As Hanuman, the mighty son of the wind, suddenly leapt into the clear sky with the rakshasas, his great chest was struck by their heavy maces. Yet, undaunted, he overcame the force of those two swift warriors, and, like the swift Garuda, fell again to the ground. Seizing a sal tree, Hanuman uprooted it and, with powerful blows, slew both heroic rakshasas. The son of the wind stood triumphant. Seeing that three rakshasas had been slain by the powerful monkey, Praghasa, strong and swift, approached Hanuman, laughing. Beside him stood Bhāsakarṇa, enraged and valorous, brandishing a spear. Both faced the illustrious tiger among monkeys, ready for battle. Praghasa struck Hanuman with a sharp-edged lance, while Bhāsakarṇa hurled his spear. Wounded in his limbs, his body stained with blood, Hanuman’s rage blazed forth, and he shone like the young sun. Hanuman, heroic and elephant-like in strength, then uprooted a mountain peak, complete with its beasts, serpents, and trees, and hurled it at the two rakshasas. Crushed beneath its weight, they were reduced to fragments, like sesame seeds. With the fall of these five commanders, Hanuman destroyed the remaining force, matching horses with horses, elephants with elephants, warriors with warriors, and chariots with chariots—he annihilated them as Indra destroys the asuras. The earth was blocked in all directions, strewn with horses, elephants, chargers, broken chariots, and slain rakshasas. Hanuman, having slain these heroic commanders with their troops and vehicles in battle, seized the gate, standing ready like Time itself at the moment of destruction. Let the forty-seventh chapter be heard. Having learned that the five commanders, their followers, and vehicles had been subdued by Hanuman, the king, eager for battle, cast an intense gaze upon Prince Aksha. Prompted by his father’s look, the powerful prince, with a golden, decorated bow, rose in the assembly like fire summoned by priests for the sacred offering. Aksha mounted a great chariot, radiant like the young sun, adorned with heated gold and a network of banners, bearing a jewel-encrusted flag and yoked with eight swift horses. This chariot, earned by 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, spears, and javelins arranged in order, its golden reins gleaming like the moon and sun. Mounted upon this splendid chariot, Aksha departed, heroic as the immortals. He filled the sky and earth with the thunder of horses, elephants, and great chariots, approaching the capable Hanuman who stood at the gate, surrounded by assembled troops. Aksha, upon nearing Hanuman—whose eyes were like a lion’s—beheld him seated, steadfast, and awe-inspiring, like the fire of destruction at the end of an age, intent on annihilation, and gazed at him with respect. The mighty son of Ravana, reflecting on Hanuman’s speed and valor, and considering his own strength, grew in might 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 aroused, 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, gazing intently. Adorned with golden armlets and beautiful earrings, possessing extraordinary valor, he approached Hanuman for an encounter so unparalleled that even gods and demons were alarmed. As their contest began, the earth resounded, the sun did not scorch, the wind did not blow, and the mountains did not tremble; the heavens roared and the ocean was agitated. Aksha struck Hanuman’s head with three well-feathered, golden-tipped, venomous arrows, whose release and aim were mastered through deep concentration. Struck squarely on the head, Hanuman’s eyes grew bloodshot and rolled, blood streaming down, yet he shone like the newly risen sun, radiant with the rays of arrows, resembling the sun with its circle of beams. Seeing the royal prince in battle, splendid with marvelous weapons and bow, Hanuman rejoiced and was filled with eagerness for the fight. Like the sun atop Mandara mountain, Hanuman, enveloped in strength and valor and filled with growing wrath, burned Aksha, his troops and vehicles, with the fiery rays of his eyes. Aksha, armed with bow and arrows like Indra’s, released a swift shower of arrows upon Hanuman, as a rain cloud pours down on a great mountain. The monkey, seeing Aksha fierce in battle, his energy, strength, and valor grown, armed with powerful arrows, roared with joy, his voice resounding like thunder. Though still a youth, Aksha, proud of his valor, approached Hanuman in combat as an elephant approaches a great well covered with grass, his anger intensified and his eyes blood-red. Struck forcefully by Aksha’s arrows, Hanuman made a sound like thunder and quickly leapt into the sky, his massive arms flung wide, presenting a fearsome sight. Aksha, a mighty chariot-warrior, rushed at him as he leapt, showering arrows like a rain cloud pelting a mountain with stones. Hanuman, swift as thought and terrible in battle, moving along the path of the wind, evaded the arrows, slipping between them like the wind itself. Beholding Aksha, armed and eager for battle, covering the sky with excellent arrows, Hanuman gazed at him with respect and fell into thought. His arms pierced by arrows, Hanuman roared aloud, reflecting in battle on the prowess of the noble prince. He thought, “This mighty one, radiant as the young sun, performs great deeds like a mere child at play; yet, though skilled in all arts of war, I find no resolve within me to bring about his destruction. He is a great soul, immense in strength, steadfast and exceedingly enduring in combat; without doubt, by virtue of his deeds, he is honored by Nāgas, Yakṣas, and sages alike.