The joyous shout of Rama’s army was enough to convince Ravana of Meghnath’s death. Breaking down in his huge chamber, Ravana felt his defeat was near. Yet, he had to fight on. Lonely, he prepared for the battle ahead. Ravana mounted his chariot and went to the battlefield. He stood face to face with Rama. Rama shot one arrow after another to cut off his heads, but they grew back again. Ravana laughed seeing them. Rama grew anxious. The gods asked Indra to help Rama. Indra sent his celestial chariot driven by Matali. As the chariot descended on earth, Rama quickly climbed onto it and started firing weapons. Rama took out his Brahmaastra chanting Parvati’s name and aimed it at Ravana’s navel inside which he had tied his pouch carrying Amrita, the nectar of immortality. The potent weapon pierced his body and the pouch and Ravana fell down dead. Loud cheers echoed through Lanka. Flowers were showered from the heavens above. The gods announced the end of Ravana. Vibhishan refused to do the last rites, but Rama explained that he was after all a brother and had died like a warrior too. So Ravana deserved a proper funeral.
DEATH OF RAVANA
