who had not forgotten the science of archery, if that Indrajit,Becoming greatly worried and angry and sends at you several types of arrows,Just like rain, you also do similarly and remove all his arrows,But if he sends them tired and with great sorrow from his very powerful bow,Then spot his weakness and send an arrow piercing his chest and kill him.
8940. “Oh brother who never gets worried, even before Indrajit sends his arrows,You sent arrows and in every stage of the war , prevent his weapons ,And finding out the mood of the enemy by his face sent arrows ,With proper speed and in the correct direction , with speed like wind.”
8941. After telling all these tricks to Lakshmana and seeing that ,He has accepted his teachings , Rama looked at him and said ,“”Oh brother, this is the big bow that is used by Lord Vishnu ,Who became the three worlds himself , who does not know his greatness, And who is the matchless leader . Please receive it in your hand and get victory,”
8942. “Have you not heard the words of Tamil sage Agasthya about,The nature of this great bow and have you not firmly kept in your mind?This bow which was being held by Lord Vishnu with thousand heads ,Was one desired and got by Lord Brahma in the fire sacrifice ,And take this from me and along with that he gave his armour also.
8943. Rama who was one having the divine wheel and was ,Like the axle pin of this world gave him his quiver ,Which he ties on his back and told him several words of encouragement,And hugged Lakshmana who was looking like Lord Shiva,And later when he gave to Lakshmana , the devas ,Of the sky thinking that sorrow has been destroyed , became happy.
8944. With Devas blessing auspiciousness and greeting them,With devas maidens wishing him long life and wishing him,Faultless greetings and also sang songs ,The Lakshmana who was going to war had the look of Lord Shiva,Who was wearing the crescent when he flew in to rage to destroy the three cities.
8945. When Rama gave him leave to go along with monkey chiefs ,Lead by Hanuman and told him “Oh valorous one , you go the war ,”Lakshmana kept the lotus like of his elder brother his head ,And That one who had Dharma as his wealth went to Nikumbila.
8946. Rama who had a body like a pretty cloud sobbed and the flowing tears,From his eyes flowed on the earth and his younger brother ,Went round him and saluted him and holding his strong bow ,And with anger on the evil minded Indrajit and ,Went ahead saying , I would bring back his head.
8947. Seeing his younger brother whose parting he can not tolerate,Going speedily like his own soul going away from the body and vanish,Rama was looking like his father Dasaratha who saw him go away ,To protect the fire sacrifice as per the request of sage Viswamithra.
8948. He was assisted by people like the commander in chief Nila ,Carrying with them with long fire woods which were burning brightly ,And after several forests and mountains reached the temple at Nikumbila.
8949. There was a banyan tree there whose leaf was once used ,By the matchless Lord Vishnu who had all the world in his belly ,And there was a Rakshasas army which was like a black sea ,Standing there and it looked as if the entire sky was only a part of it.
8950. The monkey warriors saw that the sacrificial fire of Indrajit ,Was guarded by the Rakshasa army which was standing ,In an army formation similar to the wheel and was like ,The huge sea which contained the very hot northern fire.
8951. The angry elephants which were like black clouds , chariots ,Horses , foot soldiers were all there in that army ,With strength of thousand crores soldiers and they were ,Like a sea stopped by another sea and spread over thousand Yojanas.
8952. Golden chariots , horses , elephants and foot soldiers whose job was fighting ,Was so much large that it was difficult to count and estimate it and ,The divisions of that army were looking as if the entire people of the world, Were surrounding it in several thousand rows.
8953. Due to the waving of red hair which touches the clouds in the sky ,Of the black body of the Asuras being burnt by the fire arrows ,Sent by the black coloured Rama that Nikumbila,Was like the black sea with white foam and was seen by the monkeys.
8954. The strings of the bows in the hands of Rakshasas did not,Raise the twang sound and were like an old rain bow in between the clouds,And their musical instruments also did not raise sound as if they were in the sea,And the suitable huge drums also were like clouds that do not thunder.
8955. Those monkey warriors who never got tired at any time ,Due to the order of the very strong Rama , seeing ,The very silent army of Rakshasas,Shouted so loudly as if to break the top of the sky.
8956. When the monkey clan shouted the Asura clan also shouted,The garlanded drums were beaten by stick and made to roar by them,And the monkey warriors filled the Asura warriors with stones,And they sent streams of arrows which were like rain from a black cloud.
8957. The lustrous weapons thrown by the cruel Rakshasa army ,Which resembled the swans continuously settling down,On a water body with many ghats went and,Hit the monkey army which was praise worthy.
8958. Due to the stones and trees thrown by the monkeys hitting them,The bows, axes and iron rod and their teeth head and bodies,Of the very strong Rakshasas broke and went inside the earth.
8959. Due to the Rakshasas throwing weapons like staff , axes , Spears , tridents ,Maces , arrows and rings on the monkeys their tail , legs,Hands , bodies , stomachs got cut and fell down on the Earth.
8960. Vibheeshana looked at the victorious archer Lakshmana and told,“Time is proper for you to delay destroying the fire sacrifice of Indrajit.If you are going to leave this fire sacrifice that is well protected ,Without destroying it , when shall win over this sea of Rakshasa army.?
8961. Devas , Asuras , Brahma who had heads looking at four directions,The Lord Shiva who never ages , Indra the king of all the three worlds,And all the devas had come there, and there were none who had not come.
8962. Several types of armies and the chariot army driven by several soldiers stood there ,The horse army which was standing in several rows stood there,The army of the Rakshasa foot soldiers who had white bent teeth stood there,And several types of Elephant army with several instruments being played stood there.
8963. , At that time Lakshmana entered in side the Rakshasa army ,And went on raining large number of arrows with very sharp point ,And those Rakshasas whose bodies were crushed ,Left the earth and went towards south to land of God of death.
8964. The chariots, horses and incurable elephants in rut ,were killed,And the number of those killed reached hundred thousand crores ,And they were all heaped and in the slush created by ocean of blood,They formed island like structures and they all lost their souls.
