Ravana Battles with King Anaranya, Yama and Converses with Narada about his Motives

We are looking at the exploits of Ravana since he began his duel with celestial beings. In addition, Ravana is also charting his course for a future rivalry and his own downfall by engaging and invoking elements like Vanaras, Sita. These very people are going to bring his destruction when he engages with Rama. Buoyed by his own powers, he takes everyone else with nonchalance and goes on a rampage, creating a fear among all. In this way, he can win and feel better on the present day but definitely doing a lot to put himself and all his men in great peril in the future. We can see that his rivalry with Sita was born long back through Vedavati. He dismissed her as a mere woman back then and clearly oppressed her. This led to the resolve from Vedavati to become the single most powerful reason to bring down Ravana. You can go against anyone but when you engage in face-off with faultless higher beings in deep penance, you are writing your own ill fate. Ravana, as a demon treads a wrong path in this way, going against good men and women time and again. Thus, he creates a world where cruelty, fear, torture etc take precedence over other finer virtues and correct path of dharma. These transgressions are numbered and he will reap the results when he abducts Sita. What he does before that to rise as a powerful force of exact opposite in stature to Rama is discussed in this book. We can look at his further misadventures in the following chapters after frightening Gods to assume thousand different forms and defeating king Marutta. 

In chapter 19, Ravana fights with Anaranya 

The conflict between Ravana, the rakshasa king, and various kings from the human realm, specifically focusing on King Anaranya of Ayodhya is discussed. 

Initially, Ravana, demonstrated his formidable prowess by defeating Marutta and challenging other kings, presenting them with a choice: to engage in battle or admit defeat. Many kings, cognizant of Ravana's strength, chose the latter; notable figures like Dushyanta, Suratha, Gadhi, Gaya, and Pururava acknowledged his supremacy and claimed they had been defeated. 

Ravana's confrontation with King Anaranya escalated the situation. Anaranya, provoked by Ravana's demands for a duel or recognition of defeat, decided to engage in battle. He prepared an extensive army, characterized by thousands of elephants and tens of thousands of horses, demonstrating a significant commitment to the confrontation. 

The ensuing battle between Anaranya and Ravana was intense. Anaranya unleashed a barrage of arrows against Ravana; however, these efforts proved futile as they had no effect on the powerful rakshasa. Ultimately, Anaranya was defeated by Ravana, which drew a realization from the king about his grim fate. 

In the aftermath of his defeat, Anaranya accepted the role of destiny in his downfall. Before his death, he prophesied that a great-souled descendant from the Ikshvaku lineage would rise to defeat Ravana in the future. This proclamation was met with divine approval, signaling hope for the future. As Anaranya ascended to heaven, the heavens celebrated, marked by sounds of drums and raining flowers. 

In chapter 20, Ravana meets with the sage Narada. 

This describes a significant encounter between Narada, a revered sage, and Ravana, the powerful lord of the rakshasas. The meeting takes place in a dense forest, highlighting the contrasting natures of the two characters. Narada begins by praising Ravana's noble heritage and formidable abilities, but he raises concerns about Ravana's brutality in killing mortals. Narada underscores the suffering of humanity, noting that they face confusion in their pursuits and often seek happiness in transient pleasures such as music and dance. He characterizes them as already burdened by life's challenges, prompting him to question Ravana's motivations for inflicting further pain upon these already devastated beings. 

Ravana’s ambitious nature is revealed as he expresses a desire to dominate the three worlds, subjugate the gods, and even the serpents. His grand plans include churning the ocean to obtain amrita, the elixir of immortality, which illustrates his thirst for power and control. However, Narada warns Ravana about the perilous path he has chosen, specifically the inevitability of encountering Yama, the king of death.  

Despite Narada’s caution, Ravana remains resolute, unfazed by the impending dangers of his quest. He is determined to combat and defeat Yama, showcasing a bold yet hubristic aspect of his character. His ambition drives him to declare his intentions to defeat not just Yama, but also the four guardians of the world, underscoring a powerful desire to challenge the very concepts of life and death. With cheerfulness, Ravana departs towards the south accompanied by his ministers, illustrating his confidence in his mission. 

