Rama's Final Battle with Ravana and Ravana's Death
Rama and Ravana enter their decisive final battle. With the Lord's unfailing arrow, Ravana is slain, and cries of victory resound everywhere.
Lanka Kand · Episode 29 / 37
Episode Text
जब कीन्ह तेहिं पाषंड। भए प्रगट जंतु प्रचंड। बेताल भूत पिसाच। कर धरें धनु नाराच॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaba kīhna tehiṃ pāṣaṃḍa। bhae pragaṭa jantu pracaṃḍa। betāla bhūta pisāca। kara dhareṃ dhanu nārāca॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
When he contrived that deception, fierce beings appeared. Vetalas, ghosts, and ghouls stood there holding bows and arrows.
जोगिनि गहें करबाल। एक हाथ मनुज कपाल। करि सद्य सोनित पान। नाचहिं करहिं बहु गान॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jogini gaheṃ karabāla। eka hātha manuja kapāla। kari sadya sonita pāna। nācahiṃ karahiṃ bahu gāna॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
Yoginis, with swords in hand and a human skull in the other, drank fresh blood, danced, and sang many songs.
धरु मारु बोलहिं घोर। रहि पूरि धुनि चहुँ ओर। मुख बाइ धावहिं खान। तब लगे कीस परान॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dharu māru bolahiṃ ghora। rahi pūri dhuni chahuṃ ora। mukha bāi dhāvahiṃ khāna। taba lage kīsa parāna॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
They cried out in dreadful voices, 'Seize him! Kill him!' Their sound filled all directions. Opening their mouths wide, they rushed to devour. Then the monkeys began to flee.
जहँ जाहिं मर्कट भागि। तहँ बरत देखहिं आगि। भए बिकल बानर भालु। पुनि लाग बरषै बालु॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaham jāhiṃ markaṭa bhāgi। taham barata dekhahiṃ āgi। bhae bikala bānara bhālu। puni lāga baraṣai bālu॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Wherever the monkeys ran, they saw fire blazing there. The monkeys and bears were thrown into confusion. Then Ravana began to shower sand.
जहँ तहँ थकित करि कीस। गर्जेउ बहुरि दससीस। लछिमन कपीस समेत। भए सकल बीर अचेत॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaham taham thakita kari kīsa। garjeu bahuri dasarīsa। lachimana kapīsa sameta। bhae sakala bīra aceta॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana made the monkeys weary here and there, and then roared again. Lakshmana and Sugriva, along with the others, fell unconscious.
हा राम हा रघुनाथ। कहि सुभट मीजहिं हाथ। एहि बिधि सकल बल तोरि। तेहिं कीन्ह कपट बहोरि॥ ६ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
hā rāma hā raghunātha। kahi subhaṭa mījahiṃ hātha। ehi vidhi sakala bala tori। tehiṃ kīhna kapaṭa bahori॥ 6 ॥
Meaning:
'Ha Rama! Ha Raghunatha!' the warriors cried, wringing their hands. In this way, having broken all strength, he once again resorted to trickery.
प्रगटेसि बिपुल हनुमान। धाए गहे पाषान। तिन्ह रामु घेरे जाइ। चहुँ दिसि बरूथ बनाइ॥ ७ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pragaṭesi bipula hanumāna। dhāe gahe pāṣāna। tinha rāmu ghere jāi। chahuṃ disi barūtha banāi॥ 7 ॥
Meaning:
He manifested many Hanumans, who rushed forward carrying rocks. They went and surrounded Rama, forming ranks on all sides.
मारहु धरहु जनि जाइ। कटकटहिं पूँछ उठाइ। दहँ दिसि लँगूर बिराज। तेहिं मध्य कोसलराज॥ ८ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
mārahu dharahu jani jāi। kaṭakaṭahiṃ pūṃcha uṭhāi। dahaṃ disi laṃgūra birāja। tehiṃ madhya kosalarāja॥ 8 ॥
Meaning:
They shouted, 'Kill him! Seize him! Do not let him go!' raising their tails and chattering their teeth. Their long tails shone in all ten directions, and in their midst stood the king of Kosala, Rama.
