In the last post, we had seen the end of the famed demon warrior Indrajit in the hands of Lakshmana. Both Lakshmana and Indrajit fought valiantly for a very long time before the divine strength of Ikshvaku prince got the upper hand in the battle. This is the important victory for Rama and Lakshmana before the final battle in the entire duel with the demon army and their generals. Lakshmana played his part by following the order of Rama to disrupt the sacred rites performed by Indrajit and kill him. The near invincible son of Ravana who never tasted defeat and who is the only one to trouble Rama and vanara army earlier faced ill portents at the way. He lost his horses, chariot and charioteer in a way which he had never seen this humiliated domination before. Finally, fitting a missile presided over by Indra the lord of celestials, Lakshmana addressed a prayer on Rama and discharges it towards Indrajit which chops off his head and kills him. The monkeys including Vibhishana exults by seeing this at which the Gods and all the beings in the skies - Rishis, Gandharvas and Apsaras rejoice by emitting shouts of triumph. This will be conveyed to Rama, giving the leader a huge boost in the battle and opening the doors for Ravana to enter the fight.
Despite Indrajit being a master of celestial weapons and possessed the Brahmastra, Vaishnavastra, and Pashupatastra, making him a very powerful adversary and despite him defeating Indra, the king of the gods, and earned the title ‘Indrajit’, which means 'the conqueror of Indra’ he was ultimately killed by Lakshmana who never had these many credentials. This act was not only a turning point in the war but also a testament to Lakshmana’s dedication and prowess as a warrior. It’s depicted as a moment of coming of highest virtues and intense action showcasing the themes of loyalty, duty, righteousness, and the triumph of good over evil. With this, Lakshmana has played his part from following his brother ardently all the while to being an excellent supportive hand to winning the key moment to blindly believe in the virtues of Rama. This simple prayer unto Rama killed the giant in enemy camp who lived among the men without any morals. The bond of brotherhood is at display on the battlefield as one brother lives for the other for the acquittal of the mother Janaki. We can see the reactions, repercussions of Indrajit death and the aftermath in the following chapters.
In chapter 92, Lakshmana and Vibhishana approach Rama and inform him that Indrajit's head has been chopped off. Rama was delighted with the news and applauds Lakshmana, by embracing him. Rama gets Lakshmana and others treated by Sushena. After the medical treatment by Suhena, Lakshmana becomes sound, active and full of joy.
Lakshmana, graced with auspicious marks, his limbs bathed in blood, having slain that conqueror of his foes on the battlefield, experienced supreme satisfaction.
Taking with him Jambavan, Hanuman and all the inhabitants of the woods, the valiant and illustrious Lakshmana speedily returned to Sugriva and Raghava, leaning on Vibhishana and Hanuman. Thereafter, having circumambulated Rama and paid obeisance to him, Saumitri stood beside his brother as Upendra by Indra.
Then that hero, Vibhishana, approaching with a look which itself was eloquent of delight, described Indrajit’s fearful end and it was with joy that Rama learned how the head of Ravani had been severed by the great-souled Lakshmana and the tidings that Indrajit had fallen under Lakshmana’s blows filled that valiant prince with unequalled felicity so that he cried out:—
“Well done, O Lakshmana, this exceedingly difficult feat pleases me! Ravani’s death means victory, be assured thereof ”
Thereafter, smelling the head of Lakshmana, who had increased his glory yet who was abashed, the mighty Rama caused him to be seated on his lap and, with gentle strength, having clasped his brother, who was wounded, to his breast, he gazed upon him tenderly again and again. Then Rama, smelling his head once more, passed his hand rapidly over his body and, in order to sooth him, said:—
“You have accomplished an auspicious and highly momentous feat, O You whose exploits are beyond the power of others. Now that his son is slain, I deem Ravana to be defeated. To-day the death of that perverse wretch confers victory over Ravana, the Scourge of Men, upon me, be you blessed, O Warrior! You have severed the right arm of the King of the Titans on which he leant for support”
Having lavished comfort and caresses on his brother, the son of Raghu, Rama, joyfully addressed Sushena, saying:—
“Do you pluck out the arrows from the highly intelligent Saumitri, who is ever devoted to his friends, and restore him. Speedily heal the wounds of Saumitri, who is attached to his friends, and do you nurse back to health all those who received blows and wounds in the conflict, those bears and monkeys whose valiant battalions have trees as their weapons.”
