The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

  Rama replied to Vibhishana, the scorcher of enemies. ‘The dazzling and great energy of Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, is amazing. Ravana is blazing like the sun and like the sun’s rays, he is extremely difficult to look at. From the signs on his form it is evident that he is full of energy. The bodies of the brave gods and danavas are not like this. They do not dazzle as much as the body of the Indra among the rakshasas. All of them resemble mountains. All of them fight with mountains. All of them are wielding lustrous weapons. All the warriors are extremely energetic. The king of the rakshasas is radiant. He shines in his terrible valour. He is surrounded by fierce ones, like Death is by embodied bhutas.’ Saying this, the valiant Rama seized his bow and picked up an excellent arrow, with Lakshmana following him.

  The great-souled lord of the rakshasas spoke to those immensely strong rakshasas. ‘Have no fear. Station yourselves properly and tend to the gates, the houses and turrets.’ He swiftly gave them permission to leave and the rakshasas went to their appointed places. He then shattered the apes, which were like waves in the ocean, filled with large fish. The Indra among rakshasas was ready to fight and descended violently with his blazing bow and arrows. On seeing this, the lord of the apes174 uprooted the summit of a large mountain and attacked the lord of the rakshasas with this. The summit of the mountain was full of many trees and peaks and seizing it, he hurled it towards the roamer in the night. On seeing it violently descend, he pierced it with arrows with golden tufts. The excellent and large summit of the mountain was full of trees. With the summit shattered, it fell down on the ground. The protector of the world of the rakshasas then picked up an arrow that was like a gigantic snake, with a hue like that of Death. He seized it and it was like the fire in its force. With sparks flying, it possessed a flaming form. That arrow was like the great Indra’s vajra in its speed. To kill Sugriva, he angrily released it. The arrow was released from Ravana’s arm. It was sharp at the tip and had an excellent form, like Shakra’s vajra. It approached Sugriva and pierced him with force, like Guha’s fierce spear shattering the Krouncha mountain.175 Afflicted by the arrow, he lost his senses. Shrieking, the brave one fell down on the ground. Seeing that he had lost his senses and had fallen down on the ground, the yatudhanas who were fighting roared in delight.

  Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sudamshtra, Rishabha, Jyotimukha and Nala raised boulders that were gigantic in size and rushed towards the Indra among the rakshasas. The lord of the rakhasas used innumerable arrows that were sharp at the tips to rend this attack fruitless. With nets of arrows that were made out of gold and were colourfully tufted, he pierced the Indras among the apes. Pierced by the arrows of the enemy of the gods, the Indras among the apes, terrible in form, fell down on the ground. He then enveloped the army of the apes with nets of fierce arrows. Those foremost among brave ones were struck. Pierced by the arrows, they were scared and shrieked. They ran away and sought refuge with Rama.

  The great-souled Rama seized his bow and, with his bow, started to swiftly leave. However, Lakshmana approached him, joined his hands in salution, and spoke words that were full of great meaning. ‘O noble one! If I wish, I am capable of killing this evil-souled one. I will destroy this inferior one. O lord! Grant me permission.’ For Rama, truth was valour and the immensely energetic one said, ‘O Lakshmana! Go. Take care against the enemy in the encounter. Ravana is extremely brave. In an encounter, his valour is extraordinary. If he is enraged, there is no doubt that the three worlds are incapable of standing before him. Seek out his weak spots. Hide your own weak spots. Control yourself and make efforts, using your eyes and your bow to protect yourself.’ Hearing Raghava’s words, he embraced and worshipped him. Honouring Rama, Soumitri set out to do battle. He saw Ravana, with arms that were like the trunks of elephants. He blazed as he held aloft his terrible bow. He enveloped the apes, showering them with nets of arrows and mangling and scattering their bodies.

