January 19 - Sarga 89 of Yuddha Kanda.
Indrajit loses his chariot, charioteer, and horses and is crestfallen in battle in his penultimate fight with Lakshmana.
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Vibhishana now takes part directly in the action. He is a mighty warrior himself and wields a great bow as he attacks the rakshasas. His prowess is much applauded by the vanara chiefs. His lieutenants are also formidable, and achieve much success with their spears, swords, and catapults.
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Vibhishana spoke words of great motivation to the vanaras:
एकोऽयं राक्षसेन्द्रस्य परायणमवस्थितः ।
ऐतच्छेषं बलं तस्य किं तिष्ठत हरीश्वराः ॥
अस्मिंश्च निहते पापे राक्षसे रणमूर्धनि ।
रावणं वर्जयित्वा तु शेषमस्य बलं हतम् ॥
"Oh vanara heroes, our mission is nearing completion. Only a single great warrior still stands from Ravana's camp - Indrajit. Excluding him, who do you find of significance in their camp? Once this evil Indrajit is killed in battle, except Ravana himself, we can take the enemy has lost all the warriors."
Vibhishana lists all the rakshasa warriors slain by the redoubtable vanaras so far - Prahasta, Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhumraksha, Jambumali, Mahamali, Tikshnavega, Ashaniprabha, Suptaghna, Yajnakopa, Vajradamshtra, Samhradi, Vikata, Arighna, Tapana, Manda, Praghaasa, Praghasa, Prajangha, Jangha, Durjaya, Agniketu, Rashmiketu, Vidyujjivha, Dvijivha, Suryashatru, Akampana, Suparshva, Chakramali, Kampana, Devantaka, Narantaka, ....
एतान्निहत्यातिबलान् बहून् राक्षससत्तमान् ।
बाहुभ्यां सागरं तीर्त्वा लङ्घ्यतां गोष्पदं लघु ॥
"Oh great vanara heroes, you have slain all these formidable warriors, in such a large number, by your tireless endeavour. Now what is left is easy. It is as if you have swum across the ocean only using the power in your arms and shoulders. Now all that remains is to step across a mere puddle of water as big as a cow's hoof!"
"I cannot bring myself to kill my nephew, Indrajit. Even then, I know the sacred mission of Sri Rama and I shall not hesitate to do so except that perhaps my eyes will be blinded by my tears. So it is better he dies at the hands of Lakshmana."
The vanaras started to methodically eliminate the remaining enemy soldiers. They were striking the earth with their tails as they hurled missiles, and made deafening noises. Jambavan and his bear army were also fierce in battle. A large number of rakshasas together attacked Jambavan. Seeing the fierce battle. Hanuman gently lowered Lakshmana from his shoulders (whom do far he was carrying being his vehicle) and went over himself to join the fray, plucking a huge saal tree. He was devastating to the enemy.
Lakshmana and Indrajit now engaged in a one-on-one, terrific, battle. They looked like the sun and the moon as they emerged occasionally from the cloud of arrows that were launched by them against each other.
Valmiki says that their speed and deftness made it impossible to see when they were picking up the arrows, setting them to the bows, and releasing them. There was a most scarifying sight of lightning-fast arrows flying everywhere. There was a chaotic sight and none could tell who would eventually win.
Soon the whole sight was too dark and gory. Great ascetics were silently praying for the victory of good over evil.
Lakshmana shot four arrows and killed all the black steeds that were drawing Indrajit's chariot. He then shot a fierce arrow with the sound of a clap that went and decapitated the charioteer.
Indrajit managed to get a chariot with horses and drive it himself as he fought. That was indeed a most astonishing act of valour.
Lakshmana used the opportunity well to hurt alternately the horses and Indrajit. Indrajit was evidently crestfallen.
The vanara heroes now attacked his new horses and destroyed them. They also smashed the chariot to pieces.
Indrajit was definitely down, but not out.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
