Lakshman Rao
At the break of dawn, the fierce struggle for dominance erupted, tearing into foes with the clashing of heavy weapons, as each warrior’s hope to vanquish their enemy grew with the rising sun. Madness reigned, blood spilled, and droplets rose on the wind, forming a deep crimson veil that hung above, casting a distraction upon all who gazed. Broken weapons whirled through the air like dark clouds, summoning an artificial night in the brightness of day. Only the keen and trained eyes of the three master warriors—Indra, Ravana, and Meghanada—could perceive the true devastation unfolding on the battlefield.
These warriors did not dwell on the past nor gaze into the future, but remained rooted in the present, harnessing their full strength for the moment at hand. Each one evaluated the situation, positioning their skills with precision to outshine the others. To their astonishment, they saw that nearly ninety percent of the demon forces had been decimated by the gods’ army. This realization emboldened the divine warriors and struck fear into the demons.
Ravana, undeterred, called his charioteer and commanded, “Take me to the heart of the gods’ forces. I will not return until I have scattered them and matched their number with our diminished ranks.” Swearing to reduce the enemy to a mere handful before nightfall, he targeted Indra, Varuna, Kubera, and Yama, ordering his charioteer to drive toward Mount Udaya, where the gods were stationed.
As the chariot thundered forward, Ravana’s fury grew, and he unleashed terror upon the celestial forces, instilling fear in the hearts of all. Indra, alarmed by Ravana’s relentless aggression, withdrew briefly and advised the Lokapalas, “This demon grows stronger in battle, likely due to the boons bestowed by Brahma and Shiva. He cannot be slain by conventional means. As we once imprisoned the mighty Bali in Rasatala to safeguard the universe, we must now capture Ravana alive. Let us imprison him to preserve balance.”
Having delivered his counsel, Indra turned to shatter the demon army’s strongest ranks, while the Vasus, Rudras, and Maruts encircled Ravana, intent on capturing him. Their efforts constrained his movement, while Indra waged havoc upon the demons to the south. Yet, Ravana broke through the northern flank and plunged into the thickest ranks of the gods, scattering them like dry leaves in the wind.
Indra, unshaken, confronted Ravana directly, supported by the Vasus. The Rudras inflicted grievous wounds upon Ravana, weakening him severely. Sensing his opportunity, Indra prepared to capture him, but at that moment, Meghanada pierced the circle, hurling mighty weapons that disrupted the gods’ balance. Ravana, seizing the moment, recovered swiftly, intensified his assault, and shattered the divine forces.
Meghanada, undaunted by Indra’s might, released a flurry of arrows that confused his enemy. Then, invoking his magical powers, he cloaked the battlefield in darkness, fighting unseen, a boon granted by Lord Shiva. Under this cover, he rained weapons upon Indra and his allies, blinding them with dazzling strikes. In the ensuing chaos, Meghanada captured Indra with his magic, spiriting him away from the battlefield.
As the war reached its zenith, Ravana slaughtered hundreds of celestial guards, while demons, driven mad, devoured the fallen with their teeth, claws, and fangs, their mouths dripping with blood. It was a scene of horror, enough to freeze any onlooker in fear. Ravana appeared unstoppable, and the gods, now without their leader, were paralyzed with dread, fearing that Indra had been vanquished. Ravana, too, searched in vain for his son, growing ever more furious as he redoubled his assault, tearing through the divine forces with indescribable savagery.
Both sides were gripped by anxiety—the gods for their missing king, and the demons for Meghanada. Yet the battle raged on, the air thick with the scent of blood, and the sky painted a deep, menacing red. Suddenly, piercing through the magical shroud, Meghanada emerged and cried out, “O great King Ravana, my venerable father, why do you continue this needless battle? The war is won! I have captured Indra, king of the devas and ruler of the three worlds. Now, you are the sovereign of all!”
At this proclamation, the gods halted, stunned by their defeat. Ravana, overjoyed, declared, “O mighty son, your strength is unmatched—you are invincible! From this day forth, you shall be known as the conqueror of three worlds. Take this king of gods to Lanka, but beware his cunning. I shall follow, guarding you from behind.” With that, he commanded his forces to rejoice, and they set off for Lanka, carrying the captured Indra.
Thus, Meghanada became invincible to Demon kingdom as Sage Agastya recounted, before retiring for the day.
