The end of Ravana, the ten headed Rakshasa.
Rama's Vanara sainya surrounded Lanka like a turbulent ocean. A great battle ensued. Blood flowed in streams. Dust rose and cut off the sun plunging the earth in ominously significant gloom. The slaughter on both sides was enormous. Like moths rushing at a flame, the Rakshasas fell on the Vanara army. The battle raged throughout the day.
Indrajit at the end shot serpent missiles at Rama and Lakshmana. Bound by them, Rama and Lakshmana could not move and fell breathless on the battlefield
Vibhishana, who saw Sugriva standing helpless and forlorn, put courage in the Vanara king. "It is foolish to lose hope," he said. "Look at Rama and Lakshmana. Their faces are still bright. They are not dead. Be not afraid. Soon they will recover from this swoon and resume fighting."
Meanwhile Ravana had it proclaimed in Lanka that Rama and Lakshmana had been slain by Indrajit. He sent for his women and said to them: "Go at once and inform Sita that Rama is no more;
When Sita was thus in the desperation of utter sorrow, Trijata, her Rakshasi companion consoled her saying, ''Sita, there is no cause for grief. They are bound by a captive weapon and are unconscious just that all''.
As they were speaking, Garuda appeared, Then Garuda gently stroked the bodies of Rama and Lakshmana and restored to them their full strength. The wounds were all healed and they rose up, stronger and more radiant than before. Rama and Lakshmana have shaken off the naga darts with which Indrajit bound them and have rejoined the army and are raging about the field like hungry lions. The darts of Indrajit have proved futile.
Next day war saw the death of Akampana, as Blood flowed in streams. There was terrible slaughter on both sides. Warrior chief Prahasta's followers, Narantaka, Mahanada, Kumbhahanu and others were opposed by Dwivida, Durmukha and Jambavan. Ravana got into his chariot and went forward like Rudra, the destroyer. Seated in his radiant chariot and issuing from the city, Ravana beheld the Vanara army and heard their uproar which resounded like the ocean. Ravana attacked innumerable Vanaras and laid them low.There was a fight between Lakshmana and Ravana. Lakshmana fell down unconscious but Hanuman intervened and carried Lakshmana away to Rama. Then Rama, riding on Hanuman's shoulders, gave battle to Ravana. Rakshasa king was sorely wounded. His golden crown was broken. Deprived of every weapon, he stood unarmed before Rama. "You may go now," said Rama. "You have fought well today. Go away and rest and come back tomorrow, refreshed and with weapons." And Ravana retreated shamefacedly to the city .
Ravana asked his ministers to spare no efforts to rouse Kumbhakarna at once and get him ready for battle. Ravana was confident that Kumbhakarna would return triumphant and he now felt like one recovering from a mortal sickness. As the huge form of Kumbhakarna, a giant even among the Rakshasas, was seen stepping across the fortress-wall like Yama at the end of Time.
Kumbhakarna fiercely continued his ruthless slaughter of the Vanaras. Angada himself received a blow, as a result of which he fainted and fell on the earth. Sugriva was struck down. Picking up the unconscious Vanara King, Kumbhakarna carried him with joy towards Lanka. The Rakshasa army rejoiced greatly and raised a triumphant uproar. Kumbhakarna wished to make a present of the captive Vanara King to his brother Ravana. Rakshasas and their women-folk, standing on the terraces, showered flowers and poured sandal paste. This incidentally revived Sugriva. He opened his eyes and wondered where he was and what had happened. He soon understood everything. He then began to bite with his teeth and tear with his nails the ears and nose of Kumbhakarna and as he did these, Sugriva jumped and flew off across the sky and arrived at the place where Rama was.
None could now stop Kumbhakarna. He began to kill and swallow up the Vanaras. The whole army began to disappear in this way. Lakshmana tried with his arrows to obstruct his progress but the Rakshasa passed him by and rushed forward to face Rama himself. Sending sharper and stronger arrows, Rama wounded the arms and the feet of the Rakshasa, At last, Rama cut off his head with an arrow.
When the Rakshasas told this tale, Ravana felt that his own life had left him. He swooned. Likewise, Devantaka and Trisiras were slain by Hanuman, and Mahodara by Nila. Atikaya fell a prey to Lakshmana's arrows. When Ravana heard that Atikaya was dead, he was bewildered. Thus bewildered, Ravana lost heart. INDRAJIT comforted his father. He gathered an army, and with it made another sortie. He swooped down on the Vanara forces and killed and wounded thousands of them. They were helpless against his fury. The Brahmastra of Indrajit was effective against even Rama and Lakshmana who were tied up by it. They lay unconscious on the ground.
