[360] i.e. in consequence of all sides being covered with arrows, neither the Rakshas nor the monkeys could distinguish their several parties in the encounter, and the blows that each dealt were misdirected in consequence.--T.
[362] _Maharatham (ac)_ may also mean _mighty car_. By the way the _samasa_ or junction called _Tatpurusha_ is a frequent source of obscurity in Sanskrit, specially where the gender of the word without _samasa_ is the same with that of the thing signified by the _samasa_, as in this case.--T.
Having his steeds slain, the night-ranger--Indrajit, standing on the ground, waxing fiercely angered, flamed up in energy. And armed with bows, they, desirous of slaying each other with shafts resembled an elephant and a bull in a forest, came out for securing victory in encounter. And slaughtering owe another, the Rakshasas and the wood-rangers, rushing this way and that, did not (for a moment) leave their lords. Then Ravana's son, gladdening all the Rakshasas, and himself feeling cheered, addressed them in words of praise, saying,--"All sides are entirely enveloped in this gloom,--so that, O foremost of Rakshasas, here we do not know who belongeth onto us and who not.--Do ye fight fearlessly for stupifying the monkeys; and I too, mounted on a car, shall come hither into the conflict. Do ye so act that the high-souled rangers of the woods may not attack me as I enter the city". Saying this, that slayer of foes--Ravana's son, deceiving the wood-rangers, entered the city of Lanka for providing himself with a (fresh) car. And embellishing a chariot, graceful and adorned with gold, furnished with _praças_ and swords and arrows, yoked with superb steeds, and driven by a charioteer, knowing horses and possessed of instructions (anent his art),--that victor in battle--the exceedingly energetic son of Ravana--ascended it. And that hero, Mandodari's son, urged on by the force of the Finisher, went out of the city, surrounded by the foremost Rakshasas; and drawn by fast-speeding steeds, he presented himself before Lakshmana along with Bibhishana. And seeing Ravana's son seated on the car, the son of Sumitra and the exceedingly powerful monkeys and the Rakshasa--Bibhishana---were highly amazed at the lighthandedness of that intelligent one. And Ravana's son, waxing furious, in that contest began to bring down monkeys by hundreds and by thousands. And that victor in battle--Ravana's son--fired with wrath, summoning all his celerity, slaughtered monkeys, drawing his bow into a circle. And slaughtered by _narachas_ of terrific impetuosity, the monkeys saught the shelter of Sumitra's son, like creatures seeking the refuge of their Lord. Then the son of Raghu, flaming up in martial wrath, severed his[363] bow, displaying his fleethandedness. Thereat, taking another bow, (Indrajit) hurriedly fastened the string to it. And this bow also did Lakshmana cut off by means of a brace of arrows. And when (Indrajit) had his bow severed, Sumitra's son pierced the son of Ravana with five shafts resembling the venom of a poisonous serpent. And the shafts discharged from his[364] mighty bow, piercing his[365] person, dropped to the earth like unto powerful red serpents. And having his bow cut off, Ravana's son, vomitting blood by his mouth, took up a superior bow powerful to a degree and having a stout string. And then aiming at Lakshmana, he, summoning his utmost celerity, showered arrows, as showereth Purandara in the season of rains. Thereat Lakshmana, subduer of enemies, retaining his calmness, resisted that powerful arrowy shower shot by Indrajit. And then that exceedingly energetic one, Raghu's son, possessing himself in calmness, displayed (his prowess) unto the son of Ravana; and this was wonderful (to behold). And then displaying his lightness in the use of weapons, Lakshmana, growing furious, pierced the Rakshasas with three arrows each in that mighty encounter; and the lord of Rakshasas struck him with showers of shafts. And pierced sore by that powerful enemy--slayer of foes--he incessantly sent innumerable arrows after Lakshmana. And ere they reached their destination, that slayer of hostile heroes severed them with whetted arrows; and in the encounter that righteous one and foremost of car-warriors with a dart having bent joints, cut off the head of his charioteer mounted on the car. And deprived of their driver, there the steeds, retaining their calmness, began to go in rounds,--and this was wonderful Then Sumitra's son of steady prowess, fired with anger, in that contest, frightening all, pierced his horses with arrows. And not brooking that act (of his adversary), Ravana's son in the encounter pierced with ten shafts Sumitra's son capable of making people's down stand on end.