8965., The heads of the Rakshasas who were wearing garland and who had ,Red hairs like the flames lit in the deep holes made by the hoofs of elephants ,Were innumerable and were like the flames of fire of the fire sacrifice pit.
8966. The big killer elephants which were angry and had pride due to rut ,Being wounded and broken here and there by the arrows from bow of Lakshmana,Were lying without losing their soul in the dark pond of the blood, And were similar to huge mountains and the ponds within them.
8967. Being hit by several arrows which went from the bow of Lakshmana ,Which bit like the huge teeth of bears on the crowned heads lying there,They looked like huge ant hills which were covered by fire flies.
8968. Due the arrows which were resembling heavy rain fall ,Entering their bodies , the blood the came out resembled the rivers,And went and joined the sea and the tall flags that were falling ,From the Rakshasa army were like the clouds fallen on deep sea.
8969. The full white umbrellas of the enemy Rakshasas being cut ,By the lustrous arrows of Lakshmana fell down,And due to their pressing the sea of blood of the Rakshasas,Were similar to the moon which was swallowed by the red coloured snake.
8970,. Due to their long trunk and legs getting cut , the cruel elephants,Were moving in the blood that had flown there and due to their ,Not having the power to attack the enemies they got drowned in it ,And they appeared like the Idangar crocodile of the oceans.
8971. The black foxes which entered the battle field where these elephants ,Were there stayed there as they liked their food and due to the fleeing ,Rakshasas leaving their drums there , they were like dead cavities of bodies.
8972. Due to groups of arrows with fire and cruel poison hitting them,The angry elephants got their neck and parts above it get burnt,And were looking like the burning bamboos of the mountain.
8973. The Rakshasas who were like the tide like ocean were attacked ,By the bears in the monkey army who plucked their hair by their long nails,And looked similar to their digging the anthills and pushing them down.
8974. Due to the famous arrows of arrows coming like rain ,The greatly valorous Rakshasas who were capable of winning lions in war ,And those were ruling animals like horses and elephants ,Fell dead with black bees hovering round flowers decorating their head.
8975. ,Due the bodies of defeated army chiefs being torn here and there ,The blood shot up from them and a pretty eagle flying there ,Got completely bathed all over its body with that blood .
8976. Like his father Dasaratha in olden times riding on one chariot ,Opposed and killed several Rakshasas in their chariots ,Who were crowding him Lakshmana all alone destroyed ,That entire Rakshasa army by his rain of arrows.
8977. Similar to the huge and powerful storm blowing destroying ,And making fall mountains clouds and stars The flying ,And blowing arrows of Lakshmana cut the heads and bodies ,Were cut and they well in the fire pit of fire sacrifice.
8978. Due to that Lakshmana who was like an elephant cutting off ,The heads of Asuras decorated by flower fell from the sky ,And broke the pot of water sanctified by chanting of Vedas,And was kept in the the hall of fire sacrifice.
8979. The blood oozing out of the red wounds which were flowing .Like a river with tall tides carrying bodies of rut elephants ,Injured by the goad , rolled the heads of Asuras ,With red eyes like red lotus flowers and ,Put out the fire in the fire pit of the fire sacrifice.
8980. Due to the chosen arrows sent by Lakshmana the huge hands ,Tied by red hairs and which were wearing heroic anklets with the sword,That they were holding were cut off and while falling on the ground ,They cut the heads of sacrificial buffaloes and goats that were kept ready .
8981. Those Rakshasa warriors whose cheeks are cut by arrows of Lakshmana,From where the blood flows and wets their body , but who were still alive ,And whose pretty strong body has been cut but not destroyed ,Scared of the arrows coming out of Lakshmana ‘s bow ,Hid themselves in the ocean of blood which was spread everywhere.
8982. ,With legs being cut along with the earth and fallen down ,Being hit by the hot arrows that were sent by Lakshmana again and again ,Became confused and with shivering body , with their intestines,Coming and hanging out of their belly , Using their , Spear as their walking support they walked further .
8983. Some Rakshasas whose intestines have come out of their back,Pushed them inside their body were trying to again go back to the battle field.And there seeing the cut bodies of their sons who had fought ,And not able to leave them there , with the sons body hanging on their shoulder,And catching for support their brothers who were fighting the war, reached near for fighting.
8984. Like the closed pots with ghee and honey getting broken And the puffed rice being thrown out , the head less bodies,Danced in the battle field in several groups of crores.
8985. Lakshmana entered that huge army several times and killed ,By cutting the spear holding Rakshasa army like wind, like cruel poison,Like the thread spun by the weavers , like the disease which reduces the body,And like the starter in the pot of milk.
8986. In the broad earth surrounded by ocean with turning tides ,That huge army like a garden which is shattered by huge storm,Was completely shattered and Indrajit saw all that.
8987. He was not able to see in that battle field any thing except The dead bodies of cruel elephants in rut in a heap touching the heavens,Several horses, the shattered body and heads of the warriors ,The ocean of blood with advancing tides and nothing else.
8988. Indrajit was not seeing any body among his hundred hundred thousand crores,Of warriors who wore heroic anklets and who were unchangingly valorous ,Except heaps of their bodies cut in to pieces and the river of the blood,By Lakshmana fighting alone with very sharp arrows and did not see any full body.
8989. Some of those Rakshasas who were more cruel than strong poison, Scared to stand before Lakshmana with a dried toungue and trembling ,Reached Indrajit and the very angry among them who could not come back,Died with an upset mid as there was no one to support them,
8990. Seeing that fire in the fire pit of fire sacrifice has been put out ,With materials needed to do the sacrifice such as the plough As well as the pretty and luxuriant Durba grass getting destroyed,And also all materials needed as well getting destroyed,Indrajit forgot the chants that he had to recite ,And got dispirited like the fire that was being put o out,
8991. At that time all those Rakshasas who had not diedDue to the rain of arrows of Lakshmana stood surrounding Indrajit ,And the monkey army who had the job of fighting approached them.
