Lakshmana Kills Indrajit in Battle

Having accomplished his task — binding Rama and Lakshmana with boon-granted arrows — Indrajit went and told his father what he had done. Then he returned to the field of battle, flush with victory, desirous of battle, angrily advancing again. But he had not yet performed his daily rites. And Vibhishana knew this. With Vibhishana's advice, Soumitri — Lakshmana, son of Sumitra — attacked him. Lakshmana had recovered his senses, and he was desirous of killing the enemy. He angrily assailed Indrajit with arrows. Each warrior wished to vanquish the other. The battle that began between them was extremely extraordinary — like the battle between Shakra (Indra) and Prahlada (the great asura king). Indrajit pierced Soumitri with sharp arrows that penetrated the heart. Soumitri wounded Ravana's son with arrows that were like fire to the touch. Touched by Soumitri's arrows, Ravana's son was senseless with rage. He discharged eight arrows at Lakshmana, virulent as serpents. But listen carefully as the story tells how the brave Soumitri killed the other one with three feathered arrows that were like fire to the touch. Through one arrow, he sliced off the arm that wielded the bow from Indrajit's body. With the second, he dropped the arm that held the iron arrows to the ground. The third arrow was lustrous and wide. With this, he cut off the head — which had a beautiful nose and was adorned with earrings. Severed of head and arms, the torso looked terrible. Having killed him, Lakshmana — the supreme among strong ones — killed Indrajit's charioteer with arrows as well. The horses dragged the chariot to Lanka. Ravana saw the chariot, bereft of his son. Knowing that his son had been killed, Ravana was overcome by grief and his eyes widened in fear. He was about to kill Vaidehi (Sita). She was in the ashoka grove, yearning to see Rama. The evil-souled one grasped a sword and rushed to her. But Avindhya saw what was happening. Seeing that the one with evil intelligence had decided on this evil act, Avindhya calmed down the enraged king, giving him these reasons: "You are established as a great king. You should not kill a woman. This woman is captive in your house and is already dead. In my view, she will not be killed through the destruction of her body. Kill her husband. When he is dead, she will be dead. Shatakratu (Indra) is not your equal in valour. In battle, you have frightened Indra and the thirty gods several times." With these and similar words, Avindhya pacified the angry Ravana. Ravana accepted the advice. The stalker of the night resolved to march out himself. He sheathed his sword and instructed that his chariot should be prepared.