At these words of Rama, the powerful monkey leader, Sushena, administered a sovereign remedy to Lakshmana’s nostrils and having inhaled it, that hero was at once liberated from his darts and wounds. Restored to his normal state and freed from the arrows, his burning pains at an end, his fever suddenly allayed, Saumitri experienced supreme delight. Thereupon Rama, the King of the Plavagas, Vibhishana and the valiant Chief of the Bears with their forces, seeing Saumitri standing free from pain, rejoiced exceedingly.
In chapter 93, Ravana feels distressed in hearing the news of his son's death. He gets enraged and after deeply pondering over, decides to kill Sita, who was the root of all this trouble. Ravana with a sword in his hand, sallies forth towards Ashoka garden to make a short work of Sita. Sita observes Ravana rushing towards her and laments that after killing Rama and Lakshmana, he is coming to her place to kill her. Beholding the lamentation of Sita, Suparsva, a good and upright minister of Ravana advises Ravana to desist from that dastardly act and to divert his anger towards Rama in battle. Ravana accepts the advice of his minister and returns to his assembl hall.
When Ravana heard about the death of his son, he fell into a dead faint. Tormented by an unbearable grief, he wailed, "My son, pride of my army, death on the battlefield is welcome to all, even the devas wish it, so I should not weep for you. Dying for the cause of your master brings you immortal fame in heaven. Now that you are dead, the devas, sages and kings will live in peace, but to me without you all the worlds seem empty. I hoped that you would perform the funeral rituals on my dying day. How could you, my child, go away and leave your funeral rites to me? Where have you gone? How could you, who had always warded off danger from my enemies, go away without killing Rama, Lakshmana and Sugriva. Ravana's grief soon gave way to thoughts of vengeance. Burning with fury and breathing fire, he wanted Sita's death. He said "Through many thousands of years, through pain and penance I gained the grade of Brahma. He assured me immortality from all creatures and granted me a life without death. I shall now ride with his gift, the armor whose dazzle puts sunbeams to shame and the mighty bow."
When he rushed to Sita threatening to kill her, Suparsva, one among his ministers, said, "Ravana, how can you born of a noble race, who are king of all raskhsasas, master of the Vedas and who have performed the most difficult of penances, resort to this? Great warrior, charioteer, swordsman and wise, show your anger against Rama and make Sita your own."
In chapter 94, As per Ravana's command, his army marches forward to the battlefield, so as to fight fiercely with Rama and his army with their weapons. When the demons attack the monkeys fiercely, they seek refuge in Rama. Rama destroys the troops of demons on the battlefield swiftly.
Ravana returned to the council hall absolutely devastated. He told his ministers and his men to surround Rama. "Concentrate on him alone and kill him. Even if he survives today, wounded and weary, he will be easy prey for me tomorrow," he said. To please Ravana went the rakshasas and unable to face them fled the vanaras. With the advent of Rama onto the battlefield, so swift were his moves that the demons saw only the result of his might and not its execution. Just as the havoc played by stormy winds is visible but not the wind, so was the destruction wreaked by Rama while he remained invisible. The enemy army saw him everywhere like flashes of lightning and the creatures of the world beheld him as the flying Vishnu charka.
The four-fold armies of Ravana, consisting of 29 lakhs mighty elephants; 13 crores, 12 lakhs and 20,000 horses with their riders; 20 crores, 20 lakhs and 60,000 foot soldiers; 125 crores, 80 lakh rakshasas with magical skills were annihilated by Rama in three hours and 45 minutes. Those that escaped the carnage took refuge in Lanka.
In chapter 95, the female-demons lament over the death of their husbands and kinsfolk in battle. They further rebuke Surpanaka, for being the prime cause to bring Sita to Lanka forcibly by Ravana and for all the combat occurring with Rama thereafter. The female-demons feel sad that Ravana did not heed to the appropriate advice given by Vibhishana. They further lament on perceiving bad omens and predict the annihilation of Ravana. They recollect an instance of celestials praying for Shiva and getting a boon that a woman (Sita) will be born to cause the destruction of demons.
