Intelligence.
First i want to adress the positives in this man's career.
[1] - Aranya chapter.
(quote) But Lakshmana became incredulous on seeing it and said to Rama, "I believe this deer to be that Maareecha, the demon. Oh, Rama, when kings engaged in hunting games were delightedly moving in the forest, this Maareecha killed many of them resorting to many disguises, for he is a guise-changer by his wish. Maareecha is an expert in many wiles and he has now assumed the form of this Golden-Deer, oh, manly lion, which is not more than the scintillating city of Gandharva-s, a city of wiles, which any trickster can create to make-believe." (end)
Commentary; Laxman was the first person to recognize Mareech and see behind the disguise unlike other people. It is debatable on whether Laxman was more intelligent than even Ram, Seetha combined.
[2] - Kabandha-vadh.
It was the plan of Laxman that helped Ram:
"Lakshmana who is possessed by anguish, and who is determined to wreck revenge on that demon, said these expedient and advisable words to Rama on hearing that demon's word." "This scurrilous demon quickly hauled in you and me to his face level, and he will quickly take us in, therefore, we will have to swiftly hack off his lengthy arms at his shoulder level."
Note; but the credit of this victory goes to Ram not Laxman because it was the power, speed, reaction time and strength of Ram that saved the day, if Laxman fought alone he would have lost to the same opponent twice instead of once.
[3] - Kishkinda Kandam.
Visualising what Rama said about their waiting for pre-winter season to be candid, and praisefully making palm-fold at that determination of Rama, and even to clarify his own opportune viewpoint, Lakshmana spoke to Rama who by his own aspect is a delightful one for a ken. [4-27-46]
"Let autumn be awaited while containing your anger, and along with me you may stay on this mountain which is adored by lions, and spend these four rainy months here like a monsoon lion, although you are capable to eliminate the enemy at any moment like a lion."
Commentary; in this hard and tough time it was Laxman who guided Rama and calmed him down, he became a very decent advisor to his brother.
[4] - Kumbhkarn-badha.
At that time, considering various strategies appropriate for killing Kumbhakarna, the righteous Lakshmana spoke to Rama as follows [quote BEGINS] "O king! He is not able to recognize who the monkeys are and who the demons are. Intoxicated with the smell of blood, he is devouring his own persons and also others. Let the foremost of monkeys ascend well upon his body from all sides. Following the commanders of their troops, let the monkey-leaders stand, surrounding him. If we do in that way, that evil-minded demon would be harassed by the huge weight, making him to crawl on the floor and cannot kill the other monkeys." [quote ENDS] Hearing those words of that intelligent Lakshmana, those monkeys were rejoiced and mounted on the body of Kumbhakarna.
Commentary - if hanutati and jambavan and vibeeshan were so smart then why couldnt they notice this? It was a real man like laxman that found out instead.
[5] - Seetha mrityu (the clone was slain).
"Then, Lakshmana for his part was enraged and told his brother that he would employ the missile presided over by Brahma for the purpose of killing all the demons."
Commentary; the point i am trying to make over here is that after this above quote Ram advised Laxman not to do it, to not use a brahmastra (which level is not specified) but if i were a general and thinking from a generals point of view i would have to say Ram is WRONG HERE and Laxman's advice was much better and beneficial.
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Wins.
His only solo achievements. Note that i will only be including fights where Laxman does not have a teamate or comrade to help him, so the third fight he had with Ravan in yuddh kand will be excluded as Laxman had help from Vibishan, Ram and the aboriginal ape soldiers.
(I) Virupaksh's mrityu;
"the glorious Lakshmana confronted with Virupaksha in the battle." [1] "Lakshmana with a terrific look, having tormented Virupaksha the demon with a shower of arrows, finally killed him with an arrow." [2]
Logic; Not impressive.. This character was no Vali or Sahastrarjun or Atikaya. He probably would lose to Nila and Angada if they ever had to fight him, he has no feats. So i dont respect Laxman's win against Virupaksha...
Possible interpolation; it might be a later addition thus not a achievement at all. The reason is simple, their was another chapter in Yuddh Kanda where Virupaksh died, this time the killer and winner was "Sugreev" not Laxman.
Viroopaksh being mentioned several times.
A "Ravana then, stupefied as he was with anger, spoke to those demons viz. Mahodara, Mahaparshva and Virupaksh"
B "the indomitable Virupaksha the demon, holding a bow, pronouncing his name by himself, descended from his chariot and mounted the back of an elephant"
C "Seeing that valiant and mighty Virupaksha struck down in that great battle, a tremendous anger took possession of Ravana. He urged on his charioteer"
(II) Gave Ravan a decent fight.
