Episode 01 - Chapter 6 - Canto on vanquishing of Kara.

Chapter 6 - Canto on the Vanquishing of Kara - கரன் வதைப் படலம்

 

We move on from one of the most rivetingly dramatic cantos of the epic; we take leave of a canto that sets up the core provocation for the avatara as a sequel to this. We move on to the canto on the defeat and destruction of the hordes of Surpanaka’s proximate support base – Kara and Dhushana and their armies in Dandakaranya – by Rama.

 

Surpanaka arrives at Kara’s court and falls prostate before him – செக்கர் மேல் விரிந்த மேகம் என விழுந்தாள்; She fell like a cloud enveloping the crimson sun.

Kara, looking at Surpanaka’s deformation, angered, asked her who would be the cause of this distress to her.

 

'இருவர் மானிடர்; தாபதர்; ஏந்திய

வரி வில், வாள், கையர்; மன்மதன் மேனியர்;

தரும நீரர்;   தயரதன் காதலர்;

செருவில் நேரும் நிருதரைத் தேடுவார்.

 

Surpanaka is still deeply immersed in her infatuation for Rama. That flows through in her descriptionof who caused her the distress:

These were just two humans; attired like ascetics; wielding bows and swords; endowed with handsomeness that matches the God of Love, Manmatha; ones who tread the path of Dharma; the darlings of Emperor Dasaratha; ones who are looking for (spoilt for) battling Rakshasas.

 

Surpanaka is her inventive, imaginative best here in presenting the context to Kara:

She said “யாவரும் நேர்கிலாப் பெண்ணின் நோக்குடையாள் ஒரு பேதை, என் கண்ணின் நோக்கி உரைப்ப  அருங் காட்சியாள்;” One with a matchless womanhood that no one could imagine, an innocent one, the one who, even though I had seen her, I have no ability to describe her beauty.”

Surpanaka proceeds to lay the trap for Kara with this irresistible bait for him:

 

'கண்டு, "நோக்க அருங்  காரிகையாள்தனைக்

கொண்டு போனவன், இலங்கையர் கோக்கு" எனா,

விண்டு மேல் எழுந்தேனை வெகுண்டு, அவர்

துண்டம் ஆக்கினர், மூக்கு' எனச் சொல்லினாள்.

 

I wanted to carry this matchless beauty to Ravana and I sprang on her; Rama and Lakshmana, angered, cut off my nose.

A completely twisted story for Kara’s consumption! She tried to present this great prize to the Lord of the Rakshasas – Kara’s super boss  - and got humiliated. Implying that Kara has an obligation to set this equation right.

 

Kara boils over with intense fury: “Show them to me” he barked to Surpanaka.

Kara’s fourteen lieutenants, powerful enough to carry this planet on one hand (Atlas!), ones who would battle with their bare hands, weaponry like சூலம் வாள் மழுத் தோமரம் சக்கரம் காலபாசம் கதை பொரு கையினார்; = tridents, swords, machete, hand-lance, disc, strangler-ropes - pleaded with him to leave this task with them for them to get done.

 

Securing Kara’s consent, these fourteen terrifyingly powerful fourteen arrive at Rama’s hermitage. Surpanaka points Rama out to them. They encircle Rama. Rising to meet them, and bidding Lakshmana to look after Sita, Rama got battle ready,  stringing his bow. He severs all their shoulders with his darts: கை எழு நான்கையும் தழுவும் வாளிகளால் தலம் சார்த்தினான். (He severed all the 28 arms and felled all the fourteen of them to the ground.)

 

Surpanaka ran to Kara again and reports the destruction of his powerful lieutenants.

Kara, enraged, presenting a ferocity that even Lord Shiva would have found impossible to contain – விடைச் சங்கரற்கும் தடுப்பருந் தன்மையான் - commands his chariot and foot-soldiers divisions to mobilise instantly.  விடை = bull (rishaba, Lord Shiva’s ride)

 

(Armies in the epic periods were also segmented according to specific functional commands.)

