A TRILLION DEMONS
BOOK 6, BOOK OF WAR, YUDDHA KANDA (PR: YUDDHA KAAND`A), CHAPTER 9, VERSE 15
GIST
The residents of Lanka are 1. ten thousand crore (a 100 billion) demons.
Two adjectives were used: 1. Maamsa soon`ita bhakshyaan`aam = those who feed on meat and blood. 2. Kaamaruupin`aam = those who can take any form at will.
INTERPRETATION, DEDUCTIONS
1. Even in these days of population explosion, the population on the entire Earth is less than 7 billion. On Lanka alone, there can't be 100 billion!
2. Valmiki might have used numbers at his will and pleasure, so as to make the prowess of Rama as that of a great conquerer.
3. Even a conquerer like Alexander was said to have used a cavalry of 7,000 and infantry of 40,000 and defeated an Asia Minor of say 200 million population. How can Rama have an army of 100 billion and defeat a Nation of 100 billion?
6-9-15
Das`a koot`i sahasraan`i
Rakshasaam kaamaruupin`aam,
Maamsashon`ita bhakshyaan`aam
Lankaapuranivaasinaam.
IMPORTANT NOTE: I REGRET FOR THE ERROR:
Earlier I typed the demon figure as a trillion i.e. 1000 billion. Today (Nov. 3, 2007) I correct the error. Pl. bear with me.
