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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 As we saw earlier, Hanuman diverted the attention of Ravana for a while and engaged him in exchange of blows.
‘poru kaith thalam iru paththu uLa.’ ‘I am endowed with might arms twenty
‘pugazhum peridhu uLadhaal’ and my fame for vanquishing my contender is well established.’
‘varu kaith thala madha vem kari vali kettena varuvaai!’ ‘Thou in whose presence an elephant would appear to be a weakling
‘iru kaiththalm udyaai’ have (nonetheless) but two hands.’
‘edhir ivai sotranai.’ ‘And you dared to challenge me for an exchange of blows! Even the Yama would hesitate to come before me and you had the temerity to stand before me and challenge me too! Here, here is my chest… come on pound me now!’
So saying Ravana opened his chest and Hanuman threw a punch that made the pieces of the tusks of the guardian elephants that broke when Ravana engaged them in combat and remained embedded in his body for a long number of years, to slip out from his back. Ravana was shaken out of his senses. But when it was the turn of Hanuman to receive a blow from Ravana, he experienced the same feeling that he had caused. Ravana was no mean a foe.
By this time, Lakshmana who has had sufficient time was ready and resumed his attack on Ravana who was happily destroying the Vanara forces. Ravana was simply flabbergasted by the speed and fury with which Lakshmana directed his arrows and he could not but express his amazement at his younger foe from whom he did not expect such force at all.
‘nandru
pOr,’ said Ravana to Lakshmana. ‘Good is your battle. ’nandru vali.’
Your strength is impressive. ‘nandru pOr aaL vali.’ Good is the way in which you handle this battle.
‘nandru vIram.’ Good is your bravery.
‘nandru nOkkam.’ The accuracy of your aiming is good indeed.
‘kaik kadumayum nandru.’ Good is the swiftness with which your hands shower the arrows.
‘nandru kalviyum.’ Your training in archery is equally good.
‘nandru nin thiNmayum nalanum.’ And your physical might and manliness are very well indeed!
'endru kaim mariththu iraavaNan,’ so saying Ravana raised his arm and pointing to Lakshmana said,
‘nee oruvan.’ You are matchless.
However you are not that alone. There are three others - and only three - with whom you can be thought of as an equal.
‘kaanin andru igal karan padai paduththa ak kariyOn thaanum,’
Rama who killed Kara and his vast army ‘indhiran thannai oru thanu valam thannal vaanil vendra en madhalayum,’
my son Indrajit who by his skill of archery won Indra, the lord of celestials and
‘varisilai pidiththa yaanum,’ I who hold this massive banded bow. None other can even be compared with you.
 So saying, Ravana realised that it is not possible to overpower Lakshmana with the bow and arrows. He quickly decided to use the lance that he had received from Brahma and threw it on Lakshmana.
‘eRindha kaala vEl,’ the lance hurled by Ravana,
‘eydha ambu yaavayum eriththu pOi uga,’ burnt all the arrows shot by Lakshmana (to stop it) and turned them to pieces
‘thee uga visayinin pongi,’ it seethed forwards spitting fire
‘seRindja tharavan maarbidach chendradhu,’ found its target in the garlanded breast of Lakshmana. And Lakshmana fell down unconscious.
“Lakshmana (a younger half-brother of Bharata) struck the javelin, even as it came flying (towards him) with weapons and flame-like shafts. Nevertheless that javelin entered the broad chest of the aforesaid son of Dasaratha. Grievously hurt by the javelin, that well-known, powerful and pre-eminent hero among the Raghus began to burn (with pain) as he lay on the ground. Approaching him all of a sudden while he was losing his consciousness, the king (of ogres) caught him violently in his arms.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, Canto LIX, Sloka 109, 110)
More follows...
Published on 11th April 2002
Hari
Krishnan
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