After the decimation of Indrajit, three other chiefs of Ravana’s demon army are also killed by vanaras. With that all the kinsmen and the chiefs of Ravana are annihilated as it is left to the king himself to battle it out. Thus, we have now arrived at the full-blown war between Rama and Ravana in its final leg. In this phase Ravana will fight with Rama and his men, who are all buoyed by the way the battle has panned out so far. Since it came this far, we can look at the strengths of Ravana and the kind of opponent he can be for the young princess accompanied by vanaras. Ravana is often depicted with ten heads and twenty arms, symbolizing his immense strength and intellect. He had the ability to change his form at will, allowing him to transform into any being or object. Ravana could fly and become invisible, showcasing his mastery over mysticism. He was capable of creating powerful illusions to deceive his enemies. Through intense penance and devotion to the god Brahma, Ravana was granted near invulnerability from every being except lowly humans, making him immune to destruction by gods and demons. Ravana was a learned scholar with profound knowledge of the Vedas and sacred texts, which granted him expertise in both magic and weaponry. His strength was so great that he could move seas and split mountains. Ravana’s powers made him a formidable adversary, but they also contributed to his downfall, as his arrogance and misuse of these abilities led to this reduced state of his kingdom where everyone is decimated except the lord himself standing alone. But the demon king, separated from this pain, is still very tough to defeat by ordinary humans.
On the other side, let us also examine the incredible strength and weapons possessed by Sri Rama. Rama was an exceptional warrior with unparalleled strength and combat skills. He was capable of defeating powerful demons and adversaries which he had demonstrated already when he accompanied Viswamitra very young by killing Maricha, Subahu, broken the divine bow of Shiva to marry Sita, killed Vali with a single arrow and destroyed numerous other demons while in exile. He killed many demons in Dandaka forest and Janasthan where 14000 rakshasas were killed in battle with Khara and Dushana. We already knew Rama was a master archer, known for his ability to wield the divine bow, Sharanga. His archery skills were unmatched, allowing him to perform incredible feats in battle. Lord Rama, possessed several powerful celestial weapons, often referred to as “astras.” He can wield Brahmastra, Agneyastra, Varunastra, Vayavastra, Garudastra, Nagastra, Pashupatastra, Sudarshana Chakra among others. As an avatar of Vishnu, Rama had divine protection and blessings, which aids him in his quest to defeat Ravana and rescue his wife, Sita. With these incredible credentials armed by the embodiment of virtue and dharma, wisdom and intelligence, compassion and empathy, Rama is more than an equal to Ravana and arrived at the doorstep of his glorious moment. We can look at how these equals will fare on the battle ground one on one in the following chapters.
In chapter 101, Rama and Ravana confront each other with various arrows and missiles. Meanwhile, Lakshmana joins the fight and chops off Ravana's bow with his arrows. Vibhishana also fights and kills Ravana's horses. Lakshmana rescues Vibhishana, when a spear is hurled on him by Ravana. Then, Ravana throws a spear on Lakshmana. As it penetrates Lakshmana's bossom, Lakshmana falls down unconscious. Rama hurls hails of arrows on Ravana from his flaming bow. Ravana takes to his heels out of fear.
Ravana outraged at his weapons being shattered even before they reached their target, release his next dreadful missile which struck Lakshmana to the ground. Rama stood stunned with his eyes streaming tears as Lakshmana blood-stained body writhed in pain. Coming out of the mists of his grief, Rama said, "He whom I had long sought is here. I shall now kill that sinner. Today, the earth will witness the greatest war ever and the death of either Ravana or Rama. The worlds will know what Rama is and they will gather in hordes to talk of how Rama fought.
Then began the greatest of wars. The thunder of missiles terrorized not only creatures, but also Ravana. Speaking thus Rama began to discharge his penetrating shafts embellished with gold at Dashagriva. From his side, Ravana, like a cloud from which the rain falls, showered down arrows and clubs with violence on Rama. And a mighty uproar arose when, in order to slay each other, those marvellous arrows were loosed by Rama and Ravana. Severed and scattered, the shafts with flaming points discharged by Rama and Ravana fell from the sky on the earth, and the twanging of their bows, causing great terror amongst all beings, was astonishing to hear. Then that amazing hail of missiles, that the mighty hero let fly in continuous streams from his burning bow, overwhelmed Ravana who, terrified, took to flight like a great cloud driven before the tempest.
In chapter 102, Rama laments over the uncertain condition of Lakshmana. He calls Sushena, the monkey-physician. Susena tests Lakshmana and says he is still alive. Sushena then requests Hanuman to go all the way to Himalayas and bring the required herbs to treat Lakshmana. Hanuman proceeds to Mount Mahodara and failing to identify the herbs there, carries the mountain-peak itself and brings it to Sushena. Lakshmana regains consciousness, after getting treated with that herb by Sushena.
