Ramayana Yuddha Kanda

acm Rama’s Journey Panel SIX (v3) YUDDHA KANDA Marc garnaut @ electrotype

PANEL 6 YUDDHA KANDA (493 WORDS) LAVA

It’s one thing for a wind God to leap to Lanka, but how could Rama and his army of monkeys and bears cross the ocean?

KUSHA

I’m sure that was exactly what Rama was wondering, brother. Vibhishana had recognized the stupidity of his brother Ravana’s obsession with Sita and had joined Rama’s army. So they now had inside information about the demons, but they had to get there first.

In the end Sugriva and his army of monkeys came to the rescue, offering to build a bridge under the guidance of Nala, the son of the universal architect Vishvakarma.

LAVA

What a massive undertaking! A bridge all the way to Lanka! And it took only five days before Rama could lead them across. He wasn’t intent on war. He even sent Angada to Ravana as an ambassador of peace, but that had no effect.

KUSHA

Ravana’s mind was twisted in his stubbornness, Lava. He wasn’t capable of being reasonable. He wouldn’t step back.

And so, war it was! You couldn’t imagine a more terrible battle. It raged through the day and into the night. There was bloodshed on both sides.

The world had never seen a war like this. Ravana and his armies were incredibly powerful. There’s no doubt he was the most feared demon on earth. And Rama and his armies were equally powerful, and full of determination. These awesome forces collided like an explosion, filling the skies with fire and smoke and everywhere you looked there was terrible fighting with all manner of weapons.

LAVA

Even Rama and Lakshmana were mortally injured, brother. Ravana’s son Indrajit became invisible and flew in the sky, raining down deadly serpent arrows on them.

The mighty Garuda himself had to intervene to save them, because no snake can survive the king of the birds.

All of Ravana’s brothers except Indrajit were killed. Even the evil man-eating giant Kumbhakarna was woken up to join the fight.

KUSHA

It was a bloodbath, Lava. The second time Indrajit struck, Garuda wasn’t there to help and it was starting to look hopeless for Rama’s army. Hanuman had to leave the battle and fly all the way to Mount Kailasha looking for sanjivani, the life-saving herb.

He was so frantic to return that he tore the entire top of the mountain off and brought it back.

LAVA

And he was right to be frantic, Kusha. He got back just in time to save Lakshmana

from a mortal wound from a spear thrown by Ravana. After days and nights of battle it was the sanjivani herb that gave them the strength for their final advance.

KUSHA

And although his army was weakening, Ravana was still strong, Lava. In that final terrible battle Rama had to unleash his strongest weapon, the Brahmastra arrow. It was only then that Ravana finally fell.

LAVA

What a great cry of victory from all the monkeys and bears that must have been! And now Rama could finally take Sita back to Ayodhya.

KUSHA

Not quite, Lava. Sita had been staying in Ravana’s palace. Rama didn’t know what had happened and wasn’t certain of her purity. It took Agni, the God of fire, to convince Rama that she had been faithful.

Then, finally, they could get into their flying chariot.

Rama, Lakshmana and Sita had been gone a long time, and they’d been through many things, but it was finally time for them to go home.