December 1 - Sargas 12 and 13 of Yuddha Kanda.
Ravana asks for advice. He narrates how Sita is irresistible to him and how he stole her.
Kumbhakarna castigates Ravana for having abducted Sita instead of facing Sri Rama and Lakshmana in battle and defeating them first. Of course, given the present situation, he will single-handedly deal with the brothers and eat up the vanaras. Therefore Ravana should freely enjoy life without worry.
Mahaparshva says Ravana is being too soft. He should simply go ahead and take Sita by force. Ravana confesses that after he had in the past violated a damsel and sexually abused her against her wishes, Brahma had cursed him that the next time he violates a woman, his head will split into a thousand pieces.
***
First of all, Ravana looks over his impressive court full of great warriors and loyal advisors. Then he asks the military chief Prahasta to order the four-fold forces to pan out and vigilantly guard Lanka from within and without. This is carried out at once by Prahasta and reported back.
***
धर्मकामार्थकृच्छेषु यूयमर्हथ वेदितुम् Ravana then says to his council of advisors, "You are all learned and wise. You should now advise me on what adduces to Dharma, Artha, and Kama."
Ravana stresses that their advice has always been very effective. His prosperity and Lanka's welfare are built on their counsel. He proceeds to say that so far he has explained to everyone the turn of events but since Kumbhakarna, supreme among warriors, who is now present, was asleep before (he slept six months at a stretch), Ravana will repeat his narrative.
"I have abducted Sita, beloved queen of Rama, from Dandakaranya that has been the haunt of rakshasas before. But that Sita of measured gait refuses to go to bed with me. My opinion is that there is none in the three worlds to match her in beauty. With her vital statistics, her moon-like face, her golden complexion, her tenderness, and her softness, she seems to be a special creation of Mayaa, the architect for rakshasas. Her pink feet, her shapely legs, her toes that shine like gold, have created a conflagration of desire in me. I am now an abject slave to her attractions. My mind is agitated and my heart is turbid from this desire."
"Sita has asked me for a full year of time to make her decision (by the way this is not the truth. Unable to make Sita yield, it is Ravana who has given her the ultimatum). Her calculation is that Rama will come and rescue her in the meanwhile. I have consented. I am tired and listless. But there is no fear of the vanaras and the two brothers of ever being able to cross the ocean full of deadly creatures."
"However, a lone vanara managed to come over and cause enough mischief to unsettle my mind. That is why this council has been called. Therefore fearlessly give your best advice for my victory."
Ravana adds how the council of ministers gave him the right advice in the past when there was that big war between gods and demons. Now the two brothers Rama and Lakshmana have already arrived at the sea coast with the vanara army.
अदेया च यथा सीता वध्यौ दशरथात्मजौ ।
भवद्भिर्मन्त्रतां मन्त्रः सुनीतञ्चाभिदीयताम् ॥
"Please confer and come up with your best advice that ensures that Sita is not given back, and the two brothers are killed by us."
"I don't think it is possible for anyone to cross the ocean and reach here. But even if Rama crosses over, our success is certain."
Kumbhakarna heard these words of Ravana with increasing rage. He now spoke:
यदा तु रामस्य सलक्ष्मणस्य
प्रसह्य सीता खलु सा इहाहृता ।
सकृत्समीक्ष्यैव सुनिश्चितं तदा
भजेत चित्तं यमुनेव यामुनम् ॥
"Oh brother, before undertaking to abduct Sita without having killed Rama and Lakshmana in Dandaka, you should have sought our advice at least once. Now it is too late. It is like the Yamuna has descended to earth and made her way to the ocean, a deed that cannot be undone."
सर्वमेतन्महाराज कृतमप्रतिमं तव ।
विधीयेत सहास्माभिरादावेवास्य कर्मणः ॥
"Oh King, before undertaking that cowardly abduction that does not speak well of you, you should have consulted us. "
न हि सन्तप्यते पश्चान्निश्चितार्थमतिर्नृपः - "A king who duly considers his actions before undertaking them will have no cause for regret."
Kumbhakarna says something very forceful - "This mean act of yours has as much chance of a good consequence as a homa done with corrupt and impure materials." He adds that trying to undo a bad deed is a sign of a lack of discrimination between good and bad. He gives the example of a Krauncha bird that can launch his attack from chipping a small crevice even in a big mountain and says that premature thoughtless action before assessing the enemy will always fail.
Kumbhakarna says that he is surprised that Rama has not killed Ravana yet for his misdeed.
Well, now Kumbahkarna will destroy the enemy. He can indeed defeat any force, be it led by Indra, Varuna, Agni, Vayu. Kubera, or Surya and Chandra. Kumbahakarna is of incredibly huge size. So once he raises his weapon in battle, he can raze the enemy easily. Even Indra will be frightened. Even if Rama strikes Kumbhakarna with one arrow, before he sets the second arrow, Kumbhakarna will drink up his blood.
Kumbhakarna says Ravana can leave it to him - he will kill Rama, Lakshmana and eat up the vanaras. Meanwhile, Ravana can get drunk and make merry. Once they are killed, he can enjoy Sita forever.
***
Mahaparshva is another mighty warrior. He has a different take on the matter. "It is only a fool who sees delicious forest honey but does not take it and enjoy it, even if the forest has deadly predators. Ravana is the lord of all lords and none dares challenge him. He should therefore simply molest and forcibly take Sita for pleasure. He can repeatedly violate her. That will satisfy him. No danger can come after that. If it does, they will deal with it later. After all, Kumbhakarna, Indrajit, and all the rakshasa warriors are unmatched in prowess. So Ravana should abandon the path of Sama, Dana. Bheda, and employ Danda (force) to break Sita.
***
Ravana was pleased with this advice. He answered Mahaparshva.
"Long ago, this happened: once I saw an apsara maiden in the sky by the name of Punjikasthala. She was on her way to Brahma. She was full of fear of me. I caught her, disrobed her, and had sex forcibly with her. When she reached Brahma, she was like a lotus squashed by an elephant. Brahma was livid to see my misdeed and the condition of that apsara.
अद्य प्रभृति यामन्यां बलान्नारीं गमिष्यसि ।
तदा ते शतधा मूर्धा फलिष्यति न संशयः ॥
"Oh Ravana, henceforth, if ever you forcibly take a woman and molest her, know for certain that your head will splinter into a thousand pieces."
Ravana says that only the fear of Brahma's curse stops him. Of course, Ravana says proudly, he moves at the speed of the wind and is as forceful as the ocean. This is not known to Rama and hence his futile attempt to attack him. Otherwise, Rama would not challenge Ravana, much as no one would go dare a lion in his den.
Ravana brags that his infallible arrows will destroy Rama. Even Indra and Varuna dare not face him in battle. How can anyone forget how Ravana grabbed Lanka by force from Kubera!?
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
