|| om tat sat||

Sundarakanda
Sarga 47

Tattvadipika
'चकार रक्षोधिपतेर्महत् भयम्'

" चकार रक्षोधिपतेर्महत् भयम्"
Means that a great fear arose in the mind of the Rakshasa King.
In the forty sixth Sarga we heard about the doubts in Ravana's mind.
Now the doubts have moved to the next stage, fear.
We will see how that fear arose in this Sarga.

The Sarga starts with the following line.
"सेनापतीन् पञ्च सतु प्रमापितान्
हनूमता सानुचरान् सवाहनान्"

Hearing that the five generals have been killed,
along with their followers and vehicles,
Ravana looked towards his son Aksha.

Ravana's look is enough for the young one.
Aksha is the younger son of Ravana.

Then spurred by the glance of the king,
the glorious hero, Aksha holding a marvelous bow,
sprang up in that royal assembly
like the fire kindled by the reputed Brahmins.

Then Aksha, a bull among giants,
splendid like the rising Sun,
marched towards the great Vanara,
having ascended a chariot
which was glittering like a piece of pure gold,

That chariot gained by austerities of highest order,
overlaid with pure gold armor,
fitted with flags and staff, studded with precious gems,
was yoked with eight best horses having the speed of mind.

Here the poet says that that chariot of Aksha is,
"तपः संग्रहसंचयार्जितम्"
earned with great effort of penance.
Ravana was known as a devotee.
Here we see his son is also a devotee.
They focused in earning material effects through penance.
The chariot was earned through such penance.
We continue with the description of Aksha's chariot.

The chariot, which was unassailable by Suras and Asuras alike,
moved without any obstruction in the air or ground.
The chariot, with the splendor of the Sun,
is equipped with quivers, eight swords, javelins and clubs placed in the right order.

Then Aksha who is equal to Gods in courage,
ascended the chariot equipped with all weapons,
decorated with golden garlands,
glowing and shining like the Sun and Moon.

With the sounds of horses, elephants and the chariots
filling the sky and the earth with its the mountains,
Aksha approached the very capable Vanara seated on the archway.

Aksha, who had the eyes like that of a lion,
saw with great respect the Vanara
who resembled the fire at the time of dissolution.
who in turn was astonished and awe struck,

Why was Hanuma astonished?
Ramayana Tilaka Tika adds this additional note.
Hanuman was astonished thinking
"बालोऽयं मां योद्धुमिच्छतीति विस्मयः"
"how this young boy wants to battle me?".
Here Hanuman's adversary is a young boy,
who is already battle prepared with great penance.
Though young, Aksha proves to be well-versed.
in all the arts of a battlefield.

We continue with the poet's narration.

The powerful son of the king judging his own strength,
as well as the speed and prowess of the Vanara,
began to grow in his strength
like the Sun at the end of winter.

Aksha became angry recognizing Hanuma
who is irresistible in war.
With an excited mind he shot three arrows,
as though inviting him to the battle.

Intent on conquering the enemies,
Aksha holding the bow and arrows in his hand reflected for a while,
looking at Hanuman who conquered the tiresomeness.

The energetic hero wearing golden armlets and earrings,
confronted the Vanara for the battle with great power.
The duel they engaged in was so fierce
that it had all the Suras and Asuras in awe.

Witnessing the battle of the Vanara and the prince,
the earth shook.
The Sun did not shine.
The wind did not move.
The unmovable shook.
The sky and the oceans felt agitated.

The Prince Aksha good at targeting and releasing arrows with good concentration,
struck the Vanara on his head with three good looking golden shafted winged arrows.
They were smeared with poison like serpents.

Simultaneously shot at the head by those arrows,
Hanuma was not in pain.
With his eyes wetted by the red blood flowing down,
Hanuma was looking like a newly risen Sun.
The arrows appearing like his rays.
Garlanded with rays Hanuma glowed like the Sun.

Hanuman, the esteemed minister of the coppery eyed Sugriva,
seeing the prince holding many splendid weapons, rejoiced.
Then he himself grew ready for the battle.

Like the one sitting on the mount Mandara,
endowed with strength and valor, his anger increased.
Hanuma looked at the prince along with his army and the vehicles,
and it seemed like the fiery rays emerging from his eyes were burning them away.

the reference to "like the one sitting on the mount Mandara" is about time,
Tilaka Tika says मंदराग्रस्थत्वेन मध्यन्दिनस्थ्वं लक्ष्यते|
The reference to the peak of mount Mandara refers to the midafternoon.
Govindaraja Tika says
"मन्दराग्रस्थः मन्दरोनाम भूमध्य पर्वतः।
तदग्रे मध्याह्नेवर्तत इति अग्रौ उक्तिः|
Mandara is a mountain in the center of the earth.
Being on top of that refers to the afternoon according to the elders
Valmiki keeps continuous track of the time in this search.
with many references to moon in the night.
So here it is high noon of action too.
We continue with the poet's narration.

