Mountain Bearing Vanaras Close Around Ravana From Every Side
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 25
Doha 100 · Movement 2 of 3
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Fierce vanaras and terrible bears charge with mountains lifted in their hands. The shapes of the earth move above them as weapons, and their anger breaks against the demon host in blow after blow.
Ravana's warriors cannot hold. They turn and flee while Rama's companions scatter the mighty army that had accompanied the king back onto the field.
Then the vanaras close around Ravana himself. From all four directions hands strike like sudden thunder and claws tear into his body. The king who returned at dawn to accuse his charioteer of cowardice now stands surrounded by the simple forest beings he despised. Mountains have opened the formation, but it is the intimate assault of palm and nail that leaves the armored sovereign distressed at its center.
The army parts beneath mountains, and Ravana is left inside a tightening circle of claws and fearless hands.
Read the passage from the Manas
धाए जो मर्कट बिकट भालु कराल कर भूधर धरा। अति कोप करहिं प्रहार मारत भजि चले रजनीचरा।। बिचलाइ दल बलवंत कीसन्ह घेरि पुनि रावनु लियो। चहुँ दिसि चपेटन्हि मारि नखन्हि बिदारि तनु ब्याकुल कियो।।
The fierce monkeys and terrible bears charged forth, holding mountains in their hands. With great fury they struck blows, and the demons fled in defeat. Scattering the mighty army, the powerful monkeys surrounded Ravana once again. Striking him with slaps from all four directions and tearing his body with their claws, they made him distressed.