Yuddha Kanda: The War in Lanka
The sixth book of the Ramayana: Vibhishana's refuge, the bridge across the sea, the fall of Kumbhakarna, Indrajit and Ravana, and the return to Ayodhya.
The story
The vanara army marches to the southern shore. In Lanka, Vibhishana advises his brother Ravana to return Sita and is insulted and driven out. He comes to Ram's camp. Sugriva suspects a spy; Ram answers that he will never turn away anyone who seeks refuge, and crowns Vibhishana king of Lanka in advance.
Ram prays to the Ocean for passage. When three days bring no answer he takes up his bow, and the Ocean appears and tells him that Nala can build a bridge. The vanaras carry rocks and trees, and the Setu is built. Before the first blow, Ram sends Angada as envoy to offer peace one last time. Ravana refuses.
The war is long and costly. Indrajit binds Ram and Lakshmana with serpent arrows, and Garuda frees them. The giant Kumbhakarna is woken, tells Ravana plainly that he is in the wrong, fights for him anyway, and falls. Lakshmana is struck down by Indrajit's shakti; Hanuman flies to the Himalayas for the Sanjeevani herb and, unable to identify it, brings back the whole mountain before dawn. Lakshmana rises and later slays Indrajit.
At last Ravana himself takes the field. Ram, on foot at first, is sent Indra's chariot. Sage Agastya teaches him the Aditya Hridaya, the hymn to the Sun. Ram's arrow finds its mark and Ravana falls. Ram tells the grieving Vibhishana to perform the funeral with full honour: enmity ends with death.
Sita passes through fire and is declared pure by Agni himself. In the Pushpaka Vimana the exiles fly home. At Nandigram, Bharata, who had vowed to enter fire if Ram was a day late, receives his brother. Ram is crowned in Ayodhya.
The turning points
- An enemy's brother is trusted because he asked for shelter.
- Peace is offered before war, even to the one who caused it.
- A fallen enemy is given a king's funeral.
What it teaches
The war is won, but the epic takes more care over how it is fought than over the victory: refuge given, peace offered, the dead honoured. Ravana had learning, wealth and power in greater measure than Ram. What he lacked was restraint. Read Victory over ego.
Ayodhya celebrates the homecoming every year at Deepotsav on the ghats of Ram ki Paidi. The last book is the Uttara Kanda.
Read and listen to this kanda in full
- 1Vibhishana Takes Refuge with RamThe army marches to the sea. In Lanka, Vibhishana urges Ravana to return Sita and is driven out. Ram receives him with his vow of protectio…🔊
- 2The Bridge Across the SeaRam prays to the Ocean for three days, then takes up his bow. The Ocean appears, Nala builds the bridge in five days, and the army crosses…🔊
- 3Angada's Embassy: Peace Offered One Last TimeRavana tries to break Sita's spirit with a false head of Ram. Before the first blow, Ram sends Angada to offer peace. Ravana refuses, and t…🔊
- 4The Serpent Arrows and the Fall of KumbhakarnaIndrajit binds Ram and Lakshmana with serpent arrows until Garuda frees them. Ram spares the exhausted Ravana. Kumbhakarna is woken, speaks…🔊
- 5Indrajit and the Sanjeevani MountainIndrajit's weapon fells the whole army, and Hanuman brings a mountain of herbs from the Himalayas. Lakshmana slays Indrajit, is struck down…🔊
- 6The Fall of RavanaIndra sends his chariot, Agastya teaches Ram the hymn to the Sun, and after a duel like no other Ravana falls. Ram orders a king's funeral…🔊
- 7The Trial by Fire and the Return to AyodhyaSita forgives her guards, passes through fire, and the exiles fly home in the Pushpaka. Bharata waits at Nandigram, and Ram is crowned in A…🔊
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