Ghosts, Fire, and False Hanumans Vanish Before Rama's Single Arrow
Lanka Kanda, Chhand 2
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Ravana's deception releases vetalas, ghosts, pishachas, and yoginis bearing bows, swords, human skulls, and fresh blood. They dance, sing, and cry Seize and kill while rushing open mouthed upon the vanaras. Fire appears wherever the companions flee, then sand rains upon monkeys and bears until Lakshmana, Sugriva, and the heroes fall unconscious crying for Rama.
The illusion changes again. Multitudes of false Hanumans rise with stones in their hands and surround Rama in every direction, tails lifted, teeth clenched, shouting that he must not escape. The dark body of the king of Kosala shines within the ring like a tall tamala tree encircled by many rainbows.
The gods feel joy and grief at once and cry victory. Rama grows wrathful and ends the whole maya with one arrow in a blink. Bears and vanaras rise rejoicing, seize trees and mountains, and return. Rama's shafts cut Ravana's arms and heads again. Even Shesha, Saraswati, Veda, and poets could sing this war for ages without reaching its end.
A universe of terror gathers around Rama, and one arrow restores the field before praise can measure what has happened.
Read the passage from the Manas
जब कीन्ह तेहिं पाषंड। भए प्रगट जंतु प्रचंड।। बेताल भूत पिसाच। कर धरें धनु नाराच।।1।। जोगिनि गहें करबाल। एक हाथ मनुज कपाल।। करि सद्य सोनित पान। नाचहिं करहिं बहु गान।।2।। धरु मारु बोलहिं घोर। रहि पूरि धुनि चहुँ ओर।। मुख बाइ धावहिं खान। तब लगे कीस परान।।3।। जहँ जाहिं मर्कट भागि। तहँ बरत देखहिं आगि।। भए बिकल बानर भालु। पुनि लाग बरषै बालु।।4।। जहँ तहँ थकित करि कीस। गर्जेउ बहुरि दससीस।। लछिमन कपीस समेत। भए सकल बीर अचेत।।5।। हा राम हा रघुनाथ। कहि सुभट मीजहिं हाथ।। एहि बिधि सकल बल तोरि। तेहिं कीन्ह कपट बहोरि।।6।। प्रगटेसि बिपुल हनुमान। धाए गहे पाषान।। तिन्ह रामु घेरे जाइ। चहुँ दिसि बरूथ बनाइ।।7।। मारहु धरहु जनि जाइ। कटकटहिं पूँछ उठाइ।। दहँ दिसि लँगूर बिराज। तेहिं मध्य कोसलराज।।8।। तेहिं मध्य कोसलराज सुंदर स्याम तन सोभा लही। जनु इंद्रधनुष अनेक की बर बारि तुंग तमालही।। प्रभु देखि हरष बिषाद उर सुर बदत जय जय जय करी। रघुबीर एकहि तीर कोपि निमेष महुँ माया हरी।।1।। माया बिगत कपि भालु हरषे बिटप गिरि गहि सब फिरे। सर निकर छाड़े राम रावन बाहु सिर पुनि महि गिरे।। श्रीराम रावन समर चरित अनेक कल्प जो गावहीं। सत सेष सारद निगम कबि तेउ तदपि पार न पावहीं।।2।।
When he created that deception, fierce and terrible creatures appeared; Goblins, ghosts, and demons holding bows and arrows. Sorceresses grasped swords in one hand and human skulls in the other. Drinking fresh blood immediately, they danced and sang many songs. 'Seize! Kill!' they cried horribly, their terrible sound filling all directions. With mouths agape they rushed to devour; then the monkeys' lives were in danger. Wherever the monkeys fled, there they saw fire blazing. The monkeys and bears became distressed, then sand began to rain down. Here and there the monkeys grew weary, then the ten-headed one roared again. Lakshmana, along with the monkey-king, and all the warriors became unconscious. 'O Rama! O Lord of Raghus!' crying thus, the heroes wrung their hands. Having broken all their strength in this way, he;