- Blocked his arrows;
"King of Demons, infuriated, loosened seven marvellously plumed arrows which Lakshmana shattered with his beautiful golden-shafted arrows of sharp ends and edges."
"Lakshmana even broke Ravana's arrows with his arrows called Khura, Ardhachandra, the excellent Karni and Bhalla."
- Nullifyed a brahma astra;
"Ravan struck Lakshmana in the forehead with a shaft as bright as the Fire of Time, which had been bestowed on him by Brahma the Lord of Creation." "But, coming to his consciousness with difficulty, he shattered that weapon belonging to Ravana, Indra's enemy."
- Swooned Ravan;
"Lakshmana the son of Dasaratha struck Ravana, whose bow was broken, with three pointed darts. The king, pierced by those weapons, then swooned and regained his senses with difficulty."
Commentary: after this swoon Ravan defeated Laxman with a single weapon, it took Laxman three darts and multiple arrows to swoon Ravan but it took Ravan a single spear to defeat Laxman, comparing the amount of time they were unconcsious well Ravan was unconscious for a few SECONDS Laxman was unconcious for many MINUTES (long enough for Ravan to fight Ram and others etc).
Also before he was swooned Ravan had injured laxman and made him swoon temporarily once, so Laxman DID NOT have the upper hand as the score was 1 to 1 (both warriors swooned eachother once) before Ravan ended it with the spear.
And we have to consider the fact that Laxman went into this battle fresh, he started WITHOUT any wounds, injuries, fatalities etc. While Ravan on the otherhand just got done fighting a bloody battle with Nila and Hanuman & other vanaras. Ravan began as a warrior whose energy, arsenal was depleting, he was tired yet still did much better than Laxman.
The truth : Though Laxman has a good arsenal of weapons he has clearly not beaten a single warrior of note. You can not credit him with the killings of Atikaya, Viswavasu, Wiradh, Kabandha & certainly not Meghanad. He did not defeat Kumbhkarna either.
Even when hes united with Ram at his side then Laxman ends up either losing or not having a hand to play in the victory against a enemy. It is hard to say whether Laxman is even greater than Kuber as a warrior.
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Losses.
Counting Valmiki's Ramayana this character (Laxman) was defeated a total of ten times in his entire life.
1st defeat;
"He that demon on seeing Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha ran towards them very angrily, like the Time, the Eliminator of people." [3-2-8b-9a] "He shouted a tremulous blare, as though to tremor the earth, and seized Vaidehi with his arms and gone afar, and then said this way." [9b-10a]
Commentary - he took away Laxman's BHABHI in front of him.
Ram saves Laxman like a mard saves aurats.
"Then, stringing his bow Rama indeed darted very sharp arrows, very quickly and well aiming the demon." "But, they the arrows that are akin to infernos and dressed with peacock feathers as their fins, on piercing the body of Viradha they fell onto the ground besmirched with blood." "When that demon is thus struck, then he placed Vaidehi down from his arms, hauled up his spear, and very angrily rushed towards Rama and Lakshmana." [3-3-13]
Commentary - it is only because of the power that RAMA possessed otherwise Laxman would have been put in his place a long time ago by mahabali shri Wiradh.
Powerful mard Wiradh vanquishes Laxman and Ram combined:
"But he that night-walker arrogant as he is by his might has uplifted Rama and Lakshmana like babies by that might and courage alone, and placed them on his shoulders as one would place babies" "That nightwalker Viradha on placing those two Raghava-s on his shoulders gone towards deeper forest yelling very luridly." [3-3-25]
Commentary; if laxman was so powerful why was he sitting like a "little puppy" in the arms of mighty Wiradhji?
2nd defeat (Kabandha defeated him).
"He that overlong-armed Kabandha outstretching his overlong arms snatched both of the Raghava-s, keeping them side-by-side in his fists, and wringing them with his might." http://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/utf8/aranya/sarga69/aranya_69_frame.htm
"Oh, valiant brother, see me, who am out of control on my inner-self, and gone into the control of the demon."
3rd (Viswavasu the Gandharva won).
And he had a pair of large eyes on his breast, and the opening of his mouth was placed on his capacious belly. And that Rakshasa seized Lakshmana by the hand, without any difficulty. And seized by the Rakshasa the son of Sumitra, O Bharata, became utterly confounded and helpless. And casting his glances on Rama, that headless Rakshasa began to draw Lakshmana towards that part of his body where his mouth was.
