Indrajit comforted his father. "Why should you worry when I am here alive?" he said and gathered an army, and with it made another sortie.

He swooped down on the Vaanara forces and killed and wounded thousands of them. They were helpless against his fury. The Brahmaastra of Indrajit was effective against even Rama and Lakshmana who were tied up by it. They lay unconscious on the ground and the Raakshasa prince went straight to his anxious father with the glad news of this achievement.

Vibheeshana rallied the Vaanara leaders who had scattered in all directions and put hope and courage into them.

Jaambavaan, who was more dead than alive, moved slowly among the Vaanaras, inquiring, "Is Hanumaan alive?"

"Yes, I am here," said Hanumaan, and bowed low before Jaambavaan.

"My son," said the old Vaanara, "proceed northwards at once across the sea to the Himaalaya range. Between the Rishabha and Kailaasa peaks, there is the Hill of Herbs. In that hill-top are four medicinal plants. If you bring them here quickly, Rama and Lakshmana and the Vaanara army will recover consciousness. Their wounds will-be healed and they will fight again. Do this without loss of time. Only you can do this."

Accordingly, Hanumaan sprang up into the air and moved fast. He reached the hill described by the venerable Jaambavaan and as he could not identify the plants, he carried the whole hill and returned with it to Lanka.

Even with the approach of the Sanjeevi hill, Rama and Lakshmana and the Vaanaras felt the darts slip off their bodies. Their wounds healed and they became strong and stood up.

The battle was resumed. Taking counsel with Rama, Sugreeva now chose a few Vaanaras and ordered them to enter Lanka and set fire to the city.

Towards midnight they entered the city with torches. They attacked and overpowered the sentry and set fire to the palaces and turrets of Lanka. Houses in their thousands were reduced to ashes. The proud city was reduced to a mass of ruin.

Vaalmeeki describes this incident in detail. It reads very much like the destruction of cities in modem battles with which we are now familiar.

Seeing Lanka being burnt down by the Vaanaras, Raavana was furious and sent to the battle-field Kumbha and Nikumbha, the sons of Kumbhakarna, together with Yoopaaksha and other Raakshasa warriors.

After another terrible battle, Kumbha was slain by Sugreeva and Nikumbha by Hanumaan. Makaraaksba, son of Khara, who opposed Rama, fell to his fiery arrows. Many more mighty Raakshasas perished. Then, at the bidding of Raavana, Indrajit went once again to the battle. He rose into the sky and became invisible. Thus he fought again unseen by the Vaanaras. Indrajit, by his necromancy, created a maaya-Seeta and, putting her in a chariot, took her before the Vaanara army and seemingly killed her in their presence.

Deceived and horrified by this, the Vaanaras asked themselves: "What good is it now to continue this war?" They left the field and went to Rama with the heart-rending news.

As a result of this trick, Indrajit gained time to perform an aasuric sacrifice. Rama and Lakshmana, like the Vaanara warriors, believed that Seeta was dead and were lost in grief. They were completely bewildered and helpless when Vibheeshana came and enquired what had happened.

He listened to their story. Then he said: "You have been deceived. Never would Raavana allow Seeta to be killed. This is only a trick of sorcery. Indrajit tries to defeat you through magic. Having given up all hope of achieving success by normal means, he has gone to perform an aasuric sacrifice of great power. If he completes it, we cannot vanquish him. We should therefore go and obstruct the sacrifice. Let Lakshmana go at once and mar Indrajit's purpose."

Accepting this advice, Rama sent Lakshmana who was accompanied by Hanumaan and other Vaanaras, besides Vibheeshana. They went to the spot where Indrajit was about to offer ablations to evil spirits. The sacrifice was interrupted and a long and fierce battle ensued. Ascending his chariot, the son of Raavana sent forth his arrows. Standing on Hanumaan, Lakshmana did the same. As they were well matched in strength and skill, the battle lasted long. The chariot of Indrajit was destroyed in the course of the combat and both the heroes stood on the ground and continued the battle.