  The immensely energetic Hanumat, son of the wind god, saw this. He sought to counter this net of arrows and attacked Ravana. To scare Ravana, the intelligent Hanumat approached his chariot, raised his right hand and uttered these words. ‘You cannot be routed by gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas and rakshasas. But you face fear from apes. I have raised my right hand and this has five branches. I will destroy the life that has been in your body for a very long time.’ Hearing Hanumat’s words, the eyes of Ravana, terrible in his valour, turned red with anger and he spoke these words. ‘Without any hesitation, strike me quickly. Be steady and obtain fame. O ape! After ascertaining your valour, I will destroy you.’ Hearing Ravana’s words, the son of the wind god spoke these words. ‘Remember that I have already killed your son Aksha.’ Thus addressed, the immensely energetic Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, struck the valiant son of the wind god on the chest with his palm. Struck by the palm, he wavered repeatedly. However, enraged, he struck the enemy of the immortals with his palm instead. Struck by the palm of the great-souled ape, Dashagriva was whirled around, like the earth during an earthquake. Seeing that Ravana had suffered in the battle because of the blow from the palm, the rishis, the apes, the siddhas, the gods and the asuras roared. After this, the immensely energetic Ravana regained his composure and spoke these words. ‘O ape! Excellent. Though you are my enemy, your valour is praiseworthy.’ Thus addressed by Ravana, Maruti replied in these words. ‘O Ravana! Since you are still alive, shame on my valour. Those with good deeds speak through their blows. O one evil in intelligence! Why are you boasting? In truth, my fist will convey you to Yama’s abode.’ At Maruti’s words, he blazed in rage. With reddened eyes, the valiant one carefully raised his right fist and brought it down with force on the ape’s chest. Struck severely on the chest, Hanumat reeled again.

  Seeing that the immensely strong Hanumat was distracted, the atiratha quickly steered his chariot and advanced towards Nila. The lord of the rakshasas used terrible arrows that were like serpents and could penetrate extremely deep into the inner organs. He used these blazing arrows against Nila, the commander of the army of the apes. Nila, the commander of the army of the apes, was struck by this flood of arrows. He picked up the summit of a mountain with one hand and hurled it towards the lord of the rakshasas. The great-souled and energetic Hanumat also regained his composure. Seeing this and wanting to fight, he spoke these angry words to Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, who was engaged in fighting with Nila. ‘When you are fighting with someone, it is not proper to attack someone else.’ The immensely strong Ravana struck the summit with seven arrows that were extremely sharp. Struck in this way, the summit shattered and fell down. The commander of the army of the apes saw that the summit of the mountain had been fragmented. The slayer of enemy heroes blazed in anger, like the fire of destruction. In the battle, Nila hurled ashvakarna, dhava, sala, flowering chutas176 and many other kinds of trees. Ravana severed all the trees that were hurled at him. He rained down extremely terrible showers of arrows on the son of the fire god.177 He was showered by these torrents of arrows, like a cloud raining down on a large mountain. He made his form extremely small and leapt on to the top of the standard.178 The son of the fire god stationed himself on the top of the standard. Seeing this, Ravana blazed in anger, while Nila roared. The ape leapt from the top of his standard to the top of his bow and then to the top of his diadem. Witnessing this, Lakshmana, Hanumat and Rama were astounded. The immensely energetic Ravana was also amazed at the ape’s dexterity. He picked up the blazing and wonderful Agneya weapon. The apes rejoiced and shouted at Nila having fearlessly countered Ravana in the battle and on seeing that he had accomplished his objective. Ravana was provoked by the roar of the apes. His heart was disturbed and he wasn’t sure about what he should do. Ravana thus picked up and affixed the Agneya arrow. The roamer in the night aimed in the direction of Nila, who was stationed atop the standard. The immensely energetic Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas said, ‘O ape! You are dexterous and supreme in the use of maya. O ape! But if you are capable, protect your life. Create numerous f
orms that are exactly like you. Even then, you will not be able to escape from the arrow that I have affixed. Protect your life. Even if you are alive, you will be destroyed.’ Saying this, the mighty-armed Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, aimed the arrow and struck the commander of the army. In the form of the arrow, the weapon struck Nila on his chest. Violently scorched, he fell down on the ground. However, because of his father’s greatness and because of his own energy, he did not lose his life. He sank down on his knees on the ground.

