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## The Battle of Rama and Ravana
The second light of Yoga Shastra, verse 99, describes how Ravana's son, Meghnad, was captured after being knocked down. Seeing this, Ravana, as vast as Airavata and terrifying to the world, came to the battlefield, gnashing his teeth in rage, ready to crush the entire monkey army like elephants. At that moment, Lakshmana said to Shri Rama, "Lord! You need not go to the battlefield now. I alone will deal with them all." Thus, stopping Rama, Lakshmana himself, showering arrows, came before the enemy. Ravana, proficient in the art of weaponry, unleashed countless weapons, which Lakshmana cut down one by one. Finally, Ravana struck Lakshmana's chest with a powerful weapon called Amoghshakti. From the impact of this weapon, Lakshmana fell unconscious on the ground. Grief filled the heart of the powerful Rama. Eight valiant warriors, including the devoted Sugriva, surrounded Rama and Lakshmana for protection. Ravana, overjoyed, thought, "Today Lakshmana will die. Rama will also suffer the same fate in Lakshmana's absence. What is the point of fighting now?" Thinking this, he turned towards the city. Rama was surrounded by many soldiers for protection, like a fort. Sugriva and others stood at the four gates of Rama's residence. At that time, a leader of the Vidyadharas, an old acquaintance of Bhamandal, the guardian of the south gate, came and said, "There is a city called Kautukamangal, twelve yojanas from Ayodhya. The king of that city, Dronadhan, is the brother of Kaikeyi. He has a daughter named Vishalya. The touch of her bathwater instantly removes the poison of an arrow. If that water is sprinkled on Lakshmana before sunrise, he will be free of the poison and live. Otherwise, it will be difficult for him to survive. Therefore, in my opinion, you should immediately request Shri Rama to send someone trustworthy to bring her. Act quickly in this matter. Once the morning arrives, no remedy will work. What can Ganesha do when the cart has overturned?"
Bhamandal immediately went to Shri Rama and explained everything. Therefore, Hanuman and Bhamandal, both swift as a storm, boarded a fast-flying aircraft and arrived in Ayodhya. At that time, Bharata was asleep in his palace, so both of them sang sweet songs to wake him up. "Kings are also awakened with sweet songs for matters of state." Bharata, abandoning sleep and stretching, woke up and saw Bhamandal, whom he greeted. He asked the reason for their arrival, and Bhamandal mentioned the important task. One does not speak too much to a dear friend about a dear task. Bharata thought, "This task can only be accomplished if I go myself." So, boarding the aircraft, he immediately arrived in Kautukamangal. He requested Vishalya from King Dronadhan for Lakshmana. The king accepted the request, called Vishalya, and gave her to Bharata along with a thousand other girls. Bhamandal also left Bharata in Ayodhya and, with Vishalya and her family, anxiously arrived at the battlefield. In that aircraft, shining like a bright lamp, Bhamandal was repeatedly mistaken about the sunrise, which filled him with fear. As soon as he disembarked from the aircraft, Bhamandal took Vishalya directly to Lakshmana. As soon as he touched Lakshmana's hand, the poison of the arrow, like a serpent, left him. After that, by Rama's command, Vishalya's bathwater was sprinkled on the other soldiers, who, free of the poison, rose like they had been reborn. Then, Shri Rama loudly commanded that Vishalya's bathwater be sprinkled on Kumbhakarna and others. But the guards said, "Lord! They themselves took initiation at that time." Hearing this, Rama said, "Then they are travelers on the path of liberation, worthy of respect. They should be freed from their bonds." By Rama's command, the guards, after bowing, immediately freed them. After this, Vishalya and all the girls who came with her were formally married to Lakshmana.
When Ravana, the embodiment of anger, received this news, he rushed back to the battlefield. For valiant warriors, the festival of war is even greater than the festival of marriage. Whenever Ravana unleashed a weapon, Lakshmana cut it down like a banana leaf. Enraged by the destruction of his weapons, Ravana threw his discus. The discus struck Lakshmana's chest like a slap, but its edge did not cut him, not even a hair on his head was disturbed. Lakshmana returned the same discus to Ravana. 1. In another story, it is mentioned that Ravana took initiation after his death.
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