The Destruction of Meghnad's Yagya and His Fall
Meghnad's Yagya is disrupted before it can be completed. In the fierce battle that follows, he is slain and ultimately redeemed by divine grace.
Lanka Kand · Episode 20 / 37
Episode Text
जाइ कपिन्ह सो देखा बैसा। आहुति देत रुधिर अरु भैंसा॥ कीन्ह कपिन्ह सब जग्य बिधंसा। जब न उठइ तब करहिं प्रसंसा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jāi kapinha so dekhā baisā। āhuti deta rudhira aru bhaiṃsā॥ kīnha kapinha saba jagya bidhansā। jaba na uṭhai taba karahiṃ prasaṃsā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
The monkeys went and saw him seated there, offering blood and buffaloes as oblations. The monkeys destroyed the entire sacrifice. Yet when he still did not rise, they began to praise him.
तदपि न उठइ धरेन्हि कच जाई। लातन्हि हति हति चले पराई॥ लै त्रिसूल धावा कपि भागे। आए जहँ रामानुज आगे॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tadapi na uṭhai dhareṇhi kacha jāī। lātanhi hati hati cale parāī॥ lai trisūla dhāvā kapi bhāge। āe jahaṃ rāmānuja āge॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Even then he did not rise, so they went and seized his hair, beating him with kicks again and again until they retreated. He rushed at them with a trident, and the monkeys fled, arriving where Lakshmana stood ahead.
आवा परम क्रोध कर मारा। गर्ज घोर रव बारहिं बारा॥ कोपि मरुतसुत अंगद धाए। हति त्रिसूल उर धरनि गिराए॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
āvā parama krodha kara mārā। garja ghora rava bārahiṃ bārā॥ kopi marutasuta aṅgada dhāe। hati trisūla ura dharani girāe॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
He came in a frenzy of rage, roaring again and again with a terrible sound. Hanuman and Angada sprang forward in anger. He struck both in the chest with his trident and hurled them to the ground.
प्रभु कहँ छाँड़ेसि सूल प्रचंडा। सर हति कृत अनंत जुग खंडा॥ उठि बहोरि मारुति जुबराजा। हतहिं कोपि तेहि घाउ न बाजा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
prabhu kahaṃ chāṛesi sūla pracaṇḍā। sara hati kṛta ananta juga khaṇḍā॥ uṭhi bahori māruti jubarājā। hatahiṃ kopi tehi ghāu na bājā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
He then hurled the dreadful spear at the Lord. With an arrow, Lakshmana shattered it into countless pieces. Hanuman and Prince Angada rose again and, angered, attacked him, but no wound touched him.
फिरे बीर रिपु मरइ न मारा। तब धावा करि घोर चिकारा॥ आवत देखि क्रुद्ध जनु काला। लछिमन छाड़े बिसिख कराला॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
phire bīra ripu marai na mārā। taba dhāvā kari ghora cikārā॥ āvata dekhi kruddha janu kālā। lachimana chāṛe bisikha karālā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
The warriors turned back, but the enemy would not die even when struck. Then he charged forward with a terrible cry. Seeing him coming like Death in fury, Lakshmana loosed a fearsome arrow.
देखेसि आवत पबि सम बाना। तुरत भयउ खल अंतरधाना॥ बिबिध बेष धरि करइ लराई। कबहुँक प्रगट कबहुँ दुरि जाई॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhesi āvata pabi sama bānā। turata bhayau khala antardhānā॥ bibidha beṣa dhari karai larāī। kabahuṃka pragaṭa kabahuṃ dura jāī॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing the arrows like thunderbolts coming at him, that villain vanished at once. He then fought in various disguises, appearing at one moment and disappearing the next.
देखि अजय रिपु डरपे कीसा। परम क्रुद्ध तब भयउ अहीसा॥ लछिमन मन अस मंत्र दृढ़ावा। एहि पापिहि मैं बहुत खेलावा॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dekhi ajaya ripu ḍarape kīsā। parama kruddha taba bhayau ahīsā॥ lachimana mana asa mantra dṛṛhāvā। ehi pāpihi maiṃ bahuta khelāvā॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
Seeing an enemy who could not be overcome, the monkeys were frightened. Then the serpent-king became exceedingly furious. Lakshmana fixed this resolve in his mind: “I have toyed with this sinner enough.”