8992. The greatness of Lakshmana who killed the huge Asura army of thousand Padma * army ,Who killed all of them by the time one tells “A” and his great prowess in archery ,And his sorrow as he was not able to complete the fire sacrifice,Created great sense of anger and mental worry in Indrajit.*A huge nmber
8993. Indrajit also with his use the shaking of hands by sages who saw the battle field,The job of killing by Lakshmana which made the goddess of earth scared and shiver,And the complete destruction of the clan of Asuras whose job was fighting.
8994. ,Indarjit watching that his greatness was being destroyed and also,The destruction of pious climate during the carrying out of fire sacrifice,As well as the complete destruction of the effect of his chants during the Yagna.Told the following words .
8995. ”In the hugely spread twenty five Vellam of my army , what is remaining,Is only ten Akroni army and trying not to go from here and trying ,To complete the fire sacrifice by staying here is childishness,AS that fire sacrifice started has been completely destroyed.”
8996. ,”Is not the fact that the glowing fire with smoke of the fire sacrifice,Is not throwing up its flames but has been completely put out sufficient?This is a bad sign indicating that in this great war ,That is taking place here, there is no victory further for me.”
8997. Let me neglect the fact that the fire sacrifice has been destroyed,But thinking that I am of reduced prowess compared to this man,Is simplifying the issue and I would not think about my reduction of strength,In this place but has the power of my shoulders to fight now has also been destroyed?”
8998. ,”My silly nature in getting worried about destruction of the yagna,Which is carried out with chanting of manthras would make the devas in the sky,Laughh at me saying that “This Indrajit is capable of fighting against Indra only and not against men.”
8999. When he was telling like this within himself the monkeys with great strength,Threw mountains , trees , collection of corpses and dead elephants on the Rakshasas,And because of this the army which accompanied Indrajit was scattered.
9000. Those Rakshasas moved away avoid those things falling on them ,Hid one behind the other and started shivering greatly with fear ,And due to the arrows of Lakshmana their bodies split open and intestines came out,And they all lost their anger similar to the elephants with dried rut,
9001. When the cruel arrows sent by Lakshmana along with the black mountains,Fell on the ocean of the army of Rakshasas , it was similar to ,The black rainy clouds throwing out black clouds as well as rains, falling on black sea.
9002. , Angry Hanuman who made the Rakshasa army , who were like a huge sea,With tides scattered , confused by beating them by trees,Went near that Rakshasa Indrajit and started telling,The words that would make that Rakshasa angry.
9003. ,” There was a huge army which was like a huge ocean with tides ,Standing here in the formation of a wheel , Did you happen to see it?We have not even heard the twang sound produced by their bow strings.When did you all come back after reaching Ayodhya , cut Bharata ,And his relations in to pieces and returned back here?Did the Yagna that you performed end properly? Did you get what you wanted?”
9004. ”Did you go and see that Bharata who has a more stronger shoulders,Than Adhi sesha who carries the heavens as well as carrying everything ,And who is the faultless king and show him the great prowess of your ,Archery. That too yiu came along with your life? Is t not strange?”
9005. ” Did you see Shatrugna , who was born to the matchless Dasaratha who killed ,Asura called Shambara who was an expert in use of bow and helped the Devas,After the first three sons and made them as four brothers.?”
9006”. Would not your war of illusion , after being hit by fire like arrows,Which go deep inside causing red blood to flow on your ears ,Mouth as well as eyes and after going inside Lanka ,Be fought again spreading evil every where ?”
9007. ” Now do you wish to send , the Naga pasa or the famous arrow of Lord Brahma ,Who sits on the lotus flower or the weapon of Lord Shiva ,Who is the most primeval or the divine wheel of Lord Vishnu ?WE would shiver at the weapon you intend to send and,It is sufficient as the God of death has come near us?”
9008. ” Only after considering your having got very many boons ,And after learning very many tricks of illusion , got divine weapons,From the Devas who have great patience and also considering,The prowess that we have naturally got would we decide ,To cut your head and kill you ? would we reply differently to you?”
9009. ”Even if you are defended by Lord Shiva who had swallowed poison,Lord Brahma , as well as Lord Vishnu who sleeps on the snake with open hood ,Without trembling , your death is definite. Does your left side throb?Please tell us whether you would be able to continue to live?”
9010. ”Did not that great archer Lakshmana earlier take an unmatched oath to you that , “I would kill you”, come near you and killed all your army which were near you,And which defended you and is challenging you “Please come with speed to fight”.And did the twang sound from his well tied huge bow form a part of your Yagna?”
9011. ”The devas , the sages and many who are living in different worlds ,Have assembled here to see the prowess in battle of Lakshmana ,Who is the brother of Rama who removes problems and protects the three worlds,And so why are you delaying any further ?”said that protector of Dharma.
9012. Indrajit breathed like fire after hearing these words and with light ,Scattering light from his golden shoulders , sunlight coming out from his mouth,And said “Was it because of your strength that you came before me and told these?What was the reason for you to tell such base words “ and then further told.
9013. ” All of you who have died in all the wars that were fought till now ,Hit by my weapons and using tricks which are against rules ,You had again come alive and did you forget all those tragic incidents,And then looking at me , desiring your death are you challenging me for war ?When all of them , hit by me died , did you store medicines to make them live again?”
9014. ”Let Rama fight with me?Let Lakshmana fight with me ?And let all those who are equal to them who have come here go away?The devas and sages Would see together from the sky, the death of monkeys,In Vellam after Vellam and to see the sorrow these two men will suffer?”
9015. As long as the bow that I am holding and my powerful shoulders are there,Would it be possible for any being with a body run away and hide and live on seeing me ?I would kill these monkeys with a hunchback as well those men ,Follow them to the heaven and also kill them, They would not live by any medicine.”
9016. ”Oh persons who are all saying that “the Yagna could not be performed today .And so we have won, “ and because of it boasting a lot about your valour,Please do not tell that , there is no more delay, my arrows would appear now,Cutting each of your heads separately and also pierce your bodies completely.”
