Indrajit's Last Battle

The restored army rose, but the war did not pause. Kumbha and Nikumbha led new companies into battle. Sugriva killed Kumbha, and Hanuman killed Nikumbha. Makaraksha challenged Ram and fell to his arrow. After so many commanders had been lost, Indrajit understood that open battle alone would not give him victory.

Upon his chariot he displayed an illusion shaped like Sita. Before Hanuman and the vanara companies, he struck the false figure with his sword and then departed, announcing that he would attack Ayodhya. Grief and anger overwhelmed the witnesses. Hanuman withdrew the army and carried the terrible report to Ram, who collapsed in sorrow.

Vibhishana immediately questioned the report. Ravana had kept the living Sita captive for so long; why would he suddenly permit his son to kill her? Indrajit, he explained, was probably completing a secret fire rite at Nikumbhila. If he finished it, he would become almost impossible to stop. The illusion had been designed to pull the allies away.

Ram sent Lakshman, accompanied by Hanuman, Vibhishana, and chosen warriors. Near Nikumbhila, Indrajit's army blocked the path through dense woods. The allies forced their way forward and compelled Indrajit to leave the rite unfinished. Enraged, he accused Vibhishana of abandoning his family. Vibhishana answered that kinship did not require obedience to injustice.

The battle lasted a long time. Indrajit sent arrows first at Lakshman and then at Vibhishana. Lakshman disabled his horses and charioteer. Indrajit obtained another chariot and attacked again. Hanuman gave Lakshman a high, steady position, Vibhishana explained the enemy's movements, and the vanara warriors held back the surrounding force. No one fighter earned the victory alone.

At last Lakshman placed a weapon associated with Indra upon his bow. Remembering truth and Ram's just purpose, he released it. The arrow struck Indrajit, and Ravana's formidable son fell. Lanka's army withdrew. Lakshman himself trembled from wounds and exhaustion, and Hanuman and Vibhishana supported him on the return to Ram.

Ram embraced Lakshman and honoured every companion who had helped. In Lanka, Ravana heard of his son's death. Grief swiftly became violent rage. He took up a sword and moved towards Sita, but his wise minister Suparshva stopped him. Killing a captive woman would be neither valour nor victory, the minister said. Ravana turned away, but he did not choose peace. He summoned all that remained of his army for the final battle.