  Dashagriva saw that the ape was unconscious. But he was eager to fight. On a chariot that roared like the clouds, he attacked Soumitri. When he brandished his immeasurable bow, with an undistressed spirit, Soumitri spoke to him. ‘O Indra of the roamers in the night! Advance against me. You should not fight against apes.’ The king heard these loudly proclaimed words and the fierce twanging of his bow. He approached the spot where Soumitri was stationed. The rakshasa spoke words that were filled with anger. ‘O Raghava! It is good fortune that you have come within the range of my vision. O one perverse in intelligence! You will now meet your end. You will proceed to the land of the dead this very instant. My net of arrows will envelop you.’ Though he roared with his white-tipped teeth, Soumitri wasn’t disturbed. He replied, ‘O king! Those who are great in their powers do not roar. O supreme among those who are wicked in their deeds! Why are you indulging in self-praise? O Indra among the rakshasas! I know your valour, strength, power and prowess. Come. I am stationed here, with a bow and arrows in my hand. Why indulge in pointless self-praise?’ When he said this, the lord of the rakshasas became angry and shot seven well-tufted arrows. However, Lakshmana severed these with gold-tufted and colourful arrows that were sharp at the tips and edges. The arrows of the lord of Lanka were violently countered, like serpents repulsed by Indras among serpents. Seeing this, he became angry and shot other sharp arrows. He rained down showers of terrible arrows. However, Rama’s younger brother was not agitated. He affixed excellent kshura, ardhachandra, karni and bhalla arrows179 and severed those. Lakshmana swiftly affixed arrows that were sharp at the tips. They were like the great Indra’s vajra in their force and were blazing in form. To slay the lord of the rakshasas, he released them. The Indra among the rakshasas countered and severed them. He then struck Lakshmana on the forehead with an arrow that was like the fire of destruction in its powers and had been given to him by Svayambhu. Lakshmana was afflicted by Ravana’s arrow and wavered. As he trembled, he leaned on his bow. He regained his senses with difficulty and severed the bow of the enemy of the Indra among the gods. When his bow was severed, Dasharatha’s son struck him with three arrows that were sharp at the tips. Afflicted by those arrows, the king wavered, but regained his senses with difficulty. His bow was severed and he suffered from those arrows. He was wet with sweat and there was blood on his body. In the battle, summoning up all his fierce energy, the enemy of the gods seized a spear that had been given to him by Svayambhu. It was like the fire and emitted smoke. It terrified the army of the apes. The protector of the kingdom of the rakshasas quickly hurled this blazing spear towards Soumitri. As that weapon descended, Bharata’s younger brother struck it with his arrows, like oblations being offered into the fire. Despite this, the spear penetrated into the broad chest of Dasharatha’s son. Brahma’s spear struck Soumitri between the breasts. However, he remembered whose portion he himself was and thought of Vishnu. Thus, the thorn of the gods was unable to oppress and raise the lord who destroyed the insolence of the danavas with his arms.180 In a battle, Bharata’s younger brother was like the Himalayas, Mandara or Meru, and the three worlds, together with the immortals, were incapable of afflicting him with their arms. He was born from Vishnu’s portion, although he had resorted to a human body. On seeing the state of the unconscious Lakshmana, Ravana was amazed.

  The son of the wind god was enraged and attacked Ravana. With a fist that was like the vajra, he angrily struck him on the chest. As a result of that blow with the fist, Ravana, the lord of the rakshasas, trembled and fell down. He sank down on his knees on the ground. Seeing that Ravana, terrible in his valour, was unconscious in the battle, the rishis, the apes and the gods, with Vasava, roared. Lakshmana had been afflicted by Ravana. The energetic Hanumat raised him up with his arms and took him to Raghava. The son of the wind god was a well-wisher and supremely devoted. The ape was light in his stride and the enemies were unable to make him quake. Soumitri was extremely difficult to vanquish in a battle. The spear left him and returned to its place in Ravana’s chariot. In the great battle, the immensely energetic Ravana also regained his senses. He picked up sharp arrows and seized his great bow. The stake was removed from Lakshmana, the slayer of enemies, and he regained his composure. He remembered his own self and that he had been born from Vishnu’s portion.

