Winged Mountains Fly as the Vanara Host Cries Victory to Rama
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 5
Doha 79 · Movement 2 of 3
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Vast, fearsome vanaras and bears surge across the field with the force of Time. Their bodies become a moving horizon of fur, dust, blood, and devotion, and the violence of their charge makes the earth seem too narrow to contain them.
They appear like mountains whose wings have returned, whole ranges flying through the air. They need no forged arsenal. Claws, teeth, boulders, and uprooted trees fill their hands, and the strength of their advance leaves no room for hesitation or doubt.
Their cry is Jaya Rama. With that name sounding from countless mouths, they fall upon Ravana's intoxicated elephants like lion kings entering a herd. The image is immense, yet its center is intimate. Every lifted mountain and every fearless body is gathered into praise. The vanaras do not merely run toward battle. They carry Rama's victory into it as sound before any weapon lands.
Mountains seem to grow wings when the smallest servant runs forward crying Jaya Rama.
Read the passage from the Manas
धाए बिसाल कराल मर्कट भालु काल समान ते। मानहुँ सपच्छ उड़ाहिं भूधर बृंद नाना बान ते।। नख दसन सैल महाद्रुमायुध सबल संक न मानहीं। जय राम रावन मत्त गज मृगराज सुजसु बखानहीं।।
Massive and fearsome monkeys and bears rushed forward, equal to Kala himself in their fury. As if winged mountains were soaring through the sky, launching countless arrows from their bows. With claws and teeth, with rocks and great trees as weapons, powerful and fearless, they knew no hesitation. Shouting 'Jaya Rama!' they advanced upon Ravana's maddened elephants, like lion-kings proclaiming their glory.