Tales from the Hindu Dramatists | Page 9

words are sufficient.
(Two promises are implied--first contraction of friendship and secondly
bestowal of the Kingdom of Lanka.)
Rama, learning from the devotee that Vibhishana is with Sugriva,
Hanuman, and other monkey chiefs at Rishyamuka, and that the
monkeys have picked up Sita's ornaments and upper garments in the
forest, determines to go to them. Kabandha then appears, to thank
Rama for killing him, being thereby liberated from a curse and restored
to a divine condition.
They then set off to Rishyamuka, the residence of Bali, watered by the
Pampa. In the way Rama performs a miracle by kicking away the
skeleton of a giant.
When the brothers arrive at the mountain, Bali appears like a cloud
upon its peak and, being instigated by his friend Malyavan, resolves to

oppose Rama. The heroes meet and, after exchange of civilities, go to
the conflict.
The noise brings Vibhishana, Sugriva, and all the monkey chiefs to the
place. Bali is overthrown and mortally wounded. He recommends the
Monkeys to choose Sugriva and his own son Angada for their joint
sovereigns, and mediates an alliance between Rama and them, as well
as with Vibhishana. Rama and Sugriva pledge themselves to eternal
friendship, over the sacrificial fire in Matanga's hermitage which stood
close by. Bali then repeats his request to the monkey chiefs, as they
were attached to him, to acknowledge Sugriva and Angada as their
joint leaders, and to follow them in aid of Rama against Ravana in the
ensuing contest: he then dies.
Malyavan laments over these miscarriages. Trijata, a Rakshasi, adds to
his despondency by news of the mischief inflicted by Hanumana, who
has burnt the town of Lanka and slain a son of Ravana. He goes off to
set guards, and gather news by means of spies.
Ravana meditates on his love. His queen Mahodhari comes to bring
him tidings of Rama's approach, but he only laughs at her. She tells him
of the bridge made by Rama: he replies, if all the mountains of the
earth were cast into the ocean, they would not furnish footing to cross it.
His incredulity is terminated by a general alarm, and the appearance of
Prahasta, his general, to announce that Lanka is invested. Angada
comes as envoy from Rama, to command Ravana to restore Sita and
prostrate himself and his family at the feet of Lakshmana. Ravana,
enraged, orders some contumely or punishment to be inflicted upon
him. He orders him to be shaved. Angada puffs his hair out with rage.
The monkey tells Ravana, if he were not an ambassador, he would tear
off his ten heads, and he then springs away; the tumult increases, and
Ravana goes forth to the combat. Indra and Chiraratha then come to see
the battle from the air.
All the chiefs of the two parties engage in promiscuous war. The
Rakshasas have the worst, but Ravana, with his brother Kumbhakarna
and his son Meghanada, turns the tide: the monkeys fly, leaving Rama
almost unsupported. Lakshmana attacks Meghanada: Ravana quits

Rama to assist his son.
The "serpent band" of Meghnada is dispersed by the
"eagle-king-weapon" of Lakshmana. The forces of Kumbhakarna are
reduced to ashes with a fire-weapon by Rama. Rama kills
Kumbhakarna, and then goes to the aid of Lakshmana; the whole of
Rama's party are then overwhelmed with magical weapons, hurled
invisibly by Ravana upon them, and fall senseless. While Ravana seeks
to restore Kumbhakarna, Hanuman, reviving, goes to fetch amrita, and
tearing up the mountain that contains it, returns to the field: his very
approach restores Lakshmana, who jumps up with increased animation,
like a serpent starting from his shrivelled skin or the sun bursting from
clouds. So Raghu's youngest hope, restored by heavenly herbs, burns
with more than wonted ardour, wonders a moment what has chanced
and then, all on fire for glory, rushes to the fight. Rama also revives,
and instigated by the sages, exerts his celestial energies, by which the
daitya, Ravana, and his host speedily perish. Rama is victorious, and
Sita is recovered.
Vibhishana is now crowned king of Lanka. Alaka, a tutelary deity,
comes. Lanka, another tutelary deity, is consoled by Alaka.
Sita passes the fiery ordeal in triumph. The gods cheer her.
Rama, accompainied by Sita, Lakshmana, Vibhishana and Sugriva,
then enters the aerial car Pushpaka which was once wrested from
Kuvera by Ravana, and which is now placed at the disposal of Rama by
Vibhishana. The car transports them from Ceylon all the way to
Ayodhya. One or other of the party points out the places over which
they fly viz. the Setu or bridge of Rama the Malaya mountain, the
Kaveri river, the hermitage of Agastya, the Pampa river, the residence
of Bali and of Jatayu, the limits of the Dandaka forest, the Sahya or
Sailadri mountains