सुमिरि कोसलाधीस प्रतापा। सर संधान कीन्ह करि दापा॥ छाड़ा बान माझ उर लागा। मरती बार कपटु सब त्यागा॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sumiri kosalādhīsa pratāpā। sara sandhāna kīnha kari dāpā॥ chāṛā bāna mājha ura lāgā। martī bāra kapaṭu saba tyāgā॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
Remembering the glory of the Lord of Kosala, Lakshmana drew his arrow with proud valor. The arrow struck him straight in the middle of the chest. At the moment of death he abandoned all deceit.
रामानुज कहँ रामु कहँ अस कहि छाँड़ेसि प्रान। धन्य धन्य तव जननी कह अंगद हनुमान॥ ७६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
rāmānuja kahaṃ rāmu kahaṃ asa kahi chāṇḍesi prāna। dhanya dhanya tava jananī kaha aṅgada hanumāna॥ 76 ॥
Meaning:
"Where is Rama's younger brother Lakshmana? Where is Rama?" Saying this, he gave up his life. Angada and Hanuman said, "Blessed, blessed is your mother," for you died at Lakshmana's hands and, at the moment of death, remembered Rama and Lakshmana and uttered their names.
बिनु प्रयास हनुमान उठायो। लंका द्वार राखि पुनि आयो॥ तासु मरन सुनि सुर गंधर्बा। चढ़ि बिमान आए नभ सर्बा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
binu prayāsa hanumāna uṭhāyo। laṃkā dvāra rākhi puni āyo॥ tāsu marana suni sura gaṃdharbā। caṛhi bimāna āe nabha sarbā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Hanuman lifted him effortlessly and, placing him at the gate of Lanka, returned. When they heard of his death, all the gods and gandharvas came in their aerial chariots and arrived in the sky.
बरषि सुमन दुंदुभीं बजावहिं। श्रीरघुनाथ बिमल जसु गावहिं॥ जय अनंत जय जगदाधारा। तुम्ह प्रभु सब देवन्हि निस्तारा॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
baraṣi sumana duṃdubhīṃ bajāvahiṃ। śrīraghunātha bimala jasu gāvahiṃ॥ jaya ananta jaya jagadādhārā। tumha prabhu saba devanhi nistārā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
They shower flowers, beat the drums, and sing the pure glory of Sri Raghunath. Victory to the Infinite! Victory to the Upholder of the universe! O Lord, you delivered all the gods from great संकट.
अस्तुति करि सुर सिद्ध सिधाए। लछिमन कृपासिंधु पहिं आए॥ सुत बध सुना दसानन जबहीं। मुरुछित भयउ परेउ महि तबहीं॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
astuti kari sura siddha sidhāe। lachimana kṛpāsiṃdhu pahiṃ āe॥ suta badha sunā dasānana jabahīṃ। muruchita bhayau pareu mahi tabahīṃ॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
After the gods and sages offered their praise and departed, Lakshman came to the ocean of compassion. The moment Ravana heard the news of his son’s death, he fell unconscious to the ground.
मंदोदरी रुदन कर भारी। उर ताड़न बहु भाँति पुकारी॥ नगर लोग सब ब्याकुल सोचा। सकल कहहिं दसकंधर पोचा॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maṃdodarī rudana kara bhārī। ura tāṛana bahu bhāṃti pukārī॥ nagara loga saba byākula socā। sakala kahahiṃ dasakaṃdhara pocā॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Mandodari began to lament bitterly, beating her breast and crying out in many ways. All the people of the city became distressed with grief. Everyone started calling Ravana base and vile.