Still grieving for Lakshmana and still shooting arrows, Rama said "Sushena, it breaks my heart to see Lakshmana in such agony. Weeping for him, how I continue to war and if he dies how can I continue to even live? Of what use is either this war, Sita or my life?"
Sushena said to Hanuman, “O Friend, go quickly, repair to the Mountain Mahodaya! Formerly you have heard of it from Jambavan, O Warrior! On the southern peak grow curative habs, the plants named Vishalyakarani, Savarnyakarani, Samjivakarani and also Samd-hani of great virtue. Bring them back, O Warrior, in orda to revive that hero, Lakshmana.”
At these words, Hanuman repaired to the Mountain of Habs but there he became anxious, for that illustrious monkey could not recognize those remedial plants. Then the thought came to Maruti, whose strength was immeasurable, ‘I will carry back the peak of the mountain for it is on the summit that the auspicious herbs are growing, at least I infer so from what Sushena has said. If I return without having picked the Vishalyakarani, the loss of time will prove fatal and a great misfortune will follow.’
Reflecting thus, the mighty Hanuman hastened on his way and when he reached that high mountain, he shook the summit three times and having broken it off, balanced it, with its multitudinous trees in full flower of varying fragrance, in his two hands. Thereafter, like a dark cloud charged with rain, that monkey sprang into the air carrying the mountain peak and returned in great haste setting it down and, having rested awhile, he said to Sushena:
“I am not conversant with the medicinal plants, O Bull among Monkeys, here is the whole summit which I have brought to you I”
At these words of the son of Pavana, Sushena, the foremost of the monkeys, having uprooted the herb, took hold of it and there was great amazement among the monkeys witnessing Hanuman’s feat which even the Gods themselves could only have accomplished with difficulty.
Then the foremost of monkeys, Sushena, having crushed that herb, held it to Lakshmana’s nostrils and on inhaling it that prince, the scourge of his foes, who was riddled with arrows, instantly rose from the ground released from the darts and his sufferings. Meanwhile the monkeys beholding him standing erect cried out ‘Excellent! Excellent!’ and, full of joy, paid homage to him.
In chapter 103, The battle between Rama and Ravana starts. Indra sends a chariot, an armour, some arrows and a powerful spear. A tumultuous and thrilling battle ensues between Rama and Ravana. A spear hurled by Ravana is thwarted by a powerful spear (sent by Indra) of Rama. Then, Rama strikes Ravana's horses with arrows. He also pierces the chest region and the forehead of Ravana with his fierce arrows. Ravana gets severely hurt.
The valiant Raghava, the destroyer of hostile warriors, at the head of his forces, took up his bow and stretching it allowed a shower of his formidable shafts to fall on Ravana.
From his side, the Lord of the Titans, mounted on his chariot, rushed on Kakutstha, as Svarbhanu on Bhaskara; and Dashagriva, standing in his car, assailed Rama with darts like unto lightning, as a great cloud covers a huge mountain with its floods. Then Rama, with his arrows that were decorated with gold and resembled flaming brands, overwhelmed Dashagriva with them on the battlefield.
On this the Gods, Gandharvas and Kinneras declared:—‘This combat is unequal, Rama is on foot whilst the titan is in a chariot!’ whereupon the foremost of the Gods, the blessed Shakra, having heard the words of the Immortals, called Matali to him and said
“With my chariot repair speedily to where the illustrious Raghava is fighting on foot! Go to the battlefield and invite him to ascend this car; do you render this signal service to the Gods!”
On this command from his king, Matali, the celestial charioteer, bowing, made answer, saying:“With all speed I go to fulfil my duty as a charioteer!”
Raghava, skilled in the use of powerful arrows, fought with the King of the Titans, matching Gandharva Weapon against Gandharva Weapon and Celestial Arrow against Celestial Arrow. Then the royal night-ranger, in a paroxysm of fury let fly a formidable missile on his rival, marvellous, dreadful, befitting a demon. Loosed from Ravana’s bow, those shafts, decorated with gold, falling on Kakutstha, were transformed into serpents of subtle venom and those fearful monsters with brassy faces, vomiting searing flames from their gaping mouths, sprang on Rama, and those reptiles whose contact was equal to Vasuki of iron coils and violent poison, enveloped all regions on every side filling the whole of space.
Seeing those serpents falling on him in the fight, Rama chose the dreadful and appalling Garuda Weapon and discharged it. Leaving Raghava’s bow, those golden-hafted arrows, brilliant as flames, transformed themselves into golden eagles, slayers of serpents, and all the darts in the form of snakes were destroyed by arrows in the shape of birds, that belonged to Rama, who was able to change his form at will.
