Indian Myth and LegendMackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
History
Indian Myth and Legend
Mackenzie, Donald A. (Donald Alexander)
Hindu mythology; Legends -- India
The gigantic apes wielded trees for clubs and threw great boulders, but
some depended on their sword-like nails and their long arrowy teeth.
They rushed against the demons, shouting “Rama, Rama!” and soon the
plain was covered by heaps of writhing bodies and severed limbs, while
rivers of blood streamed across it from between the battling hosts.
Rama looked on without fear. He reposed his faith on the apes, for he
knew that they were incarnations of the gods.
The apes were driven back until Sugriva flung a great tree, which
shattered the chariot of Indrajit. Then the Rakshasa leader and his
army took flight.
Indrajit obtained a new chariot by offering up in sacrifice a black
goat, and returning to the battlefield with his forces he shot arrows
at Rama and Lakshmana. Then he threw a serpent noose, which bound
the two brothers so that they were unable to move. Great was their
peril, but Vayu, god of wind, sent to their aid the great Celestial
bird Garuda, the serpent killer, and the snakes which formed the noose
fled from before it, whereat the brethren, who had meantime fallen in
a swoon, rose up again. Ravana then came forth, but Rama shot arrows
which swept the ten crowns from his ten heads, and he retired in his
shame and skulked in the city.
The Rakshasas were in desperate straits and bethought them to awaken
Kumbha-karna, the mightiest of all the demons. In former days he had
terrorized the Universe; he continually devoured human beings, and had
defeated Indra even, but Brahma intervened and decreed that he would
sleep for six months and then awaken for one day only. Each time he
awoke he devoured a great meal, after which he was again overpowered by
slumber.
Thousands of men danced and shouted and blew trumpets beside the great
sleeper, but he could not be wakened; elephants were driven over his
body, yet he never moved; then beautiful women came and caressed him,
and he suddenly opened his eyes and roared like to the sea. His eyes
were red with anger, and he cried: “Why have I been awakened before my
time?”
The Rakshasas informed Kumbha-karna of the army which surrounded the
city, and they brought him much food; greedily he swallowed swine and
deer and many human beings and drank rivers of wine. Refreshed, but not
yet satisfied, he arose and said: “Where are the apes so that I may
devour them?”
He mounted his chariot and went forth to battle. The apes trembled to
behold him and fled panic-stricken.... Sugriva rallied them quickly,
and then they began to fling trees and boulders, but these were all
splintered to pieces on the limbs of the giant. He defeated Hanuman,
and seized Sugriva and carried him off in his chariot. Thousands of
apes were devoured by the mighty Rakshasa.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account