Lakshman Rao Upadhyayula
O Rama, Devarshi Narada speaks: Now I shall recount to you an ancient tale, witnessed by the great souls of yore. Listen, O wise and noble king, to the story of Ravana, the wicked foe who dared to abduct Sita, despite knowing the enmity he would incite with you, O Lord. This truth is well-known among the Devas, Gandharvas, and Siddhas, and it is believed by the sages and gods alike that whoever listens to this tale with devotion shall be freed from sins. Those who hear attentively will be blessed with peace and prosperity.
Afterwards, Ravana, intoxicated by his own might, roamed across realms, thirsting for combat. In his quest, he came upon me. With humility, he offered salutations and begged me to direct him to a worthy opponent. I pondered for a moment and said, “O Ravana, near the ocean of milk lies the White Isle, known as Swetadweepa. Its inhabitants are of pale complexion, as radiant as the moon. They are mighty in form, brave in spirit, and their voices thunder like the heavens. They are a match for your desire for battle, O king of demons.”
Intrigued, Ravana inquired, “How do such strong beings come to be on this isle? What is their origin? Tell me the truth, O sage, for you know all that transpires in the universe.”
I replied, “O Ravana, their strength lies in their unwavering devotion to Hari. They worship none but Him, their every thought and deed dedicated to His presence. It is this unshakable faith that has blessed them with strength and invincibility. They dwell in Swetadweepa by divine favor. Narayana Himself, with His Sarnga bow and Sudarshana chakra, guides them to heaven. In this world, yajnas, penance, and worship may show the path to the heavens, but pure righteousness and simple faith in Him offer the easiest passage.”
Ravana, filled with pride, sought permission to challenge these beings, and I, curious to see his fate, followed him to Swetadweepa. Upon reaching the isle, Ravana’s aerial chariot was repelled by a protective ring of divine power created by Hari. His warriors, unable to bear the magnetic force, fled. But Ravana, undeterred, dismounted and entered the heart of the isle.
There, assuming a ferocious form with many heads and hands, wielding terrifying weapons, he marched toward the palace. His arrival was first noticed by the women of the isle. One, smiling, lifted him effortlessly in her hand and asked, “Who are you? Why have you come here? Whose son are you, and who sent you?”
Angered by her words, Ravana roared, “I am Ravana, king of Lanka, son of the sage Visravas. I have come to fight, but I find no men here!”
The women laughed at his fury and began to toss him about as though he were a plaything. One said, “See, I have caught this ten-headed, twenty-armed creature!” and flung him from hand to hand. Exhausted and enraged, Ravana bit the hand of the woman who had thrown him, but another soon caught him, stifling his efforts as she considered locking him in a metal box. Yet, when she threw him with force, he tumbled into the sea.
O Rama, I watched in delight as Ravana was toyed with by the dwellers of Swetadweepa. It became clear to me that Hari was playing with the demon, whose fate was sealed. Ravana’s wickedness had grown so great that he sought his end at your hands. That is why he abducted Sita, O Rama. You are Narayana Himself, armed with divine weapons, bearing the Srivatsa mark. You are the incarnation of Maha Vishnu, descended to rid the earth of Ravana’s evil.
O Rama, you are the supreme mystery, beyond emotions, the embodiment of virtue. In ancient times, you spanned the three worlds in three steps as Vamana, the son of Aditi and brother of Indra, who vanquished Bali. To uplift humanity, you have taken birth as Rama. Sita was born for you, and her abduction by Ravana was destined to bring about his destruction at your hands.
Now, I have revealed to you this ancient tale. If this story is recited during sacred rites, those who hear it will be absolved of all sins and ascend to the heavenly realms.
At the conclusion of this narration, Rama, his ministers, brothers, and the people of Ayodhya were filled with satisfaction and gratitude. Sugriva, Vibhishana, and the other subjects bowed to the sage, expressing their deep reverence for shedding light on the divine mystery of the Ikshvaku lineage. Narada then sought permission to depart, and Rama, with great respect, bid farewell to the illustrious sage.
