Rāma’s War at Hastināpura

In the last days of Rāmarājya (Rāma’s rule), a great army of Candra-vaṃśa kings, also called the Somavarṃśa kings, came to Hastināpura. They challenged Rāma’s rule. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells that this was the last battle of Rāma’s forces on earth before he went up to Vaikuṇṭha. Rāma’s side was led by the vānaras and by the sons of Rāma. The Candra-vaṃśa kings held a vara (a boon) of invincibility from Brahmā. After six months of war, Kuśa was about to release the Brahmāstra. Then Brahmā himself came down. Through Brahmā and Sītā, peace was made. Ajāmīḍha was crowned king of Hastināpura under Kuśa, and the Candra-vaṃśa kings went up to svarga (heaven).

The alarm and the great march

A messenger came to Rāma’s court from Susheṇa, the vānara guardian of Hastināpura. He said the city was surrounded by the lords of the seven dvīpas (continents), led by Nala of the Candra-vaṃśa. Rāma called Vālmīki and asked him to explain.

Vālmīki said this was foreordained. The length of Rāma’s avatāra (11,011 years, 11 months and 11 days) was nearly complete. Only about eighteen days were left. The war with the Somavarṃśa kings would fill this last time, and after it Rāma would go up to Vaikuṇṭha.

Rāma then arranged the march to Hastināpura with full ceremony. First he made Kuśa the saptadvīpādhipati (lord of the seven dvīpas) of Ayodhyā. Then the whole population of Ayodhyā went with Rāma: every citizen, their families, their animals and even their birds. The divine form of the Sarayū and the divine form of Ayodhyā each agreed to leave an aṃśa-rūpa (a part-form) on earth, while their main divine presences joined Rāma.

The procession was set in this order:

  1. Road-breakers and labourers
  2. Elephants with flags
  3. War machines and catapults
  4. Musicians on horseback
  5. Foot guards
  6. Courtesans
  7. Palace horses
  8. Female guards in disguise
  9. Attendants
  10. Rāma himself on an elephant
  11. Lakshmaṇa, Bharata, Śatrughna, Kuśa, Lava, Aṅgada, Citraketu, Pushkara, Taksha, Subāhu and Yūpaketu
  12. Sītā on an elephant
  13. Ūrmilā, Māṇḍavī and Śrutakīrti
  14. The ministers
  15. Crores of vānaras
  16. The armies of all the allied kings

The procession reached Hastināpura in eleven days. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapters 1–2)

The six months of battle

Susheṇa met Rāma with his force of two million and told him of fourteen days of earlier fighting. Rāma made camp on the south bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā). The enemy camped on the north bank. On the first day the vānara forces crossed the river and the battle began.

The vānaras fought in their own way, with rocks, trees, mountains and fists. The Candra-vaṃśa forces used missiles, swords, axes, spears, clubs, iron maces (parigha) and disc-arrows. Sons fought fathers, grandsons fought grandfathers, and great-grandsons fought their great-grandfathers. This was because Rāma’s Sūrya-vaṃśa allies and the Somavarṃśa enemies were related by blood.

Hanumān stood near the battlefield with the herbs of the Droṇācala. Again and again he brought fallen soldiers of Rāma back to life. The Candra-vaṃśa dead could not be revived and their numbers simply fell. The Gaṅgā ran red with blood. The Somavarṃśa army was twelve padmas strong (a padma is a hundred crore crore), and Rāma’s forces steadily wore it down.

Brahmā, Śiva, Candra, Budha and Indra gathered in their vimānas to watch, and they were deeply worried. The Candra-vaṃśa kings held Brahmā’s boon of invincibility. Rāma was Vishṇu himself. How would the war end? Brahmā told them to be patient: let the war go on, and then bring peace between the two sides. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 3)

The great duels of astras

When the Candra-vaṃśa army had been reduced so far that the old kings had to fight in person, the sons and grandsons of Rāma took the field.