In Lanka, a great sorrow descended upon its people as the surviving armor brought news of the massacre. Grieving kin cursed Surpanaka who was the blame of it all, "Ugly, despicable woman, she went to Rama for the ruin of the entire rakshasa race. Because of her, Ravana brought Sita to Lanka and brought upon himself his own death. If only he had heeded Vibhishana, Lanka would not have turned into a graveyard. How can Ravana even now not realize the might of Rama who has slain the most invincible, Kumbhakarna, Athikaya and his very dear Indrajit? Rama is no mortal. He is Rudra, Vishnu or Yama in that form. Ravana who has immunity from death from all creatures except man is now in grave danger from man. When the sages when to Shiva asking his protection from Ravana, he had said that for the ruin of the rakshasas will be born a woman, who will do you all a lot of good. That lady is perhaps Sita, who will destroy us along with Ravana."
In chapter 96, On beholding the sight of female demons, afflicted with grief in the houses of Lanka, Ravana is very much enraged and orders his generals to tell their armies to set out for the battle immediately. Ravana promises them to take revenge by killing Rama and Lakshmana as also monkey-chiefs in the battle. Accompanied by several demon-warriors, Ravana marched to the battlefield, where Rama and Lakshmana are present. While Ravana is sallying forth for the battle, he sees several bad omens presaging his death. On hearing the noise of the demons entering the battlefield, the army of monkeys return to the battle. A tumultuous fight ensues, between the monkeys and the demons. Ravana fights fiercely with monkeys.
Even as Ravana listened to the wailing of Lanka, his grief gave way to more anger and he ordered Mahodara, Mahaparsva and Virupaksha to prepare for war. "I will send Rama, Lakshmana and their armies to the land of Yama and wipe the tears of the weeping woman," he swore.
The highly effulgent monarch, surrounded by his valiant battalions, rushed into battle, brandishing his bow, like Yama at the dissolution of the world, and that great warrior, mounted on his car harnessed to swift steeds set out through the gate where Rama and Lakshmana were encamped. At that moment the sun lost its brilliance, the quarters were enveloped in darkness, the birds emitted dreadful cries, the earth trembled, the Gods let fall a rain of blood and Ravana’s horses stumbled, whilst a vulture alighted on the pole of his banner and sinister jackals howled. Then that titan felt his left eye twitch and tremors pass through his left arm; he grew pale and his voice seemed to die away. As Dashagriva set forth to fight, ill omens appeared presaging his death; a meteor fell from the sky with the crash of thunder and herons and vultures emitted mournful cries. Ravana, however, remained unmoved by the terrible portents that appeared and rushed madly to his doom, urged on by destiny. Impelled by fate, disregarding all signs, the deluded rakshasa raced to meet his death.
Meanwhile, in his ire, Ravana with his golden shafts, created havoc among the monkeys and some among those heroic warriors had their heads severed by him and the hearts of others were pierced or their ears cut off and some fell lifeless, the flanks of others being tom, their heads broken or their eyes put out. Whenever the ten-headed titan, rolling his eyes furiously, turned his chariot in the fight, the ferocity of his assault was irresistible to the leaders of his foes.
This concludes chapters 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 of Yuddha Kanda where we had seen the reactions from the killing of Indrajit from Rama and Ravana, Lakshmana’s wounds treated, Ravana distraught and tries to kill Sita but stopped by minister, sends a large troop to battle Rama but gets defeated, the lamentations of female demons and Ravana setting forth to battle himself amid ill-omens. In this, we can see the steady winning of Rama and gradual downfall of Ravana with the destruction of his prized possession and huge army. The female demons wail over the dead soldiers in several ways as the battle has effectively turned the land into a graveyard. It has been left to nothing except the death, ruin and devastation. In the end, the lone supremo Ravana was left to all himself with no one to look after. In this moment, it is left for no one to wage the war but Ravana himself who needs to enter the battlefield. On the other hand, Rama himself is on the battlefield to decimate the huge army of demons and Ravana enters on the other side doing the same to vanara camp. Many bad omens emerge as the lord of Lanka comes to fight. In the final standoff, Rama and Ravana will face each other, which will slowly evolve in the subsequent chapters.
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