[394] _Lit._--that which restores the former complexion.--T.
[395] Explains the commentator: 'If I take any other medicine by mistake, I shall make a fool of myself; if I spend much time in thought, Lakshmana may die.'--T.
[396] This conversation between Rama and Lakshmana took place, says the commentator, on the first day of the lighted fortnight.--T.
Hearing the words uttered by Lakshmana, that slayer of hostile heroes--Raghava--endued with prowess, taking his bow, set shafts on it, and in the brunt of battle began to discharge dreadful arrows at Ravana. And mounted on another car, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--rushed against Kakutstha, even as Swarbhanu rusheth against the Sun. And even as a mass of clouds poureth down torrents on a mighty mountain, the Ten-necked one, mounted on his car, smote Rama with shafts resembling thunder-bolts. And in the encounter Rama, concentrating his thoughts, showered on the Ten-necked one arrows embellished with gold and looking like living fire. And celestials and Gandharvas and Kinnaras declared that there had been no other battle like unto the encounter of Rama stationed on the ground and the Raksha mounted on his car. Then the foremost of celestials--Sakra--hearing their ambrosial speech, summoning Matali, said,--"Taking my car, hie to the best of the Raghus. And reaching the earth, do thou, welcoming (him), bring about great good unto the gods". Thus accosted by the sovereign of the celestials, Matali--celestial charioteer--bending down his head, addressed that celestial, saying,--"Speedily shall I go, O lord of the celestials; and I shall also do the office of a charioteer (unto Raghava)". Then yoking with steeds that best of cars, curiously wrought with gold; adorned with hundreds of small bells; resembling the Sun new risen; having its pole studded with lapises; yoked with excellent horses caparisoned in gold; furnished with white chowris,--drawn by steeds resembling the Sun; decked with golden net-works,--and provided with a golden standard,--the graceful car of the sovereign of the celestials,--Matali, commanded by the king of the immortals, ascending the car, went out of the celestial regions and came to Kakutstha. And with his hand holding the reins, the charioteer of the thousand-eyed (Deity) with joined hands addressed Rama, saying,--"O Kakutstha, in order that thou mayst obtain the victory, the thousand-eyed (god) hath sent thee this car. And, O exceedingly powerful one! O graceful (hero)! thou that slayest thy foes! this is the redoubtable bow of Indra,--and this is the mail resembling fire,--and these are the arrows looking like the very Sun; and this is the dart shining and fraught with fair fortune. Ascend thou this car, O hero. Slay the Rakshasa--Ravana, with me as thy charioteer, even as the lord of the celestials slayeth Danavas". Thus addressed, Rama, going round the car and saluting it, ascended the same, illumining the worlds with his splendour. And the encounter that took place between the two cars with the mighty-armed Rama (on one side), and the Raksha--Ravana--(on the other), was wonderful to behold. And Raghava highly proficient in weapons with a Gandharva weapon resisted the Gandharva weapon of the Rakshasa king, and with a celestial weapon, his celestial weapon. And then that lord of Rakshasas--the night-ranger--fired with high rage, again discharged an exceedingly dreadful Rakshasa weapon. And the gold-decked shafts shot from Ravana's bow, becoming furiously venomous serpents, covered Kakutstha. And vomitting living flames, they of terrific aspect, having flaming faces, showered over Rama with gaping mouths. And those flaming venomous serpents, having the feel of Vasuki himself, covered all sides and enveloped all quarters. And seeing those serpents descending in the encounter, Rama employed a dreadful Garuda weapon. And discharged from Raghava's bow, those arrows plated with gold at the feathered parts, and furnished with the splendour of peacocks, becoming golden birds--began to range (the field of battle) as the enemies of the serpents. And the shafts of Rama capable of wearing forms at will, turned into birds, destroyed all the exceedingly swift-coursing arrows having the forms of serpents. On his weapon having been baffled, Ravana--lord of Rakshasas--waxing Wroth, poured tremendous showers of shafts on Rama. And smiting Rama of untiring deeds with thousands of shafts, (Ravana) pierced Matali with vollies of arrows. And with an arrow, Ravana severed the standard; and having brought down the golden standard on the floor of the car, Ravana wounded even Indra's steeds with a net-work of arrows.