In heaven, there was a Gandharva named Chitrasen, whose daughter Chitrangada was abducted by Ravana. From their union, a son named Virbahu was born. Virbahu grew up to be a pious boy, a devoted follower of Rama. His devotion was so deep that he prayed earnestly to Brahma, who, pleased with his devotion, granted him a mighty elephant. This elephant was as powerful as Airavata, the celestial elephant of Indra. Brahma also foretold that Virbahu would win battles with the help of the elephant, and that the day the elephant died, Virbahu would also meet his end. Additionally, Brahma assured him that his devotion to Vishnu would lead him to heaven at the end of his life.
When Ravana called upon Virbahu to fight against Rama,
Virbahu was delighted. He saw this as an opportunity to meet his supreme deity,
Rama, and attain moksha (liberation).
In the ensuing battle, Virbahu proved his might by defeating
Angada and Hanuman, along with other powerful Vanaras like Nala, Nila, Kumuda,
Devendra, and Mahendra.
Rama, recognizing the threat posed by Virbahu, decided to
confront him directly. When Virbahu saw Rama, he was filled with awe,
recognizing him as none other than Vishnu in human form. Overwhelmed by
devotion, Virbahu dismounted his elephant and bowed to Rama.
Rama faced a moral dilemma, unable to kill someone so
devoted to him. However, Virbahu, determined to fulfill his destiny, remounted
his elephant, ready to resume the battle.
An intense fight ensued between Rama and Virbahu, with both
using numerous divine weapons. During the battle, Rama was briefly wounded.
Lakshmana continued the fight but was also wounded. Rama then recovered and
fought Virbahu once more. At one point, Virbahu ascended to the sky on his
elephant. Sugriva, in a desperate move, hurled a huge mountain at the elephant,
but the elephant crushed it. Sugriva then threw a tree, which struck the
elephant's head but broke without causing harm. The elephant, in turn, grabbed
Sugriva with its trunk and threw him aside.
Virbahu invoked a weapon granted by Brahma and used it
against Rama. Rama countered with a weapon given by the sage Sarabhanga. Rama's
weapon cut through Virbahu's attack and then struck the elephant, decapitating
it.
Virbahu jumped off the fallen elephant, and Rama cut off his
bow. Virbahu then pleaded with Rama to use Vishnu's weapon to end his life.
Though reluctant, Rama understood that Virbahu's death was necessary for
Ravana's eventual defeat. He decided to use the divine weapon.
The weapon severed Virbahu's head, which continued to chant
Rama's name even in death. Vibhishana brought the severed head to Rama, and
with Rama's touch, Virbahu was released from his earthly bounds, his soul
ascending to heaven.