The extraordinary and unparalleled feat of Rama sent shockwaves through the demon world, reverberating like thunder across the realms. The dynamics of this battle defied imagination, beyond the reach of mortal estimation or analysis. The astounding conclusion? A conflict of immense magnitude was brought to an end in merely one hour and twelve minutes. On one side stood Rama, a solitary warrior, and on the other, an army of fourteen thousand ferocious, fully armed demons.
Not even the most advanced strategies or the latest instruments of warfare could rival the speed and precision displayed by Rama. Across the realms, the discourse centered on the artistry of his warfare, which delivered a swift and decisive resolution to a longstanding menace.
In the court of Khara at Janasthana, Akampana, a key figure, fled in haste to Lanka, seeking an audience with the great demon king, Ravana. Granted permission to speak, he addressed the king with a trembling voice:
“O mighty Ravana, I bring grievous tidings. The demons of Janasthana, including Commander Khara, have fallen. I alone escaped to deliver this dire news to your throne.”
Ravana’s eyes blazed like fire. In his wrath, he demanded, “Who dares desecrate the sanctity of Janasthana, my cherished forest in Dandakaranya? Does this short-lived mortal not know that refuge shall elude him across all realms after affronting me? Who is this insolent being? Does he not realize that even Indra, Vishnu, Kubera, or the very Lord of Death cannot defy my wrath? I am the master of death itself, the scourge of the cosmos, and the lord of destruction. Tell me, Akampana, who has challenged my dominion?”
Quaking with fear yet emboldened by Ravana’s assurance of safety, Akampana replied, “O sovereign of Lanka, it is a young prince named Rama, son of Dasaratha. He is a warrior of unmatched valor, his sinews strong as a bull’s, his arms long and powerful. Handsome and composed, he radiates a majesty that instills awe. Alone, he annihilated the entire demon force of Janasthana without aid orally.”
Ravana, astonished yet cloaked in pride, hissed like a serpent. “Akampana, was Rama aided by Indra or other gods? Speak in detail!”
Akampana recounted Rama’s deeds with awe: “No gods graced Janasthana. Rama, with his bow and fiery arrows, moves like a tempest, his brilliance rivaling the sun. His skill in archery is unmatched, his arrows imbued with divine potency. Alongside him is his brother, Lakshmana, valiant and steadfast, with a voice like a drum and a countenance like the moon. Together, they shattered our forces.”
Ravana, enraged but intrigued, declared his intent to personally confront Rama. Yet Akampana, trembling, interjected, “O king, forgive my candor, but Rama’s strength is unparalleled. He can halt rivers, smash the heavens, and upheave the earth. He is capable of recreating the cosmos. Your might is immense, but even all the forces of demons and gods combined may falter against him. However, there exists a path to weaken him.”
Akampana then revealed, “Rama’s beloved wife, Sita, is a paragon of beauty, surpassing even celestial maidens. If you were to separate her from Rama, his strength would wane.”
Ravana, enamored by this suggestion and unburdened by morality, resolved to abduct Sita. At dawn, he mounted his chariot, drawn by ghostly steeds, and flew to the hermitage of Maricha. Upon arrival, he sought the sage’s aid in his scheme.
Maricha, venerable and wise, implored, “O Ravana, this course is folly. Rama is no ordinary foe. He is a lion among men, a sleeping giant whose wrath can annihilate worlds. Disturb him not, lest calamity befall the demon race. Let him dwell in peace with Sita and Lakshmana in the forest.”
Despite Maricha’s pleas, Ravana, blinded by arrogance, returned to his palace, resolute in his plan. Thus, the stage was set for a cosmic confrontation, a phenomenon of divine will scripted by fate, destined to alter the fabric of the universe.