Chapter CIX: Section CX

Thereupon Matali, reminding him, spake unto Raghava--"Why dost thou, O hero, as if not knowing, fear him? Do thou, O lord, discharge at him the weapon obtained from the great Patriarch. The time for (his) destruction, as described by the celestials, hath arrived". Being reminded by those words of Matali, Rama took up the flaming shaft, breathing as if like a serpent. The great Rishi Agastya first conferred this upon him. This is a huge and dreadful shaft given by Brahma, and highly useful in battle. It was made by Brahma of undecaying prowess for Indra and conferred by him upon the Lord of celestials desirous of acquiring victory. In its wings there is wind, in its head there is fire and the Sun, in its body there is the sky and in its weight there are the (hill) Meru and Mandara. It is resplendent by its own lustre, well feathered and adorned with gold--made of the essence of all objects and bright as the rays of the Sun. It is like the fire of dissolution enveloped in smoke--like the flaming serpent, capable of piercing men, serpents and horses and was swift-coursing. (It can) rend the gateways, _Parighas_ and hills--is soaked in blood, dipped in marrow, and extremely dreadful. It is hard as the lightning--producing a dreadful sound, assailing various (divisions of the) army, creating terror unto all, dreadful and (as if) breathing like a serpent. It is terrible as the Death in the conflict and provides food always for the herons, vultures, cranes, jackals and the Rakshasas. It is the enhancer of the monkey-leaders' joy and the repressor of the Rakshasas and is feathered like unto a bird with many a picturesque wing. And the highly powerful Rama, consecrating in accordance with the _mantras_ laid down in the Vedas, that huge shaft--the foremost of all in the world, removing the fear of the Ikshwaku race, destroying the fame of the enemies and conducing to the joy of its own party, set it on his bow. And that excellent arrow being mounted on his bow by Raghava all the animals were stricken with fear and the earth shook. And (Rama) highly enraged, and greatly wary, suppressing (his breath) discharged that shaft at Ravana--piercing to the vitals. (That Brahma weapon) irrepressible as the thunder, dreadful as the Death and discharged by Rama, fell down on Ravana's breast. And that shaft, capable of bringing about death and gifted with velocity, when discharged, cleft the breast of the vicious-souled Ravana. And that body-ending arrow, bathed in blood, stealing away the life of Ravana, entered the earth. That shaft, slaying Ravana, soaked in blood and successful, again entered the quiver[461] humbly. And from his hand, who was deprived of his life, fell down instantly on earth his shafts and bow. And fell down on the earth from the chariot, the highly effulgent Ravana, gifted with dreadful velocity and shorn of his life. And beholding him thus fallen down, the remaining night-rangers, deprived of their lord and stricken with terror fled away to various quarters. And beholding the destruction of the Ten-necked (demon) and the victory of Raghava, the monkeys, fighting with trees, pursued them on all sides. And being assailed by the monkeys and having their countenances full of tears in consequence of their lord being slain they fled away to Lanka in fear. Thereupon the monkeys being greatly delighted roared out the victory of Rama. The celestial bugle was sounded in the sky and there blew the excellent air carrying the celestial fragrance. Flowers were showered upon Rama's car which was covered therewith. The celestials in the sky began to chaunt the glory of Rama and praise him. And Ravana, the dread of all people, being slain, the celestials with the _Charanas_ were greatly delighted. And slaying that foremost of the Rakshasas, Rama satisfied the desire of Sugriva, Angada and Bibhishana. Thereupon the celestials attained their peace, the quarters were delighted, the atmosphere was clear, calm air began to prevail all over the earth, and the Sun appeared in its full rays. Thereupon Sugriva, Bibhishana and Lakshmana, welcomed Rama, of unmitigated prowess, singing his glory. And there appeared beautiful at the battle-field Rama of firm promise, slaying his enemy and encircled by his army and friends, like unto the Lord of the celestials surrounded by the gods.

[461] In some texts there is _"napunarabishat" i.e._ did not enter the
quiver.--T.