 

Kamban presents Kara’s battle mobilization:

வல்லியக் குழாங்களோ?  மழையின் ஈட்டமோ?

ஒல் இபத் தொகுதியோ? ஓங்கும் ஓங்கலோ?

அல்ல, மற்று அரிகளின் அனிகமோ?' என,

பல் பதினாயிரம் படைக் கை வீரரே.

 

Kara’s weapons-bearing army, counting several tens of thousands பல் பதினாயிரம்  made one wonder if this was a huge ambush of tigers, intense and all enveloping rain clouds, numberless company of (battle) elephants, hills rising to the sky or – a huge troop of lions.

 

Mobilisation of Kara’s Army:

 

தேர்இனம் துவன்றின; சிறு கண் செம் முகக்        

கார்இனம் நெருங்கின;  காலின், கால் வரு

தார்இனம் குழுமின;-தடை இல் கூற்று எனப்

பேர்இனம் கடல்  எனப் பெயருங்காலையே.

 

“The chariots division sped; resembling a speedily wafting sea of clouds, the division of elephants moved fast; speedier than the wind, the cavalry sped ahead; like an unstoppable grossed-up God of Death, the foot-soldiers moved like a sea on the move.

The fourteen commanders of this fearsome army are presented:

 

ஆயிரம் ஆயிரம்  களிற்றின் ஆற்றலர்;

மா இரு ஞாலத்தை விழுங்கும் வாயினர்;

தீ எரி விழியினர்;நிருதர் சேனையின்

நாயகர், பதின்மரோடு அடுத்த நால்வரே.

 

“Men with the combined  prowess of thousands of (battle) elephants, with mouths wide enough to swallow this planet, with fiery, anger-fed, eyes”.

Is the number fourteen chosen by Kara for some sentimental or superstitious reason – like some leaders choose 8 or 9? Who knows?

Kamban reckons the numerical size of Kara’s army: (The poet is fond of playing with numerical alliteration).

 

ஆறினோடு ஆயிரம்  அமைந்த ஆயிரம்

கூறின ஒரு படை;  குறித்த அப் படை

ஏறின ஏழினது இரட்டி என்பரால்-

ஊறின சேனையின் தொகுதி உன்னுவார்

 

Each division was made up of six lakhs (of chariots, cavalry, battle-elephants, foot-soldiers) ஆறினோடு ஆயிரம்  அமைந்த ஆயிரம் = 6 x 1000 x 1000 = 600000. And, there were fourteen such divisions ஏழினது இரட்டி = two times seven = fourteen. In all 8.4 million!

 

(FOURTEEN again?)

 

The valour of the army is presented:

 

இந்திரன் முதலினோர் எறிந்த மாப் படை

சிந்தின தெறித்து உக, செறிந்த தோளினார்;

அந்தகன், அடி தொழுது அடங்கும் ஆணையார்;

வெந் தழல் உருவு கொண்டனைய மேனியார்

 

The men had powerful shoulders that had deflected the superior weapons aimed at them by Indra and other Devas; these were ones that would make even the God of Death pay obeisance to them; they were looking ferocious with a fiery, reddish complexion.

 

This awesome, fearsome army of Kara is joined by Dhushana, Thrisiras and their respective armies, making it a veritable invincible proposition.

 

How fearsome, grotesque, were Kara’s men? Let us see Kamban presenting them:

 

குஞ்சரம், குதிரை, பேய்,  குரங்கு, கோள்அரி,

வெஞ் சினக் கரடி, நாய், வேங்கை, யாளி' என்று,

அஞ்சுற, கனல் புரை  முகத்தர்; ஆர்கலி

நஞ்சு தொக்கெனப் புரை நயனத்தார்களும்-

 

They had faces resembling the elephant, horse, ghosts, baboons, lion, bear, dog, tiger, and yaaLi (யாளி) ember-like faces, with eyes that reminded everyone of Aalahaala, the destructive poison that emerged out of the churning of the milky ocean.

Kamban’s intense revulsion to the whole tribe of Rakshasas seems imbedded in this description where he heaps epithets and ridicule .

