Lakshman Rao
Upon his return from the realms of Surya and Chandra, Ravana, unquenched in his thirst for war and conquest, lingered in Lanka for a time. Soon after, he set forth on a journey toward the Western Sea—a fateful and astonishing venture that would forever change his life. Accompanied by his ministers and soldiers, Ravana reached a mysterious island in the midst of the ocean, an isle unknown to any of his kin or associates.
As he set foot upon the island, his eyes were immediately drawn to a radiant figure—a being whose presence was as overwhelming as a blazing fire wrapped in gold and priceless gems. His visage shone with a divine glow, as though he were the very God of gods. His gait was like that of a majestic lion, and his brilliance rivalled the intensity of the sun. He wore a deep red garment, and his fierce gaze mirrored the ceaseless rotation of the heavens. The grinding of his teeth resounded like the clash of mountains, and his voice boomed like a hurricane’s roar. He moved with the swiftness of a tempest and wore a garland of golden lotuses.
Ravana approached the figure boldly and demanded a battle. The towering being, with the might of a roaring lion, declared, “I will crush your insatiable desire for war.” At the sound of his voice, Ravana lost consciousness for a brief moment, overwhelmed by the being’s immense power. The speed and strength of this entity surpassed all comprehension, as if multiplied a thousandfold. The balance of nature itself seemed to rest within his thighs, and the strength of the Lokapalas (guardians of the world) resided in his hands. The brilliance of the sun and moon shone through his eyes. He was the embodiment of all cosmic forces—the eight Vasus, Vayu (wind), Agni (fire), Varuna (water), Yama (death)—and was a replica of Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra.
He represented the five elements, and within him were contained the wisdom of the sages, the power of the Vidyadharas, and the might of divine serpents such as Adiseshu and Vasuki. The stars, planets, rivers, oceans, and all the cycles of time, from years to moments, drew sustenance from him. He possessed the forms of Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati, and the Four Vedas, Upanishads, and all branches of knowledge lay under his command. With a mere lift of his hand, the being struck Ravana, causing him to faint, and drove away his armies. He then vanished into an underground passage.
When Ravana regained consciousness, he asked his ministers about the mysterious figure. Trembling, they replied, “O Ravana, the one you encountered is the conqueror of gods, demons, and all beings. He descended through this passage.”
Undeterred, Ravana entered the passage and saw legions of warriors, each resembling the one who had struck him. Yet none stopped him. He passed through their ranks and arrived at a scene of immense revelry, where gigantic beings danced in ecstasy, their steps shaking the very earth. Beyond this, Ravana came upon a colossal figure reclining, fully conscious and observing all that transpired. A bewitching woman stood beside him, fanning him gently. Ravana’s senses clouded with desire, and like a raging bull, he sought to seize her. But with a single kick, the reclining figure sent Ravana crashing to the ground, leaving him unconscious once again.
After some time, the great figure spoke: “O Ravana, mighty demon, rise. I shall not kill you—not yet. Your time has not come.”
For the first time in his life, Ravana trembled, and with folded hands, he begged, “O Lord, you are the supreme power in this universe. I bow before you. Pray, tell me, who are you? I am eager to know.”
The great being smiled and replied, “Why do you seek to know who I am? It matters not. Your time to live remains, but know this—you shall meet your end at my hands.”
Ravana, humbled, spoke: “O God of gods, I am blessed by Brahma himself that no deity, no demon, no creature, neither bird nor beast, can kill me. My death cannot be by ordinary means. But should a god of your strength be my end, it would be an honour. To die by your hand would be my greatest gift.”
The great figure, smiling as if a tempest had stirred, said, “Go, Ravana.”
Ravana, though crushed by defeat, left the island, already contemplating his next move. When Rama, curious, asked who this mighty being was, the sage Agastya explained, “He is none other than the sage Kapila, the embodiment of all cosmic forces. Ravana was fortunate, for had Kapila gazed upon him in anger, he would have been reduced to ashes.”
Rama rejoiced at the tale of Kapila’s intervention, for it was the sage’s mere presence that had humbled Ravana and instilled both fear and respect in his heart. And with that, the night passed in peace.
