Chapter XIX: Section XX

Then the grim Surpanakha, coming to Raghava's asylum pointed out to the Rakshasas those brothers in company with Sita. And they saw the mighty Rama seated in the cottage in company with Sita, and ministered unto by Lakshmana. And seeing her, as well as the Rakshasas who had come, Rama remarked unto his brother, Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, "O Sumitra's son, do thou for a while guard Sita. I shall slay these that have come to this asylum here." Hearing these words of Rama versed in the knowledge of self, Lakshmana honored his speech by saying, "So be it." And the righteous Raghava strung his mighty bow decked with gold; and addressed the Rakshasas, saying, "We that have entered into this untractable forest of Dandaka in company with Sita are the sons of Dacaratha, the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. Why do you intend to do injury unto us. Subsisting on fruits and roots, having our senses under control, carrying on asceticism and leading a Brahmacharya life, we are passing our days in the forest of Dandaka. It is to destroy you, wicked, and troublesome that I equipped with the bow have come here at the desire of the saints. Stay there content you should not move further. If you have a care for your lives, desist, ye rangers of the night." Hearing those words of his, those fourteen grim Rakshasas bearing darts in their hands, exceedingly enraged, with their eyes reddened, breathing high spirits, harshly said unto the sweet-speeched Rama, having his eyes reddened, whose prowess they had not seen before, "Having excited there our lord, the high-souled Khara, it is thou that shalt lose thy life no later than this day, being slain by us in battle. What power hast thou, being one, to stay before us many, in the field,--what shall I say of thy coping with us in conflict? In consequence of the _parighas_, darts, and _pathifas_ discharged by our arms, thou wilt surely lose thy life, along with thy prowess, and this bow which thou pressest with thy hand." Having said this in wrath, those fourteen Rakshas uplifting their weapons and daggers rushed towards Rama and discharged darts at the invincible Raghava. Thereupon Kakutstha by means of shafts decked with gold, cut off those fourteen darts of theirs. Seeing this, that exceedingly energetic one, waxing highly enraged, took out fourteen _narachas_, whetted on stone, resembling the sun. And even as Satakratu hurls the thunderbolt, Raghava drawing his bow and taking his aim at the Rakshasas, let go those shafts. And those Rakshasas, their breasts pierced with vehemence, and themselves bathed in blood, fell down to the earth, like snakes dropping down from an ant hill. And with their breasts pierced, they, dripping with blood, deformed and deprived of their lives, lay on the ground like trees whose roots have been severed. Seeing them fallen on the ground the Rakshasi, beyond herself in wrath, approaching Khara, with her blood a little dried up, again in distressful guise threw herself on the earth, like a plant exuding gum. And in presence of her brother, she set up a mighty roar; and then her face grown pallid, she dropped tears, emitting cries. Seeing those Rakshasas slain in battle, Surpanakha again hastened (to her brother), and the sister of Khara, related detail the slaughter of those Rakshasas.