 

This huge mobilization of battle-craving army arrives at Rama’s hermitage precincts.

 

The mobilization creates chaos in the forest:

 

வனம் துகள்பட்டன, மலையின் வான் உயர்

கனம் துகள்பட்டன;  கடல்கள் தூர்ந்தன,

இனம் தொகு தூளியால்;  இசைப்பது என் இனி?-

சினம் தொகு நெடுங் கடற் சேனை செல்லவே.

 

The forests were completely engulfed in the dust that arose from this mobilization; the dust rose to cover the clouds; the dust filled up the  seas.

 

The commotion generated amongst birds and animals with this fearsome intrusion looked like a sentinel outpost warning Rama of the approaching peril.

Seeing the approaching adversary, Lakshmana gets up, battle-ready. Rama stops him and he rises to meet this oncoming challenge, himself. Rama reminds Lakshmana of the vow he had granted to the sadhus and sages that he would rid Dandakaranya of Rakshasas; he bade Lakshmana to guard Sita while he confronts Kara and his hordes.

 

நெறிக் கொள் மாதவர்க்கு முன்னே நேர்ந்தனென் ‘நிருதர் ஆவி

பறிக்குவென் யானே = “I had promised the sages and ascetics that I shall destroy the Rakshasas. “

 

Rama actually sought Lakshmana’s indulgence and permission to meet Kara and his hordes himself thus: “ இவ் அமர் எனக்கு அருளிநின்று, என் தோளினைத் தின்னுகின்ற சோம்பினைத் துடைத்தி” Kindly do grant me this battle opportunity and let me wipe the laziness that is eating my shoulders.”

As the ever-acquiescent younger brother, Lakshmana steps aside.

 

Surpanaka pointed Rama to Kara:

 

 தோன்றிய தோன்றல் தன்னைச் சுட்டினள் காட்டிச் சொன்னாள்;

வான்தொடர் மூங்கில் தந்த வயங்கு வெம் தீ இது என்னத்

தான் தொடர் குலத்தை எல்லாம் தொலைக்குமா சமைந்துநின்றாள்,

“ஏன்று வந்து எதிர்ந்த வீரன் இவன் இகல் இராமன் “ என்றே.

 

Surpanaka, one with a destiny of causing the complete destruction of her whole tribe like a spark of fire destroying the whole forest of bamboo, points Rama to Kara.

 

RAMA BATTLES KARA, DHUSHANA, TRISIRA AND THEIR 8.4 MILLION STRENGTH ARMY OF FOURTEEN DIVISIONS – A FULL DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE FINAL BATTLE, EXCEPT THAT HERE HE IS STANDING UPTO IT, ALONE, UNAIDED EVEN BY LAKSHMANA.

 

Kara motivates his army – a typical commander’s motivational peroration.

 

யாவரும் கண்டு நிற்றிர்; ஊன் உடை இவனை யானே,    உண்குவென் உயிரை = “Just stand aside and look on; I shall finish him and bring his remains as a feast for you.”

 

Hearing this bravado from Kara, Akamban, a sooth-sayer and a Rakshasa himself warns Kara about the several bad omens he saw and counsels him caution: “ I saw clouds emitting thunder-bolts, raining blood; the sun is encircled by a halo; crows fight over your chariot’s flag, fall dead after killing each other; flies swarm on the cutting edge of the swords, left shoulders and left eyes are twitching; horses in the cavalry are drowsy; and hordes of dogs and jackals whine aloud; tusks of elephants break and fall; the earth is shaking with tremors; thunder-bolts hit the grounds; the cardinal directions are burning; the garlands adorning the crowns of the warriors are stinking with the smell of decaying flesh.

 

“Please therefore, do not underestimate this foe as an ordinary human. You cannot overwhelm him all that easily. Understand this and pause and think.”

Kara, scoffing at the sooth-sayer, gets into battle. His army encircles Rama.

