TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
TALES FROM THE HINDU DRAMATISTS - Awaken Video
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Ravana levels a shaft at Lakshmana, given him by Brahma, and charged<br />
with the certain fate of one hero. Hanumana snatches it away, after it<br />
has struck Lakshmana, before it does mischief. Ravana reproaches Brahma,<br />
and he sends Nareda to procure the dart again and keep Hanumana out of<br />
the way. With the fatal weapon Lakshmana is left for dead. Rama<br />
despairs:--<br />
"My soldiers shall find protection in their caves; I can die with Sita,<br />
but thou, Vibhishana, what shall become of thee?"<br />
Hanuman reappears and encourages him. Ravana has a celebrated physician,<br />
Sushena, who is brought away from Lanka in his sleep, and directs that a<br />
drug (_Vishalya_) from the Druhima mountain must be procured before<br />
morning, or Lakshmana will perish. This mountain is six millions of<br />
_Yojanas_ remote, but Hanuman undertakes to bring it bodily to Lanka,<br />
and call at Ayodhya on his way.<br />
He accordingly roots up the mountain, and is returning with it to Rama,<br />
via Ayodhya, when Bharata, who is employed in guarding a sacrifice made<br />
by Vasishtha, not knowing what to make of him, shoots Hanuman as he<br />
approaches. He falls exclaiming on Rama and Lakshmana, which leads<br />
Bharata to discover his mistake. Vasishtha restores the monkey who sets<br />
off for Lanka. On Hanuman's return, the medicament is administered, and<br />
Lakshman revives.<br />
An ambassador from Ravana comes and offers to give up Sita for the<br />
battle-axe of Parasurama, but this, Rama replies, must be reserved for<br />
Indra. On this refusal, Ravana goes forth after a brief dialogue with<br />
his queen Mandodari, who animates his drooping courage with the true<br />
spirit of the tribe to which she belongs.<br />
"Banish your sorrow, lord of Lanka, take one long and last embrace. We<br />
meet no more. Or give command, and by your side I march fearless to<br />
fight, for I too am a Kshatriya." The progress of Ravana through the air<br />
appals all Nature. The winds breathe low in timid murmurs through the<br />
rustling woods; the sun with slackened fires gleams pale abroad and the<br />
streams, relaxing from their rapid course, slowly creep along. Ravana<br />
defies Rama with great disdain and in derision of his modest demeanour,<br />
asks him whether he is not overcome with shame by the recollection of<br />
his ancestor, Anaranya, killed formerly by Ravana.<br />
Rama replies:--<br />
"I am not ashamed my noble ancestor fell in the combat. The warrior<br />
seeks victory or death, and death is not disgrace. It ill befits thee to<br />
revile his fame. When vanquished, thou couldst drag out an abject life<br />
in great Haihaya's dungeons, till thy sire begged thee to freedom, as a<br />
matter of charity. For thee alone I blush, unworthy of my triumph."<br />
Ravana falls under the arrows of Rama. The heads, that once, sustained<br />
on Siva's breast, shone with heavenly splendour, now lie beneath the<br />
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