Vibhishana tells Rama about Tarani

The moment Tarani fell, Vibhishana fell on the ground and started crying. Rama raised him and asked him the reason for his grief.

Vibhishana said You just killed Taranisen, my son.

Rama said If you had told me earlier, I would not have fought.

All were grief stricken with tears in their eyes.

Rama said to Vibhishana - Your heart is made of stone. You killed your son yourself.

Vibhishana said I am crying not because I have lost my son, but I am amazed by his devotion and strength. My son, dying in your hands, has attained heaven. All those who died in your hands are in heaven. If I could give up my body, I would do so. Brahma gave me a boon to be immortal.

Ravana got the news of Tarani's death. He was shocked.
Sarama was in grief.

Ravana then started thinking, who was to be sent next. 

Taranisen killed

Tarani, growling said - Rama, You wish to return back to your land but you will not be able to.

Lakshmana, angered, shot a few arrows at Tarani, who quickly cut those off. Lakshmana with an arrow, created darkness which caused Tarini to falter. Lakshmana then invoked the Gandharva weapon, and the complete army of Tarani was annihilated. Angry, Tarani aimed a spiked mace at Lakshmana. Lakshmana fell senseless. Hanumanaquickly grabbed Lakshmana and fled from there.

Tarani then called out for Rama. Rama said he would kill him soon.

Tarani looked at Rama and he saw the entire universe in Rama's body. He threw down his bow and bowed down before Rama.

He said - You are the Lord of the Universe. You are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. You are all Gods. You are the beginning and the end. You are all the qualities - Raja, Tama and Satva. You, taking various forms, put an end to all evil. Give me refuge in your lotus feet. I was born in the clan of the rakshasas and that is my misfortune. With your lotus hands, if you put an end to me, I will go to heaven.

hearing Tarani, Rama's eyes were filled with tears. He said - I will not be able to kill someone who is so devotional. Vibhishana, please help me. I think I will not get Sita back. How can I hurt my devotee? If I try to shoot an arrow at him, that will hurt me.

Rama sat down.

Tarani realized that Rama was pleased with his devotion and that is why Rama was refusing to raise his weapons. He needed to do something, else how would he get liberation from the rakshasa birth.

Tarani then shouted - Rama, What gave you the notion that I will not fight. I will now kill you. I will have Sita sit on Ravana's throne.

Lakshmana aimed arrows at Tarani. Tarani, who wanted to die in the hands of Rama, did not want Lakshmana to defeat him. Vibhishana realizing this said to Rama - Lakshmana fainted once when he fought this person. Why send him again? Please fight him yourself.

Rama shot arrows at Taani, which Tarani cut off. Rama with a crescent arrow cut off the horses of the chariot of Tarani. Tarani jumped off the chariot and styarted hurling rocks, trees and whatever he could find at hand. Rama was tense.

Vibhishana said thsi person would die only when killed by the weapon of Brahma. Rama then invoked the weapon of Brahma. Seeing this weapon, Tarani said Please grant me a place near you after I die.

The weapon cut off Tarani's head. The moment the head fell on the ground, it started taking the name of Rama.

Tarani sees Rama

Fight started. Vanaras with rocks and trees and Tarani using his arrows. So powerful was his war that the vanaras started fleeing.
Rama asked Vibhishana who was this who was coming? Vibhishana cleverly said, This was a relative of Ravana, a very pious and learned person.

Tarani wanted to catch a glimpse of Rama. He was anxious to see Rama and his father. How much longer would he have to wait? He fought as much as he could, driving the vanaras away, trying to reach Rama.

On his way, he was stopped by Nila. Tarani said Please let me go and see Rama and Lakshmana.
Nila said  How will you go, when I kill you with a blow from the mountain.

The vanaras standing around laughed. They said first Makaraksha came with a chariot of cows and now was coming one, who had name of Rama written all over.  What would the rakshasas think of next?

Nila uprooted a tree and tried to bring that over Tarani's head, but Tarani caught that with one hand and threw it down. Nila then got a mountain and tried to kill Tarani with that, but Tarani smashed the mountain with his mace. With an arrow, Taranisen wounded Nila.

Hanumana then climbed up on the chariot of Tarani and snatched the whip from the hands of the charioteer. Tarani gave one hard slap and Hanumana fell down. Hanumana climbed up on the chariot once again and Tarani and Hanumana began fighting. Tarani once again flung Hanumana from the chariot.

Angada then came to fight. The rocks, boulders and mountains hurled by Angada were all cut off by sharp arrows of Tarani. Angada killed the horses drawing the chariot. The charioteer quickly got more horses to draw the chariot. Tarani struck Angada on his chest with heavy iron mace and Angada fell on the ground.

Other vanaras came and started hurling rocks and mountains and it looked as if it was raining rocks. Tarani, adept at using weapons, cut off everything that was thrown at him.

Suseshan and Sugriva who came to fight Tarani could also not withstand his arrows.

Driving his chariot Tarani then came where Rama was. Rama and Lakshmana were surrounded by Vibhishana on the left and Jambuvana on the right. Tarani quickly and quietly bowed down before Vibhishana. Getting down from his chariot, he then bowed down before Rama.

Vibhishana said to Rama - Look, the enemy is bowing down.

Rama said - Enemy was here to do battle. Why should he then come and bow down before me?

Vibhishana said This is a big devotee of yours.He worships you. He has come because his king told him to come.

Rama said If that was the case, then he should be given what he wants.

Lakshmana said - That would be disastrous as he would ask for the victory of Ravana.

Rama said - You need to understand the heart of the devotee.

Taranisen prepares for war

Ravana could not believe his ears when he heard off the death of Makaraksha. What kind of enemy was this ? All great heroes who had gone to war, had gone but not come back alive. Whom to send now?

Ravana thought of Taranisen. He sent for Taranisen. When the prince came, Ravana said - Please save Lanka. Your father, Vibhishana, advised me, telling me what to do. My ego came in way, and I refused to listen to him. I kicked him and he left and took refuge with Rama. You are his son, but you have stayed back in Lanka. Help Lanka.

Taranisen said You are one who has conquered the three worlds. One should say ill of ones parents.

Ravana said You are a brave warrior. Go and win the battle.

Taranisen said He would what was best. The war was not the time to talk about good and bad. It was the time for action.

Ravana was pleased with words of Tarani. Ravana personally decked Tarani. A grand chariot was brought and decked up.

Tarani then went to Sarama, his mother. He said to her- Mother, the king has asked me to go to battle. I will now get a chance to see Narayana. I will get to see father and touch his feet. Please permit me to go.

Sarama was shocked to hear this. She said - I will not allow you to go into this battle. I will take you with me and leave Lanka. Let Ravana stay with his Lanka. Your father is a just person which is why he left Lanka to serve Rama. You to Rama and serve Him, who is none other than Narayana. Rama will ensure that not one single person is left alive in Lanka. You, yourself are well versed and learned. How can you talk of going to fight Rama.

Hearing his mother's words, Tarani said, Mother, I know that Rama in none other than Vishnu. Even then I will fight Rama. If I die in Rama's hands, it will be a place in heaven for me. And Mother, who can kill whom, when all we see around us are different forms of Vishnu.Do not grieve over death. I have heard from father, that the body is nothing but a shell. Rama will not kill me, if he knows I am a son of Vibhishana. If I am alive, I will come and greet you again.

The learned Sarama tried to control her tears.

Tarani took leave of his mother and decided to leave for battle. He wrote the name of Rama all over his body. He engraved the name of Rama on tablets made from the mud taken from Ganga, and had that stuck all over his chariot. Taking his bow in his hand, Tarani came out and reached the western gate.