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 Indrajit went to Ravana, immediately after his disappearance from the battlefield. As the evening had already set in, Rama, Lakshmana and the entire Vanara army were moving away from the field. Indrajit told Ravana of his intention to use the Brahmastra. 'I need time to perform the necessary rites before the asthra could be used. Send a large army and engage them in battle till I return.' Ravana ordered Mahodara to march with an army. He did so, with a multitude of them to continue the battle during the night.
On the other side, Rama, unaware of the arrangements of Ravana ordered Lakshmana to stand in guard to defend the Vanara army and went aside to perform the rites for the evening. Before moving out, he assigned Vibishana the task of fetching food for the army.
'arundhudharkku unavu varavu thaazndhadhu veedana vallayin egith tharavu vendinen'
'The arrival of food is getting delayed. You go personally to make arrangements.' Vibishana moved away from the scene with his team. Rama and Vibishana were away from the field at the time of Mahodara and his army sweeping in.
The launching of Brahmastra
Lakshmana was manoeuvring his army and was fighting back when Mahodara switched over to the illusory techniques. He marched in, masqueraded as Indra and his army as the battalions of Devas and rishis. That caused confusion for a while and Lakshmana was pondering the reason why the Devas should be up in arms against them.
Indrajit was waiting for this opportune moment. He took advantage of this moment of inaction of Lakshmana. He fired the Brahmastra from his hiding. Millions and millions of sub-missiles showered out from that mightiest of weapons.
'kodi kodi nooraayiram kodung kanaik kuzangal moodi meniyai mutrura chutrina' Countless nooses flew and wrapped up the entire area, covering all the Vanara host and Lakshmana. Lakshmana fell down unconscious. Hanuman, who had the boon from Brahma - the creator - who was also the creator of the mighty weapon, protecting him from its effects, swooned on a massive heap of the mortal remains of elephants. Should one elaborate the condition of the army, when the two of the most powerful heroes of the epic were lying on the ground? Lakshmana was most affected of the lot, as he was the target of the asthra. My hands tremble as I attempt to write that he was breathless. But that was the fact.
The entire scene, as painted by the poet, is gruesome with millions of Vanaras lying on the ground, blood just flooding the area. Rama returned to the field after performing his puja, only to find the pathetic situation. His grief was beyond words. He lifted the body of Lakshmana in his hands, put him in his laps and wept. He could not control his agony. He decides to give up his life, for what is life to him, without Lakshmana? Overcome by grief, he fainted and fell down by the side of
Lakshmana.
 And for Lakshmana, the order of his brother was supreme. He sensed Indrajit's intention to use the asthra. He was equipped to defend it. He need not have sought the permission of Rama to use the weapon. He accepted the word of Rama not to use it. And he did not use it, at the cost of his very life. You may recall his words when Rama was asked to leave for the forest. Lakshmana with a bent and drawn bow was getting ready to fight Dasaratha when Rama stopped him saying he should not do so against his own father. Lakshmana said
'You are my father
(nal thadhyum nee). You are my master (thani naayagan
nee). You are the mother that bore me (vayitril petraayum
neeye).'
And that was Lakshmana. Never disobeying the word of Rama - even in the
face
of death
Hari Krishnan
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