Jambavan, who was more dead than alive, moved slowly among the Vanaras, inquiring: "Is Hanuman alive?" "Yes, I am here," said Hanuman. Between the Rishabha and Kailasa peaks, there is the Hill of Herbs. In that hilltop are four medicinal plants. If you bring them here quickly, Rama and Lakshmana and the Vanara army will recover consciousness.
Accordingly, Hanuman sprang up into the air and moved fast. He reached the hill described by the much respected Jambavan and as he could not identify the plants, he carried the whole hill and returned with it to Lanka.
With the approach of the Sanjivi hill, Rama and Lakshmana and the Vanaras felt the impact of the missiles slip off their bodies. Their wounds healed and they became strong and stood up.The battle was resumed.
Ravana got furious on hearing this and sent to the battlefield Kumbha and Nikumbha, the sons of Kumbhakarna, together with Yupaksha and other Rakshasa warriors. After another terrible battle, Kumbha was slain by Sugriva and Nikumbha by Hanuman. Makaraksha, son of Khara, who opposed Rama, fell to his fiery arrows. Many more mighty Rakshasas perished.
Then, at the bidding of Ravana, Indrajit went once again to the battle. Indrajit, by his witchcraft, created a maya-Sita and, putting her in a chariot, took her before the Vanara army and seemingly killed her in their presence. As a result of this trick, Indrajit gained time to perform an asuric sacrifice.
Rama and Lakshmana, like the Vanara warriors, believed that Sita was dead and were lost in grief. Vibhishana Then said: ''Indrajit is trying to defeat you through magic. We should therefore go and obstruct the sacrifice he intends and let Lakshmana go at once and mar Indrajit's purpose."
Ascending his chariot, the son of Ravana sent forth his arrows while standing on Hanuman, Lakshmana did the same. As they were well matched in strength and skill, the battle lasted long. The chariot of Indrajit was destroyed in the course of the combat and both the heroes stood on the ground and continued the battle. At last, Lakshmana used the Indra-astra spell and uttering the name of Rama discharged the fatal arrow. The head of Indrajit was severed and fell to the ground.
The news reached Ravana that Indrajit had been slain by Lakshmana. When he heard that Vibhishana helped Lakshmana in slaying Indrajit, his grief and anger swelled. Nothing remains to us now but revenge and despair. ''It is best to kill Sita, the cause of all this tragedy. My son killed the maya Sita. Now I shall kill the real Sita herself." So saying he rushed out, sword in hand, intending to do it. Suparshva appealed to Ravana's better sense telling "Go now with all your strength and slay Rama. If even you fail, I shall go myself and destroy him." -he ignited.
And aroused by that, Ravana went in full force for the great battle. Rama bent his bow and sent showers of arrows against the Rakshasas who destroyed their army like a raging fire. Rama pierced with his darts every limb of Ravana. And yet he did not fall. Then Lakshmana and Vibhishana together attacked Ravana. Furious with his brother and determined to kill him, Ravana flung at him a powerful weapon. But intercepted by a missile of Lakshmana it broke into two and fell on the ground like a burning brand. Once again, Ravana aimed another mighty sakti against Vibhishana. This too Lakshmana intercepted. Then Ravana hurled a sakti at Lakshmana crying: "Now you are dead!" Under its impact Lakshmana fell down unconscious on the ground. Vanara leaders took counsel and sent Hanuman once again to the Hill of Herbs to save the life of Lakshmana.
Lakshmana got well again and resumed his part in the battle. Meanwhile, Matali brought his master Indra's chariot to the battlefield for the use of Rama. Then followed a wonderful battle. Sorely wounded, Ravana fell unconscious and, noting this, his charioteer quietly took him out of the battlefield. When, a little later, Ravana recovered consciousness, he was highly angry, with his charioteer for taking him out of the battlefield and insisted on being taken back to face Rama.
The grim battle began again. Rama uttered the spell and sent the Brahmastra. Though the Rakshasa's ten heads had often been cut off before, they had grown again and that baffled Rama. This time the Brahmastra, emitting flames, went towards Ravana and pierced his chest, where was enshrined the secret of his invincibility, and shattered it. Then the bow slipped from the Rakshasa's hand and he fell down from the chariot like Vritra the demon when the latter was struck down by the thunderbolt and lay stretched on the battlefield.
Roaring shouts of joy, quite rejoicingly proclaimed Rama's victory and the killing of Ravana in his hands, the monkeys gave vent to their feelings of ecstasy.
shower of flowers pouring over the chariot of Rama quite fascinatingly, fell from the heavens to the earth at that moment.
