Lakshman ji is an incarnation of Adi Shesh Nag who is capable enough to hold the weight of the entire cosmos. Adi Shesh Nag is an expansion of Bhagwan Vishnu himself.
The strength of Lakshman ji knows no bounds and it cannot be measured by a mere mortal like me.
He was not angry all the time, its a myth created by TV serials like Ramanand Sagar Ramayana.
- He cut the tip of the nose and ears of Tataka , with a normal arrow. Tataka had the power of a thousand elephants, so cutting off the tip of the nose and ears of such a demoness and that too with a normal arrow is a great achievement and he was only twelve at that time.
Tataka had the strength of thousand elephants.
"It is said that yaksha's strength is trivial, and this is an yakshii, more so a female, how then this yakshii frail by her femineity can exert the strength of a thousand elephants?
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 25.
Lakshman ji cut off the tip of her nose and her ears.
With her arms severed and fatigued she started to roar extremely at the nearby, and then provoked Lakshmana made her to loose her ears and the tip of nose by cutting them off.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Bala Kanda Sarga 26.
2. He severed the left arm of Viradha. He along with Bhagwan Sri Ram battered Viradha’s fists,hands and feet.
Soumitri indeed severed the left arm of that ferocious one, while Rama rent the right arm of that demon with his might. When his arms are mutilated that demon similar to a dark-cloud is frustrated, fainted, and fell onto ground, like the mountain demolished by the Thunderbolt of Indra.They battered that demon with their fists, hands and feet, and even by heaving and hurling him again and again they entirely pounded on him on the ground.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Aranya Kanda Sarga 4.
3. He had chopped off the nose and ears of Surpanakha.
Thus said to that mighty Lakshmana he infuriately drew sword and chopped off her ears and nose before the very eyes of Rama.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Aranya Kanda Sarga 18.
4. He killed Virupaksha.
Lakshmana with a terrific look, having tormented Virupaksha the demon with a shower of arrows, finally killed him with an arrow.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 43.
5. He dominated Ravana in archery and overpowered him. Ravana had to use the infallible spear of Brahma Deva to save himself from Lakshman ji. Lakshman ji was very much capable of defeating and killing Ravana. He could have countered the spear of Brahma Deva, but he did’nt do it out of respect for the boons of Brahma Deva.
He broke Ravana’s bow and swooned him. Ravana regained his senses with difficulty.
Then, Lakshmana the son of Dasaratha struck Ravana, whose bow was broken, with three pointed darts. The king, pierced by those arrows, swooned and regained his senses with difficulty.Ravana, the enemy of celestials, whose bow was broken, struck by the arrows, his limbs spattered with flesh, and streaming with blood, himself of formidable energy, seized in the battle a spear gifted to him by Brahma the Lord of Creation.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 59.
Using the Bramha’s spear, he made Lakshman ji unconscious but as I said before he could have countered it with his Bramhastra.
After making him unconscious , Ravana tried to lift Lakshman ji but he failed.
Though he was able to lift up Himavat, Mandara and Meru mountains as also the Three Worlds with the Gods, he could not raise Lakshmana the younger brother of Bharata.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 59.
Lakshman ji even recovered from the effect of spear.
Healed and free from that lance, Lakshmana the annihilator of his foes, recollected of himself as a part of the inconceivable Vishnu the Lord of Preservation.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 59.
This fact is again confirmed by Bhagwan Sri Ram’s statements.
"O, Ravana the King of Demons! The one who was struck by the spear, fell swooping this day only to recover consciousness immediately, will now, assuming the form of death, claim you, your sons and grandsons in battle."
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 59.
6. He even tormented Kumbhkarna with his arrows. Kumbhkarna even praised Lakshman ji.
Then, Lakshmana covered the shining and charming golden armour of Kumbhakarna with his arrows, even as the wind would make an evening-twilight cloud completely disappear.Kumbhakarna, looking like a mound of collyrium, tormented by the arrows, decked with gold, shone like the radiant sun with its rays screened by clouds.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 67.
Kumbhakarna’s praise for Lakshman ji.
"You declared your heroism fearlessly in battle, by attacking me, who has conquered even the lord of death effortlessly in a combat.""Anyone who even stands before me, the god of death, holding forth a weapon in a great battle here, is venerable. What to tell about a person who bestows battle on me?""Even the powerful Indra, the lord of celestials, who mounted Airavata the elephant and accompanied by all celestials, did not ever stand before me in battle.""O Lakshmana! Today, I am gratified by your strength and abilities. Taking leave of you, I desire to march forward towards Rama."
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 67.
7. In Mahabharata , Maharishi Markandeya had narrated Ramayana of some different kalpa to Yudhisthira. In Ramayana of that kalpa , Lakshman ji had killed Kumbhkarna.
