Dhumraksha, Vajradamstra, Akampana and Prahasta slain

(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 51 to 58)

Sri Rama fighting

• Meditation: I meditate on Sri Rama waging war against Ravana in Lanka.

• Ravana sending Dhumraksha, Hanuman slaying him: Hearing the joyous roars of the vanaras, Ravana sent his men to ascertain the cause. They informed that Rama and Lakshmana had shattered the fetters of arrows of Indrajit. Hearing the ability of his enemies, Ravana became anxious. He sent Dhumraksha to annihilate Rama and Lakshmana. Dhumraksha exited from the western gate where Hanuman was keeping guard. Dhumraksha saw many evil omens like vultures, rains filled with blood, and earth trembling. The demons became perturbed. Then a terrible battle ensues between the demons and the vanaras. When the army of vanaras were gaining an upper-hand, Dhumraksha let loose his weapons, slays a lot of vanaras and created fear in them. Seeing this, Hanuman picked up a huge rock and shattered the chariot of Dhumraksha. Then he killed many demons and finally faced Dhumraksha. Dhumraksha attacked Hanuman on his head with his mace. Remaining unperturbed, Hanuman hit Dhumraksha with a rock on his skull and killed him.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 51 to 52)

• Ravana sending Vajradamstra, Angada slaying him: Hearing about the death of Dhumraksha in the battle, Ravana sent Vajradamstra. Vajradamstra exited from the southern gate where Angada was standing guard. Evil portents appeared but Vajradamstra remained unperturbed. A terrific battle ensued between the demons and the vanaras. Angada devastated the army of the demons. The vanaras gained an upper-hand in the battle. Seeing this, Vajradamstra attacked the vanaras with his arrows and sowed panic in them. The vanaras sought refuge with Angada. Vajradamstra attacked Angada with his arrows. Angada threw a tree but Vajradamstra cut it to pieces. Angada then threw a large rock at Vajradamstra. Vajradamstra escaped but the rock destroyed his chariot. Angada then threw a piece of mountain filled with trees at Vajradamstra. Vajradamstra vomited blood and fainted for sometime. Then regaining consciousness he attacked Angada with his mace. After an encounter Angada hit the head of Vajradamstra with a sword and broke it to two pieces.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 53 to 54)

• Ravana sending Akampana, Hanuman slaying him: Hearing about the death of Vajradamstra in the battle, Ravana sent Akampana. While going for the battle Akampana saw many evil potents. His chariot horses were being deprived of energy. His left eye was twitching. His face and voice was becoming pale. Good weather was turning into bad weather and the birds and beasts were crying terribly. Akampana ignored the portents and marched forward. A terrific battle ensued between the vanaras and the demons. Kumuda, Nala and Mainda displayed great prowess and crushed the demons. Seeing the demons getting crushed, Akampana went near the vanaras and started crushing them. Some started fleeing the battle-field. Then Hanuman of mighty prowess came to their rescue. Akampana attacked Hanuman with lot of arrows. Ignoring the arrows, Hanuman laughed and picked up a mighty mountain. Then he swirled the mountain and hurled it on Akampana. Akampana shattered the mountain by means of his arrows. Hanuman in anger uprooted an Ashwakarna tree and swirling it started destroying the demons with their elephants and chariots (assuming a terrible form like Yama). Akampana hit Hanuman with fourteen arrows. Hanuman uprooted another tree and hit the head of Akampana. Akampana fell down dead.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 55 to 56)

• Ravana sending Prahasta, Nila slaying him: Hearing about the death of Akampana in the battle, Ravana sent Prahasta. Prahasta marched forward with a huge army with powerful demons like Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata. He exited from the eastern gate. Evil portents appeared. Flesh-eating birds moved around the chariot. Jackals started howling. A meteor fell from the sky. Wind blew harshly. Clouds shed blood on the chariot of Prahasta. A vulture started croaking. The goad of the charioteer fell from his hand several times. Ignoring the portents, Prahasta marched forward and attacked the army of Sugreeva. A terrible battle ensued between the vanaras and the demons. Narantaka, Kumbhahanu, Mahanada and Samunnata killed many vanaras. Dwivida hit down Narantaka with a mountain peak. Durmukha uprooted a tree and crushed down Samunnata. Jambavan hit the chest of Mahanada with a huge rock. Tara killed Kumbhahanu. Then Prahasta caused havoc among the vanaras with his arrows. Nila, seeing the vanaras getting crushed, rushed towards Prahasta. Prahasta attacked him with arrows. Nila endured them and hit Prahasta with an uprooted tree. Nila killed the horses of Prahasta with a Sala tree. Then Nila broke the bow of Prahasta. Prahasta attacked Nila on his forehead with his mace. Nila hit Prahasta with a tree. Ignoring that, Prahasta rushed towards Nila to hit him again. Nila picked up a huge rock and hurled on the head of Prahasta. That rock broke the head of Prahasta into pieces. Rama and Lakshmana praised Nila.
(Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda - 57 to 58)

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