Rāmāyana | Sundara Kaṇḍa | Chapter 47

Chapter: 47
Akṣa Kumāra’s Death

[This chapter deals with the ferocious war of Akṣa Kumara, the second son of Rāvaṇa and Hanuman, in which Aksha Kumar is ultimately killed.]

Then that King Rāvaṇa, seeing that Hanuman has killed five army-commanders and army along with vehicles, saw in front of him, with affection, his son Akṣa who was enthusiastic for war. 1

Enthused by the eye examination of Rāvaṇa, he stood up in the assembly holding a special bow made of gold and appeared as if he was the sacrificial fire kindled by the offerings of Brahmins. 2

Afterwards he, who was a valorous Rākṣasa hero climbed up a huge chariot which was covered all over with gold and which had the lustre of young sun and departed to fight the great monkey. 3

He who was equal to Devas climbed in the fully complete chariot, which was got by him by rigorous prayers, which was pretty because of the covering by molten gold, which had flag poles, which had flag inlaid by precious stones, which was pulled by eight very fast moving horses, which could not even be attacked by devas or asuras, which could travel anywhere without being blocked, which was shining like sun, which could travel in the sky, which had several quivers, which had a platform in which eight swords were hung, which had been stored properly with spears and thomaras, which was equipped with all necessary things, which was shining like sun and which was pulled by golden rope similar to sun and moon and departed from there. 4-6

He who filled the sky and the mountain clad earth, with the sound made by horses, elephants and very big chariots along with a unified army neared the intelligent monkey, who was sitting on the tower gate. 7

That Akṣa who had lion like stare, nearing that monkey who had the stability of the fire during deluge in killing people, out of respect to him because of wonder, raised his head and looked at the monkey with respect. 8

That very strong prince, understanding the great monkey's speed and valour towards his enemies and estimating his own strength, started increasing in size like the sun at the end of winter. 9

Akṣa who was standing opposite the monkey, well understanding his stable valour which cannot be prevented from any one, became angry but set his attention properly and kindled Hanuman by three sharp arrows. 10

Taking the arrows in his hand and holding the bow, that Akṣa seeing that the monkey is not tired at all and that he was capable of defeating his enemies, started thinking with a perturbed mind. 11

That great warrior, wearing medallions, armlets and pretty ear studs made of gold attacked the monkey. The fight between those two was unequal and made even the Devas and Asuras nervous. 12

Witnessing the fight between the prince and the monkey, the earth rattled, sun faded, wind did not move, mountains trembled, sky roared and ocean churned. 13

Then that hero, who knew how to find proper aim, how to place the arrows on the bow and how to send them, sends again three arrows which had very sharp points, which had golden handle, which were dipped in poison and which were guided by feathers aimed at the head of the monkey. 14

That Hanuman, not in the least affected by those arrows sent at the same time aimed at his head, which was decorated by the ray like arrows, with eyes from which blood was dripping and with the luster of just emerged sun, appeared as if he was really the sun along with its rays. 15

Afterwards Hanuman, who was the minister of the King of monkeys, staring at the darling son of the King who was in the field of war armed with several sharp weapons as well as several bows, got ready for the war and roared greatly. 16

Then that strong and valorous Hanuman with increasing anger and appearing like the Sun atop the Mandāra Mountain burnt Akṣa Kumara, who was accompanied by the army and who was having several vehicles to ride, by the fire of his eyes. 17

Because of that, he who was a Rākṣasa cloud along with a rainbow like bow used to shoot arrows, rained several arrows like a cloud raining on a mountain, on the mountain like monkey chief. 18

Seeing Akṣa kumara as of great valour in the war and as increasing heroism and power with passage of time, the monkey who was as powerful as the cloud roared with happiness in the war. 19

That Akṣa becoming proud of his valour, because of childishness, became very angry and with red shot eyes, fell on the monkey who does not have any one equal to him as if he was falling on a well covered with grass. 20

(He fell for him out of ignorance of real facts.)

That Hanuman hurt by the arrows sent with great force by him (Akṣa) roared like a royal thunder. That son of wind god spreading his palms and thighs jumped on to the sky in his fearful form. 21

He who is very strong, who is the best among Rākṣasas, who is filled with fame and who is the greatest among those who drive in the chariot, ran and opposed him showering arrows at Hanuman, who was jumping and this was like a rain of stones on the mountain. 22

That monkey chief, who was a great warrior and who had the speed of the mind, kicked off the arrows and entered within the arrows, like wind and came out and travelled in the sky and was in the path of the sky like the wind. 23

That son of Wind God stared with respect at Akṣa, who was using the bow, who was desirous of war and who was covering the sky with sharp and great arrows and thought in his mind thus: 24

That monkey, who was capable of analysing the result of actions and having a chest severely wounded by the arrows shot by the valorous prince who was great, roared and thought in his mind about the actions to be done in the war. 25

"This one is very strong and he has the lustre of the baby sun and does all great deeds like a grown up man. My mind does not allow to kill him (Akṣa) who is an expert in all aspects of war, now itself." 26

"There is no doubt that he is extremely strong, great in his valour, does not get rattled in adversity, patiently opposes even in war and not only that he is fit for praise by the efficiency of his work by Nagas, Yakṣas and even sages." 27

"He is the one whose mind is elated by enthusiasm and valour and he opposes me and stares at me. His valour which is fast paced would even make the minds of Asuras and Devas tremble." 28

"Even if he is disregarded, there is no guarantee that he will not oppose, for in war his valour increases greatly. I feel it is proper for me to kill him now itself for the spreading fire should not be disregarded." 29

That very strong abode of valour thinking and estimating the great speed of the enemy and the need to complete his work took an important decision and decided in his mind in killing the bad souled one. 30

That monkey hero, who was the son of wind god, killed the eight horses, which were having great speed, which never knew tiredness and which could carry the chariot easily in the windy sky by hitting them with his open palm. 31

Then his big chariot having hit by the palm, having been broken by the minister of the monkey King, having its horses killed, having its roof broken and having its axis separated fell in to the ground from the sky. 32

That great hero and the great charioteer Akṣa left the chariot and holding the bow and with sword in his hand rose in to the sky, like a sage raising to the heaven after leaving his body because of the power of his penance. 33

Then that monkey, who was equal in valour to the God of Wind, neared him who was moving in the sky, which was used by Garuda, wind and sages and caught him strongly between his two legs. 34

That monkey who was one of the greatest monkeys and who was equal in valour to his father, caught him in the battlefield like Garuda, the King of Birds catching a snake, rotated him thousands of times and threw him on the floor with lot of force. 35

Because of this that Rākṣasa fell dead on the earth with broken hands, thighs, waist and neck, with eye balls coming out due to shattered bones, with blood flowing all over, with joints separated and with unsettled ties. 36

Due to this, that great monkey created great fear to the King of Rākṣasas. 37

Once that prince was killed, he was seen with great awe, by sages who travel in the sky and who do great penance, by Bhūtas who included Yakṣas and Pannagas and Devendra surrounded by Devas. 38

After killing Akṣa Kumara, who had the dazzle of the son of Indra and who had blood red eyes, that hero Hanuman, started waiting for suitable occasion like the God of death waiting for the death of the beings and again reached the gate of the tower. 39

Thus ends the forty seventh chapter of Sundara Kanda in the Rāmāyaṇa which is the first epic written by Vālmīki.