Then Aksha endowed with a quiver and wonderful bow
began to rapidly rain a shower of arrows on Hanuman
like the rainy clouds releasing the rain on the mountains.

Seeing Aksha who was fierce in attack
who exhibited great courage and strength,
Hanuma roared in delight.

Young Aksha proud of his valor,
with eyes red with anger,
rushed towards the matchless Hanuman,
like an elephant rushing not knowing
the huge pit covered with grass in its path.

Struck by the arrows released by the prince Aksha,
Hanuman roared violently like thundering cloud.
He leaped to the sky putting up a fierce appearance stretching his arms and legs.
Aksha, the powerful leader of the Rakshasas,
went chasing Hanuman showering arrows on him,
like a cloud showering hailstone on a mountain.

That Vanara who has the speed of mind,
who has terrific valor in battle,
moved about in the sky like wind, dodging his arrows
while allowing them to be released.

The son of wind God,
admiring Aksha, started thinking.

Then the Vanara with strong arms,
who knew the propriety of special actions,
having his arms injured by the young prince,
roared in the battle and started thinking.

To begin with Hanuma started the battle a little astonished.
Astonished at the audacity of a young boy charging to battle him.
Subsequent battle confirmed that Aksha is not a young boy.
Now Hanuma must reckon Aksha as a powerful enemy,
whom he cannot afford to grow into a more powerful one
So Hanuma started thinking.

' This mighty hero,
radiant as the young rising Sun,
belying his age, performs like a great one.
He knows all means of fighting.
And my mind does not move towards cutting him down to size'.

'He is an eminent man.
His valor is great.
Focused in a fight he is highly tolerant.
Without a doubt, this hero is saluted by all,
the Nagas, Yakshas and the sages, for his actions.

His mental horizon expanding with valor and power,
he dares to look into my eyes standing before me.
This swift warrior with his valor
will shake the minds of even Suras and Asuras'.

'This man is not to be disregarded.
Surely, he will not overtake me in the battle.
But his valor is increasing.
Killing him now is proper.
A spreading fire cannot be neglected'.

Thus, the heroic and mighty Vanara made up his mind to kill him.

Vanara, then hit the great chariot and the eight horses
which are endowed with high speed,
which are stable in turning around,
and which could carry heavy loads.
Hit by his palm the chariot structure broke
along with the interior seats.
With the chariot structure broke.
and the horses killed, the chariot fell to the ground.

With bow in his hand and holding a sword,
the great chariot warrior flew into the sky, leaving the chariot.
Like the sages, who with the power of penance,
climb the abode of Maruta, leaving their body.

Then the Vanara, who is equal to wind in prowess,
flying in sky, the abode of Vayu,
reached him and gradually caught his both feet firmly.

The best of Vanaras, with prowess equal to his father,
seized him just like the king of birds catches the serpents.
Spinning him a thousand times and hitting him,
Hanuma dropped him speedily on the ground.

With broken arms, thighs, hips and neck and dislocated joints
with his eyes and bones that protruded,
with the tendons strewn all over with dripping blood
the Rakshasa fell to the ground killed by the son of Vayu.

Those who make rounds in sky,
the sages who take great vows,
the Yakshas, Pannagas, all beings including Indra,
were in awe, seeing the great Vanara killing the Rakshasa

The violent death of the young Aksha,
set off a great fear in the king of Rakshasas.
The poet says.
'चकार रक्षोधिपतेर्महत् भयम्'
the king of Rakshasas was struck with great fear.

In the forty first Sarga we heard that
Hanuma was all set to go back after meeting Sita.
Thinking that the Rakshasa could be softened
if a few are killed in battle,
"हतप्रवीरा हि रणे हि राक्षसाः
कथंचि दीयुर्यदि हाद्य मार्दवम्। ( 41.41)
Hanuma decides to use the tactic of strength.
Using his strength Hanuma exceeded his own objective,
by creating fear in the mind of the King of Rakshasas.

The hero having killed that Aksha went back to the archway,
कृतः क्षणः काल इव प्रजाक्षये।
determined like the god of death to destroy all beings.

Thus, ends Sarga forty-seven of Sundarakanda in Ramayana

|| om tat sat||
|| This is what we understood from Tattva Dipika of Shri Bhashyam, Appalacharyulu garu"||
|| om tat sat||