9017. ”I would not talk about my other victories in an apparent manner like you,And sit quiet . Are you trying to talk of victory after being defeated by me twice,During all times when I got enraged with you and stood up , did you learn,To stand firmly in that spot without fear ?Are you again going to lie dead?Or are all of you going to run away from here with great scare ?”
9018. ”Stop there , stay there “saying that he stared at them with great anger ,And wore his armour which shined like lightning , he tied his quiver on his back,He wore the finger gloves which are sign of valour on his fingers,He lifted his bow which was meant to do war , He climbed ,On his diamond chariot which was shining like Sun and twanged his bow.
9019. He blew his conch and the Deva maidens of the sky who wore bangles ,Due to great scare patted on their own eyes and the Devas got worried,That the Indrajit would in a short while exterminate the monkey army,And Lord Shiva of Kailasa and Brahma sitting on a lotus said,”a great battle is going to take place.”
9020. The devas thought “due to the effect of our penance Indrajit failed ,To complete the Yagna but though the Yagna fails, these monkeys ,Would not be able to live further and they have come here ,Due to their bad fate and we are now going to see the monkeys ,Suffering due to the arrows” and became dispirited and sad.
9021. Due to the act of twanging the bow of the string of his bow ,When the sound reached the monkeys they forgot their masculine duties,With great tiredness without throwing the trees and mountains in their hand,And fell down and they thinking that they would definitely die started running away.
9022. But the great commanders of the monkey army stood there ,Without getting scared and all those except them started ,Running helter-skelter like the water of the oceans which is broken,By the huge wind at time of deluge, running here and there ,But Hanuman who was an expert in war , opposing Indrajit,Uprooted a huge mountain there and got ready.
9023. Indrajit who was standing there like the death to God of death himself ,Looked at Hanuman told “Hey fellow stop there , stop, stop, are you talking ,Different things and uprooting a mountain with an intention of killing me,In the battle field in front of the Devas ? Your act seems to be great ?Since you are a monkey this seems to be apt , Oh masculine one ,Please come , come to fight with me .”
9024. That warrior of warriors Indrajit became angry and suddenly took ,And stared at Hanuman who had come to throw the mountain at him,Thought , Which arrow would be suitable to attack Hanuman,Who had high shoulders and who was an expert in wrestling ,And then the Devas praised Hanuman and his father wind God ,Started getting scared thinking “what would happen to him?”
9025. Hanuman threw that diamond like hard mountain making fire sparks ,Fly in the sky and in all directions on that Rakshasas and it came on Indrajit ,Like thousand thunders taking one form and seeing that,The world got scared and the Rakshasa crowd was thrown pell-mell.
9026. ,Indrajit who had tall shoulders similar to the Meru mountain ,With his ear globes spreading luster , laughed loudly ,Which made even the universe shake with fear and saw to it,That the huge mountain was made in to powder and the Devas ,Who do not blink their eyes saw the manner in which he sent the arrow.
9027. When Hanuman uprooted another mountain and was rotating it,Indrajit rained cruel arrows some of them dipped in strong poison ,And some due to heat were defeating the fire God so that they hit,The chest , shoulders ,legs faster like wind ,necks and eyes and wounded him.
9028. Due his being near mountain with high peaks growing bamboos,Due to the natural luster of his body which angrily drove away,The darkness of night ,due to his producing luster similar ,To rays of the sun and due to the flow of blood from his body ,Hanuman looked like the Sun God who was about to rise ,
9029. When Hanuman became very tired, Angadha and other monkey commanders,Combined with great anger which can burn and seeing them Indrajit told ,You please stop there , stop , where is that Lakshmana ,Who has been defeated by me twice “ without bothering about those monkeys.
9030. When those Angadha and whose anger greatly increased and neared ,Indrajit to fight with him , he asked, “Would a lion instead of following,The elephant to fight , follow a mere monkey against its nature?What is the use of sending arrows at you? Please show me the younger brother ,Who can fight with me for a little while or would you die because of your anger .”
9031. ”Did you not see Hanuman who has become spent up and tired?Are you all stronger that Hanuman?Is not my bow strong now?Did the power of my shoulders get reduced, than earlier ?Are you not the ones who came wanting the battle?Have you earned strength before coming over here ?Please show me the man and go back in your own way ?”
9032. Even after seeing his natural wish to fight with younger Lakshmana,Those monkey warriors threw mountains and trees on him and approached him, And he with rain of arrows which could split the Meru mountain ,In crores or crores of crores of number and they entered ,The bodies of crowd of monkeys and they all lost their strengths .
9033. At that time Vibheeshana the brother of the Rakshasa looked at Lakshmana ,And told , “That black cloud of that Rakshasa with capacity to get victory,By ceaseless shower of arrows is destroying your army and as ,The Yagna has been destroyed , you speedily go and fight with him,”,And Lakshmana hearing that went near Indrajit and started fighting.
9034. At that time Hanuman with generous nature without fainting ,Came with a pleasant face and requested, “My father , please speedily ,Climb on my shoulders, “ that pleased Lakshmana said, “So be it”, And the Devas left out their depression and that Hanuman,Carrying that Lakshmana roamed round the battle field.
9035. That Indrajit who was black like thousand clouds joining together ,Came riding on a high chariot drawn by one thousand horses,And both of them faced each other and fought and that tall Hanuman ,Taking a form like Lord Trivikrama roamed in all directions.
9036. That Lakshmana who had forsaken sleep sent several hot arrows ,Which were like fire , like thunder which can kill enemies,Which were like ghosts . like hunger ,and like disease,Which were like the bad fate which without fail plays tricks,Which were like mind ,and which were like mother of hawk .
9037. Indrajit cut the arrows sent by Lakshmana by sending similar arrows,But then Lakshmana showered arrows like the rain at final deluge ,Which destroyed the sky , all the eight directions and the oceans ,Making people who witnessed it say , who can at any time ,Shower arrows better than this in the world at any time.
9038. Indrajit by sending arrows which were like crowd of sparrows, And completely removed those arrows and further , they proceeded.Like fire sparks and the pure Lakshmana sent several arrows ,And removed them and that cruel Indrajit went,Round and round the battle field one thousand times.
