Lanka Kand · Chapter 39

Lakshman Struck, and the Sanjeevani

5 min read

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The story so far

The war has begun. Garud freed Ram and Lakshman from the nagpash, and Ram let the unarmed Ravan go.

In the Ramcharitmanas, one day Meghnad and Lakshman fought fiercely. When Meghnad began to lose, he hurled a divine . It struck Lakshman in the chest and he fell unconscious. (In the Valmiki Ramayan it was Ravan who hurled the shakti.)

Ram wept with Lakshman's head in his lap: this brother left the palace for me; how can I return to Ayodhya without him? Then Sushen, the physician of Lanka, was brought. He said: on Mount Dronagiri in the Himalaya grows the herb. If it arrives before sunrise, Lakshman can be saved.

Only Hanuman could do this. He flew off at once. The Ramcharitmanas tells that Ravan had placed a magical demon, Kalnemi, disguised as a holy man on the way, to delay him. Hanuman saw through the trick and destroyed him.

On Dronagiri many herbs were glowing. Hanuman could not tell which was the sanjeevani. Time was short, so he lifted the entire mountain and flew back through the sky.

On the way, near Ayodhya at Nandigram, Bharat saw a huge creature in the sky and shot an arrow. Hanuman fell, crying 'Ram'. Hearing the whole story, Bharat was grieved and offered to send him on swiftly, seated on his own arrow. Hanuman reached in time, Sushen gave the medicine, and Lakshman sat up. Ram embraced Hanuman.

A lesson for today

When time is short and the way unclear, don't get stuck on small doubts: bring the whole solution. And true brotherly love knows no distance.

Next chapter · 5 min readKumbhakarna

All chapters

  1. 1How the Ramayan Began: Valmiki and Narad
  2. 2Dashrath's Yagya and the Birth of the Four Brothers
  3. 3Vishwamitra and the Fall of Tadaka
  4. 4Ahalya Set Free
  5. 5Sita's Swayamvar and Shiv's Bow
  6. 6The Anger of Parshuram
  7. 7The Coronation Plans and Manthara
  8. 8Kaikeyi's Two Boons
  9. 9Ram Leaves for the Forest
  10. 10The Boatman's Love: Crossing the Ganga
  11. 11The Death of King Dashrath
  12. 12Bharat's Love and Sacrifice
  13. 13Bharat Meets Ram: The Sacred Sandals
  14. 14The Blessings of Atri and Anasuya
  15. 15Through the Dandak Forest to Panchavati
  16. 16Shurpanakha
  17. 17The Battle with Khar and Dushan
  18. 18Maarich and the Golden Deer
  19. 19Sita Is Taken
  20. 20Jatayu's Sacrifice
  21. 21Shabari's Berries
  22. 22Ram Meets Hanuman
  23. 23Friendship with Sugriv
  24. 24The Fall of Bali
  25. 25The Search Parties and Sampati
  26. 26The Decision to Cross the Ocean
  27. 27Surasa and Simhika
  28. 28Hanuman Enters Lanka
  29. 29Sita in the Ashok Vatika
  30. 30Hanuman Gives Ram's Ring
  31. 31The Ashok Vatika Destroyed, and Akshay Kumar
  32. 32The Brahmastra and Ravan's Court
  33. 33Lanka in Flames
  34. 34Return with the Chudamani
  35. 35Vibhishan Seeks Refuge
  36. 36Building Ram Setu
  37. 37Angad, the Envoy
  38. 38The War Begins
  39. 39Lakshman Struck, and the Sanjeevani
  40. 40Kumbhakarna
  41. 41The Fall of Meghnad
  42. 42The Fall of Ravan
  43. 43Sita's Return and the Trial by Fire
  44. 44The Return to Ayodhya
  45. 45Ram's Coronation
  46. 46Ram Rajya
  47. 47Valmiki's Ashram and the Birth of Luv and Kush
  48. 48Luv and Kush Sing the Ramayan
  49. 49Sita Returns to the Earth

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