Lakshmana, advancing towards Kumbhakarna, discharged at him an impetuous and mighty arrow furnished with golden wings. And that arrow, cutting through his coat of mail and penetrating into his body, passed through it outright and struck into the earth, stained with the Rakshasa's blood. Kumbhakarna then, having his breast thus bored through, released the king of monkeys. And taking up a huge mass of stone as his weapon, the mighty warrior Kumbhakarna then rushed towards the son of Sumitra, aiming it at him. And as the Rakshasa rushed towards him, Lakshmana cut off his upraised arms by means of a couple of keen-edged shafts furnished with heads resembling razors. But as soon as the two arms of the Rakshasa were thus cut off, double that number of arms soon appeared on his person. Sumitra's son, however, displaying his skill in weapon, soon by means of similar arrows cut off those arms also, each of which had seized a mass of stone. At this, that Rakshasa assumed a form enormously huge and furnished with numerous heads and legs and arms. Then the son of Sumitra rived, with a Brahma weapon, that warrior looking like an assemblage of hill. And rent by means of that celestial weapon, that Rakshasa fell on the field of battle like a huge tree with spreading branches suddenly consumed by heaven's thunderbolt. And beholding Kumbhakarna endued with great activity and resembling the Asura Vritra himself, deprived of life and prostrated on the field of battle, the Rakshasa warriors fled in fear
Source : KMG Mahabharata Vana Parva Draupadi Harana Parva Section CCLXXXV
Kumbhakarna was skipping the fights and directly going towards Bhagwan Sri Ram , no doubt he had dominated foremost of Vanaras like Angada, Sugriva, Nala , Nila etc but if there would have been a longer or proper battle then Hanuman ji and Lakshman ji too were capable of killing Kumbhakarna. In Mahabharata, Sage Markandeya had narrated Ramayana to Yudhisthira , which probably was from different kalpa(timeline), in that Ramayana Kumbhakarna was killed by Lakshman ji.
8. Lakshman ji killed Atikaya. Atikaya could paralyze Devraj Indra’s thunderbolt(Vajra) with his arrows and he had even neutralized the noose of Varuna which is capable of binding even Yama. He had a supreme Bramha Kavach too but Lakshman ji’s Bramhastra penetrated the supreme Bramha Kavach and killed Atikaya. Vibhishana even told that Atikaya was equal to Ravana.
Vibhishana giving an introduction about Atikaya to Bhagwan Sri Ram.
To him, there is a valiant son, equal to Ravana in combat, who serves elders, holding that which is heard from them and skilled in the use of weaponry." "He conquered the celestials and the ogres several times, destroyed Yakshas the supernatural beings and defended the demons.""He is Atikaya, who paralyzed the thunderbolt of the intelligent Indra with his arrows. He struck down the noose of Varuna, the seizer of transgressors. This wise Ravana's son, who is strong and the foremost of demons took off the pride of celestials and ogres."
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 71.
Lakshman ji killed Atikaya with a Bramhastra after a fierce fight.
Having charged the missile of Brahma on that arrow with the feathers and all, equal to a messenger of Yama the lord of Death over his bow, Lakshmana released that arrow looking like a thunderbolt on Atikaya, the son of Ravana.Atikaya saw that arrow, released with augmented force by Lakshmana, moving so fastly as the wind, having beautiful wings with variegated feathers and looking like a thunderous thunderbolt, approaching him in battle.Seeing that arrow, Atikaya quickly struck with several sharp arrows. That Lakshmana's arrow, with a speed equal to Garuda the eagle, thus reached Atikaya's proximity.Seeing that blazing arrow, looking like Yama the lord of Death and black in colour, approaching him, Atikaya then struck it with spike, spear, mace, axe and arrows.Then, that arrow, blazing like fire, made in vain those weapons of wonderful form and taking Atikaya's head, carried it away.That head with its diadem, chopped off by Lakshmana, quickly fell down on the ground, like a peak of the Himalayan Mountain.Seeing Atikaya falling on the ground, with his clothes and ornaments scattered away, all the surviving demons became perturbed.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 71.
9. Meghnad did manage to make Bhagwan Sri Ram and Lakshman ji unconscious but that was just because they allowed him too. When Lakshman ji decided to invoke Bramhastra to kill Meghnad and all the other demons, Bhagwan Sri Ram advised him not to do so, out of respect for Meghnad’s boons and also he did’nt want the other demons who caused him no harm.
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.Then, Rama spoke to that Lakshmana, who was endowed with auspicious bodily marks as follows: "You ought not to kill all the demons on earth, merely for the sake of a single demon.""You ought not to kill on this earth one who is not fighting or one who is hiding or one who seeks refuge with joined palms or is fleeing or is intoxicated."
