The End of Ravan

Lakshman folded his hands, stood near Ravan's feet, and asked the fallen Demon King for advice.

"Never underestimate your enemy," Ravan told Lakshman. "Don't anger your charioteer, cooks, brothers, or bodyguards with your behavior, as these people may become deadly to you. Always trust advisors who criticize you. Never assume that you will always be victorious, even if you usually are." 

After that, Ravan breathed his last with Ram's name on his lips. Brahma's invincibility boon to Ravan was not violated because Ram was a man. Mandodari began to weep when she heard the news of Ravan's death. 

"Oh Lord!" she cried. "You are now lying dead in the mud despite having Brahma's boon of invincibility. You wouldn't be in this state if you had listened to me. You should have freed Seeta and befriended Ram. You chose to ignore Vibheeshan's advice as well. When I heard that a bridge to Lanka was being built, I knew Ram was no ordinary human—he is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. He has merely assumed the form of a man to save the world. The monkeys who fought on Ram's side were also god-like.

"You performed severe penance once, but you wouldn't be in this state now if you had continued meditation. I am no less than Seeta in birth, class, or beauty, yet you looked lustfully at her. Seeta is a faithful wife; you should have treated her with respect. Her tears have caused your destruction because you behaved immorally under the influence of lust."

Seeing Mandodari and the other women of Lanka weeping, Ram told Vibheeshan to prepare for Ravan's funeral. Vibheeshan immediately started making the requisite arrangements. He gathered sticks for Ravan's funeral pyre and poured pure ghee and aromatic liquids onto it. After decorating Ravan's body with fine clothes, Vibheeshan respectfully touched his older brother's feet. He then set fire to the pyre and prayed that Ravan's soul would rest in peace. Thus, Vibheeshan duly performed Ravan's last rites. The monkeys tried to console Vibheeshan and the other inhabitants of Lanka.

"I have full confidence in Vibheeshan's loyalty and diligence," Ram told Lakshman and Sugreev. "I want to see him seated on Lanka's throne. We should plan for his coronation."