9039. That chariot of the destroying tempest , of the very strong Indrajit ,With very strong wheels and the legs of the very angry Hanuman ,Without bothering whether it was stone or mountains or various types of trees,Or grass or small climbers went without any problems .
9040. They sprayed so much arrows at each other , the other warriors ,Were not able to recognize who is whom and fought with each other ,Like an ocean with tides dashing against another ocean and seeing that,The devas appreciated by saying “In this world no one is like them.”
9041. The eyes of the Devas as well as their mind were not able to find out,Whether the arrows sent by them was going through the sky or not ,And if it was possible for us to count them, the known numbers were not sufficient ,And the powerful wind God found it difficult to penetrate them,And those arrows were capable of making wounds on others body ,And were not knowing how to tell their power in proceeding against the enemy.
9042. The twang sound generated by the tall bows were like sound of thunder ,And powdered everything on their way and spread everywhere,And due to their power to burn , when they were spreading in the sky ,All directions were burnt and went up and since more smoke covered ,The world than the fire , all the stars in the sky were completely burnt.
9043. The twang sound of the strings of the bows blasted in all directions,And similar to the fall of thunder created very great noise and those hot arrows ,Met each other ‘ s tips and were capable of biting each other ,And due to their speed of travelling in the sky ,They were giving rise to hot sparks of fire and this was witnessed by the Devas.
9044. Due to their arrows the oceans dried, mountains broke down,The body of the Sun caught fire and started burning ,The blood in the bodies of warriors dried and bad smell started coming out ,And the pit of the ocean got filled up and became an arrow hill,And the world unable to be stable started rotating fast .
9045. Those sharp and hot arrows started burning with flame and made ,The armies of both sides get upset as well as scared and started running in different directionsAnd due to them the elephants died, the horses lost their looks ,The monkeys got scattered and died and the red coloured blood ,Started flowing out like sea and both soldiers got killed.
9046. Some of those arrows sent by the brother of Rama who was like ,A black and huge lion travelled in curves, some travelled burning producing smoke,Some travelled after getting burnt , some went towards left and some towards right,Some went separately , some together and some sloping over directions.
9047. Some of the arrows sent by that Rakshasa Indrajit who merged in the battle ,And who was all powerful were like mountains, some like clouds going up the sky,Some were like thunder, some were like sea, some were like chariot of Sun God ,Some were like the laugh of Lord Shiva who sits at the top and some were like root of the world.
9048. Those arrows sent by both of them like the edge of the eyes ,Of well bred ladies and were capable of piercing and pierced ,On the chest of both of them protected by their wide armour ,Some pierced on their pretty shoulders, some on their faces,Some on their diamond like thighs and both the feet.
9049. Like the crescent of the moon which were two in number earlier ,Joining together and shining as one, both of them bent their arrows ,With golden tips together and the Devas praised them saying,“Did at any time which of the Devas or which of the Asuras did fighting with each other like them .”
9050. ,The arrows sent by them , proceeded with great speed and due to them,The worlds started burning , the lights like sun and moon burnt and the Devas,Got faded and got a doubt feeling that it was the destroying storm of delugeAnd with the twang sound going to their ears, the elephant of directions swallowed.
9051. Due to arrows from both of them hitting , the long sky shed stars,The sun shed the sun light , the silver moon shed the deer on its face ,The sky shed the clouds , due to clusters of mountain becoming powder ,It shed its peaks and all the beings in all the world shed their beauty .
9052. Indrajit the son of Ravana who had won over all faultless directions,At that time sent twenty five very sharp arrows so that they will pierce the body of Lakshmana,And that Lakshmana who was like a young lion bending the bow in his hands sentSome cruel burning arrows so that they would pierce the armour and later the chest of Indrajit.
9053. That very strong Rakshasa Indrajit searched for some burning hot arrows ,Which made the very angry elephant of Indra run away and also made ,The Devas run away due to them carrying fire , fixed them on his bow,And sent them so they would hit tall shoulders of Hanuman.
9054. That Lakshmana who was like a youthful lion and the youthful sun,In the east , saw blood flowing out of Hanuman whose good characters cannot be measured,And making those who witness the war feel that he has won over Indrajit,In that instant send a rain of arrows on the enemy and powdered ,His chariot so that it could not be taken anywhere else from there.
9055. Seeing the destruction of that chariot devas shouted joyfully and the trinity,Became happy and Indrajit becoming angry like thunder, jumped from there,And reached in to another big chariot and sent ten arrows aimed at head of Lakshmana,And due to those arrows hitting him , he became greatly worried,.
9056. That worried Lakshmana regained stability to his body and sent ,Few sharp arrows with a mouth on Indrajit and even before he could prevent it ,Similar to the very pure Lord Shiva riding on a bull kicking the proud god of death, Sent a matchless arrows and sent it aimed at the chest of Indrajit.
9057. That arrow sent by Lakshmana pierced the armour and chest of Indrajit ,And went out from his body , making him loose his conscience and helpless ,Seeing which the Devas shouted with joy and Lakshmana using ,A hot arrow which was like the Sun appearing in the day time ,Cut of Indrajit ’s flag and also pierced his shoulders.
9058. Due to the arrow of Lakshmana , the blood inside the body of Indrajit ,Flowed like burning fire and he tottered like the stable northern Meru mountain,And became very weak but tolerated them and sent nine hundred cruel battle arrows,On Lakshmana and they reached their aim, but were not able ,To pierce the unbreakable armour of Lakshmana and Indrajit became very angry.
9059. That Indrajit who was riding on a chariot pulled by thousand horses , again took,Another thousand hot arrows and sent them aiming at the chest of Lakshmana ,And Lakshmana the younger brother of the matchless Rama ,sent arrows,Aimed at them and shattered them and then Indrajit selected several ,Golden arrows and making the string of his bow almost break sent them aiming at body of Lakshmana.
9060. Indrajit had doubt whether the bow held by Lakshmana is the one held,By The tall lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva or of the Gods revered by the Devas.He also knew that the arrows of Lakshmana were piercing him and were not damaged,And also understood that he does not have the capacity to win over Lakshmana ,And due to these , he became greatly depressed.
