Scene 52
Part 2: The Ramayan of Valmiki · Act 6: Book 6
Dhumraksha's Death
Scene 52Visible text1 paragraph
The Vanars saw the giant foe Pour from the gate in gallant show, Rejoiced with warriors' fierce delight And shouted, longing for the fight. Near came the hosts and nearer yet: Dire was the tumult as they met, As, serried line to line opposed, The Vanars and the giants closed. Fierce on the foe the Vanars rushed, And, wielding trees, the foremost crushed; But, feathered from the heron's wing, With eager flight from sounding string, Against them shot with surest aim A ceaseless storm of arrows came: And, pierced in head and chest and side, Full many a Vanar fell and died. They perished slain in fierce attacks With sword and pike and battle-axe; But myriads following undismayed Their valour in the fight displayed. Unnumbered Vanars rent and torn With shaft and spear to earth were borne. But crushed by branchy trees and blocks Of jagged stone and shivered rocks Which the wild Vanars wielded well The bravest of the giants fell. Their trampled banners strewed the fields, And broken swords and spears and shields; And, crushed by blows which none might stay, Cars, elephants, and riders lay. Dhumraksha turned his furious eye And saw his routed legions fly. Still dauntless, with terrific blows, He struck and slew his foremost foes. At every blow, at every thrust, He laid a Vanar in the dust. So fell they neath the sword and lance In battle's wild Gandharva dance, Where clang of bow and clash of sword Did duty for the silvery chord, And hoofs that rang and steeds that neighed Loud concert for the dancers made. So fiercely from Dhumraksha's bow His arrows rained in ceaseless flow, The Vanar legions turned and fled To all the winds discomfited. Hanuman saw the Vanars fly; He heaved a mighty rock on high. His keen eyes flashed with wrathful fire, And, rapid as the Wind his sire, Strong as the rushing tempests are, He hurled it at the advancing car. Swift through the air the missile sang: The giant from the chariot sprang, Ere crushed by that terrific blow Lay pole and wheel and flag and bow. Hanuman's eyes with fury blazed: A mountain's rocky peak he raised, Poised it on high in act to throw, And rushed upon his giant foe. Dhumraksha saw: he raised his mace And smote Hanuman on the face, Who maddened by the wound's keen pang Again upon his foeman sprang; And on the giant's head the rock Descended with resistless shock. Crushed was each limb: a shapeless mass He lay upon the blood-stained grass.