  • Kuśa and Nala. Kuśa struck Nala again and again, and Nala turned aside Kuśa’s arrows. Then Kuśa destroyed Nala’s horses, chariot flag, umbrella and charioteer with a volley of arrows.
  • Lava and Nādyuka. Lava made Nādyuka’s chariot useless. When Nādyuka pressed on, Lava used the Vāyavyāstra and threw Nādyuka’s whole force into the salt ocean.
  • Aṅgada and Jātīkara. Aṅgada’s hail of arrows overwhelmed Jātīkara. Jātīkara struck back with an iron mace, but Aṅgada’s arrows brought him down.
  • Citraketu and Vasuda. Citraketu threw Vasuda from his chariot with quick arrows.
  • Pushkara and Laghuśruta. Laghuśruta struck Pushkara in the heart. Pushkara struck back and pinned Laghuśruta to his chariot like a painted figure.
  • Taksha and Suradha. Taksha’s arrows sent Suradha’s chariot up into the sky.
  • Subāhu and Ajāmīḍha. Subāhu broke Ajāmīḍha’s chariot. Ajāmīḍha mounted again and let loose the Pavanavāstra.
  • Yūpaketu and Bala. Yūpaketu’s Pannagāstra (serpent-missiles) met Bala’s attack. Nala answered the serpents with a Garuḍāstra. Kuśa then released a Rākshasāstra, and Nādyuka answered with the Āgneyāstra. Lava released the Meghāstra. Laghuśruta called up the Pavanavāstra against the rain clouds. Hanumān swallowed the whole wind with his open mouth.

After five months and eleven days of such fighting, the Somavarṃśa forces were almost destroyed. Kuśa had no other choice left, and he made the Brahmāstra ready. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 3)

Brahmā comes down and peace is made

When Brahmā saw the Brahmāstra made ready, he came down at once with Soma, Budha and all the devas. He went to Kuśa and begged him: “Do not release this astra. I gave the Candra-vaṃśa kings a boon of invincibility until the end of Dvāpara. Respect my word.”

Kuśa was not moved. He told Brahmā plainly: “If you have something to say, say it to my father Rāma. I act on his command. If you want to fight, bring the devas with you, and let Rāma watch from the Pushpaka.” Brahmā was ashamed. He took Nala and the others straight to Rāma.

Rāma received Śiva and Brahmā with full honour. The Candra-vaṃśa kings bowed to the ground before Rāma. Brahmā asked Rāma to protect the kings by his grace. Rāma answered with gentle humour: “If these kings have your boon of invincibility, why did they run from the battlefield to come here?” Brahmā said: “Before all the worlds I have power, but before you I have none. You are my true father (janaka). I come to you for refuge.”

Rāma agreed to peace on one condition. Hastināpura would be given to the Candra-vaṃśa kings, Kuśa would stay as their overlord, and the kings would pay tribute. Brahmā told this to Kuśa. Kuśa agreed gladly, as long as the Candra-vaṃśa kings accepted his rule and paid tribute. Brahmā accepted this.

Brahmā then crowned Ajāmīḍha as king of Hastināpura. The other Somavarṃśa kings and their queens said they would go up to svarga with Brahmā and not stay on earth. Brahmā agreed. With Rāma’s blessing, it was done. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 4)

Sītā’s part in the peace

Vālmīki advised Brahmā that the Candra-vaṃśa queens should go to Sītā, because “Kuśa will be pacified by Jānakī’s word.” The queens went to Sītā’s rooms with gifts. Sītā received them kindly while her daughters-in-law fanned her. The queens told her of their plight and asked her to speak for them.

Sītā remembered that Rāma had once told her in private: “These kings will receive the gift of life through a woman.” So this moment was foreordained. She agreed to help, got into a palanquin and went to the battlefield. She spoke to Kuśa herself: “My son, give up your anger. Listen to my words and come back from the battle.” When Kuśa heard Sītā’s words, he withdrew at once. (Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 4)

Sources

  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapters 1–2 (the alarm and the march)
  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 3 (the battle and the duels)
  • Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Kāṇḍa, Chapter 4 (Brahmā, the peace and Sītā)