The Fall of Meghnad

Meghnad tried another trick. In the Valmiki Ramayan, he came on his chariot with an illusory figure of Sita and struck it with his sword in front of everyone. Hanuman and the vanara army were shattered. Hearing the news, even Ram fainted.

Then Vibhishan came and said: Lord, this is all illusion. Ravan would never let Sita die. Meghnad has thrown us into grief so he can perform a yagya at a place called Nikumbhila. If he completes it, no one will be able to defeat him. He must be stopped now.

Ram sent Lakshman, with Vibhishan, Hanuman and vanara heroes. They attacked the place of sacrifice and stopped the yagya from being completed. Furious, Meghnad came out to fight Lakshman. He spoke harshly to Vibhishan too: you betray your own family's secrets to the enemy!

The battle between Lakshman and Meghnad was long and terrible. Both used divine weapons. At last Lakshman fitted an arrow and said: if Ram is righteous and firm in truth, let this arrow end Meghnad. The arrow flew, and Meghnad's head fell to the ground.

The gods showered flowers. The vanara army cheered. When the wounded Lakshman returned, Ram embraced him. In Lanka, Ravan was nearly mad with grief for his son. Now no one was left but Ravan himself.