9061.Vibheshana his younger father understanding that Indrajit was tired,Went near Lakshmana he was detached from all affection and told him,“Please hear a word .If we look at the way Indrajit who has won over all the devas,By his prowess is fighting , it looks like that mad fellow ,Has become greatly depressed and so would not live.”
9062. That Indrajit who had bent teeth and who held the sword which can kill,Flared in to anger like the God of death , twanged the string of his bow,So that it can be heard in all the seven worlds and chose the most powerful arrow,And sent the arrow of wind God on Lakshmana saying “prevent if you can”And Lakshmana stopped it using his own arrow of wind God.
9063. He then sent the arrow of fire God and Lakshmana stopped it using ,His own arrow of fire God , and then Indrajit sent the arrow of God Varuna ,Lakshmana prevented it by the same arrow, Indrajit with a black mind ,Sent the heat producing arrow of Sun God and the very efficient ,And angry Lakshmana who was like a young lion destroyed it by same arrow.
9064. Indrajit looked at Lakshmana and asked”Can you prevent it and sent ,Ishika(sacred pen) arrow and knowing only that arrow can prevent it ,He sent it and prevented it and Indrajit deciding that he would sentAn arrow that never fails to kill told “now you are dead” and ,Sent the famous Brahmastra of the four faced one at him.
9065. The gods who stand with stability in the sky like Lord Shiva with an axe ,Brahma who sits on the flower , sages , other Devas , others who do penance, And Indra lord of Dharma started shivering in their mind and said ,“Let not any harm come to the prince Lakshmana.”
9066. That Lakshmana who was the younger brother of Rama who holds the wheel,Looked at that Brahmastra which was spreading big fire flames coming ,Like the weapon which destroys everything at the time of final deluge .With the northern fire in the middle of the sea not even equal to its one flame ,Coming towards him and understood by its nature , that it is Brahmastra.
9067. He thought , “Indrajit might have thought “when I first sent against him Brahmastra Lakshmana did not receive it by using his strength and did not prevent it ,From coming towards him ,and so now also he cannot face it “ and have sent,Against me and if I do not show my prowess , it would not be a proper act and so,I would send against him the Brahmastra of Lord Brahma who sits on lotus flower,”And started preparations to send it.
9068. After telling ,”Let this do good to the world “ and after chanting the manthra ,Of Lord Brahma and with a determination not to sent it to kill Indrajit , who never retreats ,He prayed “Let it destroy that arrow sent by him “ and sent it ,And the devas thinking about his great generosity , were surprised .
9069. ”If that arrow sent by Lakshmana is Brahmastra would it ever retreat,Before the arrow of the enemy? It has not destroyed heaven and earth as per his wish,And so if he had intended to kill Indrajit , the body of that Valorous hero would have been cut ,But he has sent it with a wish that it should only destroy the arrow of Brahma ,Who sits in the lotus flower and that faultless one never has left his valour “Devas appreciated the act of Lakshmana with joy.
9070. Like the fire being sent oppose when a huge thunder falls near us,For the sake of destroying the Brahmastra , the Brahmastra sent by Lakshmana ,The brother of Rama who is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu stood spread all over the sky . Like the fire at deluge which cannot be approached andWhich was capable of burning the seven worlds .
9071. That Brahmastra sent by Lakshmana who was born in the clan of Sun ,Prevented it from spreading all over the sky as it was sent only to reduce ,The power of another arrow which was sent at him and prayed to it ,“You go near it” and sent another arrow which was spraying fire in between,And like one poison curing another poison , the power of Brahmastra got reduced.
9072. The devas seeing this act of Lakshmana told ‘To these very powerful,Valorous warriors Rama and Lakshmana , is there anything impossible for them to do?”And after consoling themselves of their worries became happy and Lord Shiva ,Saw them with the corner of his eyes and said, “is it impossible for them to do?”And told them, “You told these words without proper thought and,Please hear about the great prowess of these two” and started telling.
9073. ”These are two are Nara and Narayana and they are the root cause,And primeval beings and have come out without being affected by fate ,And they hide themselves in the huge illusion which cannot be understood ,By any one and they are far beyond the four Vedas which are chanted ,And they are extremely efficient beings .”
9074. They who cannot be approached even by wisdom are far above from it,And considering the path of the Dharma is getting damaged and for the sake,Of protecting it , without going away from those worlds , were born as Rama and Lakshmana.And due to the greatness of Dharma , travelling after thinking about it,Without others knowing about them , for the sake of completely uprooting ,And destroying the Evil Asuras they have arrived in this city of Lanka.”
9075. ”This Lakshmana is the matchless first who is part of all living beings,And has the property of God which is beyond doubt and Rama is spread all over the world ,Like a starter mixed in milk and is the chief of all beings ,And so please realize that he is the primeval being who is beyond recognition,And has come in a form which can be recognized by the eyes.”
9076. These two are those who are under deep sleep of wisdom in the ocean of milk ,And in earlier days due to your earnest request when you all met him directly ,For the sake of completely uprooting the clan of Asuras , they decided to help you, As well as establish Dharma “ And all these news were told to the Devas,By Lord Shiva with tied matted hair who wore the garland of Adappa flowers.
9077. They replied ,” Oh Lord who angrily destroys the bad fate of those ,Who approach him , though we were knowing all this ,Being caught in his devious plan we forgot about all that and ,Completely having faith in your words of grace , all our doubts ,Have been cleared , as we have come out of the illusion in our mind.WE have got destroyed all our enemies and come out of our problems.”
9078. That Indrajit with bent long teeth who was holding the weapon of Lord Vishnu,Looked at Lakshmana and told “if you are able to stop it , who can ever oppose you?But this will not miss and you would loose your life and reach the heavens “And sent that weapon on the pure Lakshmana making the worlds tremble .