Rama destroys Kara’s vast hordes:

 

வளைந்த காலையில், வளைந்தது, அவ் இராமன் கை வரி வில்;

விளைந்த போரையும் ஆவதும் விளம்புதும்; விசையால்,

புளைந்த பாய் பரி புரண்டன; புகர் முகப் பூட்கை

உளைந்த, மால் வரை உரும் இடி   பட ஒடிந்தென்ன.

 

“As Kara’s army encircled Rama, Rama’s bow bent (to shower arrows); horses, with their torsos pierced, fell down; battle-elephants elephants fell as if struck by thunder-bolts.

சூலம் அற்றன; அற்றன சுடர் மழு;  தொகை வாள்

மூலம் அற்றன; அற்றன முரண்  தண்டு; பிண்டி-

பாலம் அற்றன; அற்றன பகழி;  வெம் பகு வாய்

வேலும் அற்றன; அற்றன  வில்லொடு பல்லம்.

All the weaponry of Kara’s army was broken into smithereens by Rama’s darts – tridents, machetes, lances, mazes, bows with their arrows.

 

ஒன்று, பத்து, நூறு, ஆயிரம், கோடி, என்று உணரா    

துன்று பத்திய, இராகவன் சுடு சரம் துரப்ப,

சென்று, பத்திரத் தலையின மலை திரண்டென்ன,

கொன்று, பத்தியில் குவித்தன பிணப் பெருங் குன்றம்.

 

“It was impossible to keep count of the darts raining from Raghava’s bow – like, one, ten, thousand or crore; they reached the targets and felled Kara’s men, who fell like hills with arrows stuck on to their heads; countless lines of dead corpses were piled up like huge hills.”

 

அலை மிதந்தன குருதியின் பெருங் கடல், அரக்கர்

தலை மிதந்தன; நெடுந்  தடி மிதந்தன; தடக் கைம்-

மலை மிதந்தன; வாம் பரி மிதந்தன; வயப் போர்ச்

சிலை மிதந்தன; மிதந்தன, கொடி நெடுந் தேர்கள்.

 

“In the sea of blood that Rama’s devastating darts caused, waves were rising; severed heads of countless men floated in that sea; chunks of flesh flotated; huge battle-elephants, felled, floated too; cavalry horses floated; chariots with their flags floated, the bows with arrows, floated. “

 

Consider the Hyperbole! Rama’s arrows devastated Kara and his 8.4 million men, chariots, horses and battle-elephants (14 divisions of 600000 men). The blood-letting from this carnage created a veritable swirling, wave-swept,  sea. Blood – of men and beasts inseparably mingled. In that huge  sea of blood,  heads, torsos, chariots, horses, elephants, everything of Kara’s vast. Powerful, invincible till then, army,  became just flotsam and jetsam!

 

Kamban has invested twenty verses to bring this gross, surreal war devastation by one man, equipped only with a bow and of course His sankalpa of ridding Mother Earth of this pestilence and fulfilling His promise to the sadhus and sages. We are just bringing a few for the readership.

 

Rama, standing alone and taking on this ferocious, fearsome, outnumbering army, is presented by Kamban with his inimitable poetic scale:

தன் நிகர் வீரனும் தமியன் வில்லினன்

துன் இருள் இடையது ஓர் விளக்கில் தோன்றினான்

 

Holding just a bow, Rama all by himself in this war field, looked like a brilliantly shining lamp in the midst of all enveloping darkness.

 

 (War devastation has been typically gruesome through all ages – we have the unbearable spectacle of chemical weaponry’s devastation now. We had that famous, most riveting, revolting picture of a Vietnamese girl devastated by American napalm bomb.)

 

Thirisiran (the three-headed one), an associate of Kara, showed exceptional valour in this battle. He fought on with two of his heads severed. He fought on even after losing his bow. Eventually, he lost his spared head too and fell to the ground, in glory.

 

Dhushana stops the demoralized and fleeing forces with a motivational command.

 

'செம்பு காட்டிய கண் இணை  பால் எனத் தெளிந்தீர்!

