Chapter XXV: Section XXVI

Finding his own forces slaughtered, the mighty-armed Dushana speedily ordered five thousand Rakshasas, gifted with tremendous velocity, difficult of being approached, who never turned from the field. And from all sides they incessantly showered darts and _patticas_, and scimitars, stones, and trees, and shafts. Thereupon by means of shafts the righteous Raghava resisted that mighty destructive shower of trees and stones. Resisting that shower, Rama with his eyes staring, and resembling a bull, flew into a great rage, for the purpose of slaying the whole body of Rakshasas. Then influenced by wrath, and flaming in energy he on all sides covered the army along with Dushana with arrows. Then the general, Dushana, destroyer of enemies, getting wroth, opposed Raghava with arrows resembling thunderbolts. Then heroic Rama highly angered, severed his (Dushana's) mighty bow with shafts sharp as razors, and slew his four horses by means of as many shafts. And having slain the steeds, he (Rama) cut off the head of the charioteer by means of a crescent-shaped weapon, and pierced the (Rakshasa Dushna) in the breast with a brace of shafts. His bow cut off, his steeds together with the charioteer slain, and himself deprived of his car, he (Dushana) took a _parigha_ resembling a mountain peak, able to make one's down stand on end plated with gold, capable of afflicting celestial hosts, studded with sharp iron _sankus_, and graced with the fat of foes;--of the touch of a thunderbolt, able to pierce the persons of enemies.[39] And takng up in that encounter the _parigha_ resembling a mighty snake, that ranger of the night of cruel deeds Dushana, rushed towards Rama. And as Dushana was rushing forward, Raghava by means of a couple of shafts cut off his two arms with the ornaments. And the huge _parigha_ escaping from (Dushana's grasp) fell forward on the field like the banner of Sakra. And like a mighty elephant whose husks have fallen off, Dushana, on his arms having been severed, fell down to the earth. Seeing Dushana down on the ground, and slain in battle, all creatures, saying, "well done!" "well done!" paid homage unto Kakutstha. In the meantime, three generals, getting wroth, being entrapped in the noose of death, rushed against Rama in a body--viz; Mahakapala, Sthulakshya, and the mighty Pramathi the Rakshasa, Mahakapala, upraising a large dart, and Sthulakshya, taking a _pathica_, and Pramathi, an axe. And as soon as Raghava beheld them advance, he resisted them by means of sharp and keen-edged shafts, even as one receives guests that have come. And Raghu's son split Mahakapala's head,--afflicted Pramathi with countless shafts, and lodged the eyes of Sthulakshya with sharp shafts. And they fell down to the earth like mighty trees of many boughs. Thereat instantly inflamed with wrath, Rama by means of five thousand shafts, sent as many thousands of Dushana's followers to Yama's abode. Hearing that Dushana had been slain, Khara, waxing wroth, commanded his mighty generals, saying, "Fighting with that vile man, Rama, along with his mighty forces Dushana hath been slain in battle, together with his followers. Let all the Rakshasas slay him with weapons of various shapes." Having said this in wrath, Khara darted towards Rama. And discharging choice shafts, Syenagami Prithugriva, Jajnasatru, Vihangama, Durjaya, Paraviraksha, Parusha, Kalakarmuka, Hemamali, Mahamali, Sarpasya, and Rudhiracana,--these twelve generals endeued with mighty prowess accompanied with their forces, proceeded vehemently against Rama, discharging excellent shafts. Threat with shafts resembling fire, and decked with diamonds and with gold, (Rama) possessed of energy destroyed the rest of his (Khara's) forces. And as the thunderbolt slayeth the mighty, Asuras, those shafts studded with gold, and like onto smoking fire, slew those Rakshasas. And in in the field Rama slew an hundred Rakshasa with an hundred Karnis, and a thousand (again) with a thousand. And, their armour and ornaments severed, and their bows broken in shivers, those rangers of the night fell down on the earth, bathed in blood. And as a spacious dais is covered with Kuca, the entire field was scattered with the Rakshasas fallen in battle with hair dishevelled, and covered with blood. And at that time that fearful forest, with the Rakshasas slaughtered, and with its clay mired with flesh and blood, resembled hell itself. Fourteen thousand Rakshasas of dreadful deeds were slain by Rama single, a human being, fighting, (moreover) on foot. And the remnant of his (Khara's) forces were that mighty car-warrior, Khara himself, and the Rakshasa, Tricira; and (on the other side) was that destroyer of foes--Rama. The rest of the Rakshasas, gifted with great prowess, terrible and difficult of being withstood, were all slain in battle by The dear brother of Lakshmana. Then seeing that dreadful army destroyed in terrible conflict by the mighty Rama, Khara ascending a great car, advanced before Rama, like Indra with the upraised thunderbolt.

[39] The text may also mean--_able to rend the cities of foes.--T._