January 31 - Sargas 108 and 109 of Yuddha Kanda.
Sri Rama uses the Brahmastra and kills Ravana.
Vibhishana is in distress, but Sri Rama's words help him.
***
अथ स्मारयामास मातली राघवं तदा
विनाशकालः कथितो यः सुरैः सोऽद्यवर्तते
"Matali then reminded Sri Rama that he had forgotten to use the Brahmastra which was very much in his quiver. The time for Ravana's end as foretold and desired by all the gods had arrived."
यं तस्मै प्रथमं प्रादादगस्त्यो भगवान्ऋषिः ।
ब्रह्मदत्तं महद्बाणममोघं युधि वीर्यवान् ॥
"Sri Rama, endowed with incomparable valour, then readily picked up the sacred Brahmastra from his quiver which had been bestowed on him by the great sage Agastya before, which was created originally by Brahma himself to be infallible and supreme as a weapon in any battle."
Valmiki describes how Lord Brahma had created this ultimate Astra for Indra in order to ensure that Dharma prospers and wins over Adharma in all decisive battles. The Brahmastra was like the Wind-god in speed, bore in its tip the fire of the sun, its body being the subtle and unavertable Akasha (ether) and its gravitational momentum endowed by Meru and Mandara peaks. It could penetrate through any fortress, destroy any mountain, and was most dangerous looking, displaying the bloodstains of its victims from history. It throbbed and hissed like a mighty serpent and was veritably the Lord of Death, Yama, when used in battle. Garuda's feathers adorned it.
अभिमन्त्र्य ततो रामस्तं महेषुं महाबलः ।
वेदप्रोक्तेन विधिना सन्दधे कार्मुके बली ॥
"Sri Rama, the supreme warrior, then invoked Veda mantras as ordained and used the prescribed method to set that glorious Brahmastra to his mighty bow."
All creatures trembled in fright and the earth shook up in anticipation of its launch. Sri Rama pulled the bowstring to its limit with his mighty arm and released the infallible Brahmastra.
"Launched by the one endowed with arms as strong as Indra's thunderbolts, the Brahmastra which was radiant like lightning went like the God of Death and pierced Ravana in his chest and shattered it. Destroying the life force in Ravana, the Astra then struck the earth.
कृतकर्मा निभृतवत् स तूणीं पुनराविशत् "Having accomplished its intended task, the Brahmastra quietly returned and settled in Sri Rama's quiver."
Ravana was shattered, covered with blood, and his body slumped from his chariot to earth.
All the rakshasas dropped their weapons and rushed back into Lanka, करुणैर्बाष्पप्रस्रवणैैर्मुखैः "looking pitiable with all their faces covered in tears."
Dropping all their missiles as no longer needed, the vanaras celebrated in great delight and raised a lot of noise.
The celebrations by the gods and celestials assembled in the skies were impressive, with divine drums beating, a glorious and auspicious fragrance filling the air, and an unprecedented shower of the most beautiful and fragrant flowers covering Sri Rama from above.
One heard the congratulatory benedictions from the gods, साधु साधु "Bravo! Well done, Sri Rama!"
Sri Rama was also immensely pleased that he had fulfilled the promise he had made to Sugriva, Angada, and Vibhishana.
There was an instant looking up of all the elements, a sense of great peace, and the sun shone in his familiar glory.
Sugriva, Vibhishana, Angada, and Lakshmana went to Sri Rama and worshipped him as he stood looking his most handsome and benedictory self.
Valmiki says Sri Rama was looking like Indra himself, surrounded by all the gods.
***
Vibhishana now burst out in grief, looking at his brother fallen dead in battle. He poured out his filial feelings and long-standing reverence for Ravana as the undisputed monarch of all the rakshasas.
वीरविक्रान्त विख्यात प्रवीण नयकोविद ।
महार्हशयनोपेत किं शेषेद्य निहतो भुवि ॥
तदिदं वीर सम्प्राप्तं यन्मया पूर्वमीरितम् ।
काममोहपरीतस्य यत् तन्न रुचितं वचः ॥
"Oh glorious hero of famous victories, supreme as a lord and expert in all diplomacy and decorum, why do you, used to the best of royal beds, now lie like this on the bare earth!?
"Alas! My words then found no favour with you as you were besotted in lust. Whatever I predicted has now come true, and you have reaped the harvest I warned you about."
"Arrogant Prahasta, Indrajit, even Kumbhakarna, and Atikaya discarded my advice just as you did, full of a misplaced sense of self-assurance."
Suddenly Vibhishana bursts out, "Oh, the world has come to an end! Its hero who was an embodiment of righteousness is gone. True valour is dead. No heroes are left. The sun has dashed to earth, the moon is dark and a blazing fire has been quenched. The world has neither purpose nor meaning."
Vibhishana says the stormy wind called Raghava has felled a mighty tree called Ravana, with his courage being his leaves, his stubbornness his flowers, his tapas his strong trunk and his bravery his roots. Ravana, the tusker in musth has been torn asunder by the lion called Sri Rama. Sri Rama the thundercloud has quenched the blazing forest fire called Ravana. Ravana, the raging bull with the mighty rakshasa army being his tail, hooves, and horns, has been killed by the tiger called Sri Rama.
***
Sri Rama now addressed Vibhishana.
नायं विनष्टो निश्चेष्टः समरे चण्डविक्रमः ।
नैवं विनष्टाः शोच्यन्ते क्षत्रधर्मव्यवस्थिताः ॥
"Say not such words! Ravana was a supreme hero who did not die cheaply. He was bravery personified and struck terror in his adversaries in battle. Such heroes who die in battle thus shall never be grieved for thus. It simply augurs for their glory and they have their place reserved in the higher world for heroes. Remember Ravana had terrorized the three worlds including Indra himself. Is it not the nature of battles that one hero wins and the other dies? Vibhishana, make peace with reality and focus on what urgently needs to be done next."
Vibhishana again described to Sri Rama that the one who was a raging ocean had been quietened today by Sri Rama and Ravana had been the epitome of grace, generosity, and Vedic knowledge, devoted to scripturally prescribed sacrifices. He requested Sri Rama that he be allowed to perform Ravana's last rites.
आज्ञापयामास नरेन्द्रसूनुः स्वर्गीयमाधानमदीनसत्त्वः
"Prince Sri Rama instructed that Vibhishana carry out the last rites with resolute dedication to the one departed to heaven."
मरणान्तकानि वैराणि निर्वृत्तं नः प्रयोजनम् ।
क्रियतामस्य संस्कारो ममाप्येष यथा तव ॥
"All animosities end with death. The enmity with Ravana serves no further purpose. Now he is as much to me as he is to you, and I urge you perform his rites well."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