Helpless Laxman uttered these words "And Lakshmana in grief addressed Rama, saying, 'Behold my plight! The loss of thy kingdom, and then the death of our father, and then the abduction of Sita, and finally this disaster that hath overwhelmed me! Alas, I shall not behold thee return with the princess of Videha to Kosala and seated on thy ancestral throne as the ruler of the entire Earth! They only that are fortunate will behold thy face, like unto the moon emerged from the clouds, after thy coronation bath in water sanctified with Kusa grass and fried paddy and black peas!' And the intelligent Lakshmana uttered those and other lamentations in the same strain."
"the Gandharva Viswavasu"
4th (Meghanad).
"Being enraged in battle, Indrajit bursted out serpent-like terrible arrows into all the limbs of Rama and Lakshmana who were born in Raghu dynasty. Enveloped by illusion, he sought to confuse Rama and Lakshmana in the struggle there and invisible to all beings through his magic arts, Indrajit the ranger of the night bound those two brothers Rama and Lakshmana with a net work of arrows. Then, the monkeys saw the two warriors, those lions among men, being wounded quickly by the serpentine arrows of that enraged demon."
"Indrajit, the victorious in battle, transfixed Rama and Lakshmana with those arrows that lacerated their flesh in great measure. The bodies of both those warriors, Rama and Lakshmana were densely transfixed with serpentine arrows by the enraged Indrajit. Blood flowed from the wound-marks of both Rama and Lakshmana and both of them shone like Kimshuka trees in following."
5th defeat;
"Indrajit pierced them with pointed arrows and shouted too exultantly. Indrajit, who was as black as a heap of shattered collyrium, stretching his immense bow, discharged formidable arrows even once more, in that great fight. That warrior, Indrajit, who was aware of their vital parts, set up a continual shouting, digging sharp arrows into the vital parts of Rama and Lakshmana. Those two princes, in the forefront of battle, bounded by that net work of arrows in the twinkling of an eye, became incapable of even looking up."
"Pierced in their vital parts, exhausted, and covered all over with heads of arrows, those two mighty and courageous archers fell to the earth, they who were the lords of the earth, shaking violently like a pair of flag-staffs in honour of Indra the Lord celestials and freed from their raised of chords. Those warriors, Rama and Lakshmana, lying on that heroes' bed (on the battle-ground), bathed in blood, all their limbs bristling with arrows and extremely injured, felt distressed."
"There was not a finger's breadth on their bodies form the tips of their fingers to the end of their feet that was not lacerated, implanted and pierced by those arrows. Struck down by that ferocious demon, who was able to change his shape at will, the hot blood gushed forth from both Rama and Lashmana, as water from a spring. Rama fell first, his vital parts pierced by arrows of the wrathful Indrajit, who had formerly vanquished Indra the Lord of celestials."
"Indrajit pierced Rama by arrows with golden shafts, with sharp points, which had downward movement, which go fast, Narchas, Demi-narachas, Bhallas (with wide tips), Anjalis, Vatsa dantas, Simha dantas and those shafts like unto razors."
"Throwing asunder his bow bent at three places, adorned with gold, with its string loosened away and detached from the hold of his fist, Rama lied down on the battle-ground. Seeing Rama the excellent man fallen, at a distance of an arrows range, Lakshman became hopeless about his own life.Seeing his elder brother Rama, with his eyes resembling lotus-leaves, having fallen on the ground, wounded as he was by a net work of arrows, Lakshmana felt sad."
Commentary - the man had a fair chance to defend himself but laxman failed again. He could never do anything against a opponent as worthy as Meghanad. The guy turned both brothers into a bhishma 2 point 0.
6th defeat (first laxman vs ravan battle):
"Struck by Ravana's arrow, Lakshmana reeled a little and was scarcely able to retain his bow. But, coming to his consciousness with difficulty."
"Ravana the Lord of the country of demons hurled with strength on Lakshmana, that blazing spear, emitting smoke and as bright as fire, frightening the monkeys in the fray." "Nevertheless, that spear entered Lakshmana's broad chest." "The mighty Lakshmana, struck by the spear, lay on the earth, breathing fire."
Commentary - anyone who thinks Laxman had the upperhand is blind or joking.
