Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 9 Chapter 10:18-28

Book 9: Chapter 10

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 9: Chapter 10: Verses 18-28
An account of Sri Rama's pastimes

Perceiving this (calamity), Ravana (the lord of the demons) deputed Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhumraksa, Durmukha, Surantaka, Narantaka and others, his son (Meghanada), Prahasta, all his followers headed by Atikaya and Vikampana and afterwards (his younger brother) Kumbhakarna (to meet the invading army). Accompanied by Sugriva (the lord of the monkeys), Laksmana (His own younger brother), Hanuman (son of the wind-god), Gandhamadana, Nila, Prince Angada (Sugriva's nephew and heir-apparent), Jambavan (the king of the bears), Panasa and others, Sri Rama (too) marched against that army of the demons, which was difficult to penetrate, armed as it was with cutlasses, Sulas (sharp-pointed steel weapons), bows, Prasas (darts), Rstis (double-edged swords), javelins, Tomaras (iron clubs) and swords. Meeting in a single combat[1] the hostile army (consisting of elephants, foot-soldiers, chariots and cavalry, all the aforesaid generals of Sri Rama (the Lord of the Raghus)--Angada and others-struck with trees, rocks, maces and arrows the demons whose Lord, Ravana, had (all) his good luck wiped off by the abduction of Sita. Enraged to see the destruction of his army and mounting the aerial car (viz., Puspaka that had been snatched away by him from Kubera, the god of riches), Ravana (the lord of the demons) forthwith marched against Sri Rama-shining brightly in a splendid heavenly car brought by Matali (the charioteer of Indra)-and struck Him with sharpened arrows having crescent-shaped heads. Sri Rama said to him, "O refuse of ogres, I, whose prowess cannot be prevailed against, shall award this very day to you, who have cast (all) shame to the winds-(even) as Kala does to a perpetrator of sin-the fruit of your detested action consisting in the fact that our beloved spouse was stolen away during our absence by your wicked self, who behaved like a dog." Scolding him thus, the Lord discharged (at him) an arrow fitted (by Him) to His bow and it split his heart, hard as adamant. Like a virtuous soul whose stock of merit is exhausted, he fell from his aerial car, vomiting blood through his ten mouths, in the midst of his people crying "Dear me! Dear me!!" Issuing forth from Lanka in (their) thousands, with Mandodari (the principal consort of Ravana), Raksasa women now rushed, weeping bitterly, to the spot (where Ravana lay dead). Hugging each her own relations struck down by the shafts of Laksmana (Sri Rama's younger brother), they helplessly wailed in loud tones (as follows), beating their person with their own hands:-"Alas, undone we are, O lord! 0 Ravana, who made the (whole) world weep (by your tyranny) !! Bereft of you and overrun by the enemy, whom should Lanka seek as its protector? Swayed by passion, you did not realize, O highly blessed one, such (extraordinary) power of Sita's glory, by which you have been reduced to this (miserable) plight! Widowed is this Lanka as well as we, O delight of your race! (Nay,) your body has been made the food of vultures and your soul rendered fit for hell.

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References

  1. Vide IV.V. 24.

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