Ravana was enraged by the death of his son Indrajita and vowed to kill Rama and Lakshmana. The next day, Rama and Ravana engaged in an epic battle as the gods and their armies watched. Though evenly matched, Rama used the weapons of Indra to gain the upper hand. Upon Matali's advice, Rama released the powerful Brahma weapon, killing Ravana at last. After the battle, Rama told Vibishana not to mourn Ravana's death, as he died honorably in battle, while Vibishana felt Ravana deserved no honor for his cruel acts.

1. Chapter XIII
The Death Of Ravana

2. Ravana received the news of Indrajita’s
Death
Ravana
“T o d a y I s h a l l t a k e t h e b o w
a n d a r r o w g i v e n t o m e b y
B r a h m a a n d d e s t r o y b o t h
R a m a a n d L a k s h m a n a . B u t
f i r s t I s h a l l s l a y S i t a , t h e

3. Ravana was very unhappy. He was
breathing like an angry serpent.
“G o f o r t h
n o w w i t h
a l l y o u r
s t r e n g t h
a n d h u r l
y o u r s e l v e
s o n l y
u p o n
R a m a !”
“Wo u n d h i m
a n d w e a r
h i m o u t
a n d

4. The next day the two warriors finally came
together, as decreed by the Gods.
 Skilled archers
 Knew all the science of warfare
 Had weapons made by the high gods
 Neither had ever know defeat

5. Monkeys gathered in a half circle
behind Rama.
The demons stood behind their king

6. The Gods also watched this conflict, for it had
been planned by them long ago.
“T h i s i s n o t a f a i r f i g h t , f o r R a m a
i s o n f o o t w h i l e t h e d e m o n r i d e s
h i s c h a r i o t .”

7. Indra called to his charioter, Matali.
“Y o k e m y
c h a r i o t
q u i c k l y
a n d o f f e r
i t t o
R a m a !”
Y e s ,
S i r !

8. Matali harnessed the bay horses.
“T h e l o r d o f a
t h o u s a n d e y e s
s e n d s t h i s t o
y o u s o t h a t y o u
m a y w i n t h e
v i c t o r y , O
m i g h t y
w a r r i o r .”
“H e r e , t o o , i s
t h e g r e a t b o w
o f I n d r a , h i s
s h i e l d , a n d h i s
s p e a r .”

9. Rama bowed to the chariot driven by
Matali and mounted it.

10. Ravana attacks Rama with his spear as strong as
diamond.
“N o w l i e b e s i d e
y o u r b r o t h e r , O
a r r o g a n t
p r i n c e ! T h i s

11. Rama flung the lance of Indra, which met the
other in the air and shattered it with a sound
like thunder.

12. As he fought, Rama taunted to his foe:
“Wh a t a h e r o y o u
a r e , O w i c k e d
w r e t c h , t o c a r r y
o f f a w o m a n
a f t e r l u r i n g
h e r h u s b a n d
f r o m h e r b y a
t r i c k ! Wh a t a
n o b l e d e e d w a s
t h a t ! I f I h a d
b e e n t h e r e , I
w o u l d h a v e s e n t
y o u t o j o i n y o u r
b r o t h e r w h o m I
h a v e s l a i n . N o w

13. More fight…
“I
s h a l l
w i n .”
“I m u s t
d i e .”

14. When it seemed as if every weapon
had been exhausted, Rama thought:
T h e s e a r e t h e
s a m e w e a p o n s
w i t h w h i c h I
k i l l e d
M a r i c h a a n d
a l l t h e
d e m o n s i n t h e
f o r e s t , w h i c h
p i e r c e d t h e
s e v e n t r e e s
a t
K i s h k i n d h a
a n d s l e w B a l i .

15. Matali, the wise charioter, divined his
thought and said to Rama:
“H a v e y o u f o r g o t t e n
t h e m o s t p o w e r f u l o n e
o f a l l , O l o r d o f m e n ?
L o o s e B r a h m a ’s s h a f t
u p o n h i m , f o r t h e
h o u r o f h i s d o o m h a s
c o m e !”

17. Rama’s attack that killed Ravana

18. Vibishana came and stood beside Rama.

19. But Rama said:
“N o o n e s h o u l d m o u r n a
w a r r i o r s l a i n i n b a t t l e .
H e h a d g r e a t c o u r a g e a n d
f e l l w i t h o u t y i e l d i n g ;
h e m e t a K s h a t r i y a ’s
d e a t h . N o w w i t h a l l
h o n o r p e r f o r m h i s
f u n e r a l r i t e s .”
“H o w c a n I h o n o r o n e
w h o f a i l e d t o f u l f i l l
h i s v o w s , w h o w a s
r u t h l e s s a n d c r u e l ,
w h o k i l l e d h o l y s a g e s ,
a n d s t o l e w i v e s o f
o t h e r s ? H e d e s e r v e s n o
h o n o r .”

21. ~THE END
of Chapter 13~