  Brave warriors from the great army of the apes had been brought down. In the battle, seeing this, Raghava attacked Ravana. At this, Hanumat approached him and spoke these words. ‘If you ascend my back, you will be able to chastise the rakshasa.’ Rama heard the words spoken by the son of the wind god. The brave one quickly climbed on to the great ape, Hanumat. In the encounter, the lord of men saw that Ravana was astride his chariot. Seeing this, the immensely energetic one rushed against Ravana, just as an angry Vishnu raised his weapon against Virochana’s son.181 He twanged his bow fiercely, with a sound that was like the clap of thunder. In a deep voice, Rama spoke these words to the Indra among the rakshasas. ‘Stay. O tiger among the rakshasas! Stay. Having performed such a disagreeable act towards me, how can you possibly escape? Even if you go to the worlds of Indra, Vaivasvata, the sun god, Svayambhu, the fire god, Shankara or the different directions, you will not be able to escape from me today. You struck down someone with your spear today, but he overcame his distress and quickly arose. O king of large numbers of rakshasas! In the battle today, death will come to you and to your sons and wives.’182 Hearing Raghava’s words, the Indra among the rakshasas used sharp arrows that were like the flames of the fire of destruction to strike the great ape. In the battle, he was struck by the rakshasa’s arrows. However, because of his natural energy, his energy increased in consequence. The greatly energetic Rama saw that the tiger among apes had been wounded by Ravana and was overcome with rage. Rama approached and used arrows that were sharp at the tips to sever his chariot, its wheels, the horses, the standard, the umbrella, the large flag, the charioteer, the javelins, the spears and the swords. He then used an arrow that was like the thunder and the vajra to swiftly strike Indra’s enemy in his broad and beautiful chest, like the illustrious Indra striking Meru with his vajra. The king was incapable of being agitated or made to waver by the thunder or the vajra. However, struck by Rama’s arrow he was severely afflicted. The brave one wavered and let go of his bow. Rama saw that he was reeling and picked up a blazing ardhachandra arrow that had the complexion of the sun. The great-souled one swiftly severed the diadem of the lord of the rakshasas. The setting on the diadem lost its lustre. It was as resplendent as the sun, but seemed to lose its rays. It was like a venomous serpent that had lost its poison. In the battle, Rama spoke to the Indra among the rakshasas. ‘You have accomplished great and terrible deeds. You have killed brave ones on my side. Therefore, it is evident that you are exhausted. In this state, I will not use my arrows to convey you to the land of the dead.’ He was addressed in this way and lost his pride and his joy. He lost his bow, and his horses and charioteer were slain. He was afflicted by the arrows and his great diadem was shattered. The king swiftly entered Lanka.

  When the immensely strong Indra among the roamers of the night, the enemy of the gods and the danavas, had left, in the field of that great battle, Rama, with Lakshmana, arranged for the stakes to be removed from the apes. The Indra of the enemies of the gods was routed in this way. The gods, the asuras, the large number of bhutas, the directions, the oceans, the rishis, and all creatures on land and in the water rejoiced.

  Chapter 6(48)

  Frightened and a
fflicted by Rama’s arrows, the king lost his pride and his senses suffered. He entered the city of Lanka. Like an elephant by a lion or a serpent by Garuda, the king had been overcome by the great-souled Raghava. Raghava’s arrows were like Brahma’s staff and as radiant as lightning. The lord of the rakshasas suffered because of these and remembered them. He seated himself on a supreme and divine throne made out of gold. Ravana looked at the rakshasas and spoke these words. ‘All the supreme austerities I have performed have become useless. I am like the great Indra, but I have been vanquished by a human. Brahma spoke terrible words to me. “Know that you will face fear from humans.” That has now come to be true. I asked that I could not be killed by gods, danavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas and serpents, but I did not ask the same about humans. Since this is evident, all of you should make the best efforts. Let the rakshasas station themselves on the tops of the turrets and patrol there. Awake Kumbhakarna, who suffers because of Brahma’s curse. He is unmatched in his gravity and is one who removes the insolence of the gods and the danavas.’ Knowing that he had been defeated and that Prahasta had been killed, the immensely strong one commanded the terrible army of the rakshasas. ‘Take care at the gates and climb atop the walls. Awake Kumbhakarna, who is deep in slumber. That rakshasa sleeps for nine, six, seven or eight months. Quickly wake up the immensely strong Kumbhakarna. In a battle, the mighty-armed one is the support of all the rakshasas. He will swiftly slay the apes and the two princes. The foolish Kumbhakarna sleeps all the time, he is devoted to ordinary pleasures.183 He will engage in an extremely terrible clash against Rama. If he wakes up, there will no longer be any sorrow for me. If he cannot help me in this terrible catastrophe I now face, what is the point of his possessing a strength that is like that of Shakra?’