Lanka Kaanda
188 - Fierce fighting; Ravana's swoon
Chaupais
Description
The bears and monkeys grew furious when they saw the repeated renewal of Ravana's heads and arms. "This fool would not die even though his arms and heads are cut off!" So saying, the bear and monkey warriors darted towards him in great fury. Vali's son (Angada), the son of the wind-god, Nala, Nila, Sugriva (the king of the monkeys) and Dwivida, all mighty heroes, hurled trees and rocks on him. Ravana, however, caught them and threw the same back upon the monkeys. Some of the monkeys tore the enemy's body with their claws, while others would kick him and run away. Then Nala and Nila climbed up his heads and set to tearing his foreheads with their claws. When he saw blood coming, he felt much troubled at heart and moved up his arms to catch hold of the monkeys. But they were not to be caught and leapt about from one hand to another like a pair of bees hovering over a bed of lotuses. At last with a furious bound he clutched them both; but before he could dash them to the ground, they twisted his arms and ran away. Again in his fury he took ten bows in his hands and with his arrows struck and wounded the monkeys. Having rendered Hanuman and other monkey chiefs senseless he rejoiced to see the approach of night. Seeing all the monkey heroes in a swoon the valiant Jambavan rushed forward with a host of bears carrying rocks and trees, which they hurled upon him, challenging him again and again. This enraged the mighty Ravana, who seized a number of the warriors by the foot and began dashing them to the ground. Jambavan (the king of the bears) flew into a rage when he saw the havoc wrought on his host, and gave Ravana a kick on the breast.