The Battle Fills All Nine Regions Beneath the Gaze of the Gods
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 53
Doha 53 · Movement 1 of 2
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A vast demon warrior appears with blood colored eyes, broad chest and arms, and a body pale as the snowy mountain with a trace of red. Around him, Ravana sends more champions carrying weapons of every kind.
Vanaras answer with mountains, claws, and trees, rushing forward under the cry of victory to Rama. Warrior meets warrior. Fists, feet, and teeth join metal and stone while neither side releases its fierce desire to prevail. Shouts of strike and seize pass through the struggling ranks.
The clamor fills all nine regions. Severed trunks run terribly across the ground while the heavens themselves become a gallery for the scene. Hosts of gods look down, sometimes astonished by the violence and sometimes joyful at the courage moving within Rama's purpose. The field has grown too immense for Lanka alone and now occupies earth, atmosphere, and celestial sight.
The armies collide until all nine regions hear them, and wonder alternates with joy among the watching gods.
Read the passage from the Manas
छतज नयन उर बाहु बिसाला। हिमगिरि निभ तनु कछु एक लाला।। इहाँ दसानन सुभट पठाए। नाना अस्त्र सस्त्र गहि धाए।। भूधर नख बिटपायुध धारी। धाए कपि जय राम पुकारी।। भिरे सकल जोरिहि सन जोरी। इत उत जय इच्छा नहिं थोरी।। मुठिकन्ह लातन्ह दातन्ह काटहिं। कपि जयसील मारि पुनि डाटहिं।। मारु मारु धरु धरु धरु मारू। सीस तोरि गहि भुजा उपारू।। असि रव पूरि रही नव खंडा। धावहिं जहँ तहँ रुंड प्रचंडा।। देखहिं कौतुक नभ सुर बृंदा। कबहुँक बिसमय कबहुँ अनंदा।।
He had six eyes, a broad chest, and mighty arms. His body was like a snow mountain with a reddish hue. Here Ravana sent forth his mighty warriors. They rushed forward wielding various weapons and arms. The monkeys bore mountains, claws, and trees as weapons. They rushed forth shouting 'Jai Shri Rama!' All clashed together, warrior against warrior. On both sides the desire for victory was fierce. With fists, kicks, and teeth they struck and bit. The victorious monkeys slew their foes and then roared triumphantly. Strike, strike! Seize, seize! Seize and strike! Break heads and grab arms to tear them off! Such clamor filled all nine regions. Fierce headless trunks ran here and there. The hosts of gods in heaven watched this spectacle, sometimes with wonder, sometimes with joy.