YUDDHA KANDAM

The Yuddha Kandam describes the battle in Lanka between the monkey and the demon armies of Rama and Ravana, respectively in which Ravana is defeated. It is also known as the book of War or the Lanka Kandam.

The loss of the three generals stirred Ravana to greater wrath. He directed his arrows against Rama. A tremendous duel ensued. Each tried to hurt the other discharging mystic weapons, but each counter-acted the weapons of the other. The Naga astra employed by Ravana was made ineffective by the garuda astra shot out by Rama. They were on par with each other both in the knowledge of mystic weapons and in the skill of putting them to use. While the Rama- Ravana war was waging terribly Lakshmana attacked the charioteer of Ravana and slew him. At the same time Vibheeshana killed the steeds yoked to Ravana's chariot. The infuriated lord of Lanka leapt to earth and let loose the sukti weapon against his own brother now allied to the foe. Lakshmana quickly threw himself in front of Vibheeshana, received the dart himself and saved the ally. Lakshmana fell senseless on earth. Rama had no time to attend on his wounded brother. He charged hard on the foe and chased him away frightened. Then he ran to Lakshmana and pulled out of his chest the arrow that could not be extracted by the attending monkeys. Lakshmana seemed lifeless to the anxious elder brother. So he gave vent to lamentation. Life on earth seemed purposeless to him without Lakshmana, his counterpart. But Sushena sought to cheer him up pointing out that there were signs of life lingering in Lakshmana. Then he asked Hanuman to hurry up to the Himalayas and bring those mysterious herbs that could heal and revive life. This done Lakshmana rose recouped to normalcy. Rama was himself again seeing his brother hale. The younger brother then reminded Rama of his pledge to kill Ravana; it was to be done before sunset that day.

Ravana re-armed himself with another chariot and suitable weapons and appeared gallant on the battle field. When Raghva stood on earth to assail the villain, Indra, the king of gods thought it proper to arm him with celestial weapons fitted in his chariot and driven by his charioteer Maatali. He descended that fully equipped vehicle on earth before Rama and submitted that it was offered to him by Indra. Now the celestials took position in different regions to witness the warfare between virtue and wickedness. In the course of the terrible combat Ravana employed the devasting Soolaayudha. While it was causing havoc Rama employed Sakti aayudha supplied by Indra. Not only did it nullify the effect of the former, but it was also wrecking the faculty of understanding of Ravana. At this stage Raghupathy stated: "You made a hero of yourself by stealing Sita away during my absence. Now prove your worth facing my arrows." The villain had no word to utter. His weapons were failing. Seeing his plight the charioteer withdrew his vehicle from the scene of war. The momentary confused state of mind of Ravana gave peace to his normal demoniacism. He flared up on the charioteer for disgracing him by driving the chariot away from the enemy front. But the driver pacified him stating that actually he discerned weariness both in the fighting king and in the tugging steeds. And that was the cause of his pulling away from the enemy. The refreshed Ravana drove again to engage the enemy in war. In the meanwhile the Sage Agastya, who had already endowed Rama with celestial weapons, made his appearance before his hero and instructed him in Aadityahrudaya, the almighty formula. Rama was therefore fully equipped for the decisive battle. Rama and Ravana attacked each other ferociously. The armies on either side suspended their warfare and watched the gallant fight with amazement and suspended breath.


Ravana sought to smash the flag staff on Rama's chariot. But the attempt became futile. Raghava's retaliation was marvelous. With a single arrow he snapped off the flag staff on the enemy's vehicle. Seeing the swiftness of the steeds yoked to the chariot used by Rama the enemy sought to slay them with his deadly shafts. But Rama's counter arrows made them ineffective. In his turn Raghupathy chose to slay the steeds that drew dexterously the chariot of Ravana. But he also arrested the arrows of his enemy with equal cleverness. The charge of darts and counter darts on either side was gaining speed. The whizzing arrows made a canopy, so to say, above the battle field. The denizens of heaven and earth gazed with wonder at the amazing performance of the demon and the divine person.