வெம்பு காட்டிடை நுழைதொறும், வெரிந் உறப் பாய்ந்த

கொம்பு காட்டுதிரோ, தட மார்பிடைக் குளித்த

அம்பு காட்டுதிரோ, குல  மங்கையர்க்கு? அம்மா!

 

“Hey! You entered this battle with eyes reddened with ferocity and anger! Now they look milk-white with fear – of defeat and death! When you flee from here through the forests with darts deeply embedded in your backs, would you feel proud to show those to your womenfolk? Or, would you rather show them – even dead – weapons deeply plunged into your broad, brave, chests? Make up your minds!”

 

(This is a classical Thamizh cultural throwback to the Sangam era!

 

நரம்புஎழுந்து உலறிய நிரம்பா மென்தோள்

முளரி மருங்கின், முதியோள் சிறுவன்

படைஅழிந்து மாறினன் என்று பலர் கூற,

மண்டுஅமர்க்கு உடைந்தனன் ஆயின், உண்டஎன்

முலைஅறுத் திடுவென், யான் எனச் சினைஇக்,  5

கொண்ட வாளொடு படுபிணம் பெயராச்,

செங்களம் துழவுவோள், சிதைந்துவே றாகிய

படுமகன் கிடக்கை காணூஉ,

ஈன்ற ஞான்றினும் பெரிதுஉவந் தனளே!

(Pura Naanooru – 278 – Kaakkai PaAadiniyaar)

 

When she heard rumours that her little son, who she had sent to battle, had fled, she went to the battlefield wielding a sword and swearing that if that be true, she would sever the breasts that fed him; and, after anxiously turning several dead bodies on the field, she found her son with a sword plunged into his chest. And at that moment she was more exhilarated then when she delivered him.)

 

Dhushana regroups and battles with Rama – and he too is done to death by Rama, but only after causing some anxiety to the on looking Devas, as three of his darts hit Rama’s forehead shield. வீர பட்டத்தில் பட்டன, விண்ணவர் வெருவ.

Kara, even more enraged at the fall his brother, joins battle with Rama:

Rama, after an almost an even and prolonged engagement with Kara and his forces, annihilates him:

 

வாளின் வனம், வேலின் வனம், வார் சிலை வனம், திண்

தோளின் வனம், என்று இவை துவன்றி, நிருதப் பேர்

ஆளின் வனம் நின்றதனை, அம்பின் வனம் என்னும்

கோளின் வன வன்  குழுவினின், குறைபடுத்தான்.

 

“வனம்’ denotes density, usually connotes thick groves.

 

Collectively dense swords, lances, bows, powerful shoulders, making up the Rakshasa forces were decimated with the dense rain of arrows from Rama’s invincible bow.

Having lost his forces completely, Kara confronted Rama and foghts on, one on one. His darts completely enveloped Rama causing anger and ferocity to Rama. Rama lost his bow in this battle and Devas become anxious and pray. Lord Varuna grants a new bow and Rama resumed the battle. As Rama destroyed Kara’s chariot, Kara sprang skywards and attacked Rama from there. Rama severed Kara’s right arm and Kara foght on with his left one.

 

Eventually, after matching Rama’s battling, blow for awesome blow, and causing some concern to the on looking Devas, Rama finished off Kara, who fell to the ground, dead but in glory.

 

Gods celebrated the conclusion of this most awesome battle with a shower of flowers.

Rama returned to the hermitage and comforted Sita who was benumbed with fright. Both Sita and Lakshmana celebrated Rama’s victory.

 

Surpanaka grieved and lamented falling over Kara’s body.  She blamed herself for this destruction of her kin and laments:

 

'ஆக்கினேன் மனத்து ஆசை; அவ் ஆசை என்

மூக்கினோடு முடிய, முடிந் திலேன்

வாக்கினால், உங்கள்   வாழ்வையும் நாளையும்

போக்கினேன்; கொடியேன்'  என்று போயினாள்.

 

“I fell in infatuous love; I lost my nose in that bargain. I did not let the loss be only my nose. By indoctrinating you all, I had brought destruction and end to so many of your lives. I am the devil.”

 

She then left for Lanka.