Indrajít

Also known as: Meghanáda · Family: Rákshases · Role: warrior · First appears: Book I, Canto 3 · The Argument

In Book I’s summary, Meghanáda is named among those who fought and died against Ráma. In Book V, he binds Hanumán with a magic shaft; in Book VI, Rávaṇ assigns him to defend Lanká’s western gate. He fights Angad, but Angad tears away his mace and brings down his chariot, so Indrajít flees.

In Book VI, Indrajít binds Ráma and Lakshmaṇ with serpent bonds and later wounds them with arrows, leaving them prostrate. He reports their apparent defeat to Rávaṇ, who rejoices and embraces his son. Granted a powerful dart by Brahmá’s grace, Indrajít wounds Sugríva, Angad, Níla, Gaya, Hanumán and Mainda, and again overwhelms Ráma with arrows. In Book VI, Canto 75, he attacks unseen, kills Vánars with his arrows and cuts down a magical effigy of Sítá before Hanumán and the Vánar host. At last, after his chariot is broken and his charioteer slain, Indrajít falls by Lakshmaṇ’s hand.