Chapter CLXXXVI: Section XLIV

Commanded by the lord of Rakshasas, Prahasta's son, the powerful Jamvumali, having large teeth, went out bow in hand. And he wore a red wreath and attire, with a garland hung round his neck, and elegant ear-rings; and he was huge, and terrible, with his eyes whirling,--invincible in encounter. And he impetuously stretched a graceful bow, resembling the bow of Sakra, and roaring like _vajra_ and the thunderbolt.[376] And the entire welkin, and all sides and quarters, were suddenly filled with the mighty sounds of that bow as it was being stretched. And seeing him approaching in a car yoked with asses, Hanuman endowed with vigour both rejoiced and shouted. Thereat, the highly energetic Jamvumali pierced with whetted shafts that mighty monkey, Hanuman, who was seated on an awry plank at the gate serving as a perch for pigeons.[377] He pierced that lord of monkey's face with half-moon (shaped) arrows, his head with one having its head made like a hook and his arms with ten _narachas_.[378] And pierced by the arrows, his coppery face looked beautiful like a blown autumnal red lotus shot at by the solar rays.--And his naturally red countenance being painted with blood, looked lovely like a majestic red lotus in the sky, washed with the honey of the red _acoka_.--Wounded by the shafts, the redoubted monkey grew enraged. And he espied a huge and gigantic crag beside him. Thereat, at once uprooting it, that one endowed with celerity and strength hurled it (at his foe). And the enraged Rakshasa opposed it by ten shafts. Witnessing his action rendered fruitless, the energetic Hanuman of terrific prowess, uprooting a large _sala_, began to whirl it (in the air). Seeing the exceedingly strong monkey whirling the _sala_ tree, the highly powerful Jamvumali dischanged a many shafts. And he severed the _sala_ by means of four shafts, and wounded the monkey in the arm with five, in the chest, with one, and with ten, between the teats. With his body covered all over with shafts, (Hanuman) getting into a furious passion, taking up the same bolt, again began to swing it with rapidity. And that terrific one gifted with exceeding impetuosity, having whirled the bolt with wondrous rapidity, let it light upon Jamvumali's spacious breast. And (anon) there was neither seen there his head, nor bis arms, nor his thighs, nor his bow, nor his car, nor his steeds, nor his arrows at that place. And that mighty car-warrior, Jamvumali, speedily slain, fell down to the earth, like a tree whose trunk hath been crushed. Hearing Jamvumali as well as his exceedingly powerful servants slaughtered, Ravana became transported with anger, and his eyes became reddened in wrath. And on the mighty son of Prahasta having been slain, the lord of the night-rangers, with his reddened eyes rolling in rage, speedily commanded the sons of his counsellors, endowed with vast energy and prowess, (to encounter Hanuman in battle.)

[376] For distinction between the two, vide ante.--T.

[377] This is all that I can make of the commentator's gloss on
_toranavitanka_.--T.

[378] Iron arrows.--T.