Twilight Strengthens the Demons and Illusion Covers the Field
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 46
Doha 46 · Movement 1 of 2
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Hanuman and Angada bow at Rama's lotus feet. Raghupati looks upon the brave pair with pleasure, and one gracious glance removes every trace of fatigue and fills them with supreme joy. Seeing their leaders return, bears and monkeys draw back from the field.
Twilight gives new strength to the demons. Crying the name of the ten headed king, they rush out, and the vanaras turn again to meet them. Dark demon champions and forest warriors of many colors collide like dense autumn clouds driven against one another by powerful winds.
When the demon army begins to waver, Anipa, Akampana, and Atikaya release their illusion. In an instant all directions vanish beneath profound darkness. Blood, stones, and ash rain over the unseen field. Equal armies and visible valor disappear inside a night manufactured by fear, and every warrior must fight the loss of sight before he can find the enemy.
Rama's glance ends one weariness, then twilight opens and a false night swallows the armies whole.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रभु पद कमल सीस तिन्ह नाए। देखि सुभट रघुपति मन भाए।। राम कृपा करि जुगल निहारे। भए बिगतश्रम परम सुखारे।। गए जानि अंगद हनुमाना। फिरे भालु मर्कट भट नाना।। जातुधान प्रदोष बल पाई। धाए करि दससीस दोहाई।। निसिचर अनी देखि कपि फिरे। जहँ तहँ कटकटाइ भट भिरे।। द्वौ दल प्रबल पचारि पचारी। लरत सुभट नहिं मानहिं हारी।। महाबीर निसिचर सब कारे। नाना बरन बलीमुख भारे।। सबल जुगल दल समबल जोधा। कौतुक करत लरत करि क्रोधा।। प्राबिट सरद पयोद घनेरे। लरत मनहुँ मारुत के प्रेरे।। अनिप अकंपन अरु अतिकाया। बिचलत सेन कीन्हि इन्ह माया।। भयउ निमिष महँ अति अँधियारा। बृष्टि होइ रुधिरोपल छारा।।
They bowed their heads at the Lord's lotus feet. Seeing these brave warriors, Raghupati was pleased in His heart. Rama graciously gazed upon them both; they became free from all fatigue, filled with the highest joy. Knowing that Angada and Hanuman had returned, the many bears and monkey warriors also came back. The demons, gaining strength at the hour of twilight, rushed forth invoking the name of the ten-headed Ravana. Seeing the demon army advance, the monkeys turned to face them. Warriors clashed here and there with fierce battle cries. Both mighty armies challenged one another again and again. The brave warriors fought without conceding defeat. All the great demon heroes were dark of hue; the mighty vanaras came in many colors and forms. Both armies were powerful, their warriors evenly matched. They fought in furious sport, making battle a spectacle. Like dense autumn clouds driven by the wind, they clashed with tremendous force. The demon generals Anipa, Akampana, and Atikaya, seeing the army falter, cast their dark illusions. In an instant, utter darkness covered everything. A rain of blood, stones, and ashes began to fall.