तेहिं मध्य कोसलराज सुंदर स्याम तन सोभा लही। जनु इंद्रधनुष अनेक की बर बारि तुंग तमालही॥ प्रभु देखि हरष बिषाद उर सुर बदत जय जय जय करी। रघुबीर एकहिं तीर कोपि निमेष महुँ माया हरी॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tehiṃ madhya kosalarāja sundara syāma tana sobhā lahī। janu indradhanuṣa aneka kī bara bāri tuṃga tamālahī॥ prabhu dekhi haraṣa biṣāda ura sura badata jaya jaya jaya karī। raghubīra ekahiṃ tīra kopi nimiṣa mahuṃ māyā harī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
In their midst stood Kosalaraj, the lovely dark-hued body of the Lord shining in splendor, like many rainbows forming a lofty fence around a tall tamala tree. Seeing the Lord, the gods, with hearts filled with both joy and sorrow, cried 'Victory, victory, victory!' Then Raghubira, in anger, in an instant destroyed the illusion with a single arrow.
माया बिगत कपि भालु हरषे बिटप गिरि गहि सब फिरे। सर निकर छाड़े राम रावन बाहु सिर पुनि महि गिरे॥ श्रीराम रावन समर चरित अनेक कल्प जो गावहीं। सत सेष सारद निगम कबि तेउ तदपि पार न पावहीं॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
māyā bigata kapi bhālu haraṣe biṭapa giri gahi saba phire। sara nikara chāṛe rāma rāvana bāhu sira puni mahi gire॥ śrīrāma rāvana samara carita aneka kalpa jo gāvahīṃ। sata seṣa sārada nigama kabi teu tadapi pāra na pāvahīṃ॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
When the illusion vanished, the monkeys and bears rejoiced and all returned, lifting trees and mountains. Lord Rama loosed showers of arrows, and Ravana's arms and heads again fell to the earth. Even if a hundred Sheshas, Sarasvati, the Vedas, and poets were to sing the battle-acts of Rama and Ravana for countless ages, they still could not reach their end.
ताके गुन गन कछु कहे जड़मति तुलसीदास। जिमि निज बल अनुरूप ते माछी उड़इ अकास॥ १०१ क ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāke guna gana kachu kahe jaṛamati tulasīdāsa। jimi nija bala anurūpa te māchī uṛai akāsa॥ 101 a ॥
Meaning:
Tulsi Das, with his dull intellect, has spoken a few qualities of that tale, just as a fly flies in the sky according to its own strength.
काटे सिर भुज बार बहु मरत न भट लंकेस। प्रभु क्रीड़त सुर सिद्ध मुनि ब्याकुल देखि कलेस॥ १०१ ख ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāṭe sira bhuja bāra bahu marata na bhaṭa laṃkesa। prabhu krīḍata sura siddha muni byākula dekhi kalesa॥ 101 b ॥
Meaning:
Even after his heads and arms were cut off again and again, the warrior, lord of Lanka, does not die. The Lord is merely sporting, yet the gods, Siddhas, and sages are distressed to see the suffering.
काटत बढ़हिं सीस समुदाई। जिमि प्रति लाभ लोभ अधिकाई॥ मरइ न रिपु श्रम भयउ बिसेषा। राम बिभीषन तन तब देखा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kāṭata baḍhahiṃ sīsa samudāī। jimi prati lābha lobha adhikāī॥ marai na ripu śrama bhayau biseṣā। rāma bibhīṣana tana taba dekhā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
As soon as they are cut, the multitude of heads grows again, just as greed increases with each gain. The enemy does not die, and much effort has been spent. Then Shri Ramachandra looked toward Vibhishana.
उमा काल मर जाकीं ईछा। सो प्रभु जन कर प्रीति परीछा॥ सुनु सरबग्य चराचर नायक। प्रनतपाल सुर मुनि सुखदायक॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
umā kāla mara jākīṃ īchā। so prabhu jana kara prīti parīchā॥ sunu sarabagya carācara nāyaka। pranatapāla sura muni sukhadāyaka॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
[Shiva says:] O Uma, He whose mere wish can even make Death die is now testing the devotion of His servant. [Vibhishana says:] Hear, O all-knowing Lord, ruler of all that moves and does not move; protector of the surrendered; giver of joy to gods and sages!
नाभिकुंड पियूष बस याकें। नाथ जिअत रावनु बल ताकें॥ सुनत बिभीषन बचन कृपाला। हरषि गहे कर बान कराला॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
nābhikuṃḍa piyūṣa basa yākeṃ। nātha jiat rāvanu bala tākeṃ॥ sunata bibhīṣana bacana kṛpālā। haraṣi gahe kara bāna karālā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
In its navel there dwells nectar. O Lord, Ravana lives by that very power. On hearing Vibhishana's words, the compassionate Shri Raghunath Ji joyfully took up his terrible arrows.
