Nala and Nila Dance Across Ravana's Heads Before Jambavan Enters
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 98
Doha 98 · Movement 1 of 3
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The vanaras rage at the sight of Ravana's multiplying heads and arms. Angada, Hanuman, Nala, Nila, Sugriva, Dvivida, bears, and monkeys charge with trees and mountains. Ravana catches their missiles and throws them back. Claws tear his body while his kicks send other warriors fleeing.
Nala and Nila climb upon his heads and rip at the foreheads with their nails. Ravana spreads twenty arms to catch them, but they cross his hands like bees wandering through a lotus forest. At last he seizes both, hurls them down, and bends their arms. Ten bows then fill the field with arrows, leaving Hanuman and the champions unconscious as evening comes.
Jambavan sees Rama's companions fallen and enters with bears bearing mountains and trees. Ravana catches warriors by their feet and smashes them upon the earth. The bear king beholds the ruin of his ranks, closes through the violence, and plants a furious kick in the center of Ravana's chest.
As evening falls over the unconscious vanaras, ancient Jambavan enters the shattered field and drives his foot into Ravana's heart.
Read the passage from the Manas
सिर भुज बाढ़ि देखि रिपु केरी। भालु कपिन्ह रिस भई घनेरी।। मरत न मूढ़ कटेउ भुज सीसा। धाए कोपि भालु भट कीसा।। बालितनय मारुति नल नीला। बानरराज दुबिद बलसीला।। बिटप महीधर करहिं प्रहारा। सोइ गिरि तरु गहि कपिन्ह सो मारा।। एक नखन्हि रिपु बपुष बिदारी। भअगि चलहिं एक लातन्ह मारी।। तब नल नील सिरन्हि चढ़ि गयऊ। नखन्हि लिलार बिदारत भयऊ।। रुधिर देखि बिषाद उर भारी। तिन्हहि धरन कहुँ भुजा पसारी।। गहे न जाहिं करन्हि पर फिरहीं। जनु जुग मधुप कमल बन चरहीं।। कोपि कूदि द्वौ धरेसि बहोरी। महि पटकत भजे भुजा मरोरी।। पुनि सकोप दस धनु कर लीन्हे। सरन्हि मारि घायल कपि कीन्हे।। हनुमदादि मुरुछित करि बंदर। पाइ प्रदोष हरष दसकंधर।। मुरुछित देखि सकल कपि बीरा। जामवंत धायउ रनधीरा।। संग भालु भूधर तरु धारी। मारन लगे पचारि पचारी।। भयउ क्रुद्ध रावन बलवाना। गहि पद महि पटकइ भट नाना।। देखि भालुपति निज दल घाता। कोपि माझ उर मारेसि लाता।।
Seeing the enemy's heads and arms multiply, the bears and monkeys grew exceedingly enraged. The fool would not die even when his arms and heads were cut off. The angry bears and monkey warriors charged forward. Angada, Hanuman, Nala, Nila, the monkey king Sugriva, and the mighty Dvivida all joined the fray. They struck with trees and mountains as weapons. The demon seized those very hills and trees and hurled them back at the monkeys. Some monkeys tore the enemy's body with their claws; others fled after being struck by his kicks. Then Nala and Nila climbed upon his heads and began tearing his foreheads with their nails. Seeing the blood flow, great anguish filled his heart. He stretched out his arms to seize them. But they could not be caught and kept darting across his hands, like bees in the cosmic age wandering through a lotus grove. Enraged, he leaped and caught both of them, then dashed them to the ground, twisting their arms. Then in fury he took up ten bows and wounded the monkeys with a storm of arrows. Making Hanuman and the other monkeys unconscious, the ten-headed one rejoiced as evening fell. Seeing all the monkey heroes unconscious, the brave warrior Jambavan charged forward. Accompanied by bears carrying mountains and trees, they began striking with great force, blow upon blow. The mighty Ravana grew furious and hurled warriors to the ground by seizing their feet. Seeing the destruction of his own forces, the bear-king Jambavan angrily struck Ravana in the center of his chest with a powerful kick.