Sushena applies medicine on Lakshmana

Rama then sent for Sushena. He said to Sushena - You know the power of medicines. Lakshmana is wounded. He still has parts of arrows sticking in his body. Please help him.

Sushena got his medicines and went where Lakshmana was. He slowly extracted the arrows from the body of Lakshmana. He then applied his medicine on the wounds. The smell of the medicines and the medicine entering the blood stream of Lakshmana did wonders. Lakshmana's body became like it was earlier.

Rama was pleased to see this. He said to Sushena that there was no one equal to him in the science of medicines. 

Rama's joy

In the fight Lakshmana had been wounded. Hanumana and Vibhishana both carried Lakshmana out.

On the side, Rama was worried. He had sent Lakshmana to fight Indrajit. He was thus thinking when Lakshmana arrived, blood flowing from his body. Vibhishana said Lakshmana had come victorious. Indrajit was no more.

All were very happy and celebrations started in Rama;s camp. Rama was happy. He could see the end of Ravana close by. 

Gods relived at the death of Indrajit

When he held his bow, Indra was scared. He had scared all. No one was saved from his arrows. Bless Lakshmana, who killed Indrajit.

Now all can live in peace. All that is left now is the death of Ravana, in the hands of Rama and we will be joyous. 

Indrajit dies

Vibhishana said killing Indrajit would not be a simple task. Indrajit performed a sacrifice befofre starting for his battle. The day he completed the sacrifice, he would return victorious. Indrajit had been cursed by Brahma that whoever was able to stop his sacrifice before its completion, would be the one who would kill Indrajit. Send Lakshmana with me. Indrajit would be preparing for his sacrifice now. We will got and stop that.

Rama asked Vibhishana about Indrajit's curse.

Vibhishana said Indrajit had asked Brahma to make him immortal. When Brahma had refused, Indrajit asked that when he completed his sacrifice and went to war, he would return victorious. Brahma said he would give him that boon. Indrajit would also be able to fight, hiding behind clouds. If someone was able to stop the sacrifice before it was completed, Indrajit would die in the hands of that person.

Rama said he was worried for Lakshmana. Vibhishana said he aware of Lakshmana's strength. When Ravana had tried to lift Lakshmana, he had been unable to do so. Also Lakshmana had the strength of a hundred Indrajit.

With a few selected vanaras, Vibhishana and Lakshmana set forth for Lanka.

Crashing the gates, the group entered into the city. Fighting their way through, they entered the hall where Indrajit was performing his sacrifice. Hanumana, getting a tree, flung that at the sacrificial fire, extinguishing it. He then started urinating on all the offerings.

Angry, Indrajit started shooting arrows at Hanumana, which the vanara skillfully avoided.

Lakshmana then picked up his bow and started showering arrows at Indrajit. Indrajit avoiding the arrows, said to Vibhishana - Fie on you. You are a traitor. You disclosed the secret of my death.

Vibhishana said Though I was born a rakshasa, I did not envy others. I did not try to get what others had. I did not abduct anyone's wife.

Indrajit tried to climb on his chariot, but the vanaras broke that.

Vibhishana said to Lakshmana to stop him from going behind the clouds. If he went there, he would be invisible. He thus captured Indra and Brahma had to come and beg for Indra's freedom.

Indrajit created a chariot from his magic and climbed on that. Vibhishana asked Hanumana to stop Indrajit from going upwards.

Lakshmana started showering arrows. Trying to avoid that, Indrajit went skywards, where Hanumana stopped his path. Hanumana broke the chariot. Indrajit tried to escape in the skies, but Hanumana holding his legs started pulling him down. Hanumana also asked the other vanaras to come and help him.

Indrajit tried to run out , but Vibhishana was guarding the gate. Vibhishana called out to Lakshmana and a battle;e started between Lakshmana and Indrajit.

Hearing of this, Brahma asked Indra to find out a way in which Lakshmana could kill Indrajit. Lakshmana had to be given the weapon which would kill the demon and he needed to use that. Indra silently came and gave that to Lakshmana.