असुभ होन लागे तब नाना। रोवहिं खर सृकाल बहु स्वाना॥ बोलहिं खग जग आरति हेतू। प्रगट भए नभ जहँ तहँ केतू॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
asubha hona lāge taba nānā। rovahiṃ khara sṛkāla bahu svānā॥ bolahiṃ khaga jaga ārati hetū। pragaṭa bhae nabha jahaṃ tahaṃ ketū॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
At that time, all kinds of evil omens began to appear. Many donkeys, jackals, and dogs began to howl. Birds began to cry out to foretell the world's distress. Comets appeared everywhere in the sky.
दस दिसि दाह होन अति लागा। भयउ परब बिनु रबि उपरागा॥ मंदोदरि उर कंपति भारी। प्रतिमा स्रवहिं नयन मग बारी॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dasa disi dāha hona ati lāgā। bhayau paraba binu rabi uparāgā॥ maṃdodarī ura kaṃpati bhārī। pratimā sravahiṃ nayana maga bārī॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
A scorching fire seemed to spread in all ten directions. Without any proper conjunction, there was as if a solar eclipse. Mandodari's heart trembled greatly. Even the images began to shed tears through their eyes.
प्रतिमा रुदहिं पबिपात नभ अति बात बह डोलति मही। बरषहिं बलाहक रुधिर कच रज असुभ अति सक को कही॥ उतपात अमित बिलोकि नभ सुर बिकल बोलहिं जय जए। सुर सभय जानि कृपाल रघुपति चाप सर जोरत भए॥
Transliteration (IAST)
pratimā rudahiṃ pabipāta nabha ati bāta baha ḍolati mahī। baraṣahiṃ balāhaka rudhira kaca raja asubha ati saka ko kahī॥ utapāta amita biloki nabha sura bikala bolahiṃ jaya jaye। sura sabhaya jāni kṛpāla raghupati cāpa sara jorata bhae॥
Meaning:
The images began to weep, lightning bolts fell from the sky, fierce winds blew, and the earth trembled. The clouds rained blood, hair, and dust—so many evil portents that none could count them. Seeing these countless disturbances, the gods in the sky cried out in agitation, “Victory! Victory!” Seeing the gods afraid, the compassionate Shri Raghunath Ji set his arrow on the bow.
खैंचि सरासन श्रवन लगि छाड़े सर एकतीस। रघुनायक सायक चले मानहुँ काल फनीस॥ १०२ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
khaṃci sarāsana śravana lagi chāḍhe sara ekatīsa। raghunāyaka sāyaka cale mānahuṃ kāla fanīsa॥ 102 ॥
Meaning:
Drawing the bow all the way to his ear, Shri Raghunath Ji released thirty-one arrows. Shri Ramachandra's arrows flew forth like serpents of Death itself.
सायक एक नाभि सर सोषा। अपर लगे भुज सिर करि रोषा॥ लै सिर बाहु चले नाराचा। सिर भुज हीन रुंड महि नाचा॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sāyaka eka nābhi sara soṣā। apara lage bhuja sira kari roṣā॥ lai sira bāhu cale nārācā। sira bhuja hīna ruṇḍa mahi nācā॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
One arrow dried up the nectar-pool in the navel. The other thirty arrows, in wrath, struck his heads and arms. The arrows carried off the heads and arms. The headless trunk danced on the ground.
धरनि धसइ धर धाव प्रचंडा। तब सर हति प्रभु कृत दुइ खंडा॥ गर्जेउ मरत घोर रव भारी। कहाँ रामु रन हतौं पचारी॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
dharani dhasai dhara dhāva pracaṃḍā। taba sara hati prabhu kṛta dui khaṃḍā॥ garjeu marata ghora rava bhārī। kahāṃ rāmu rana hatauṃ pachārī॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
The trunk rushed forward with tremendous speed, causing the earth to sink. Then the Lord struck it with an arrow and split it into two. At the moment of death, Ravana roared in a terrible voice, “Where is Rama? I challenge him and will strike him down in battle!”
डोली भूमि गिरत दसकंधर। छुभित सिंधु सरि दिग्गज भूधर॥ धरनि परेउ द्वौ खंड बढ़ाई। चापि भालु मर्कट समुदाई॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
ḍolī bhūmi girata dasakandhara। chubhita sindhu sari diggaja bhūdhara॥ dharani pareu dvau khaṃḍa baḍhāī। cāpi bhālu markaṭa samudāī॥ 3 ॥
Meaning:
As Ravana fell, the earth shook. The ocean, rivers, elephants of the directions, and mountains were disturbed. Spreading out his two severed parts, he fell to the earth, crushing the assembled bears and monkeys.