9079. The Devas protected themselves by raising their hands above their heads ,And saluted so that they can protect themselves and this same action, Was undertaken by all the sages and all others who were there ,And that weapon which can fulfill the wishes without problems,Without attacking those who salute it went nearer to earth,And seeing this Lakshmana , realizing that he himself ,Is that Lord Vishnu holding the matchless wheel walked against that arrow.
9080. He thought that the weapon was going as if capable of burning the several worlds ,And also realized that he was himself Lord Vishnu who cannot be destroyed by any one ,And in that state that weapon without attacking Lakshmana , went round him,And rose and went above the sky and its fire was put out and smoke ceased.
9081. ,Seeing that the Devas praised and danced and the crowd of monkeys also danced,The deva maidens sang and also danced and the great sages with happiness told,“You have become one who saved the world “ and danced with great joy,And The Lord who rose from the Lotus and one who uses axe as weapon appreciated Lakshmana.
9082. Indrajit saw that the arrow of Lord Vishnu has gone waste , got a doubt ,About who is this Lakshmana and was astonished thinking that he is Lord Vishnu ,Who held that weapon from ancient times.” And further thought ,“Whoever he may be , let my war come to a good end and I would not think,About anything else and decided to sent Lord Shiva’s great arrow and kill him.
9083. He decided that he would sent the arrow of Shiva which could destroy,All the worlds created by Lord Brahma in a very short time and knowing that,The crowd of Devas standing on the sky got scared and trembled,And all the worlds were distressed thinking that Lakshmana would die in an instant.
9084. ”This weapon was received by him after doing several years of very hard,Penance and that God himself had told him , that it was not available with anybody else,And when sent in the olden times if it is sent no one could stand against it,And so there is absolutely no doubt that it would steal the soul of Lakshmana.”
9085. He mentally offered to that arrow , flowers , water , sandal ,Good nectar as well as smoke of incense and stood up requesting ,That arrow “go and steal the life of that Lakshmana and come back”,And with great anger pulled the string of the tall bow up to his shoulders ,And sent that arrow of Lord Shiva which cannot be deterred by anything.
9086. Then spears , axes , hot arrows , glowing fire , poisons,Serpents, series of thunder strikes, the forms of God of death ,Black ghosts , huge crowds of devils rose everywhere in the world.
9087.The fire at deluge followed that arrow on one side and cause suffering,The rotating huge and cruel cyclone also followed that arrow,And the ocean which was beyond the seven oceans which had huge tides,Came down and the darkness which was in that sea , completely covered the world.
9088. The great and famous devas seeing that arrow ran away , the people ,From groups of sages said that this arrow will not miss its aim and decided that,Lakshmana would die because of that arrow and became greatly sad,And due to attaining sorrow due to being crowded the monkeys ,Thinking that sorrow would go for a long time went and roamed ,All round the three worlds lighted by the Sun and moon.
9089. The Great person Vibheeshana seeing the power of that arrow ,Breathed deeply due to great fear and with his body covered by sweat,Told Lakshmana “ Oh best among those who are valorous .Oh pure one , Is there a trick to prevent this great weapon?”And seeing the fear of Vibheeshana , the young lion like Lakshmana ,Laughed with sarcasm and all the monkeys wearing the war garland ,Sought protection in the shade of his divine feet.
9090. Seeing with grace all those who were requesting “protection, “ “Protection “,Lakshmana said, “Do not fear as I have given you protection “ and raised his hand ,And further said “I have realized the fear of earth as well as heaven ,And I would never move away from my duty ,” and decided to send ,The arrow of Lord Shiva with five faces and got ready,
9091. After mentally worshipping that golden arrow of Lord Shiva , Lakshamana said.“Please destroy that arrow and please do nothing else “, along with the Arrow of Lord Shiva ,He also added another equally powerful arrow and sent them and they went ,And swallowed all those powerful weapons in almost no time.
9092. Seeing that the devas shouted with joy , the people of earth did likewise,The people of the upper world played their drums , the clouds made great sound,The oceans roared , the mind of those who have read works of art was gladdened,The Vedas roared, the lady who said “victory” roared and the sound raised by all others was huge.
9093. The very able Indrajit had sent the powerful arrow of Lord shiva ,Who completely destroys the earth at deluge and Lakshmana , was capable ,Of receiving it and seeing that Indrajit who was more cruel than the God of death,Was mentally perplexed and the strong monkeys whose legs did not move,Realized the truth that Lakshmana is himself lord Vishnu.
9094. Indrajit thought, “The divine arrow sent by me was destroyed by that Lakshmana ,And thinking about it and thought “getting mentally dejected is a crime to my valour,And I have the capacity to send more and more arrows and that mastery will never fail me.”And later by the power of his hand he sprayed several arrows and those arrows,Went and struck the forehead and strong shoulders of Lakshmana.
9095. That Indrajit then showered hundred crores of arrows on Sugreeva , the son of hot Sun,And other valorous ones who without their hands getting worn out were raining mountains on him,Thinking that the Rakshasa army would not survive that on slaught ,And later got very angry at Vibheeshana the brother of his father who was standing near Lakshmana.
9096. “You who are holding a a big and powerful Dandayudha , just like those who have moved away ,From the rules of the caste , praising those men and like ignorant slaves saluting and following them, And like a drum being played by a small stick repeatedly saying the same thing ,Would be killed by me today and I would roll your head on floor and get that bad name.”
9097. ”Even if he were to get a status that would make the best of Gods who make ,The worlds function fall at his feet due to great fear and get kingship of all the three worlds,The valorous ones who can make their armies never retreat on defeat , would never ,Wish to lead the life of a slave , which would give them only bad name .”
9098. ”As long as you live , all those Rakshasas like the fishes that manage to live,Would fight as long as their root exists and would die along with king Ravana.Oh Sir , Only the town called Lanka would be remaining and only you ,Holding to your life would be there to live in it . For you to become the king ,Which member of the Asura clan would be there?”
9099. ”Does my father ,who in war made Lord Vishnu the father of Lord Brahma ,Who in olden day created all the worlds , get tired and pushed him down ,Who lifted Lord Shiva, the father of Lord Subrahamanya along with ,The Kailasa mountain , rule this world with the help of the strength of these men?”