Lakshmana invoked the weapon. Seeing that, Indrajit was scared. Lakshmana released the arrow. Indrajit tried to avoid that but was unable to. The arrow came and cut Indrajit's head off.

Rama's grief

Rama fainted when he heard about the killing of Sita. The vanaras got water and started sprinkling that on Rama, trying to revive him. Lakshmana tried to console Rama. Rama, coming to his senses was in grief. He started cursing himself saying why did he have to go running after Maricha in the form of the deer. Nothing would have happened, if he had not chased the deer.

Vibhishana asked Rama to control himself. He wanted to know who had seen Sita being killed. Rama said Hanumana had seen that.

Vibhishana said something was not correct. Sita was someone whom Ravana refused to return. Ravana was willing to put Lanka at stake rather than return Sita. Indrajit did not have the courage to go near Sita. Vibhishana said it was best if Hanumana went and saw Sita in the Ashoka garden.

Hanumana went and saw Sita sitting in the garden. Hanumana came and told Rama that Sita was well and alive and that the Sita that had been killed was an illusion.

Rama then asked Vibhishana, what was the way to put an end to Indrajit. 

Killing of the false Sita

Ravana fell from his seat when he heard of Virbahu's death. All heroes sent to battle had not come back alive. When Ravana was thus thinking, Indrajit came and said it was time he went again and fought.
Ravana agreed. After all Indrajit was the the only one who had fought and returned back alive.
Indrajit said he was surprised how the dead were coming back to life. He had put an end to Rama and Lakshmana and Garuda had revived them. Then when he put an end to them, Hanumana got the medicine and rescued them. How was this happening?
Ravana said this was the work of Hanumana. Hanumana had to be killed first.
Indrajit left and went to see Mandodari, his mother. On his way, he thought, his mother would try to stop him. He decided to go to battle and then when he returned, he would greet his mother.
He went to his prayer room to perform his sacrifice before the battle.
Agni appeared before Indrajit and said Why do you pray to me everyday? What do you want from me?
Indrajit said He wanted to put an end to Rama and Lakshmana.
Agni said that was not possible. Rama was Narayana himself.
Angry, Indrajit left the sacrifice and climbed on his chariot. He went and started showering arrows, felling the vanaras. Lakshmana asked Rama to use powerful weapon and destroy Lanka. Rama said You speak like a child. What did the innocent women of Lanka do that they should die a terrible death?
Indrajit saw he was not able to tackle Rama and Lakshmana. He went back to Lanka and sent for Vidyutjivha. He asked Vidyutjivha to create a clone of Sita, who should be absolutely like Sita in appearance. Indrajit said, he would kill this clone in front of Rama. Seeing this, Rama would die. Seeing that Lakshmana would die too and the vanaras would leave Lanka.
Vidyutjivha created an idol of Sita and with mantras, made it come alive. Vidyutjivha then told the clone who she was and why she was there.

With this clone on his chariot, Indrajit started again for battle. Coming out from the western gate, he started hitting the clone with the whip used by the charioteer.
The false Sita started shouting out for help. Holding her hair in one hand, Indrajit held a sword in another.

Hanumana saw this. He was ready to fight but he was unable to move. What if Sita got hurt. Hanumana had tears in his eyes. Hanumana said It was a sin to kill a woman.
Indrajit said If killing a woman resulted in the death of the enemy, then that was just. I will first kill Sita and then put an end to Rama and Lakshmana.

The clone started crying loudly calling out for help. Indrajit picking up his sword, brought it down on the clone, cutting it into two.
Seeing this, the vanaras started to flee. Hanumana asked to turn back and cut off Indrajit's head and having killed Sita.

Seeing the vanaras come towards him, Indrajit fled and went inside Lanka.

Rama heard a lot of noise and was not sure what was happening. He asked Jambuvana to go and see what was the matter. Jambuvana went and on his way he saw Hanumana coming back. He asked him what was the matter. Hanumana told him Sita had been killed.

