467:1 I omit Cantos Lv., Lvi., Lvii., and LVIII. which relate how Akampan and Prahasta sally out and fall. There is little novelty of incident in these Cantos and the result are exactly the same as before. In Canto LV. Akampan, at the command of Rvan, leads forth his troops. Evil omens are seen and heard. The enemies meet, and many fall on each side, the Vnars transfixed with arrows, the Rkshases crushed with rooks and trees.
In Canto LVI. Akampan sees that the Rkshases are worsted, and fights with redoubled rage and vigour. The Vnars fall fast under his "nets of arrows." Hanumn comes to the rescue. He throws mountain peaks at the giant which are dexterously stopped with flights of arrows; and at last beats him down and kills him with a tree.
In Canto LVII. Rvan is seriously alarmed. He declares that he himself, Kumbhakarna or Prahasta, must go forth. Prahasta sallies out vaunting that the fowls of the air shall eat their fill of Vnar flesh.
In Canto LVIII. the two armies meet. Dire is the conflict; ceaseless is the rain of stones and arrows. At last Nla meets Prahasta and breaks his bow. Prahasta leaps from his car, and the giant and the Vnar fight on foot. Nla with a huge tree crushes his opponent who falls like a tree when its roots are cut.