February 27 - Sargas 19 and 20 of Uttara Kanda.
Ravana continued his conquest of one kingdom after another easily. His offer always was,
युद्धं मे दीयतां निर्जिताः स्मेति वा ब्रूत
"Either give me a fight or confess that you have been defeated!"
Almost all kings came to know of his invincibility and by discussion amongst themselves, submitted tamely to Ravana's lordship to save themselves and their armies. In turn, they became his minions.
Soon, Ravana came to the kingdom of Ayodhya, ruled by King Anaranya, prosperous and happy like Indra's Amaravati itself. When Ravana came, Anaranya was well prepared, knowing the reputation of Ravana and his exploits. Anaranya did not want to give in.
Ravana offered "battle or surrender!" and Anaranya offered battle.
There was a fierce war and Anaranya's well-organized army of elephants, horses, chariots, and footsoldiers fought bravely. Eventually, though, Ravana and his lieutenants were able to kill off most of Anaranya's army.
Now the brave Anaranya took up his famous bow and entered the battle himself. He was able easily to defeat Mareecha, Shuka, Sarana, and Prahasta who all ran away. He now came face to face with Ravana.
Anaranya rained arrows on Ravana but Ravana was not troubled in the least like a mountain happily receiving showers. Then Ravana struck Anaranya with his palm such that Anaranya fell and bit the dust like a sala tree felled. He was in great distress. Ravana laughed and proclaimed,
किमिदानीं फलं प्राप्तं त्वया मां प्रति युद्ध्यता ।
त्रैलोक्ये नास्ति यो द्वन्द्वं मम दद्यान्नराधिप।
शङ्के प्रस्क्तो भोगेषु न श्रुणोषि बलं मम ॥
"Oh, King! Do you now see the outcome of your confronting me? Don't you know that there is no one in the three worlds who dares to give me a one-on-one fight!? Perhaps you have been too preoccupied with royal pleasures to be informed of my unconquerable prowess."
Anaranya was not mentally destroyed although physically he was beaten badly.
He replied,
न ह्यहं निर्जितो रक्षस्त्वया चात्मप्रशंसिना ।
कालेनैव विपन्नोऽहं केतुभूतस्तु मे भवान् ॥
"Oh, rakshasa! Know that I have been defeated by the turn of Time alone no8iw, not by the boastful self that you are. "
"Oh, Ravana! I have fought you like a hero and am dying now in battle. But your words have insulted my dynasty. So I now pronounce a curse on you. In my dynasty will be born a great hero by the name of Rama, son of King Dasharatha, who will come and kill you."
"If at all I have done Dharma (righteousness), Dana (charity), Yajna (scripturally ordained sacrifices and worship), Tapas (austerity) and have taken care of the people of Ayodhya, let my words come true."
There were heavenly incantations, benedictions, and showers of flowers as Anaranya pronounced these words and breathed his last.
Ravana, again feeling triumphant, continued his conquest elsewhere.
***
Ravana was cruising on his Pushpaka Vimana in the clouds when Sage Narada, the divine rishi who plays an important role in most Hindu epics, and in fact who introduced the story of Sri Rama to Valmiki (after he had reformed a dacoit and made him into Sage Valmiki!) now arrived in the skies as if by coincidence. Ravana offered his greetings and asked Narada what was his current mission. Narada replied,
"Well, Ravana, I know how you have been fighting gods and yakshas and humans all the time and bringing them down. In fact, even Vishnu is doing something similar by his continual attack on daityas. So both of you are on similar kinds of missions.
"Ravana, if you are receptive, I want to tell you something."
"Ravana, when you are so easily conquering gods and celestials, why do you persist in harming and troubling humans? I think you are overdoing this conquest of the three worlds a bit."
नित्यं श्रेयसि सम्मूढं महद्भिर्व्यसनैर्वृतम् ।
हन्यात्कस्तादृशं लोकं जराव्याधिशतैर्युतम् ॥
"Do you see, Ravana, that this world of humans is already in utter misery on its own, owing to people's ignorance of the eternal verities of existence caused by their confusion!? They are already dying from disease, old age, pestilence, and so on. So who indeed would think of giving them more trouble by attacking them as you are doing these days?"
"So Ravana, my advice to you is to stop battering humans and their world anymore as they are already being ground beneath the heels of the Law (another name for Yama). They are already suffering the bodily handicaps of hunger, thirst, old age, and several forms of benumbing grief and afflictions. "
"Do you know, Ravana!? Indeed, strange are the ways of humans. They while away their lives in song and dance and merriment, knowing not how shortlived human lives are. And many are constantly grappling with ailments and difficulties. Many people are obsessed with parents, children, spouses, relatives, and such things. "
"Ravana, what is the use of your inflicting even more suffering on the human race when they are all in the mouth of death called Yama!? If at all you want to do something brave and lordly, you should go and confront Yama himself. Once you conquer Yama, you have conquered the entire human race!"
Ravana saw light! He thanked Narada profusely. "Of Sage Narada, you are well known for your travels in the three worlds and stirring up trouble between two parties. I now see your point. I shall now proceed to Rasatala and will conquer the nagas and celestials and capture the oceans full of Amrita (elixir of immortality)."
Narada then asked Ravana, "then why are you proceeding this way if your destination is Rasatala!? Indeed the way you are going is difficult as it passes Yamaloka!"
Ravana said with a laugh," Ok, Sage Narada! In fact I think I shall now change my itinerary and first go and conquer Yama. That was anyway a part of my original mission to defeat all the Lokapalas. I shall do that first and then proceed to Rasatala!"
Narada bid Ravana goodbye as the Pushpaka flew onward. He then thought to himself,
यो विधाता च धाता च सुकृतं दष्कृतं तथा ।
त्रैलोक्यं विजितं येन तं कथं विजयिष्यते।
अपरं किं तु कृत्वेवं विधानं संविधास्यति ॥
"Strange! Yama, who rules the three worlds and metes out his reward and punishment for good deeds and bad deeds, and thus is supreme; how will Yama be attacked by Ravana? By what methods? This is worth watching. I shall at once proceed to Yamaloka."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
