Armed with sharp weapons and bolstered by their entire forces, the rakshasa heroes advanced, their eyes falling upon the great monkey, Hanuman, who blazed with an extraordinary radiance. He stood atop the gateway, swift and resolute, his own brilliance forming a halo around him, shining like the rising sun with its rays. Possessed of immense intellect, boundless enthusiasm, a vast body, and mighty arms, Hanuman was a sight to behold. The warriors, stationed in all directions, saw him and launched their attack from every side, wielding dreadful weapons. Durdhara, among them, shot five sharp, steel-tipped arrows at Hanuman’s head. Their points were pale yellow, resembling lotus petals. Struck by these arrows, Hanuman leapt roaring into the sky, his voice echoing through the ten directions. Durdhara, heroic and determined, pursued Hanuman with his chariot and bow, showering countless arrows upon him. Yet Hanuman, airborne, easily warded off the archer’s assault, dispersing it as the wind scatters rain clouds at the close of the monsoon. Assailed by Durdhara, Hanuman, son of the wind, let out another thunderous roar, his valor growing even greater. Suddenly, he leapt from afar and landed with immense speed upon Durdhara’s chariot, like a bolt of lightning striking a mountain. The eight horses were crushed, the axle and pole shattered. Durdhara abandoned his broken chariot and fell lifeless to the ground. Witnessing Durdhara’s fall, Virūpākṣa and Yupākṣa, fierce and formidable, leapt up in anger, determined to defeat Hanuman. As the great-armed monkey joined them in the clear sky, they struck his chest with their maces. Hanuman, overcoming their force, fell swiftly to the ground, reminiscent of Garuda’s descent. Reaching a sal tree, he uprooted it and slew both heroic rakshasas, ending their lives with his mighty strength. Knowing that these three commanders had been slain by Hanuman, Praghasa, strong and swift, approached, laughing. Bhāsakarṇa, enraged and valorous, took up a spear, and both stood before the illustrious Hanuman, the tiger among monkeys. Praghasa struck Hanuman with a sharp-edged lance, while Bhāsakarṇa thrust his spear. Though wounded and bloodied, Hanuman’s rage grew, and he shone like the young sun. Hanuman, heroic and elephant-like in strength, uprooted a mountain peak filled with beasts, serpents, and trees, and crushed the two rakshasas beneath it, reducing them to dust like sesame seeds. With the five commanders fallen, Hanuman destroyed the remainder of their force. He matched horses against horses, elephants against elephants, warriors against warriors, and chariots against chariots, decimating them as Indra once destroyed the asuras. The earth was blocked in all directions by the fallen horses, elephants, chargers, broken chariots, and slain rakshasas. Hanuman, having vanquished the heroic commanders and their troops and vehicles, seized the gate, standing ready like Time itself at the moment of destruction. Hearing that the five commanders, along with their followers and vehicles, had been subdued by Hanuman, the king of the rakshasas—Rāvaṇa—looked intently at Prince Aksha, eager for battle. Prompted by his father’s gaze, the powerful prince Aksha, with a golden, decorated bow, rose up in the assembly, summoned like fire called forth by priests for a sacred offering. Mounting a magnificent chariot radiant as the young sun, adorned with heated gold and banners, bearing a jewel-encrusted flag, Aksha set forth against Hanuman. This chariot, earned through ascetic power, was unassailable by gods and demons, moving freely and shining like lightning as it traversed the sky. It was equipped with quivers, eight swords beautifully bound, spears, and javelins arranged in order, radiant with golden reins and all its splendid equipment, shining like the moon and sun. Aksha filled the sky and earth with the sounds of horses, elephants, and great chariots, approaching Hanuman, who stood steadfast at the gate, surrounded by assembled troops. Aksha beheld Hanuman, whose eyes were like those of a lion—seated, unwavering, and awe-inspiring—like the fire of destruction at the end of an age, intent on annihilation, and gazed at him with respect. Reflecting on Hanuman’s speed and valor, and considering his own strength, Aksha’s might grew, like the sun at the end of an age. Observing Hanuman’s formidable prowess—firm and unshakable in battle, difficult to withstand—Aksha, steady and composed, his anger rising, challenged Hanuman with three sharp arrows. Aksha, seeing the proud monkey unwearied and fit to conquer enemies, stood with bow in hand and arrows ready, his mind stirred and gaze intent. Adorned with golden armlets and beautiful earrings, Aksha’s extraordinary valor shone as he approached Hanuman. Their encounter was unparalleled, causing alarm even among gods and demons. As the contest began, the earth resounded, the sun ceased to scorch, the wind stopped blowing, and the mountains did not tremble. The heavens roared and the ocean was agitated. Aksha struck Hanuman’s head with three well-feathered arrows, golden-tipped and venomous like serpents, arrows whose release and aim were mastered through deep concentration. Struck squarely on the head, Hanuman’s eyes rolled and blood streamed down, yet he shone like the newly risen sun, radiant with the rays of arrows, resembling the sun with its circle of beams. Then, the foremost counselor of the monkey king, seeing the royal prince in battle, splendid with his marvelous weapons and bow, rejoiced and was filled with eagerness for the impending fight.