The Great War of Rama and Ravana - Chapter 31

In the previous chapter, we saw Ravana sees ill omens. , Now we'll see The Great War of Rama and Ravana.

Then there occurred a fierce war between Rama and Ravana. Both the armies with their weapons in their hands stood still. The war between a man and a rakshasa was unbelievable to them. With the armies standing still in wonder, they all appeared as if in a picture. The two fought with determination. Ravana sent an arrow onto the flag of Rama’s chariot but it did not reach the target. ` On the contrary, Rama was able to cut off the flag on Ravana’s chariot. Angry Ravana showered his arrows on the horses of Rama’s chariot but again they did not hurt the horses at all. Then Ravana aimed at Rama several weapons such as mazes, discus, tridents and axes, and so on but all of them fell away from Rama’s chariot. They both showered so many arrows that the space was filled as it were.

The chariots were taken along various kinds of paths by clever charioteers who used a lot of tactics. They sometimes collided and the horses dashed against each other. Ravana succeeded in hitting Matali with his arrows but he was in the least hurt. Rama retaliated and made Ravana shiver. Rama shot thousands of arrows and Ravana fought with other weapons. The sea was so much agitated by their fight that Pannagas and Danavas who lived in the netherworld were pained. Then Devas and Rishis prayed for the welfare of the world and also for the success of Rama. They all said that the war that they were witnessing was sans pareille as the seas and the skies were. Then Rama the jewel of the family Raghu shot an arrow and cut off Ravana’s head with his ear ornaments shining in his ears. The head fell down on the ground. But Lo! another one appeared immediately on Ravana’s shoulders. Rama rapidly cut off this second head but the heads kept on coming on Ravana’s shoulders. This went on and Rama had cut off a hundred heads! Did Ravana take to creating illusions? Were the heads Rama cut not really his? We have no clue. Rama did not see a way out to kill him. Rama reflected how Ravana was not hurt at all whereas with the same astras Rama had killed Mareecha, Viradha, and Kabandha! While Rama was thinking he still attacked Ravana by shooting his arrows at his chest. Ravana was enraged and he too attacked Rama with various kinds of weapons. The fearful war took place on the ground, on the hilltop, and in the skies. The war continued day and night and without stopping.

In the next chapter, We'll see Rama kills Ravana.

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