7th loss;
"Indrajit rained a multitude of showers of arrows equal to sun's rays on Rama and Lakshmana." [1] "Lakshmana there became struck by a multitude of arrows of Indrajit." [2] "Causing Lakshmana to become despondent in battle, that Indrajit, getting eulogized by the demons, quickly reached the city of Lanka which was being protected by Ravana's arms." [3]
"Then, in the battle-front, Rama and Lakshmana were knocked down senseless." [4] http://valmikiramayan.pcriot.com/utf8/yuddha/sarga74/yuddha_74_frame.htm
8th loss;
"Indrajit for his part, who was a superior chariot-warrior and who was swift in discharging missiles, rushed on towards all sides and pierced Rama and Lakshmana with his sharp arrows." [1] "Those valiant princes, Rama and Lakshmana pierced deeply with well-made goldne shafted arrows, appeared like two Kamshuka trees in flowering. No one could perceive his rapid movement, like the position of the sun when the sky is thickly overcast with clouds, nor his form nor his bows and arrows, nor any other thing about him whatsoever could be known." [2]
Additional text; "Then, Lakshmana for his part was enraged and told his brother that he would employ the missile presided over by Brahma for the purpose of killing all the demons."
Commentary; when laxman couldn't handle the normal arrows of Meghanad he got frustrated and tried using a celestial weapon. Until then for this particular fight Meghanad did not use a celestial missile.
9th loss;
"Ravana coming within the range of arrow-shots of Rama and Lakshmana." "Wishing to fight him with his sharp arrows at the earliest, Lakshmana stretching his bow, released his arrows which were like flames of fire."
"Ravana of extra ordinary energy prevented those arrows, the moment they were released by Lakshmana, with his arrows, in the sky itself."
"Showing the dexterity of his hand, Ravana split the arrows of Lakshmana one with one, three with three and ten with ten arrows."
"Overpassing Lakshmana, Ravana the victorious in battle, approached Rama, who stood like another mountain, in the battle-field."
10th (lost brutally to Ravan) time;
"Ravana roared and hurled towards Lakshmana, that unfailing spear, which was adorned with eight loudly clamouring bells, which had been designed by Maya the demon by dint of his conjuring trick, capable of destroying adversaries and blazing as it was with splendour."
"That spear, with a sound equal to Indra's thunder-bolt, hurled by the terribly swift Ravana, soon fell with speed on Lakshmana in the battle-front. That spear, which was looking like a venomous serpent, released by the enraged Ravana in the battle, quickly penetrated the bosom of Lakshmana, who stood fearless."
"Penetrated very deeply and pierced through his heart by the spear due to the force exerted by Ravana, Lakshmana fell to the ground. Penetrating through Lakshmana's bosom, that spear touched the earth."
Note - this spear was constructed by the Danava (Maya) not Brahma.
The cross references of Laxmans loss;
"Lakshmana bathed in a stream of blood, when struck down in battle with a spear by the mighty Ravana and having given a tumultuous fight, to the evil-minded Ravana"
"This heroic Lakshmana, falling down on earth yielding to Ravana's prowess, is wiggling like a serpent, causing an increase in grief to me."
[words of Shri Ram]
"My brother has been struck down by the evil-minded Ravana, seriously wounded in his vital parts, afflicted with agony and groaming."
Conclusion - Laxman was weak compared to Ravan like karna was weak in front of Satyaki. This is comparable to how easily Sher Shah Suri beat Humayun in 2 battles, Ravan won 3 fights against Laxman.
Lady warrior Tadka was overpowering Laxman:
"Flinging up dreadful dust on those two Raghavaa-s, Tataka baffled them for a while with a massive cloud of dust." [1-26-15] "Then taking hold of witchery she inundated both the Raghava-s with highly torrential stone rain, by which Rama became indignant." [1-26-16]
"That guise changer vanished after variously altering her aspects, and then on baffling them with her illusoriness and discharging stone storms she moved about appallingly." [1-26-19, 20a]
"And on seeing both Rama and Lakshmana who are being overspread by storms of stones from all-over, then the illustrious sage Vishvamitra spoke this sentence." [1-26-20b, 21a]
Commentary - if laxman could have won and on his own then he would not need assistance from Ram. It shows even Tadka was a better fighter. It is obvious laxman was on the recieving end but it is also true it is not a complete defeat of his, but he would have lost if Ram did not end Tadka's life.
POINT; Since the wiradh loss is doubtful this loss against Tadka makes the list accurate as it is still 10 defeats.
Logic - if vayudev did not come between them then atikay would be the winner of his fight against laxman, and their would be 11 defeats instead of ten. For the tadka situation if their was no involvement of Ram then Laxman's list of being defeated is 12 and this is to several people not just one or two opponents.
