The next day, Indrajeet, expert in magic, rode into the battlefield with an illusory Seeta. When Indrajeet beheaded her, the monkey warriors were horrified. They told Rama who was shattered by the news. But Vibheeshana told him about Indrajeet’s magical powers and reassured him.
Now all of them were sure that Seeta was safe in Lanka and Indrajeet had beheaded the illusory Seeta. Rama’s army was fighting with all vigour and enthusiasm. Indrajeet had pledged to do away with both the brothers that day.
Indrajeet challenged Rama to fight, but Lakshmana came forward and started fighting. When Indrajeet found it difficult to defend himself, he finally used the fatal power on Lakshmana who dropped down, unconscious.
There was despair in the monkey-army seeing Lakshmana fall, and Rama was inconsolable. His beloved brother was lying senseless on the ground. Lakshamana’s aim in life was to serve his brother Rama. Now he was in the jaws of death. The monkey warriors consoled Rama whose grief knew no bounds. Jambvant sent for physician Sushena who asked for some herb which was found on the Himalayas.
The task of fetching the mritasanjeevani herb was given to Hanuman who had to bring it before dawn to revive Lakshmana. Hanuman immediately flew towards the Himalayas and on the way he killed Kalanemi, a demon. Having reached the Himalayas, he searched for the herb, but could not identify it. So, he lifted up the mountain itself and carried away it to Lanka.
Sushena plucked the mritasanjeevani herb and applied it to Lakshmana. Within minutes, Lakshmana revived. Rama hugged Hunuman and there was a great celebration in the monkey-army.
Ravana was shocked to hear the news of Lakshmana’s revival. When he reached his palace, he was feeling very discouraged. Then, he remembered Kumbhakarna and he was infused with revived vigour and enthusiasm. He sent a soldier to wake Kumbhakarna up. The mountain-size demon fell asleep some days ago.
Kumbhakarna was fast asleep. It was not a child’s play to wake the demon up so soon. Ravana knew that Kumbhakarna’s presence on the battlefield would turn the tide in his favour.
All the kettledrums, pipes and bells couldn’t disturb his deep slumber. Finally, delicious dishes were arranged for the mighty demon who was aroused at last. The servants served him gallons of wine and sumptuous meals. Kumbhakarna went up to Ravana and assured him that he would do away with Rama and his army single-handedly. He reached the battlefield and began butchering the monkey soldiers.
He picked up Sugreeva and hastened back to the palace. Sugreeva gained consciousness on the way and bit his ear. Kumbhakarna screamed and dropped him, and Sugreeva joined his troops.
Rama aimed his sharp arrows at his legs and cut off them. As he tried to creep towards Rama, another arrow shot his head off and Rama killed him. His severed head fell into Lanka which was in an uproar. Ravana was shocked. He had full faith in the strength and courage of Kumbhakarna. He thought that the news of the killings of Rama and Lakshmana would reach him after Kumbhakarna had entered the battlefield but Kumbhakarna’s severed head was lying in front of him. Now he was afraid of the enemy’s strength.