Enraged at the destruction of his weapon, Ravana, the Lord of the Titans, caused a shower of formidable shafts to fall on Rama and while he was riddling Rama of imperishable exploits with thousands of darts, he wounded Matali with countless others. Thereafter, having aimed at the golden standard, Ravana shattered it with a single shaft and the golden device fell from the height of the chariot to the floor. With a series of arrows he struck Indra’s steeds, to the exceeding terror of the Gods, Gandharvas, Caranas and also the Danavas and, seeing Rama wounded, the Siddhas and great Rishis were troubled as also the King of the Monkeys and Bibishana. Meanwhile Rama, overwhelmed by that ten-necked demon, was unable to loose his arrows in the conflict and, knitting his brows, enraged, his eyes inflamed, was transported with anger and it seemed as if he would consume the titan.
In chapter 104, A ferocious battle ensues between Rama and Ravana, hurling thousands of arrows on each other. Each one intercepts the other's arrows. Rama speaks harsh words to Ravana for having carried away Seetha from Janasthana-forest to Lanka and vows that he will soon dispatch him surely to the world of Death. Rama then pours down streams of arrows on Ravana. Rama more vehemently torments Ravana with his sharp arrows and mystic missiles, till Ravana becomes helplessly weak and confused.
On seeing the furious countenance of the virtuous Rama, all beings were seized with terror, the earth shook, the mountains, frequented by lions and tigers, trembled, the trees swayed to and fro, the Ocean, that Lord of Rivers was agitated and flocks of crows, braying like donkeys, described circles in the sky on all sides.
At that instant the wicked Ravana, in his fury against Rama whom he wished to slay, took hold of an immense weapon that was as hard as diamond, deafening, the destroyer of its foe, furnished with spikes like unto mountain peaks, dreadful to conceive or behold, and Ravana lifted up that lance with its smoke-wreathed flaming point, like unto the fires at the time of the final dissolution of the worlds, that was greatly to be feared, irresistible and which death itself could not endure, the terror of all beings, whom it was able to crush to fragments. At the height of anger, he raised his strong arm and, surrounded by his brave troops, brandishing his weapon, that colossus, his eyes red with fury, emitted a piercing cry in order to encourage his forces, and earth, sky and the four quarters trembled at that fearful shout of the King of the Titans.
At these words, the King of the Titans hurled his weapon at Rama, and loosed by Ravana’s hand, that lance wreathed in lightning, deafening with its eight bells, passed through the air with a blinding flash.
Seeing that flaming spear, formidable to behold, Rama stretched his bow and discharged an arrow with force, but as the spear fell, Raghava loosed a mass of arrows to intercept it, so that he appeared like Vasava with his floods seeking to stay the encroachment of the fires at the end of the world period. As butterflies are consumed by flames, so were those shafts consumed by Ravana’s huge spear; then Raghava, seeing his aerial shafts reduced to ashes, pulverized by contact with that lance, was transported with anger and furious in the extreme. Thereafter Rama, Joy of the House of Raghu, took up his spear favoured by Vasava, that Matali had brought to him; wielding it with his powerful arm, that lance, the destroyer of the worlds, with its sonorous bells lit up the sky like unto a brilliant meteor. In its flight, colliding with the spear belonging to that Indra of the Titans, it was shattered by the impact and that enormous lance fell bereft of its splendour. Thereafter Rama pierced Ravana’s swiftly-moving steeds with shafts loosed with great force that were thunderous and flew straight to their target. Displaying all his strength, he wounded his rival in the breast with penetrating javelins and his brow with three arrows, whereupon Ravana, his whole body pierced with arrows and covered with blood, which flowed from wounds in all his limbs, resembled an Ashoka Tree in full flower. His body riddled with darts loosed by Rama, bathed in blood, feeling himself utterly exhausted, that Lord of the Rangers of the Night, in the midst of his army, was filled with extreme wrath.
This concludes chapters 101, 102, 103 and 104 of Yuddha Kanda where we had seen Lakshmana severely wounded by Ravana, Hanuman carrying the whole peak of the mountain with herbs, Lakshamana springing back to life after treated by Sushena, a deadly war in progress between Rama and Ravana. We can see each of these warriors loosening deadly missiles but intercepted by the other. At one time, Rama is overwhelmed, wounded and enraged by the exploits of Ravana and at the same time recovers, pierces through Ravana with powerful shafts. As the war continues, Rama gains upper hand and riddles the body of Ravana with darts, bathing him in blood. We can see how Ravana further weakens, takes to flight and the battle slowly progressing towards an end in the subsequent chapters.
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