रामोपाख्यान पर्व — रावण का वध

Markandeya said : Then, angry at the death of his dear son, the ten-necked, ascending his car, studded with gems and gold set out (for the field of battle).

Surrounded by dreadful Rakshasas holding in their hands various weapons, he fighting with the monkey-chiefs rushed upon Rama.

As he (Ravana) was furiously advancing, Mainda, Nala, Nila, Angada, Hanuman and Jambavan together with their forces surrounded him.

Those foremost of bears and monkeys destroyed, with trees, the forces of the tennecked in his (very) presence.

Then, seeing that his troops were being destroyed by the enemy, Ravana, the king of the Rakshasas began to create illusions with which he was gifted.

(Thereupon) hundreds and thousands of Rakshasas, armed with arrows, lances and double-edged swords, issuing out of his body appeared (on the scene).

(But) Rama destroyed all those Rakshasas with celestials weapons. There at the lord of the Rakshasas created (new) illusions again.

(And) O Bharata, the ten-headed creating several Rakshasas wearing the shape of Rama and Lakshmana, rushed upon them.

Then those night-rangers adverse to Rama and Lakshmana, armed with bows rushed against Rama.

(Then) the dauntless son of Sumitra, the descendant of Ikshvaku said to Rama these heroic words.

"Kill those wicked-souled Rakshasas wearing your shape.” (Thereupon) Rama destroyed those Rakshasas resembling him in shape and (various) others also.

Then, Matali, the charioteer of Shakra, came to Rama with a car, of sun-like splendour and yoked with tawny-coloured horses.

Matali said: "This excellent and victorious car yoked with this team of tawny horses belongs to Maghavana (Indra). O descendant of Kakustha, O foremost of men, riding on this splendid car Shakra slew in battle numerous Daityas and Danavas. Therefore, O most valiant of men, ascending this car guided by me, do you soon kill Ravana in battle. Do not make any delay."

Thus addressed, the descendant of Raghu, suspecting that this might be another illusion produced by the Rakshasas, doubted the truthful words of Matali. Vibhishana then said to him “O foremost of men, this is no illusion of the wicked-souled Ravana.

O highly-resplendent one, therefore do you soon ascend this car of Indra." Thereupon the descendant of Kakustha gladly saying to Vibhishana “be it so,"

And riding on that car rushed in great wrath against the ten-necked. (And) when Ravana flew (towards Rama) all the creatures began to wail loudly.

And in the heavens the celestials sent forth roars like lions and sounded large drums. Then there took place a terrible encounter between the ten-necked and the prince (Rama).

And that (fight) between them is without its parallel elsewhere. The night-ranger hurled at Rama an awfully-terrible.

Javelin like the thunder-bolt of Indra and resembling the upraised Brahmdanda. (But) Rama quickly cut off that javelin with sharpened darts.

Seeing that terrible feat Ravana was seized with dismay. (But) the ten-necked (soon) became wrathful and discharged at Rama thousands and tens of thousands of sharp arrows and numerous other weapons, (such as) maces, battle-axes, various kinds of darts, Shataghnis and sharp arrows.

Seeing the terrible illusions spread by the ten-necked Rakshasa, the monkeys got alarmed and ran away in all directions.

Thereupon, the descendant. of Kakustha, taking from his quiver an excellent arrow arrow adorned with beautiful feathers, golden wings and a beautiful face adjusted it to the Brahma weapon. When Rama inspired that arrow with the Mantras peculiar to the weapon of Brahma. All the celestials and the Gandharvas with Indra at their head were highly delighted. The gods, the Danavas and the Kinnaras, seeing the display of that Brahma weapon began to consider that a little only of their Rakshasa enemy's life was left to him.

Rama then discharged that of unrivalled splendour, dreadful, resembling the upraised Brahmadanda and destined to slay Ravana.

And O Bharata, soon as Rama discharged it by drawing to a great length (his bowstring), the lord of the Rakshasas together with his horses and charioteer, enveloped in a great and blazing fire was burnt up.

Then the celestials accompanied by the Gandharvas and the Charanas, beholding Ravana slain by Rama. of untiring exertions were highly delighted.

Then the five elements (i.e., earth water, air, fire and space) forsook Ravana; and he was deprived all of the worlds by the energy of the Brahma weapon.

The ingredients of his body together with his flesh and blood were all so totally consumed by the Brahma weapon that the ashes even could not be seen.