Hari Om.
Let us begin the one hundred and eighth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
The poet with the ultimate imagination, one who never tires of exemplifying accurately to describe an event found his repertoire empty when he saw the combat of rAma with rAvaNa. The two supremely skilled warriors with command over every possible weaponry engaged with each other without a break. The works of the duo made vAlmIki exclaim that just like an ocean or sky are their own examples and there is nothing like them, the duel between the two also had no parallel and could not be compared to anything else. That being so, still the signs of rAma’s victory were abundant. Despite losing head after head, newer ones were sprouting instantly. rAma knocked off a hundred heads but rAvaNa did never have less than ten! The inauspicious omens that rAvaNa experienced were there and yet he was no roll over and continued to fight valiantly, making rAma think as to why the same arrows that achieved so much glory were falling short of vanquishing rAvaNa. However, the thoughts didn’t fill rAma with diffidence and he continued to fight. The diligent charioteer of rAma, mAtali spoke. Onwards…
The charioteer of rAma, mAtali then reminded rAma and said – “O rAma, like an innocent warrior why are you on the defensive only responding to what rAvaNa is doing (attacking flag for flag, horse for horse etc in the previous sarga). To vanquish this rAvaNa, O lord, despatch the brahmAstra. The time of his destruction which has been prophecied by the dEvas is right here”.
अजानन्निव किं वीर त्वमेनमनुवर्तसे ।
विसृजास्मै वधाय त्वम् अस्त्रं पैतामहं प्रभो ।
विनाशकालः कथितो यः सुरैः सोऽद्य वर्तत ॥
Reminded thus by mAtali, the valiant rAma took that glowing arrow which hissed like a serpent, which was unfailing, which was made by lord brahma and given to him first by sage agastya.
This supremely glorious astra was first made by lord brahma and given to the lord of gods, indra who desired to win over the three worlds.
The supreme astra had wind in its wings, its tip had the fire and the sun. It’s body was limitless as the sky and it was massive like the mountains mEru and mandara. It’s body was brilliant, the feathers were made of gold and it shimmered like the sun. It was fuming like the all-ending fire, scorching like the poison of the serpent, it travelled with great velocity breaching through the armies made of elephants and horses. It could shatter thresholds, parighas or even the mountains and carried the blood of many a terrifying conquest. The astra had decided many battles, it was hard in its essence like the diamond and flew with a great whizz like a hissing serpent and caused panic among all beings. It was the embodiment of the terrifying lord of death and consumed the demons and their attendants always. It was the delight of the vAnaras and the dread of the demons. Enchanting figures of garuDa were carved on it. That supreme arrow, the best among all the worlds, the remover of the fear ikshvAkus, the usurper of the glory of the enemy and conferrer of delight of victory to the self – it was mounted on the bow by the mighty rAma in the battle invoking appropriate mantras that were laid down by the vEdas.
As rAghava mounted the greatest arrow, all the beings trembled, panicked and the earth shook. He pulled the chord of the bow to the full and with determination launched the supreme weapon aimed at the vitals of rAvaNa. The arrow famed and invincible as the thunderbolt of indra hurled by his mighty arms flew straight and struck the chest of rAvaNa.
स वज्र इव दुर्धर्षो वज्रिबाहुविसर्जितः ।
कृतान्त इव चावार्यो न्यपतद्रावणोरसि ॥
Traveling at a great speed, the death conferring arrow pierced into the chest of the wicked rAvaNa and soaked in blood hit the earth. Bathing the frame of rAvaNa with blood, returned to the quiver of rAma having accomplished its mission. From his body dropped off the life forces as well as the bow and arrow. With his life becoming history the great demon fell off his chariot on the ground like vRtra fell off in the yore knocked by the thunderbolt wielding indra.
गतासुर्भीमवेगस्तु नैर्ऋतेन्द्रो महाद्युतिः ।
पपात स्यन्दनाद्भूमौ वृत्रो वज्रहतो यथा ॥
JAI SRI RAM…..
Seeing rAvaNa fall, the remaining demons, with their leader gone, fled in panic and tears chased by the vAnaras who rejoiced and celebrated boisterously. Announcing the conquest of rAma and the fall of rAvaNa, the victorious vAnaras erupted in joy. In the heavens, the gods blew trumpet, the wind wafted gently carrying divine fragrance. There were floral showers from the heavens on the earth on the divine chariot of rAma. Eulogies were showered on rAghava even in the heavens by the gods and the greats who acclaimed the feat with chants of “well done, well done”!
As the cruel rAvaNa who terrified all the world fell, ecstasy dawned upon the gods and the chAraNas (celestials). Having fulfilled the desire of the mighty angada and sugrIva in vanquishing rAvaNa, rAghava was very pleased.
The maruts regained their peace, the skies turned bright again, the earth shuddered no more, the sun shone with constant brightness.
Then sugrIva, vibhIshaNa, other well-wishers, lakshmaNa surrounded rAghava with great joy and congratulated him appropriately.
The vanquisher of the enemy, the keeper of his vow, the delight of the raghu clan, the illustrious king, shone brightly surrounded by his own folk just as indra shone surrounded by the gods.
JAI SRI RAM
Here we conclude the one hundred and eighth sarga of the yuddha kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 6.109. vibhIshaNa laments, rAma comforts
Previous: 6.107. The battle like no other rages on
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
