Victory of Meghanada (Indrajit), Raja Ravi Varma,1905
Court scene celebrates Meghanada; restrained caption uses the exact painting title rather than identifying every figure.
Overview
In Book VI XLV Indrajit hides his position while attacking the army. Rāma sends ten vānara chiefs through the air to locate him, but the archer checks them with volleys. Griffith describes a magical covering around him like mist or cloud and attributes to him the claim that even Indra cannot see or attack him when he chooses concealment.
He then directs serpent-like arrows at Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. The missiles form a binding noose and wound them until both fall. Indrajit treats the apparent victory as final, but this selected account is the disabling battle scene; it does not establish that the princes truly die. His identifying features here are concealed archery, boastful challenge and a supernatural binding weapon.
Origins & earliest records
South Asian Rāmāyaṇa narrative tradition
Records & interpretation
Primary-text translation directly read by identified book/canto.
Additional images
View larger Indrajit seated at a fire altar in a preparatory drawing attributed to Manaku, with demons carrying offerings nearby
The Met identifies this Guler drawing as Indrajit sacrificing to gain invisibility and aerial combat powers. The seated figure, fire altar and offering-bearing demons belong to this specific eighteenth-century scene; the sacrifice precedes the concealed attack described in the article.
Selected bibliography
Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.
- 01
The Rámáyan of Válmíki
Title page gives translation span 1870–1874. Book VI XLV, pp. 460–461. Selected historical verse witness.
Family & connections
A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.
Primary records and illustrations
The Rámáyan of Válmíki
Book VI. VI XLV, pp. 460–461
Actual translated primary passages directly read. Checked HTML canto anchor. No new image bytes inspected.
References
Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.
- Historical primary-text translationGriffith Rāmāyaṇa — Book VI XLV, pp. 460–461Research access: 2026-10-05
Image credits
Historical illustrationVictory of Meghanada (Indrajit), Raja Ravi Varma,1905
Court scene celebrates Meghanada; restrained caption uses the exact painting title rather than identifying every figure.
Further credits appear with each additional image.