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 80.
This shows that Bhagwan Sri Ram had confidence in the ability of Lakshman ji.
10. He dominated the final battle against Meghnad and killed him.
In the final battle with Lakshman ji , Meghnad’s horses were killed, so he fled to Lanka and returned with another chariot. Lakshman ji never used a chariot. That itself shows that Meghnad was a great coward.
Indrajit, the demon, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, standing on the ground his horses having been killed; was very much enraged and blazed with spirit."You courageously fight, so as to stupefy the monkeys. I, on my part, will return to the battle-field, ascending another chariot.""You act in such a way so that these evil-minded monkeys do not carry on their fight (with me) while enter the city."Thus speaking, Indrajit the annihilator of enemies, having deceived the monkeys, entered the City of Lanka for the sake of getting anther chariot.Arranging for embellishment of a chariot, which was beautiful, decked with gold, furnished with darts, swords and arrows, yoked with excellent horses, directed by a charioteer who could understand those horses properly and could give credible instructions to them, that Indrajit, a conqueror in battle, who was endowed with extraordinary energy, then ascended it.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90.
What a coward!
Lakshman ji tore Meghnad’s bow twice.
Then, blazing with hostile anger, Lakshmana, showing his agility of hand, tore Indrajit's bow.Hurriedly, he took another bow and made it ready. Lakshmana tore that bow too of Indrajit with three arrows.Thereupon, Lakshmana struck that Indrajit, whose bow was torn, on his chest with five arrows which were deadly like a serpentine poison.Those arrows, released from that great bow, penetrating through Indrajit's body, fell to the ground like huge red serpents.Ejecting blood from his month, that Indrajit, who had his bow torn, took hold of his excellent bow with the bow-string firmly fastened and which was stronger than the earlier bow.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90.
Lakshman ji finally sent Meghnad to Yama’s adobe.
"O my dear arrow! If Rama the son of Dasaratha has set his mind on virtue, keeps up his promise and is second to none in his prowess, destroy this Indrajit."Thus saying and drawing up to the ear the arrow, which went straight, the heroic Lakshmana released it towards Indrajit.That large head of Indrajit, separated from his trunk and moistened with blood, was seen on the ground, shining like gold.Having been killed, that Indrajit then forthwith fell to the ground, along with his armour and head-protector, with his bow shattered.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 90.
Now for those who are saying that Lakshman ji was protected by celestial with Devraj Indra as head : It happened only at the last moments of battle. Before that too Lakshman ji was dominating the battle. Meghnad was always protected by his boons and was even using his chariot and when his horses were killed , he brought another chariot using his illusions, so it was fair that Lakshman ji was protected by celestials. But as I said before, it happened only in last moments and Lakshman ji was already dominating him.
If Meghnad had fought fairly, I doubt if he would even survive for a moment against Lakshman ji.
11. He again dominated Ravana in archery. And again Ravana had to use the spear of Bramha and again Lakshman ji did’nt counter it.
Lakshmana of great brilliance, with those arrows of high velocity, tore off into many pieces, the flag-staff of Ravana, which bore the emblem of a man's head.The glorious and mighty Lakshmana, with a single arrow, tore the head of Ravana's charioteer, which was adorned with blazing ear-rings.With five sharp arrows, Lakshmana then chopped off Ravana's bow, which looked like an elephant's trunk.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 100.
Then again Ravana used the spear of Bramha. But this time Lakshman ji became unconscious and could’nt recover easily like before. He was revived by the herbs , after Hanuman ji brought an enitre mountain.
Penetrated very deeply and pierced through his heart by the spear due to the force exerted by Ravana, Lakshmana fell to the ground.
Source : Valmiki Ramayana Yuddha Kanda Sarga 100.
I consider Lakshman ji to be stronger than Ravana. He dominated him twice in archery and he could have probably countered Ravana’s spear with his Bramhastra but he did’nt do it. He had many celestial weapons and he was capable of killing Ravana. I consider him to be the third best warrior in Ramayana after Bhagwan Sri Ram and Lakshman ji. Ravana had even failed to lift him.
Lakshman ji was an incarnation of Adi Shesh Nag, who can hold the weight of thousands of mortals including Ravana. Lakshman ji was a warrior of great strength and had limitless devotion towards his eldest brother Bhagwan Sri Ram. By reciting Bhagwan Sri Ram’s name , he can overcome any hurdle and achieve anything. His limiltess devotion towards Bhagwan Sri Ram was his greatest strength.
JAI SIYA RAM.
JAI BAJRANGBALI.