The negotiations for peace having failed, Susen marched against Lanka with twenty kotis of monkey-soldiers and fought the troops of Ravana under the command of Dhamaraksha. Susen routed and defeated them all, and their commander was killed by Maruti with blows.

The news of the defeat spread throughout Lanka. The demon-king, boiling with rage, sent the demons Vazra, Dausti and Sukpana with a number of demon-soldiers, but they too were defeated with heavy loss. Ravana was alarmed and did not know what to do. In the meantime his son Indrajit kept the field with the warriors Jambumali and Vidyaman and let loose arrows at Rama’s army, which Rama cut off and the prince’s forces killed the two warriors.

Whereupon Indrajit immediately mounted his chariot, sprang into the sky, hid himself in the clouds, and hurled serpent-weapons at Rama’s army. The serpents bit Rama, Lakshman and their soldiers; consequently many fell lifeless on the field, except Maruti and Vibhishan, who were immortal. Indrajit, having thus prevailed for a time, returned to Lanka triumphant.

Ravana, glad at his son’s success, said to his sister Trijata, “Sister, look at Indrajit’s valour. See how he has fought and defeated Rama’s army. No one on earth can conquer us. Now go to Sita and tell her that Rama, Lakshman and their army lie lifeless in the field; tell her she is helpless and that I alone can protect her. Persuade her to marry me — I desire her greatly.”

Trijata accordingly showed Sita the supposed bodies of Rama, Lakshman and the monkey soldiers, and told her Ravana’s words. Sita, seeing her beloved fallen, cried out violently and became hopeless. Maruti and Vibhishan conferred about resuscitating the princes and the army, but before they reached a decision, the Wind whispered to Rama a garuda-mantrathat produced garudas, great eagles. These garudas slew all the serpents and revived Lakshman and the army. The battle was renewed.

Pravasta, a minister of Ravana, fought bravely and slew many monkeys. Nala then hurled a lakh of mountains at the minister; the latter shattered them but after a hot contest Pravasta was slain by Nala with a tree called Tada, a hundred yojans in length. Ravana was greatly enraged and prepared himself for direct combat.

His wife Mandodari counseled him, “My dearest, give up this folly. Restore Sita to Rama and peace will follow.” Ravana laughed, “I may do anything for you, but I will never restore Sita. I shall fight and die before I submit.” Having failed to move him, Mandodari returned to the palace.

Ravana marshalled his sons, grandsons and countless warriors and commenced the battle. Sugriva hurled a vast mountain at him; Ravana broke it with his arrows. The monkeys then rushed at him with mountains, trees, rocks and other weapons, which he too shattered with his arrows. Maruti threw a huge rock; Ravana broke it and struck back, and Maruti fainted for a while. Recovering, Maruti returned blows that dislodged Ravana’s mukuts and the chatras over his ten heads. Still Ravana fought on.

Nala produced, by mantra, innumerable Nalases like himself to hurl mountains and trees, but Ravana countered with a Brahmastra and made them disappear instantly. Lakshman then discharged a Brahmastra at Ravana; Ravana cut it in two, one part fell to the ground and the other struck Lakshman, who fainted. Maruti, enraged, struck Ravana hard; the king vomited blood and retired to Lanka.

When Ravana was thus beaten back, he sent envoys to rouse his sleeping brother Kumbhakarna. The demons shook him, but he would not wake; they pelted him with rocks, pierced him with spears and scratched him with nails, but nothing aroused him. He snored with great noise, inhaling and exhaling demons, bullocks, cows, elephants and other beasts around him. At last the demons brought two nymphs to sing before him. By their song he awakened.

Hungered after six months’ sleep, Kumbhakarna devoured billions of bullocks, buffaloes, cows and demons, and drank great quantities of liquor and ghee. Having satisfied his hunger, the demons informed him of Ravana’s plight and the battle. Kumbhakarna at once rose and strode toward his brother’s palace.

The sight of the colossus disheartened the monkeys, but Maruti went to him and lifted him thrice so the monkeys would not be afraid of him. Until next time, Jai Shree Ram!

|| OM SAI SHRI SAI JAI JAI SAI || 

|| SHRI SATCHIDANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAJ KI JAI ||

Note: This narration is based on Ramavijaya: The Mythological History of Rama (Bombay, 1891, Dubhashi & Co.), a public domain text shared here for free reading.