Dark Battlements and Living Mountains Collide Above Lanka
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 41
Doha 41 · Movement 1 of 3
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Demon ranks upon the golden battlements resemble dark clouds resting on the peaks of Mount Meru. Drums, trumpets, horns, and clarions answer one another until seasoned warriors burn for combat and the hearts of the fearful split beneath the sound.
From the walls they see immense formations of bears and monkeys charging without regard for difficult ground. The forest warriors break mountains and make their own paths. Teeth gnash on both sides. Millions roar, bite their lips, and throw threats across the narrowing distance.
Ravana's name rises from the fortress, Rama's from the plain, and victory cries meet as battle joins. Demons cast masses of mountain peaks down from the heights. The vanaras leap into their descent, catch the enormous fragments, turn in the air, and send them back. Earth and sky exchange mountains while two names contend above the gates.
Between the cries of Ravana and Rama, mountains fall, are caught, and fly back toward the hands that hurled them.
Read the passage from the Manas
कोट कँगूरन्हि सोहहिं कैसे। मेरु के सृंगनि जनु घन बैसे।। बाजहिं ढोल निसान जुझाऊ। सुनि धुनि होइ भटन्हि मन चाऊ।। बाजहिं भेरि नफीरि अपारा। सुनि कादर उर जाहिं दरारा।। देखिन्ह जाइ कपिन्ह के ठट्टा। अति बिसाल तनु भालु सुभट्टा।। धावहिं गनहिं न अवघट घाटा। पर्बत फोरि करहिं गहि बाटा।। कटकटाहिं कोटिन्ह भट गर्जहिं। दसन ओठ काटहिं अति तर्जहिं।। उत रावन इत राम दोहाई। जयति जयति जय परी लराई।। निसिचर सिखर समूह ढहावहिं। कूदि धरहिं कपि फेरि चलावहिं।।
How splendid the demons looked upon the battlements, like dark clouds resting upon the peaks of Mount Meru. War drums and battle trumpets sound forth; hearing their thunder, the warriors' hearts fill with zeal. Countless war horns and clarions blare; hearing them, the hearts of cowards are torn with fear. The demons beheld the formations of the monkeys and bears, warriors of enormous stature. They charge forward heedless of rough terrain, breaking through mountains and carving their own paths. Millions of warriors gnash their teeth and roar, biting their lips and threatening fiercely. From one side resounds the cry of 'Ravana!' and from the other 'Rama!' Victory chants arise as battle is joined. The demons hurl down mountain peaks in masses; the monkeys leap up, catch them, and fling them right back.