Lakshman Rao
Ravana, having suffered an unforgivable defeat at the hands of the mighty sage Kapila, set out with his demon forces back to Lanka. Along the way, he captured a multitude of women from various tribes—Nagas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Danavas, and even humans. This tyrant, cruel and ruthless, tore these women from their loved ones—parents, husbands, brothers, and children—using force and violence. Those who dared resist were slain without mercy. He imprisoned the captives in his divine chariot, Pushpaka, and as he journeyed back to his kingdom, the women wept in sorrow. Some feared for their lives, believing they would be slain, while others trembled at the thought of becoming mere sustenance for his monstrous army. Their hearts were heavy with grief, and their eyes filled with tears as they prayed to the gods for deliverance. These women, though from different lands, did not even introduce themselves as was custom, for their only concern was for the safety of their beloved ones, and their plight mirrored the agony of parting from those they loved.
Despite the heart-wrenching cries of the women, Ravana pressed on, utterly devoid of remorse. Upon reaching Lanka, he commanded his demon guards to confine the women within his harem. The demon army welcomed Ravana with shouts of triumph, but amidst the noise, the captive women raised their voices in defiance, cursing him: “Die by the hand of a woman! Your end shall come from a woman!” These words reached Ravana’s ears, and for a moment, his thoughts were shaken. Suddenly, his sister, Surpanakha, threw herself at his feet. Ravana lifted her and asked, “What do you seek from me, dear sister?” In tears, Surpanakha lamented, “You have made me a widow! You slaughtered the 14,000 Kalakeya warriors, and my husband was among them. A brother is supposed to help his sister in adversity, but you have robbed me of my love. It is a grievous sin to destroy the happiness of your own sister.”
Still weeping, she continued, while Ravana consoled her. “Sister,” he said, “I was blinded by my quest for victory. In my rage, I destroyed all who stood in my way, unaware of my own actions. The past cannot be undone, and there is no use in lamenting over it. Now, I will send you to Dandakarnya. Take our cousin Khara to lead the forces, and Dushana, our strongest ally, will be at your side. I give you 15,000 of the mightiest demons. Go, and live safely.” After comforting her with these words and granting her a rich domain, Ravana went to meet his mighty son, Meghnada.
Meghnada was in a highly protected garden, Nikhumbila, surrounded by sacrificial altars. Dressed in ceremonial deer skin, holding a wand in his right hand and a kamandala in his left, he bowed to Ravana in silence. Ravana, puzzled, asked what this was all about. At that moment, Sage Shukracharya appeared, and Ravana greeted him with respect, asking for an explanation. “O mighty king,” the sage replied, “your son has completed seven arduous yajnas—Agnistoma, Ashwamedha, Rajasuya, Gomedha, Vaishnava, and the great, unparalleled Maheswara Yajna, which none before him has performed. His devotion to ascetic rituals has earned him the blessings of Lord Shiva. He now possesses many powerful boons. His vehicle is swift and invisible, his armor impenetrable, and his bow, unceasing in its power. He can even invoke the magical Tamasi, casting the world into darkness and rendering himself unseen.”
Ravana listened, and though impressed, he expressed his disapproval. “Sage Shukra, what my son has achieved is no doubt a great feat, but to seek the favour of gods, who are our enemies, through these rituals is dishonourable. Our demon lineage should never bow to the gods. Our dignity must be upheld.” He then instructed his son to return to the palace and rest for the day.
Meanwhile, Ravana’s brother, Vibhishana, hearing of the capture of the women, approached him. “O king, your desires have clouded your sense of righteousness. Your greedy actions stain the honour of our noble birth. These women wail because of your cruelty. Moreover, a demon named Madhu has taken our beloved Kumbhinasi against her will. While I was deep in meditation, Madhu acted with impunity, knowing Kumbhakarna was asleep, and I was left to make peace with the situation.”
Upon hearing this, Ravana, enraged, demanded, “Who is this, Madhu? Where is he? What has he done?” Vibhishana explained that Kumbhinasi, their cousin and the daughter of their mother’s sister Anala, had been taken by the demon king Madhu. Ravana, furious, immediately ordered his army to prepare for battle. His forces were led by Indrajit, with Ravana at the center and Kumbhakarna guarding the rear. They reached Madhu’s kingdom, where Ravana stormed the palace. He found his sister Kumbhinasi, who fell at his feet, pleading for mercy. She assured him that she had been treated with respect and love by Madhu. Ravana, his wrath tempered by her words, promised not to kill Madhu and instead sought his help in his grander schemes.
Kumbhinasi introduced her brother to Madhu, and they exchanged courtesies. Ravana proposed an alliance, seeking Madhu’s aid in his war against the gods. After their meeting, Ravana continued his journey to Kailasa, spending the night at Kubera’s kingdom.
Agastya, narrating this tale to Rama, said, “Such is Ravana’s insatiable hunger for war. Let us see what tomorrow brings.” With that, they retired to their quarters for the night.
