Meghnad's Shakti Strikes Lakshmana After the Chariot Falls
Lanka Kanda, Chaupai 54
Doha 54 · Movement 1 of 2
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Wounded warriors stand across the field like palash trees flowering in crimson. Among them Lakshmana and Meghnad meet in fury. Neither can overcome the other in direct exchange, and Ravana's son turns toward deceitful force.
Lakshmana, the embodied Ananta, blazes with anger. He shatters Meghnad's chariot and brings down the driver, then presses attack after attack until the demon scarcely retains his life. Meghnad understands that death has drawn near.
He releases the deadly Shakti lance. The mass of radiance enters Lakshmana's chest, and Rama's brother falls unconscious beneath its force. The weapon creates the opening Meghnad could not win through equal combat. Once it has struck, he leaves the field with fear cast aside. Behind him lies the prince who supports Rama's earthly play, motionless among warriors red as flowers.
When equal battle fails him, Meghnad sends blazing Shakti into Lakshmana and escapes the death already near his own breath.
Read the passage from the Manas
घायल बीर बिराजहिं कैसे। कुसुमित किंसुक के तरु जैसे।। लछिमन मेघनाद द्वौ जोधा। भिरहिं परसपर करि अति क्रोधा।। एकहि एक सकइ नहिं जीती। निसिचर छल बल करइ अनीती।। क्रोधवंत तब भयउ अनंता। भंजेउ रथ सारथी तुरंता।। नाना बिधि प्रहार कर सेषा। राच्छस भयउ प्रान अवसेषा।। रावन सुत निज मन अनुमाना। संकठ भयउ हरिहि मम प्राना।। बीरघातिनी छाड़िसि साँगी। तेज पुंज लछिमन उर लागी।। मुरुछा भई सक्ति के लागें। तब चलि गयउ निकट भय त्यागें।।
The wounded warriors appear like flowering palash trees adorned with crimson blossoms. Lakshmana and Meghnad, both mighty warriors, clash with each other in great fury. Neither can defeat the other, as the demon resorts to deceit and unfair tactics. Then Ananta (Shesha) became enraged and immediately destroyed the chariot and charioteer. Shesha struck with every kind of blow, leaving the demon barely alive. Ravana's son thought in his mind that his life was now in grave danger. He released the deadly Shakti weapon, which struck Lakshmana in the chest like a blazing fire. Lakshmana fell unconscious from the impact, and then Meghnad departed, his fear forgotten.