Plus we have to consider the fact that Laxman could not prevent Kumbhkarna from getting near to his brother Ram. It is written that Kumbhkarn threw Laxman away:
"Kumbhakarna the demon, brushing aside Lakshmana and crossing him, ran, as though he is causing an earth-quake, towards Rama."
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Why Meghnad using illusions, magic etc is fair.
Because Vishnu did the same.
1) used illusion to encounter Bali:
As such, oh, Vishnu, you may effectuate the most suitable merited deed for the welfare of gods on resorting to your illusory power, Vishnu Maya, and on assuming the form of a dwarf to deal with Emperor Bali.
http://www.valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga29/bala_29_frame.htm [no one calls him coward for copying Meghanads tactic]
Vishnu's older brother Shree Indra even used illusion to conceal his identity (like salman khan in Ek Tha Tiger & Prem Ratan Dhan Payo):
"And on the day of a sacred function called ukthyam , Indra assumed the form of a demon and stole the ritual horse of the chief of the ritual, namely Sagara."
Did anyone call Narayan a coward?
As per Mahabharat even "Shiva" used that technique against Arjuna.
Conclusion; Meghanad won fairly in each battle he fought. Laxman's fanbase just creates a excuse for his failure. Winners dont make excuses. You cant make any excuses now for Laxman performing badly in war.
Shiva's illusion magic power is either equal to or superior to Meghanad's. So if Arjun could tolerate that power and almost equal Shiva then the reason Laxman failed to do the same is because he was inferior to not just Meghanad but also inferior to Arjuna as a warrior.
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Those who consider laxman in top 3 warriors (of either Ramayana or Mahabharata) are not meant to be taken seriously but those that place him in the top 5 fighters are idiots. He is not worthy of that placement. If he were in Mahabharat then he would be slain by Bhagdatt, Satyaki, Ghatotkatch, Drona, even Dhrishtadyumn, many people could defeat him.
Laxman is even powerless against brahmastra-users (prince Vrihatkshatra, king Yudhisthir) sadly even "Karna" has a good opportunity to beat him. If i were Laxman i would think about being a advisor, or strategist, or tactician, a man who creates military formations, gives orders to his troops for which strategy is best, but doesn't fight himself. Because the fact is as a warrior he is nothing before Meghanad, Ravan, Ram, Wiradh, Kabandha, Viswavasu etc.
We can assume if Atikay did not have his armor then he would have been defeated fairly by Laxman as per ethics, but as long as Atikay has his armor and their is no presence of Vayudev i and logical people would place Laxman below a warrior like Atikay, and dont even compare Laxman to indra, it is obvious Indra would make laxman a punching bag.
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| Atikaya the warrior who knocked laxman out cold twice in a minute. |
In my opinion Laxman is a mere sidekick. As a warrior i would have to rank many above him, laxman is not among the top 5, if it was not for his celestial weapons then Laxman would be below even Kumbhkarn, Vali, Angada, Sugreev, Jatayu and dare i say the most overrated warrior (Hanumana).
Overall i would place Laxman below Atikay, Indra, Ravan, Meghanad, of course the all powerful Ram, and Parashuram too (ironically) because he did have a arsenal of his own, without sammohan (only held by Dhrishtadyumn, Indra, Arjun, Bhishma, Drona) i dont think a warrior of Laxman's class can defeat him.
Ram is in a class of his own as he easily defeated Parashuram compared to others and has even best Ravan many times, he can only be rivalled or beaten by Meghanad, Indra etc. Only placement i am not sure about is Kuber vs Laxman.
If both sides showed respect their would be alot less insults though. It is my belief Laxman would not go far in the Kurukshetra yudh if he had to fight in that 18 days battle.
By the way... no matter how much he got praised by shri Ram or other characters it does not change the truth, Laxman was a loser.... as readers and unbiased fair innocent humans all of us have the right to analyze his military career. Just like karna and bhishma he is an overrated warrior and is unworthy of respect. The only virtue of Laxman is "wisdom" nothing else. I dont want to insult this man but the way his fans, bhakts etc act & behave makes me insult him.
And by repeatedly insulting those who tell the truth about him that laxman was nothing before meghanad, or that laxman did not have much respect for woman (the character "ayomukhi" is different from "soorpanakha") his fanbase acts like karna tards do, like karnians and karn fans. Its the same thing, when laxman bhakts get confronted by the truth they embarass themselves and try to insult people but get butthurt when a person harasses them or insults them.
Ashwathama and Drona were both better warriors than Laxman.
