Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 8

8. Ministers of Rākṣasas Claim

[All the ministers and chiefs of Rākṣasas claim that they alone can kill all monkeys. One Rākṣasas suggests that they can take human form and deceive Rāma.]

Then a Rākṣasa called Prahasta who is of the colour of the rich blue cloud, who was a commander of his army with hands folded in salutation spoke. 8.1

"Devas, Dānavas, Gandharvas, Ghosts, birds and serpents are not strong enough to attack you and why are you getting worried about two men?" 8.2

"All of us in good faith neglected that Hanuman, who deceived us and if I am alive that monkey cannot further go alive." 8.3

"If you give me an order, I would make the earth consisting of mountains and forests extending up to the sea, bereft of monkeys." 8.4

"Oh night walker, I will see to it that you are protected from monkeys and not even a little sorrow would come to you because of mistakes committed by you." 8.5

A Rākṣasa called Durmukha spoke with great anger "This molestation done by him should never be tolerated." 8.6

"I am extremely sad that the city and private apartments of the king of Rākṣasas was attacked by that king of monkeys." 8.7

"At this moment, all alone I would destroy all the monkeys whether they hide in the huge ocean or the great sky or the Rasātala." 8.8

The very powerful Vajradamshtra with great anger took a horrifying iron club with flesh attached to it and spoke as follows. 8.9

" The pitiable Hanuman and the saintly Rāma along with Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa are not a very great difficult to conquer for me." 8.10

"Now itself I will kill Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa along with Sugrīva with this iron club and return back immediately." 8.11

"Oh king, if you desire, kindly hear some more of my words. Anyone who is skilled in strategies and does not have lassitude can kill his enemies easily." 8.12

"Oh king of Rākṣasas, thousands of Rākṣasas who can take any desired form, who are valorous, who are appalling, who are very huge and who have firm resolve, can assume the form of human beings and without embarrassment can approach Rāma and tell him as follows." 8.13-8.14

"We have been sent here by your younger brother Bhārata. He is in the process of collecting his army and would come here soon." 8.15

"Then we will go there with speed carrying, tridents, javelins, maces as well as bow and arrows." 8.16

"Standing in groups on the sky, we would kill the monkey army with mighty rain of stones and missiles and send them to the world of death." 8.17

"If Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa fall in our trap softly, surely they would have to give away their soul and go away." 8.18

The valorous Nikumbha who was the son of Kumbhakarṇa spoke with great anger to Rāvaṇa  who tormented the world. 8.19

"All of you here stay with our great king. I would alone kill Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, and Sugrīva, Hanuman and all other monkeys." 8.20

Then a mountain like Rākṣasa called Vajrahanu, who was very angry spoke licking his lips by his tongue. 8.21

"You all please do your jobs without any worries whatsoever. I alone will go and eat away the entire monkey army and so you can play happily and drink liquor." 8.22-8.23

"I alone will kill Sugrīva, Lakṣmaṇa, Angada, Hanuman, Rāma who is the war elephant." 8.24

This is the end of Eighth Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.