Ravan's Final Battle

Ravan's wife, Mandodari, once again pleaded with him to free Seeta and end the destructive war. "Oh lord, will you go to the battlefield again tomorrow?" she asked. "Can you not change your mind? Since we were married, you have always cared about my happiness. How can you forget this? Please give up the thought of war, my dear."

But Ravan, intoxicated by power, was heedless; death loomed over him. "Tomorrow night is a new moon, an auspicious time for us demons," he told Mandodari. "Just watch, my dear: tomorrow's battle will bring us victory."

Ravan summoned the remaining chiefs of his army. He declared that they would enter the battlefield determined to avenge their fallen comrades and that he would lead the battle himself. He called for his divine chariot, adorned with a flag and drawn by eight horses decorated with gems and ornaments. The chariot was brought to the door. Ravan leaped onto it with the speed of a lion and took his seat, armed with an array of weapons. He rode his chariot to the fifth gate of the city, a magical door. After passing through it, he began to soar through the sky like a swan.

Ravan was resolved to kill Ram and Lakshman to avenge the deaths of Kumbhakarn, Akshay Kumar, and Indrajeet. Ram and Lakshman awaited Ravan on the battlefield. The monkey soldiers saw the demon army advancing and prepared for war. A fierce battle ensued between the two sides. Ravan killed dozens of monkey soldiers, causing the rest to scatter in fear.

Each time Ram cut off one of Ravan's heads with his arrow, another grew back. Only Vibheeshan knew the secret of Ravan's invincibility—he had a store of the nectar of immortality in his navel. So, he advised Ram to aim the Brahmastra at Ravan's navel. Ram invoked Lord Brahma and summoned the Brahmastra given to him by Maharshi Agastya. He shot this all-powerful arrow at Ravan's navel, causing the ten-headed demon to fall to the ground. Ravan lay dying on the battlefield.

Ram called Lakshman to his side and said, "Oh, Lakshman! Ravan was not just a great warrior but also a learned scholar. Please learn something from him."