Rāmāyana | Yuddha Kaṇḍa | Chapter 108

108. Rāma Kills Rāvaṇa

[Mātali advises Rāma to use Brahmāstra (arrow of Brahma). When Rāma does it, that great arrow kills Rāvaṇa. All Devas, sages and all the monkeys become happy.]

Then Mātali refreshed the memory of Rāghava as follows: "Oh valorous one, why are you carrying the battle as if you are not aware." 108.1

"Oh lord, please send the Brahma arrow to kill him for the time of death as predicted by Devas have come." 108.2

When Mātali reminded Rāma about it, Rāma took hold of the unfailing, lustrous arrow which was given by Lord Brahma to Sage Agastya and which was given to him earlier in the battle field and which looked like a hissing serpent. 108.3-108.4

This arrow of infinite strength was made earlier by Lord Brahma for the sake of Indra and given to him who was desirous of conquering the three worlds. 108.5

In its feathers, wind was established. In its end-points were the fire and the sun. Its heaviness were Mounts Meru and Mandāra and its shaft was made of ether 108.6

That arrow was shining brightly, provided with good shaft and was decked with gold and its lustre came from all beings and had the illuminating power of the Sun. 108.7

Giving out like the fire at the time deluge and shining similar to the poisonous serpent, it was capable of speedily killing groups of men, elephant and horses. 108.8

It could break gate ways, iron bars and even mountains and being smeared with blood of its victims and coated with their marrow, it was dreadful to look at. 108.9

It had the power of the Vajra, gave out huge sound, tore of various types of armies and created great fear like a hissing serpent. 108.10

It was capable of daily giving food to vultures, eagles and cranes and troops of jackals and demons and in the war it assumed the fearful form of God of death. 108.11

It gave joy to the chiefs of monkeys and was capable of destroying the Rākṣasas and it moved with great speed, as it was tied by colourful feathers of Garuda, the king of birds. 108.12

Making it sacred by a special chants as per the procedure specified in the scriptures, Rāma who was endowed with an extraordinary strength, fixed that arrow which was the foremost among the three worlds, capable of removing the fear of Ikshvāku clan, taking away the glory of the enemies and bestowing joy to one's own self on his bow. 108.13-108.14

When Rāghava was fixing that arrow on his great bow, all the beings were frightened and the earth started shaking. 108.15

That angry Rāma, with a greatly attentive mind, stretched his bow and sent that arrow, which can tear off the vital organs of Rāvaṇa. 108.16

The arrow which cannot be defeated like the thunderbolt which was similar to being hurled by the arms of Indra or by that God of death fell upon Rāvaṇa's chest. 108.17

That arrow, which was released with great speed and could cause the death of a body, tore off the heart of the evil minded Rāvaṇa. 108.18

That arrow which could cause the death of a body released with great speed, stole the life of Rāvaṇa and entered the earth. 108.19

That arrow coated with blood after killing Rāvaṇa and thereby accomplishing its mission re-entered the quiver of Rāma silently. 108.20

The arrows and bow that Rāvaṇa was holding fell from his hands at the exact time when his life breath left his body. 108.21

That king of Rākṣasas who was greatly swift and who had great lustre having lost his life fell on the earth from his chariot as the Rākṣasa Vritra fell when struck by Vajra. 108.22

The Rākṣasas seeing him falling on the earth dead, having lost their lord were fear struck and ran away to all directions. 108.23

The monkeys who were fighting with trees as weapon fell upon those Rākṣasas from all sides and due to the killing of the ten necked one the monkeys assumed a pose of victory. 108.24

Beaten by the monkeys, the Rākṣasas rushed back in fear towards Lanka with miserable faces and tears flowing from their eyes, as the one whom they depended had been killed. 108.25

Then the monkeys who were behaving like conquerors and who were extremely happy roared shouts of joy and proclaimed the victory of Rāma and death of Rāvaṇa. 108.26

The entire atmosphere reverberated with the cheerful playing of kettle drums by Gods in the sky and pleasant winds carrying divine scent blew there. 108.27

From the sky a rain of flowers fell towards the earth pouring on the chariot of Rāma for having accomplished a difficult job which was fascinating to the mind. 108.28

The great devas in their excellent voice said "well done, well done along with a poem praising Rāghava and this was distinctly heard in the sky. 108.29

Great joy filled the minds of Devas and Chāraṇas, when the cruel Rāvaṇa who was the terror of all the words was killed. 108.30

After being greatly pleased with the killing of that great Rākṣasa chief, Rāma fulfilled the desires of Sugrīva, Angada and Vibhīṣaṇa. 108.31

Then the Deva army got their mental peace. All the directions were brightened up and the sky became clear. The earth did not tremble. The wind blew gently. The sun too shed a steady light. 108.32

Due to the joy of victory in battle, Sugrīva, Vibhīṣaṇa and Angada together with Lakṣmaṇa along with their friends paid their respects as per custom to Rāma, who looked charming. 108.33

Then the delight of the clan of Raghu who had killed his enemy, who was stable in reactions to events, who had great lustre, who stood in the battle field surrounded by his army and his people shined like Indra, the king of the devas. 108.34

This is the end of One Hundred and Eighth Sarga of Yuddha Kanda which occurs in Holy Rāmāyaṇa composed by Vālmīki as the First Epic.