Rama and Ravana's fight was paralleled, was their verdict. Finally Rama chose to chop off the head of the enemy. With that decision he aimed a shining arrow at him. It had its effect. Off went the head; but in its place another head sprouted. Head after head was cut off; new head after head was replacing the fallen one. Day and night the war waged, the result being the same Ravana's head being renewed. Rama then took up the all powerful Brahma astra, invoked the divine power into it and discharged it against Ravana, the embodiment of wickedness. It pierced through his heart, touched the earth and returned to Rama's shaft case. Ravana rolled dead on the ground. The mortals and the immortals shouted for joy. Rama's foremost exploit on earth was achieved. Lanka became the land of Vibheeshana. Though born of the demon stock Vibheeshana was imbued with noble elements. In public interest he saw to it that Ravana the embodiment of evil force was eliminated. But his ties of blood as brother now came to the forefront. So he gave vent to spontaneous feelings of sorrow and bereavement. The one that never knew defeat from the immortals had been done to death by a mortal. Vibheeshana's warnings had not been heeded. Utter destruction was the result. Thus he lamented. After a while Rama intervened, consoled him and instructed him to perform the obsequies befitting a vedic scholar, a person performed rare penance for the acquisition of mighty powers, a gifted kind and an invincible warrior, all of them fallen Ravana was. He fell fighting like a hero.

Death at the hands of Rama had washed away all his sins. So Vibheeshana was to adore his brother through the rites. Along with the other queens, Mandodari the first queen of Ravana tramped to the field of tragedy wailed aloud, "My Lord, who has been the lord of the three worlds, now lies on dust mangled to death by a man. My dream that I would never taste sorrow is snapped. The pang of it gnaws at me now. Victory over gods was the watchward of my lord. Alas! So easily he lies slain by a mortal. I prided myself upon the unparalleled prowess of my husband and of my son Indrajit. Now I am left behind a forlorn destitute. My husband separated Sita from her husband. I did not understand her sorrow. Now that I am separated from my husband I realize her sorrow. She will be reunited with ther husband. I am widowed once for all. Fate is all powerful. Rama asked Maatali to take back Indra's chariot to his heavenly region. He then approached Sugreeva, embraced him warmly and thanked him heartily for the unimaginable service that he rendered in the defeat of Ravana. A help of that kind was a rare phenomenon. Instructed by Rama his counterpart Lakshmana gave a ceremonious bath to Vibbheeshana and crowned him the king of Lanka. Rama next directed Hanuman to convey the happenings to Sita in the Ashoka grove. Hanuman delightfully wended his way to the presence of Sita, prostrated before her and conveyed the glad news, "The villain is killed by Rama. You are no more a captive. This place belongs to Vibheeshana our ally and devotee of Rama. So you are in your own place. Rama, Lakshmana, Sugreeva and Vibheeshana send to you their message of welfare. They are anxious to hear about your welfare." Sita remained mute and motionless of happiness.

In response to Anjenaya's report Rama asked Vibheeshana to have Vaidehi bathed, dressed up and escorted to his presence. Vibheeshana entrusted this pleasant duty to the womenfolk in the palace. Sita had thought of presenting herself haggered to her Lord. But Rama's wish was carried out. In a palanquin she was solemnly conveyed before Rama. The rakshasas and the Vanaras thronged shoulder to shoulder to have a view of the woman, because of whom Ravana and many others died and the history of Lanka changed. Raghu Rama's bearing had now become visibly changed. The normal fascinating attitude had given place to frightful one. The meeting therefore of the husband and wife after a longs separation was anything but joyous. In grave accents Rama spoke to the weeping Sita, "I sought the friendship of Sugreeva and that of Vibheeshana in order to take action against the lustful and wicked Ravana. He deserved death and that has been meted out to him for the protection of Dharama".