Ramayana

1. Ramayana By:Zachary Fuschetto

2. Every moment , news came to Ravana of fresh disasters in his camp. This was too much for him. He felt a terrific rage rising within him, mixed with some admiration for Rama’s valour. He told himself, “The time has come for me to act by myself again.”

3. The Gods in heaven noticed Ravana’s determined move and felt that Rama would need all the support they could muster. They requested a chariot for Rama’s use. Rama fastened his sword, slung two quivers full of rare arrows over his shoulders, and climbed into the chariot.

4. While Ravana had instructed his charioteer to speed ahead, Rama very gently ordered his chariot-driver to move slowly and calmly and let Ravana exhaust himself out.

5. Rama paused for a moment to consider his next step and suddenly turned towards the armies supporting Ravana and destroyed them. He felt that this might be one way of saving Ravana that maybe he might have a change in heart. But it spurred Ravana and he plunged forwards coming nearer Rama and his own doom.

6. Matali picked up Indra’s conch and blew which signaled the commencement of the battle. Ravana sent a shower of arrows on Rama, then followed a shower of arrows from Rama. Ravana gazed at the chariot sent by Indra and swore, “These gods, instead of supporting me, have gone to the support of this petty human. I will teach them a lesson.” “He is not fit to be killed with these arrows” he swore. Despite the oath he still sent another shower of arrows at Rama.

7. Ravana’s bows were ineffective and neutralized by Rama’s arrows which met arrow for arrow. Ravana then used ten bows with his 20 arms increasing his attack tenfold; but Rama remained unhurt.

8. Rama’s arrows pierced Ravana’s armour and made him wince. Ravana then changed his tactics. Instead of shooting his arrows, which were powerful in themselves, he also invoked several supernatural forces to create strange effects. The fight soon became one of attack with supernatural powers, and parrying of such an attack with other supernatural powers.

9. Ravana sent an asthras called”Danda” which was capable of pursuing and pulverizing its target. When it came along the gods were struck with fear but Rama’s arrow neutralized it. Ravana said to himself, “These are all petty weapons. I should really get down to proper business.”

10. He invoked the weapon Maya which created an illusion and confused the enemy. When shot it created the illusion that all the armies and its leaders had come back to life. Matali explained to Rama that “Ravana had created phantoms to confuse you. if you make up your mind you can dispel them immediately.” So Rama quickly invoked a weapon called Gnana which means wisdom which made all the armies evaporate into thin air.

11. Ravana then shot an asthra called “Thama” which creates total darkness in all worlds. The earth was enveloped in total darkness and the whole of creation was paralyzed, it also created a deluge of rain on one side, a rain of stones on the other, and a hail storm raining down intermittently, and a tornado sweeping the earth. ravana was sure it would arrest Rama’s enterprise.

12. Ravana now shot off what he considered his deadliest weapon-a trident. When on its way there was a panic all round. it came on flaming towards Rama, its speed or course was unaffected by the arrows flung at it. Rama uttered a certain mantra and with perfect timing the trident collapsed inches from Rama.

13. Ravana sent forward a weapon which issued forth monstrous serpents vomiting fire and venom so Rama selected the asthra “Garuda”, soon thousands of eagles were aloft and they picked off the serpents with their claws and beaks and destroyed them. Angered by Rama’s counterattack he flung a quivers worth of arrows in Rama’s direction but rama’s arrows met them half way turned them around and sent them back at Ravana and embedded themselves in his chest.

14. Being that Ravana was weakening in spirit he thought it be the best time to try to cut off Ravana’s heads. He flung a crescent shaped which sliced off one of Ravana’s heads and flung it into the sea, but every time one of his heads were cut off another one grew right back, same happened with Ravana’s arms.

15. Rama’s arrows had weakened Ravana so much that he collapsed inside his chariot. The charioteer pulled back and drew the chariot aside. Matali whispered to Rama “this is the time to finish that demon off. He is in a faint. Go on. Go on.” But Rama put his bow away and said. “It is not fair warfare to attack a man who is in a faint. I will wait.”

16. When Ravana was revived he was angry with his charioteer. He took out his sword and cried “ You have disgraced me. Those who look on will think I have retreated.” But the charioteer explained that Rama had suspended the fight and forbore to attack when he was in a faint. Anything Ravana threw Rama’s way was ineffective. There seemed to be no end of this struggle in sight.

17. Rama paused to consider what he would use to end the battle. He decided to use “Brathmasthra” the old monster that assumed the forms of flying mountains and settled down on habitations and cities, seeking to destroy the world. It was to only be used in desperation. Rama sent it in Ravana’s direction aiming for his heart instead of his head. Rama watched as Ravana fell headlong from his chariot face down onto the earth.

18. Rama’s arrows burnt off the layers of dross, the anger, conceit, cruelty, lust, and egotism which had encrusted his real self, and now his personality came through in its pristine form- of one who was devout and capable of tremendous attainments. His face shone with serenity and peace.

19. Rama noticed a scar on ravana’s back and said with a smile, “Perhaps this is not an episode of glory for me as I seem to have killed an enemy who was turning his back and retreating. Perhaps I was wrong in shooting the Brahmasthra into him.” Vibishana explained, “It is an old scar. In ancient days, when he paraded his strength around the globe, once he tried to attack the divine elephants that guard the four directions. When he tried to catch them, he was goared in the back by one of the tuskers.

20. Rama accepted the explanation. “Honour him and cherish his memory so that his spirit may go to heaven where he has his place. And now i will leave you to attend to his funeral arrangements, befitting his grandeur.

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