9100. ”You who would be the leader of all those Brahmin clans whose head,Is Lord Brahma who sits on the cool lotus flower would be saluted by the Devas ,And you as a slave to men would rule the wealth of Ravana ,Where is respectability to you , because that ceased to exist with us.”
9101. ”Who was it who made others tell bad words and they themselves called bad names,And cut the nose of your sister ? You would make your elder brother Ravana ,Who has lustrous weapons along with his relations get defeated ,And make the friends of these agents of death win and would live ,A life of great prosperity ?Is not a life of a poor one much better than that life.”
9102. ”Oh one with victorious shoulders , On that day when Ravana who has picturesque ,Strong shoulders Rolls on the dusty earth after being hit by the arrows of Rama,As his younger brother would you also cry and roll on that dust and fall on his body?Or Are you going to shout with great joy? Are you going to praise and salute that Rama,For taking away the life of your brother? What have you decided to do?”
9103. ”Are these men in spite of their soul becoming separated from their body ,And got it back by medicinal herbs , capable of killing the king of Lanka ?Would you become suitable to enjoy the wealth earned by that Ravana?If I forget that killing you would cause bad name , would you not reach heaven by my arrows?”
9104. Hearing all that was said by Indrajit , that Vibheeshana , after shaking well,His head decorated by flowers , showing a gentle smile said, “Sir ,Sin is cruel and Dharma is always better. Please hear what I have to say.”And he started telling these words.
9105. ”Dharma would not only assist us but help us cross that hell.And I would not take the help of sin and live with inerasable bad name ,Except going away from lies which came in between , I never deserted the truth,And as soon as the Ravana the king of Lanka did a crime , I ceased to be his younger brother.”
9106. ”I have never taken alcohol, I have never told a lie and I have never ,Taken by force anything from others , I I have never even imagined ,The acts of cheating others by illusion and no one has seen me doing a crime.Do not all of you know me well ?Have I done any crime at any time ?Does going away from those who misbehaved with chaste women a crime?”
9107. ”It is a sin to make the wife of lord Vishnu, who is the leader ,Praised by all the three worlds and who is the eldest God of Gods ,And who is greatly chaste , sad and depressed” When I said this ,Lord Ravana with great anger told me to get out ?Would I again enter in to that hell once more?”
9108. ”Let that pleasure which can be sacrificed become only yours ,Who due to cruelty forsook Dharma , who desire only that which they desire,And let bad name and sorrow of hell become ours , who follow Dharma ,Practicing great culture which is as per the good conduct of great people.”
9109. ”After knowing the truth as told by learned ones that “sins can,Never win over Dharma” I came and surrendered to that Rama ,Thinking that “it would suit to greatness of wisdom” and I am not bothered,Whether I get fame or bad names , I get greatness in wisdom or not”,Said that Vibheeshana who had completely forsaken anger .
9110. That Indrajit who is as hot as thunder looked at Vibheeshana and told ,“All the greatness you want to earn would come to an end with one of my arrows,With a crescent tip and where would you proceed from there ?”And chose an arrow which has feathers like Garuda and sent it ,Aiming at the neck of Vibheeshana who was wearing red gold ornaments.
9111. That arrow came like thunder , like fire , like the trident of Lord Shiva ,Who swallowed poison and seeing its speed the Devas started telling,Among themselves that “Vibheeshana would die now itself”,And the generous Lakshmana with an arrow in his hand , cut that arrow.
9112. As soon as the arrow aimed at Vibheeshana was cut off , Indrajit the death,To the God of death , took a spear and sent it against Vibheeshana ,And when it was coming as if the Sun was falling and making ,All the three worlds tremble , That Lakshmana who had a bow ,Built as per science of archery , made that spear in to dust.
9113. Vibheeshana whose anger increased thinking that , “Indrajit tried to kill me,Using a spear”, moving with his feet like wind he reached Indrajit ,And with the Golden Dandayudha in his hand killed the charioteer,Who was having a threaded stick in his hand as well as all horses drawing the chariot.
9114. And that Indrajit who was standing on the chariot sent thousand crores,Arrows and wounded the shoulder of Vibheeshana ,the shoulder of Lakshmana ,The chests of al the monkey warriors and seeing that that a huge flood ,Of blood was running out of them , shouted , making ,,The universe losing its boundaries and lose its stability.
9115. He who shouted thinking that unless he gets a chariot which cannot be destroyed,It would not be possible to fight further , before people who were looking at him,Close and open their eyes, disappeared on the sky , stopping his words,
In the battle field and reached near Ravana.
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About Kavichakravarthy Kamban
Historians place him in the 9th century CE, But surely Kamban belongs to the third great wave of Tamizh literature that started with the Sangam period (dated before the Common Era), followed by the widespread impact of Bhakti literature of the Alwars (vaishnavite saints) & Nayanamars (shaivaite saints). Kamban Authored Ramanaya in Tamil…Known as Kamba Ramayanam..
Kambar has been the milestone for the Tamil scholars that none had reached. He was also known as “Kamba Naatazhvar” at his time. Many Tamil authors from the modern world have written the books on the poet Kamban.
FAQs
Kambar or Kavichakravarthy Kamban (1180–1250) was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Ramavataram, popularly known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of the epic Ramayana.
Valmiki Ramayana and Kamba Ramayanam are two versions of Ramayana written in the Sanskrit and Tamil languages respectively. … Kamba Ramayanam is originally called as Ramavataram. Although Valmiki Ramayana is the original version of the story of Rama, Kamba Ramayana is believed to be based on the work by Valmiki.
The Kamba Ramayanam, is a Tamil epic that was written by the Tamil poet Kambar during the 12th century. Based on Valmiki’s Ramayana (which is in Sanskrit), the story describes the life of King Rama of Ayodhya.
The book is divided into six chapters, called Kandam in Tamil. The Kandams are further divided into 123 sections called Padalam (படலம்) in Tamil. These 123 sections contain approximately 12,000 verses of the epic.