तब दसकंठ बिबिधि बिधि समुझाईं सब नारि। नस्वर रूप जगत सब देखहु हृदयँ बिचारि॥ ७७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
taba dasakaṃṭha bibidhi bidhi samujhāīṃ saba nāri। nasvara rūpa jagata saba dekhahu hṛdayaṃ bichāri॥ 77 ॥
Meaning:
Then Ravana tried to console all the women in various ways. 'Reflect in your hearts and see: the world’s form is all transient.'
तिन्हहि ग्यान उपदेसा रावन। आपुन मंद कथा सुभ पावन॥ पर उपदेस कुसल बहुतेरे। जे आचरहिं ते नर न घनेरे॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tinhahi gyāna upadesā rāvana। āpuna manda kathā subha pāvana॥ para upadesa kusala bahutere। je ācarahiṃ te nara na ghanere॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana instructed them in spiritual wisdom. Though he himself is vile, his story is auspicious and holy. Many are skilled at teaching others, but very few actually live according to their own instruction.
निसा सिरानि भयउ भिनुसारा। लगे भालु कपि चारिहुँ द्वारा॥ सुभट बोलाइ दसानन बोला। रन सन्मुख जा कर मन डोला॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nisā sirāni bhayau bhinusārā। lage bhālu kapi cārihuṃ dvārā॥ subhaṭa bolāi dasānana bolā। rana sanmukha jā kara mana ḍolā॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Night passed and dawn broke. The bears and monkeys took their positions at the four gates. Summoning the warriors, the ten-headed Ravana said, 'In battle, whoever's mind trembles before the enemy...'
सो अबहीं बरु जाउ पराई। संजुग बिमुख भएँ न भलाई॥ निज भुज बल मैं बयरु बढ़ावा। देहउँ उतरु जो रिपु चढ़ि आवा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
so abahīṃ baru jāu parāī। saṃjuga bimukha bhaeṃ na bhalāī॥ nija bhuja bala maiṃ bayaru baṛhāvā। dehauṃ utaru jo ripu caṛhi āvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
It is better that he flee now. There is no honor in turning away from battle. I have increased this enmity by the strength of my own arms. I shall answer the enemy who has come against me.
अस कहि मरुत बेग रथ साजा। बाजे सकल जुझाऊ बाजा॥ चले बीर सब अतुलित बली। जनु कज्जल कै आँधी चली॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asa kahi maruta bēga ratha sājā। bājē sakala jujhāū bājā॥ cale bīra saba atulita balī। janu kajjala kai āṃdhī calī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Saying this, he had a chariot made ready that moved as swiftly as the wind. All the war-drums and battle-instruments began to sound. The mighty heroes moved forth as if a storm of soot-black darkness had arisen.
अति गर्ब गनइ न सगुन असगुन स्रवहिं आयुध हाथ ते। भट गिरत रथ ते बाजि गज चिक्करत भाजहिं साथ ते॥ गोमाय गीध कराल खर रव स्वान बोलहिं अति घने। जनु कालदूत उलूक बोलहिं बचन परम भयावने॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ati garba ganai na saguna asaguna sravahiṃ āyudha hātha te। bhaṭa girata ratha te bāji gaja cikkarata bhājahiṃ sātha te॥ gomāya gīdha karāla khara rava svāna bolahiṃ ati ghane। janu kāladūta ulūka bolahiṃ bacana parama bhayāvane॥
Meaning:
Consumed by pride, he pays no attention to favorable or unfavorable omens. Weapons are slipping from his hands. Warriors are falling from their chariots. Horses and elephants, abandoning their ranks, run off shrieking. Jackals, vultures, fierce donkeys, and dogs cry out loudly; the owls speak in a way that seems like the dreadful messengers of Death themselves.
ताहि कि संपति सगुन सुभ सपनेहुँ मन बिश्राम। भूत द्रोह रत मोहबस राम बिमुख रति काम॥ ७८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāhi ki saṃpati saguna subha sapanehuṃ mana biśrāma। bhūta droha rata mohabasa rāma bimukha rati kāma॥ 78 ॥
Meaning:
Can one who delights in harming creatures, is bound by delusion, is turned away from Rama, and is given over to desire ever have wealth, auspicious signs, or peace of mind, even in a dream?