Kumbhakarna reached the palace of Ravana and stood before him. Ravana said, “Brother, I am now in great difficulty. I have brought Sita, the wife of Rama, desiring to marry her. To recover her, Rama has come here with a vast army of monkey-soldiers. They have slain many demons and destroyed nearly the whole of Lanka. It is your duty now to help me.”

“It is not right that you have deprived a helpless woman of her husband,” replied Kumbhakarna. “It is a great sin to covet another’s wife. You ought to have restored her to her husband. But as you have brought her here at the risk of your life, tell me — have you fulfilled your wish? If not, then transform yourself into Rama and go to her.”

“That cannot be done,” said Ravana, “for if I become Rama, all his virtues will reign in me and prevent me from doing anything wicked. Unless you kill Rama, I cannot fulfill my desire.”

“As you are my brother,” said Kumbhakarna, “it is my duty to help you. Have courage. I shall devour all the monkeys at once and slay Rama and Lakshman.”

Taking leave of Ravana, Kumbhakarna marched against Rama’s army. Four monkeys — including Sharab and Govaksha — flung mountains and rocks at him, which he broke with his blows and hurled them into the sky. Kumbhakarna devoured many monkeys, though some escaped through his ears and nostrils.

Sugriva then threw a mountain at him, which he shattered with one blow, seized Sugriva by the feet, and whirled him like a reel. He was about to dash the monkey to pieces when Sugriva slipped from his grasp and leapt into the sky. Kumbhakarna stretched up his arms, caught him again, and thrust him into his anus.

Disgusted by the stench, Sugriva cut off the demon’s nose and ears and escaped once more into the air. Bleeding and disfigured, Kumbhakarna thought himself victorious and walked toward Ravana’s palace.

The demon-king, ashamed to behold his brother in that state, avoided him and ordered his barber to bring a mirror. Seeing his own disfigured face in it, Kumbhakarna burned with rage and returned to the battlefield.

Desperate, he devoured many monkeys and charged toward Rama. Lakshman discharged arrows, which the demon caught and broke with his hands. Vibhishan then approached him and said, “Brother, desist from this sin!”

Kumbhakarna roared, “You traitor! You have joined our enemies. I should kill you here and now, but since none would remain to perform our funeral rites, I spare you. Leave my sight forever.”

Vibhishan withdrew. Kumbhakarna rushed at Rama. The prince shot many arrows, which the demon devoured. Finally Rama released a deadly arrow that severed Kumbhakarna’s hands, then others that cut off his feet, trunk, and head.

When the news of Kumbhakarna’s fall reached Ravana, he was overwhelmed with grief. Indrajit consoled his father. Soon after, Atikaya, Ravana’s second son, led an attack with many warriors and slew numerous monkeys, but Lakshman killed him with an arrow.

Ravana mourned again, and Indrajit comforted him once more. He then bathed in the blood of humans and cows, performed fierce penance, and pleased his goddess. She granted him a divine chariot with celestial horses and weapons. Indrajit mounted it, rose into the sky, hid himself in clouds, and showered arrows upon Rama’s army. Many monkeys fell, and even Rama and Lakshman were struck. Triumphant, he returned to Lanka.

To restore life to the fallen, Maruti flew to the mountain Dronagiri, famed for its healing herbs. Standing at its foot, he entreated the mountain to come with him to Suvela and revive the wounded with its plants. The mountain refused: “Begone, foolish one! I will not move from my place.”

Maruti, angered by its arrogance, lifted the mountain with his tail and carried it to Suvela. By the fragrance of its herbs, all the monkeys, along with Rama and Lakshman, were revived. Soon after, they entered Lanka and set it aflame.

Ravana sent the demons Jang, Prachang, Krochan, Nikumbha and others to quell the fire. They released a rain-weapon that poured water and extinguished it. Indrajit then invoked a mantra to create a female demon named Kritya, and, hiding behind her, fired arrows at the monkeys, killing many. At the suggestion of the Wind, Rama released the Angirastra, which destroyed Kritya.

Indrajit descended again, fought fiercely, and inflicted heavy losses before returning to Lanka. The monkeys were disheartened. Maruti then took the field.

At this time, Indrajit created through his mantras a woman identical to Sita. Placing her in his chariot, he came to the field and shouted, “See, because of this woman my father has suffered much! If her head is cut off, all will end!” So saying, he cut off the false Sita’s head and returned to his city, Nikumbhila, to perform a great sacrifice to the Fire God.

He killed many Brahmans and cows, anointed himself with their blood, and sat upon corpses to conduct the havan. The Fire God was pleased, and half of the divine chariot emerged from the flames.

Maruti, seeing the false Sita slain, believed it was truly her and conveyed the dreadful news to Rama and Lakshman. They were stricken with grief. Vibhishan, however, came and explained that the slain woman was an illusion created by Indrajit and that the true Sita remained safe in the Asoka forest. He also informed them of Indrajit’s penance and warned, “If the full divine chariot emerges, you will not be able to defeat him. Go to Nikumbhila at once and destroy the havan before it is completed. Only one who has fasted for twelve years can kill him.”

Rama then signaled to Lakshman, who had fasted for fourteen years, and sent him with Maruti, Sugriva, and others to Nikumbhila. They destroyed the havan and the half-formed chariot.

The noise roused Indrajit from his meditation. Seeing his ritual ruined, he was enraged and launched a rain-weapon that flooded the battlefield. Lakshman countered with a wind-weapon that dispersed the rain. Indrajit used a mountain-weapon, producing countless peaks; Lakshman broke them with a diamond-weapon. Indrajit then unleashed fire; Lakshman extinguished it with a sea-weapon.

Finally Indrajit struck Lakshman with five arrows. Vibhishan hurled his mace, which the demon cut apart, striking his uncle in return. At last Lakshman released a deadly arrow that severed Indrajit’s head. His chariot was shattered, his horses slain by Jambavan. Though Indrajit fought on foot with great fury, the monkeys overwhelmed him with rocks and trees. He shattered them with arrows until Lakshman, aided by Maruti, lifted into the sky, engaged him aloft, and then descended again.

After a long battle, Lakshman cut off the demon’s thighs, arms, and finally his head. Thus fell Indrajit, the mightiest of Ravana’s sons. 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.