The tale of the son of the Airavata elephant is narrated in the Krittibasi Ramayana, a Bengali adaptation of the ancient Valmiki Ramayana. Airavata, the mythical white elephant, was the mount of Indra, the king of the gods. His son, following in his father's footsteps, was a devout follower of Bhagavan Vishnu. Demonstrating unwavering devotion, the elephant undertook intense penance to seek a boon from Brahma.
During his penance, the elephant expressed a profound wish
to die at the hands of Narayana (another name for Vishnu). Brahma, pleased with
his devotion, granted his wish, proclaiming that it would be fulfilled when he
encountered Narayana.
The mighty elephant eventually became the mount of Virbahu,
the son of Ravana and a Gandharva woman. Like his elephant, Virbahu was also a
devoted follower of Vishnu and harbored a deep desire to meet Rama, Vishnu's
incarnation on earth. As a testament to his devotion, Virbahu received a boon
from Rama himself, stating that he would only be killed after his elephant was
slain.
This prophecy set the stage for their fateful encounter.
Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, ordered Virbahu to engage in battle against
Rama's forces. In the ensuing combat, Virbahu and his formidable elephant
unleashed their might, demonstrating extraordinary prowess on the battlefield.
They managed to overpower several of Rama's warriors, including Angada and
Hanuman, defeating numerous Vanara warriors with ease. The elephant, in
particular, showcased immense strength, crushing mountains, boulders, and massive
trees hurled at him. Even Sugriva, the king of the Vanaras, was wounded and
thrown a great distance by the elephant's sheer power.
The turning point came when Rama, recognizing the need to
counter such a formidable adversary, wielded a special weapon bestowed upon him
by the sage Sarabhanga. This divine weapon, imbued with immense power, was the
key to overcoming the elephant's strength. Rama launched the weapon, and it
found its mark, decapitating the mighty elephant. In doing so, the elephant's
soul was liberated, and he attained moksha (spiritual liberation), as per the
boon granted by Brahma.
With the death of his elephant, Virbahu's fate was sealed,
and he too met his end, fulfilling the conditions of the boon he had received.
Thus, the story of the son of the Airavata elephant not only highlights the
themes of devotion and divine intervention but also underscores the intricate
interplay of fate and destiny in the epic saga of the Ramayana.