Going to Rama with tears in his eyes, Hanumana told Rama what had happened. 

Virbahu falls

Virbahu was in awe when he saw Rama. He was sure this was other than Vishnu in the guise of a human. He got off his elephant and bowed down at Rama.
Rama was in a dilemma. He would not be able to kill someone who was devoted to him.
Virubahu thought if Rama did not kill him, he would not achieve his aim.
He got up and climbed back on his elephant and was ready to fight.
Rama and Virbahu began their fight.

The sky was covered with arrows. A loud noise was produced with the arrows clashing against each other. When Virbahu invoked the fire weapon, Rama invoked the water weapon. Virbahu then shot an arrow which hit Rama on his chest. Rama, controlling his pain, shot an arrow to cut off the bow of Virbahu. The arrows touched the bow and fell down. Rama then invoked a crescent arrow which then cut off the bow of Virbahu. In his mind, Virbahu was happy. He understood that this time was coming close and the person with whom he was fighting, was none other than Narayan.

Virbahu got another bow and shot some arrows, which Rama cut off. Seeing Rama tired and wounded, Lakshmana shot arrows and cut off the arrows of Virbahu. Virbahu then shot arrows at Lakshmana. The arrows pierced Lakshmana on his chest, and he fell down. Virbahu then aimed a mace towards Lakshmana, which Rama cut off.

Virbahu then said this was not fair, Why was someone interfering in the fight. Why was Ramam cutting off weapons aimed at Lakshmana.

Rama said there was no difference between him and Lakshmana. Virbahu said he was aware of that. All were part of Narayana. Rama was quiet. They resumed fighting.

Rama shot arrows which struck Virbahu. Virbahu fell senseless on his elephant. Seeing his master unconscious, the elephant rose to the sky with its master. Lakshmana asked Rama to kill the demon using the weapon of Brahma. Rama said that would not be fair. After all Virbahu was a noble learned person.

Virbahu regained his senses. Sugriva said he had heard that Virbahu's life was tied to the elephant. If the elephant died, Virbahu would also die. Saying this, Sugriva rose to the sky. Sugriva hurled a big boulder at the elephant. The animal caught the boulder in its tusks and crushed it. Sugriva then hurled a tree which struck the elephant on its head and broke. The elephant then grabbed Sugriva in its trunk and threw him aside.

Virbahu then asked Rama to come and fight and not let any second person interfere.

Rama said You talk of fairness. Your aunt, Surpanakha, a widow, came to entice me and Lakshmana and got her ears and nose cut. That was her character. Your father forcibly abducted my wife. He also pushed out his elder brother, Kubera, from Lanka, and took over the kingdom.

Saying this, the fight between Rama and Virbahu resumed, with one cutting off the arrows of the other. Rama was hurt by an arrow and he fell down. Seeing this, Vibhishana picked up a bow and started fighting in place of Rama.

Virbahu said Our dynasty is blessed to have a person like you, so devoted to Vishnu.

Rama regained composure and the fight started again.

Seeing no alternative, Virbahu invoked the weapon he had got from Brahma and used that. Rama was unable to repel that. Pavan then came and told Rama to use the weapon he had got from the sage Sarabhanga. Rama fetched that weapon and released it. The arrow, cut off the arrow released by Virbahu and then it went and cut off the head of the elephant.

Virbahu jumped off the elephant. Rama cut off the bow of Virbahu. Virbahu then asked Rama to use the weapon of Vishnu and make an end of him. Rama, Rama was reluctant but then thought, if Vibahu did not die, Ravana would not get killed. So, he decided to use the weapon.

The weapon went and cut off the head of Virbahu. The cut head was chanting the name of Rama. Vibhishana got the cut head to Rama. With Rama's touch, Virbahu was released from the earthly bounds.

Rama asked Vibhishana how many such warriors were there in Lanka. Vibhishana said now only Ravana and Indrajit were left.