मंदोदरि आगें भुज सीसा। धरि सर चले जहाँ जगदीसा॥ प्रबिसे सब निषंग महुँ जाई। देखि सुरन्ह दुंदुभीं बजाई॥ ४ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
maṃdodarī āgeṃ bhuja sīsā। dhari sara cale jahāṃ jagadīsā॥ prabise saba niṣaṃga mahuṃ jāī। dekhi suranha duṃdubhīṃ bajāī॥ 4 ॥
Meaning:
Placing Ravana's arms and heads before Mandodari, the arrows went on to where the Lord of the world, Shri Rama, was. All the arrows entered back into the quiver. Seeing this, the gods sounded their kettledrums.
तासु तेज समान प्रभु आनन। हरषे देखि संभु चतुरानन॥ जय जय धुनि पूरी ब्रह्मंडा। जय रघुबीर प्रबल भुजदंडा॥ ५ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tāsu teja samāna prabhu ānana। haraṣe dekhi saṃbhu caturānana॥ jaya jaya dhuni pūrī brahmaṃḍā। jaya raghubīra prabala bhujadaṃḍā॥ 5 ॥
Meaning:
Ravana's radiance merged into the Lord's face. Seeing this, Shiva and Brahma were delighted. The sound of victory filled the entire universe. Glory to Shri Raghubir, whose arms are mighty!
जय कृपा कंद मुकुंद द्वंद हरन सरन सुखप्रद प्रभो। खल दल बिदारन परम कारन कारुनीक सदा बिभो॥ सुर सुमन बरषहिं हरष संकुल बाज दुंदुभि गहगही। संग्राम अंगन राम अंग अनंग बहु सोभा लही॥ १ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
jaya kṛpā kanda mukunda dvanda harana sarana sukhaprada prabho। khala dala bidārana parama kārana kāruṇīka sadā bibho॥ sura sumana baraṣahiṃ haraṣa saṃkula bāja duṃdubhi gahagahī। saṃgrāma aṃgana rāma aṃga ananga bahu sobhā lahī॥ 1 ॥
Meaning:
Victory to You, O root of compassion! Victory to Mukunda, giver of liberation! Victory to the destroyer of duality, giver of refuge and bliss, O Lord! Victory to You, who tear apart the hosts of the wicked, the supreme cause of all causes, ever-merciful and all-pervading. The gods shower flowers in joy; kettledrums resound loudly. In the battlefield, Shri Ramachandra's limbs attained a beauty surpassing even many Cupids.
सिर जटा मुकुट प्रसून बिच बिच अति मनोहर राजहीं। जनु नीलगिरि पर तड़ित पटल समेत उड़ुगन भ्राजहीं॥ भुजदंड सर कोदंड फेरत रुधिर कन तन अति बने। जनु रायमुनीं तमाल पर बैठीं बिपुल सुख आपने॥ २ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sira jaṭā mukuṭa prasūna bica bica ati manohara rājahīṃ। janu nīlagiri para taḍita paṭala sameta uḍugana bhrājahīṃ॥ bhujadaṃḍa sara kodaṃḍa pherata rudhira kana tana ati bane। janu rāyamunīṃ tamāla para baiṭhīṃ bipula sukha āpane॥ 2 ॥
Meaning:
A crown of matted hair rests on the head, with very lovely flowers shining here and there between. It is as though stars, together with flashes of lightning, were gleaming upon a blue mountain. Shri Rama is handling his bow and arrows with his mighty arms. The drops of blood on his body look exquisitely beautiful. It is as if many lovely birds are sitting motionless on a tamala tree, absorbed in their great joy.
कृपादृष्टि करि बृष्टि प्रभु अभय किए सुर बृंद। भालु कीस सब हरषे जय सुख धाम मुकुंद॥ १०३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
kṛpādṛṣṭi kari bṛṣṭi prabhu abhaya kie sura bṛnda। bhālu kīsa saba haraṣe jaya sukha dhāma mukunda॥ 103 ॥
Meaning:
Lord Shri Ramachandra showered his compassionate glance and made the host of gods fearless. All the monkeys and bears rejoiced and began to cry, “Victory to Mukunda, the abode of bliss!”