Rejoiced with the victory in battle, Sugreeva, Vibhishana and Angada together with Lakshmana along with their friends paid their respects with due ceremony to Rama,
The women of Ravana's palace came to the field to mourn. The crowned queen and beloved wife of Ravana was in utter disbelief as to how the valour of Ravana failed with a stunning surprise as to be killed by an ordinary mortal. They felt sorry that, had Seetha been restored by Ravana to Rama, this major disaster would not have befallen them.
This Rama is certainly a great ascetic, an eternal person, having no beginning middle or end, greater than distinguished universal spirit like Brahma, the one beyond ignorance, the nourisher, wielding a conch, a disc and a mace, wearing the 'Srivatsa' mark on his chest, of lasting beauty, incapable of being conquered, a perpetual one, being the constant soul of the universe, truly mighty, the lord of all the worlds, the prosperous one having a great splendour named Vishnu, the lord of maintenance of the world with a wish to benefit the worlds, assuming a human form surrounded by all the gods in the form of monkeys, Rama killed you, the hitherto fortresses consisting of Jala-durgam, Vana-durgam and Giri-durgam along with its demons blown to insignificance.
In the past, by performing a great penance, you conquered the senses and conquered the three worlds. Now, as if revenging that enmity, those very senses conquered you.
What else can cause your downfall other than your own fault. you have been surely consumed by the asceticism of that woman, Seeta so devoted to her husband.
There is no doubt that when the time comes, the doer surely reaps a harsh fruit of his sinful deed The doer of an auspicious act obtains happiness, while the doer of a sinful act reaps misery. While Vibhishana has obtained happiness, you met with such an evil destiny.
Lamenting thus Mandodari with her eyes filled with tears and her heart moistened with love fell on Ravana's body unconscious.
In the meanwhile Rama spoke to Vibhishana as follows "Hostilities end with death. Our purpose has been accomplished. Let his funeral rites be performed. He is as good to you as to Me and so you perform the ancestral oblations in a fitting way''
When that is done, Rama instructs Lakshmana to arrange for the installation of Vibhishana on the throne of Lanka. Lakshmana arranges to get sea-water from some monkey-chiefs and sprinkles it on vibhishana, to instal him as the King of Lanka, in the presence of the demons there. Then, Rama sends his message to Seetha through Hanuma.
Hanuman accordingly took permission from Vibhishana and went to Asoka Vana to convey the news to Sita. Sita's joy was beyond words. Hanuman then looking at the Rakshasi women who had guarded Sita and turned to Sita saying: "I wish to slay these cruel women who troubled you. Do give me permission?". "No, my son," she answered further adding "Who in the world is blameless? It is the part of noble souls to be compassionate towards all sinners as be with good people."
These words of Sita are treasured like Sita's ''Maa suchaha:'' to the Rakshasis even while they never surrendered or prayed for their safety., as nectar by generations of pious men. The worst of sinners, clinging to the golden feet of the Mother, can gain forgiveness, is demonstrated wistfully.
Rama and Sita, now reunited, though not before She was asked to demonstrate Her purity by entering fire-bowl lit by Lakshmana eventually to be returned by the Fire-God,discomforted by the heat of Her Chastity.
They then ascended the Pushpaka-Vimana which carried them swiftly in the air with their friends, the Vanara warriors and Vibhishana, to Ayodhya. The city of Ayodhya swam in a sea of joy. Rama and Bharata met.
The Vaishnava hymns exalt Bharata even above Rama for his blemishless sacrifice. For fourteen years till the return of Rama, Bharata installed Rama's padukas and administered the kingdom, selflessly.
Rama was crowned King as his father had wished, ending Bharata's penance. The joy that filled the Lord spilling as the divine grace, brightened Sita's face, who cast Her merciful glance on Hanuman. What more could Hanuman desire?
The rendering of ''Sri Ramanin Arulamutham'' Epilogue presented by me so far, would not but be possible without the grace of Sri Koil Kandaadai Vaadula Desikan Mudaliyandan Swamy are but a compendium of religious lectures delivered by Bala Vaak Varushamrudam Swamy Sri u. Ve. Velukkudi Krishnan in Doordarshan, Chennai, will be a heart and soul stirring experience to its readers, as I believe to be. By further meditating on the Divine Couple with dedication and devotion, are bound to be showered the kind of Grace Hanuman was bestowed, to feel for oneself : ''bhavO nanyatra gachati'' yiti.
Subham.
--Dasarathy Dasan, Kidambi Srinivasa Rangan Srinivasa Dasan.
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