At last, Lakshmana used the Indra-astra spell and uttering the name of Rama discharged the fatal arrow. The head of Indrajit was severed and fell to the ground and as it fell, it shone like fire. The Deva and Gandharvas showered flowers from the heavens.

Lakshmana then went to Rama. He was wounded all over and bleeding. He walked slowly, supported by Jaambavaan and Hanumaan. Rama had already heard the news of the death of Indrajit.

"Lakshmanal" he cried, "this is the end of the Raakshasa race. You have achieved it."

Lakshmana modestly stood back but Rama seated him on his lap, kissed his head and gave vent to his joy.

"You have performed a mighty deed, impossible for anyone else. You have-deprived Raavana of his right hand. Who in the world can equal you or Vibheeshana or Hanumaan? I have no more care. You havevanquished the conqueror of Indra. I feel I have already recovered Seeta."

The new's reached Raavana that Indrajit had been slain by Lakshmana. When he heard that Vibheeshana helped Lakshmana in slaying Indrajit, his grief and anger swelled and the tears he shed burnt where they fell. And from his mouth issued fire.

"Alas, my son! 0 peerless warrior! 0 hero! Vanquisher of the great Indra! Has Death won after all? Have you entered the heaven of heroes? But I should not grieve, he said.

But the father's heart would not thus be denied, and again he cried: "What! Is Indrajit gone? The world is now empty for me. Oh son, you have left your mother Mandodari and your dear wife and myself heart-broken and disconsolate. Nothing remains to us now but revenge and despair.

"It is best to kill Seeta, the cause of all this tragedy. My son killed the maaya-Seeta. Now I shall kill the real Seeta herself." So saying he rushed out, sword in hand, intending to do it.

Some fierce Raakshasas, seeing Raavana issuing out in anger, applauded him with joy; but the minister Supaarsva was horrified and appealed to Raavana's better sense and what was due to himself as a man and a king.

"King!" he cried, "how dare you think such a thought? How can you do it? Oh, Lord of ten heads! Brother of Kubera! Are you thinking to kill a woman? Are you going to incur this shame and sin? Can you thus be tempted by anger? You have mastered the Vedas and all the sciences. You have performed many penances. How can you end up with such a thing as this? Who is equal to you? Let us direct our anger against Rama. It will be new moon tomorrow. Gather all your armies, issue out of Lanka, slay Rama and Lakshmana and achieve victory. Then take Seeta. Put on the armour you have secured from Brahma. Ascend your chariot and go to battle."

Raavana felt that Supaarsva was right and his words were good. Seated on his throne, he was silent for a while, lost in profound meditation. Then he addressed the commanders with folded hands, saying:

"Go now with all your strength and slay Rama. If even you fail, I shall go myself and destroy him."

Never before had he been so courteous and humble when dealing with his officers. Adversity had taught him this lesson. Mounted on chariots that shone like the hills on the evening horizon and on the back of great elephants and beautiful horses, Raavana's army went in full force for the great battle.

The Vaanaras tore up rocks and trees and attacked the Raakshasas fiercely. The Raakshasas returned the attack with equally grim ferocity.

The Vaanaras jumped about everywhere and worked havoc among the Raakshasas, their chariots and animals. Each of the Raakshasas was surrounded by many Vaanaras and slain.

The Raakshasas too did not spare the Vaanaras whom they killed in tens of thousands.

Rama bent his bow and sent showers of arrows against the Raakshasas who destroyed their army like a raging fire. Warriors only saw their companions fall. They could not see Rama because of the shower of arrows. Their fear conjured up a multitude of Ramas, who dealt death in all directions.

Countless elephants and horses perished. Thousands of chariots were broken. The Raakshasa army was destroyed, all but a handful who fled into Lanka.

The Devas, Gandharvas and Siddhas sang the praise of Rama from above. In Lanka, the Raakshasa women clung to each other and lamented loudly that Raavana's folly should have brought this great calamity on them.