February 24 - Sargas 13 and 14 of Uttara Kanda.
Ravana begins to unleash his atrocities everywhere. Kubera comes to know of this and sends an emissary to tell him to desist from evil and to preserve the reputation of the family. Ravana kills the emissary and attacks Kubera's capital.
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Valmiki says that Nidradevi, the goddess of sleep, was now sent by Lord Brahma to work the effect of his boon on Kumbhakarna. She started making him yawn and doze off uncontrollably. Kumbhakarna managed to tell Ravana that he may please arrange a big enough palace for Kumbhakarna to go to sleep. Ravana ensured a beautiful, huge palace was created with precious decorations for Kumbhakarna to go and hit the bed.
Valmiki says that the main entrance to that palace was encrusted with decorations made of ivory from the tusks of elephants.
What did not go to sleep was Ravana's instinct for evil. He started incessantly tormenting the gods and sages and other celestials everywhere. He went to Nadanavana and repeatedly marauded it. Forests, mountains, and lakes were destroyed by Ravana.
When Kubera came to know of his younger brother's activities, he became concerned. He sent an emissary with some good advice to Ravana.
The emissary was cordially received by Vibhishana in Lanka. Understanding the purpose of this visit, Vibhishana took him to Ravana's court.
जयेति वाचा सम्पूज्य तूष्णीं बभूव After a benedictory greeting to the king, the emissary fell silent and took in the magnificence of the throne with its decorations and bejewelled drapery and Ravana's resplendent glory as the king sitting on it. Then he said,
राजन्वदामि ते सर्वं भ्राता तव यदब्रवीत् । उभयोः सदृशं वीर वृत्तस्य च कुलस्य च ॥
"Oh, Great King! I bring you your brother's advice that honours the glory of both your parental lineages and augurs your virtuous conduct."
साधु पर्याप्तमेतावत् साधु धर्मे व्यवस्थानं क्रियताम् यदि शक्यते
"Oh, King! Enough of your (mis)deeds thus far. Please if possible, make efforts to reform your ways. I have seen for myself the damage done to Nandana, and know that you have slain rishis. Your conduct towards the gods is also known to me. You have disregarded me many times before but as your elder brother, I consider it my duty to take care of your interests. Hence these words."
"Dear King, know that I went to the Himalayas to perform rigorous penance. I had the darshan of Lord Shiva and standing by his side was Devi Parvati with her beauty which was simply out of this world. When I glanced at her, wondering who she might be, albeit with no lustful intention, one eye was burnt and the other one rendered smoky red. I then proceeded to do penance for very long on another peak. Afterwards, Lord Shiva gave me his darshan and benediction.
प्रीतोऽस्मि तव धर्मज्ञ मया चैतद्व्रतं चीर्णं त्वया चैव धनादिप
तत्सखित्वं मया सौम्य रोचयस्व धनेश्वर एकाक्षपङ्गलित्येव नाम स्थास्यति
"Oh Kubera, the knower of Dharma! I am most pleased with your penance, which equals what I had performed before and will remain unequalled by any other. You shall be known as the "One-red-eyed Kubera" and be my great friend forever." (The word Kubera means physically deficient).
"Oh Ravana, only afterwards, when I became free, did I discover your dubious activities. I sincerely advise you to desist from such evil acts at once. I know that the gods and sages are already planning to eliminate you as a source of evil."
These words, delivered by the emissary with all due reverence to King Ravana, coming from his noble and famous elder brother Kubera, purely out of regard for the family honour and pursuit of righteousness, elicited unfortunately a most negative response from Ravana.
Ravana's eyes turned red, he gnashed his teeth and cracked his knuckles in rage.
"Fie on you, oh messenger! You shalt not live after speaking such words to me. Even so, my brother shall perish. What does Kubera think when he tries to frighten me with his tale of friendship with Lord Shiva!? In fact, I have spared his life so far merely because Kubera is my elder brother. After hearing his message, I am doubly determined to conquer the three worlds by force. By the provocation from one of the Lokapalas (ie. Kubera), I shall kill all the four of them (Indra, Yama and Varuna also). "
Saying this, Ravana pulled out his famous sword and beheaded the emissary there and then. He then asked his attendants to eat up that dead emissary.
Ravana made the Brahmins utter benedictions for his victory over the three worlds and went to attack Kubera.
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In less than half a day, Ravana reached the entrance to Kubera's city, along with his powerful lieutenants Mahodara, Prahasta, Mareecha, Shuka, Sarana and Dhumraksha. They were like raging bulls ready to destroy and kill.
Knowing the imminent danger from Ravana, and knowing him to be the younger brother of their king, Kubera, the diffident yakshas rushed to Kubera. Kubera ordered them to defend themselves against Ravana.
The yakshas soon organized themselves and their huge army seemed to shake the mountains. They fought off fiercely and got the better of Ravana's side. Seeing this, Ravana was enraged and with a roar attacked the yakshas. Ravana's chiefs were formidable. Ravana's prowess was immutable. But the yakshas fiercely fought them all. Soon Ravana began to wreak havoc with his gada (mace.) He was like a fierce fire turning to ashes the dry grasses on the ground. Soon the yakshas were decimated or injured badly. The sky was mournful, filled with the souls of the dying yakshas and the distressed rishis.
Kubera sent a brave military chief, Samyodhakantaka to battle. He felled with his discus reminiscent of Vishnu's own, Mareecha. But Mareecha recovered and was able to drive away that yaksha.
Ravana entered the main entrance to Kubera's palace. The gatekeeper Suryabhanu tried in vain to stop him. Then he hit Ravana with a huge pillar. Ravana bled from the hit but felt no hurt by virtue of Brahma's boons. Ravana now used the same pillar and struck Suryabhanu such that nothing was left of him. Seeing Ravana thus, the yakshas simply fled, hiding themselves under water or in caves and so on, all most aggrieved and defeated.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
