Ravan: Proceeding Towards Destruction

The news of Kumbhakarn’s death was more than Ravan could bear.  He fell in swoon for a while and soon got up and started lamenting.  Eight generals of Ravan including Trisira, Athikaya, Mahakaya, Mahaparswa etc. sought permission from Ravan to fight the enemies.  
The battle was so horrible and without precedence.  Many vanars and rakshasas, countless in numbers, were killed.    Chariots were smashed.  War elephants were killed.  Torsos stood-up and danced in the war-field.  Naraantaka, a general of Ravan opposed Angad.  
The young hero with heavy lashes of his fist sent him for salvation.  Devantaka, Mahodara and Trisira hurried up and opposed Angad, who, dauntless, fought fiercely with the trio.  Neela and Hanuman who watched the gallantry dispose of Angad rushed to the site. Hanuman killed Devantaka while Mahodara met his end with Neela.  Hanuman cut off all the three heads of Trisira.  Then came Mahaparswa whom the great Rishabha disposed quickly.  Matha and Unmatha died at the hands of the vanars.  Athikaya, Ravan’s son sped up in chariot drawn by a thousand horses.  Unable to resist his advancement the monkeys ran away to all directions.Lakshman saw the vanars running in panic and came forward to oppose Athikaya.  
But all the deadly missiles that Lakshman shot against him fell in vain.  Lakshman was in confusion.  Right then Vayu, the God of Wind, appeared before him.  He said:“This rakshasa has a breast shield donated by Lord Brahma.  Pierce it and kill him. Good luck.”
Lakshman, the valorous hero, took out his Brahmastra and contemplating his brother darted it towards Athikaya.  The rakshasa general fell dead.                         
Hearing the bad news of Athikaya’s death Ravan’s grief knew no bounds.  Anger, sorrow, tension and helplessness overtook him.  He lamented aloud: “Brothers, sons and close relatives, generals, ministers—all have left me.  What shall I do now, O Lord Shankar…!”Thus did he vent his feelings off.  
Unable to bear the agony of his father, Meghanada came forward and told Ravan:“Father, no more sorrows and anxiety as and when I stand here ready to suppress your enemies.  Permit me to lead the war and return butchering the enemies.”
Ravan embraced his son and said:“Go.  May luck and victory be yours!  I know there is nothing impossible to you, my son.  You have defeated Indra, the king of the gods in single combat. Bring such great winning over the enemies.”With his father’s blessings, Meghanada straight away went to Nikumbhila, the place of worship at the advice of their guru.  He did puja and conducted yajna unto Lord Shiva and pleased him.   After successful completion of the rituals, and having possessed the art of vanishing from the sight and reappearing elsewhere with his occult art, Meghanada with a huge force rushed to the battle field.  The rakshasas and the vanars attacked each other with frenzy.  
The monkeys fought with rocks, stones and tree-trunks while their opponents used war weapons.  Meghanada shot missiles in relentless continuity with which the entire sky became invisible.  
The vanar force also retaliated.  Horses and forces of Meghanada met with death on the vanar’s attack.  Indrajit took his advantage of black magic and vanished in the sky.  He then sent shafts from all parts of the sky and the vanars could not identify his locations.  Hit by his shafts the vanar force fell dead one after the other.  All the veterans from the monkey force were thus felled. soon after that Meghanada attached Sri Ram and Lakshman. Son of Ravan, emerging victorious over the irrepressible enemy, went to his father with great glee.                         
KK Shanmukhan ( To be concluded )