Ravana's Last Host Darkens the Sun While Rama's Name Rises Before It
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 79
Doha 79 · Movement 1 of 3
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
The gates of Lanka pour forth a boundless fourfold army. Chariots and vehicles stream beneath flags of many colors, while herds of maddened elephants roll forward like monsoon clouds driven by a storm wind. Warriors renowned for valor and skilled in illusion fill the ranks until the whole host resembles a fierce spring assembled for war.
Its movement shakes the quarters, troubles the ocean, and makes mountains tremble. Dust climbs high enough to hide the sun. Even the wind seems exhausted, and the burdened earth grows restless beneath the march. Drums, horns, trumpets, and shawms break over the field like clouds thundering at dissolution, while the martial Maru melody delights the warriors and every champion roars out his own strength.
Ravana commands them to crush the companies of bears and vanaras. He boasts that he himself will kill the two royal brothers and presses the army toward the front. News reaches Rama's companions. They do not answer by proclaiming their own greatness. They rush forward crying for Raghuvira, and the Lord's name rises against the noise of an empire moving beneath a hidden sun.
Ravana advances behind a world of weapons, while the vanaras advance within the single name of Raghuvira.
Read the passage from the Manas
चलेउ निसाचर कटकु अपारा। चतुरंगिनी अनी बहु धारा।। बिबिध भाँति बाहन रथ जाना। बिपुल बरन पताक ध्वज नाना।। चले मत्त गज जूथ घनेरे। प्राबिट जलद मरुत जनु प्रेरे।। बरन बरद बिरदैत निकाया। समर सूर जानहिं बहु माया।। अति बिचित्र बाहिनी बिराजी। बीर बसंत सेन जनु साजी।। चलत कटक दिगसिधुंर डगहीं। छुभित पयोधि कुधर डगमगहीं।। उठी रेनु रबि गयउ छपाई। मरुत थकित बसुधा अकुलाई।। पनव निसान घोर रव बाजहिं। प्रलय समय के घन जनु गाजहिं।। भेरि नफीरि बाज सहनाई। मारू राग सुभट सुखदाई।। केहरि नाद बीर सब करहीं। निज निज बल पौरुष उच्चरहीं।। कहइ दसानन सुनहु सुभट्टा। मर्दहु भालु कपिन्ह के ठट्टा।। हौं मारिहउँ भूप द्वौ भाई। अस कहि सन्मुख फौज रेंगाई।। यह सुधि सकल कपिन्ह जब पाई। धाए करि रघुबीर दोहाई।।
The boundless army of nishacharas set forth, a mighty chaturangini sena with many divisions. Various types of vehicles and chariots moved forward, bearing countless colourful banners and flags. Dense herds of maddened elephants marched, like rain-clouds driven by the wind. Renowned warriors skilled in battle and knowing many arts of maya advanced in their ranks. The most wondrous army shone resplendent, as if Vira Vasanta (heroic Spring) had assembled his own forces. As the host marched, the very directions trembled; the oceans churned and the mountains swayed. Dust arose and hid the sun from sight; the wind grew weary and the earth shuddered. Drums and war-horns sounded with terrible roars, like the thundering clouds at the time of pralaya. Kettledrums, trumpets and clarions played the Maru Raga, that martial melody dear to warriors. All the heroes roared like lions, proclaiming their own strength and valour. Dashanana cried, 'Listen, O warriors! Crush the multitudes of bears and monkeys!' He declared, 'I shall slay both royal brothers!' Saying this, he drove his forces forward. When all the monkeys received this news, they charged forth invoking Raghuvira's name.