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JAIN JOURNAL
so near to him, since he had acquired the magic power. With bahurūpini in his possession he would tie in battle both Rama and Laksmana the very next day and then of course he would return Sita.
The last battle : the fall of Ravana
As day broke, Ravana started for the battle-field equipped with his newly acquired magic power. For he was sure of his victory. As he started, however, there appeared evil omens. Mandodari sought to persuade him not to go but Ravana was determined. He would listen nothing. Since it was the last day of the war, the whole army was mobilised.
At last the demon army with Ravana at its head entered the battlefield. The other party was already well-arrayed under the leadership of Laksmana. A deadly battle ensued. The dust rose to the sky and all round it became terribly dark.
It was a heroic day for the demons. Mriga met single handed Hanumat, Bhamandala, Sugriva and Vibhisana one after another and worsted them all. Seeing their plight, Rama entered the field and routed Mriga. But before long his place was taken by Ravana who now had a straight fight with Rama. The battle raged for seven days but none could oust the other. Then Laksmana replaced Rama. On seeing Laksmana Ravana desparately invoked the magic power bahurūpini in consequence of which his form was multiplied and his amputed limbs were soon replaced. It was now difficult to distinguish the real from illusion. In this way the battle raged for another ten days. Both the parties were pretty exhausted by this time. The war had already dragged on for long. So Ravana with a view to force a finale used the most powerful cakra against Laksmana. This was a sure weapon, it could not go in vain. But it did not fall on Laksmana, rather, it recognised him as his master and came back in full fury on Ravana, felling him dead.
With the fall of Ravana, the fate of war was now decided. There was grief all over the demon camp. The members of Ravana's family bewailed ; even Vibhisana could not overcome his grief. Rama offered his consolation to Vibhisana-rūbahi Bihisana kāin. Then the funeral pyre was prepared with the best wood and grease and Ravana's body was placed on it. The last rites were duly performed. The yellow flame soon reached the sky and consumed up Ravana's mortal frame. Here ends Yuddha Kānda.
To be continued
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