Ravana Falls and Lanka Mourns

Lakshman had recovered and stood again, but the war was not finished. At the next dawn, Ram stood upon the ground while Ravana fought from a chariot. Indra sent his own chariot and the charioteer Matali. Ram mounted it. The sage Agastya taught him the Aditya Hridaya, recalling the Sun's strength and steadiness. Ram gathered his attention and faced Ravana.

Divine weapons crossed between them. Ram broke Ravana's banners, bows, and missiles; Ravana seized new bows. When Ram struck away his heads, others seemed to rise in their place, and the battle continued. Ravana once became faint with exhaustion, and his charioteer drew him away. Ravana awoke furious, but the charioteer explained that duty required him to protect the king and rest the horses. Ravana accepted his judgment and returned to the fight.

Matali reminded Ram that the moment for the decisive weapon had come. Ram raised the arrow Agastya had given him, spoke a prayer over it, drew the bow, and released it. The arrow pierced Ravana's chest, and the ten-headed king fell from his chariot. Across the field, the fighting stopped. Rakshasa warriors withdrew towards the city, and the vanara army raised a cry of victory.

Vibhishana came to his brother. He had opposed the injustice that brought the war, yet his grief was real. Ram told him that enmity should end with death. Ravana had shown immense courage in battle and must now receive an honourable funeral.

The women of Lanka and Ravana's queens came to the field. Mandodari remembered his courage, learning, and ruinous pride. She mourned the decision that had carried family, city, and king to this end. Across the field, the vanaras fell silent as she wept.

Vibhishana first hesitated to perform the rites for a brother who had broken the bounds of justice. Ram urged him to complete the duty of kinship. A pyre was prepared and Ravana received his funeral. Ram then asked Lakshman to arrange Vibhishana's coronation as king of Lanka.