Lakshman Rao
Ravana, overflowing with arrogance, commanded his forces and captains to besiege Indraloka from all directions simultaneously, their war cries thundering like the relentless waves of the ocean. Indra, in response, entrusted the defense to the Vasus, Adityas, Sadhyas, and Maruts, urging them to remain vigilant and strategic in facing the might of Ravana. Though resistance had been the initial course of the gods, Indra, filled with urgency, sought the counsel of Lord Vishnu, directly asking, “What shall I do with this mighty king, blessed with an invincible boon by Rudra and immunity from death by divine forces through Brahma? How do you expect us to face this peril?”
Vishnu, calm and assured, replied, “Fear not. I shall eliminate him at the proper time with the weapons suited to his strength. Go forth and fight, and in time, the result will manifest.”
Reassured, Indra returned to the battlefield with his vast armies, each side measuring the other’s strength, positioning themselves for the inevitable clash. Indra’s forces grew uneasy at the sight of the endless swarm of demons pouring in. As the armies of the gods, demons, and daityas clashed, the battlefield filled with the deafening sounds of war, the air thick with the wails of the wounded and the cries of the dying.
Ravana’s fearsome counsellors—Maricha, Prahastha, Mahaparsva, Mahodara, Akampana, Nikumbha, Suka, Sarana, Samhrada, Dhumaketu, Mahadamstra, Ghatodara, Jambumali, Mahahrada, Virupaksha, Supthagnu, Yajnakopa, Durmukha, Trishira, Karaveraksha, Suryasatru, Mahamaya, Atikaya, Devantaka, and Narantaka—led their respective divisions. Each demon was colossal in stature, swift in movement, capable of crushing hundreds with a single blow, and devouring any living being within seconds. Leading the forces was Sumali, Ravana’s grand-uncle, a mighty giant who had triumphed in countless battles against gods, humans, daityas, nagas, yakshas, kinnaras, and kimpurushas. Sumali wreaked havoc among Indra’s forces, striking terror into the heart of the divine warriors.
The demons hurled the divine sentinels far and wide, some devouring their enemies alive, leaving even the most divine spirits demoralized. Ravana’s army, energized by the valour of Sumali, began to overpower the gods’ united front. But then, from the ranks of the gods, Savitra and a Vasu descended. Vasu, with tremendous strength, stunned Sumali and restrained him, hurling a mace imbued with divine fire upon his head, reducing the mighty warrior to ashes. This turning point sent shockwaves through the demon ranks, evoking a blend of fear and fury.
At this, Ravana’s son, Meghanada, a warrior blessed with black magic and skilled in illusions, entered the fray, mercilessly slaying Indra’s forces and instilling terror. Many godly warriors fled, hiding to escape the relentless assault. Meghanada, brimming with confidence, challenged all who stood before him. At last, Jayantha, the son of Indra, confronted Meghanada, and the two engaged in a fierce battle, each delivering devastating blows. As the fight hung in balance, Meghanada employed dark sorcery, enveloping the battlefield in pitch-black night, causing chaos as both gods and demons unknowingly struck down their own.
In the midst of the confusion, a daitya king appeared and whisked Jayantha away to safety, carrying him deep into the sea, knowing the overwhelming might of Meghanada and Ravana. Puloma, Jayantha’s maternal grandfather, had intervened to save him from certain doom. When Indra learned of his son’s disappearance, his fury grew. With renewed vigour, he began to decimate the demon hordes. Ravana, vexed at the sight of Indra’s wrath, instructed Meghanada to withdraw, for he himself intended to face Indra. The ensuing battle between Indra and Ravana was titanic, the clashing of their powers creating waves of fear and anxiety on both sides.
Meanwhile, Kumbhakarna, Ravana’s colossal brother, fought with insatiable hunger, devouring any being in his path, living or dead, a monstrous sight that none could bear to witness. His unquenchable thirst for blood and flesh made him a menace to both gods and demons alike. The Rudras attacked him, piercing his massive form with weapons that hung grotesquely from his body, yet he fought on, undeterred, casting despair among the demon ranks.
As the battle raged, Indra lost an arrow from his bow, sending ripples of fear across the battlefield. Ravana, marshaling all his combat skills, confronted Indra, their duel one of relentless aggression, each side gripped by terror and uncertainty. Meghanada, as advised by Ravana, watched from afar, biding his time.
“O Rama,” Agastya recounted, “the consequences of the war between the gods and demons will be revealed on the morrow. As night falls, both sides, bound by the unbreakable laws of war, cease their hostilities until dawn.”