In the aftermath of their encounter, Narada reflects on the futility of Ravana's endeavors. The sage questions the practicality of battling Death, noting that it is Death who ultimately governs the destinies and lifespans of all beings. He ponders the folly in Ravana's quest to conquer something as inevitable and universal as mortality. Driven by a blend of curiosity and concern, Narada decides to follow Ravana on his journey to Yama’s abode, suggesting that he has a vested interest in witnessing the outcome of Ravana’s ambitious yet reckless pursuit. 

Ravana's aspirations appear grand and noble on the surface, rooted in a desire for power, yet they are fraught with the risk of overstepping natural boundaries. 

In chapter 21, Ravana goes to the nether region to challenge Yama. 

There emerges a mythological confrontation between Maharshi Narada and Yama, the god of death, against the backdrop of an impending war brought on by Dashagriva, the powerful rakshasa.  

It opens with Maharshi Narada visiting Yama. Yama greets Narada warmly and raises a profound question regarding dharma. However, the conversation quickly pivots to a pressing threat facing the celestial order: Dashagriva, a formidable opponent who is advancing with the intention to conquer. 

Upon arrival, Dashagriva’s vimana illuminates the sky. He has the ability to observe the consequences of both good and bad deeds among creatures. In a bold move, he frees souls that are suffering due to their past wicked actions, which angers the guardians of the dead. 

The conflict escalates into a fierce battle between Yama's forces and Dashagriva along with his advisors. Despite being attacked, Dashagriva's vimana remains indestructible, showcasing its divine origin. Both sides employ a variety of weapons, resulting in a bloody struggle where valor and ferocity are emphasized. 

As the battle intensifies, Dashagriva, after sustaining injuries, decides to abandon his vimana and prepare for ground combat. He employs the divine pashupata weapon, launching a fiery arrow that wreaks havoc upon Yama's forces, leading to significant destruction and the downfall of many soldiers. 

Ultimately, Dashagriva’s display of strength and fear leads to chaos on the battlefield, starting a great duel with guardian of death Yama. 

This concludes chapters 19, 20 and 21 of Uttara Kanda, where we had seen Ravana challenging all the kings on the land, the submission of every one to him. He wages war against a formidable king from Ayodhya, Anaranya whose valor still doesn’t match with Ravana. Before death, he foresaw a great king from the lineage of Ikshvaku will defeat Ravana. Thus, the rise of Rama in this lineage and his defeating Ravana has been destined long before. Ravana converses with sage Narada who questions his ruthless aggression and raises concerns about Ravana's brutality in killing mortals. Ravana expresses his desire to dominate the three worlds and churn the ocean to obtain Amrita, the elixir of immortality. He further wishes to defeat Yama, challenging the concept of life and death. Narada reflects on the futility of Ravana's endeavors and follows him to nether land where Ravana engages in duel with Yama. In a bold move, Ravana frees souls that are suffering due to their past wicked actions beginning a tussle with guardians of dead. We can see the further detail on this war and other exploits of Ravana in subsequent chapters.

Ravana Threatens All and Lays a Path for his Own Destruction

We are seeing the rise of Ravana to intimidate one and all. All these episodes happened before Ravana transgressed into the path of Rama. By the time Ravana came into the life of Rama, he was completely established as a demon whom everyone fear. It is this pride which is the reason to propel him into enmity with Rama and discard him as mere human. The reason behind feeling immense pride in his own abilities is developed during this time when he rises slowly and win wars against everyone, threatening the Gods. We had already seen in last post that Ravana went to Kailasa, faces Yakshas, defeats them all including the lord of treasures - Kubera or Dhanada. He even seizes the Pushpaka chariot from Dhanada after defeating him. Thus, his slow rise has started after thousands of years of immense penance. The boons he acquired added further strength by giving him immunity from death against all the celestial beings. This placed him in a good position to question the status quo of Gods and wage wars against them. Thus Ravana slowly evolves into an omnipotent force who threatens and defeats all and we can see in the following chapters how he creates a path for his own destruction and how he brought fear to heavenly beings. 

In chapter 16, the story behind the origin of Ravana’s name is discussed. 

Dashagriva, the formidable lord of rakshasas, had just defeated his brother Dhanada and was on his way to the clump of reeds where Mahasena was born. Upon his ascent up the mountain, he noticed that Pushpaka, a celestial vehicle that typically moved freely, was unable to advance. This peculiar situation prompted Dashagriva to inquire about the reason behind the obstruction. His insightful adviser, Maricha, speculated that some force must be preventing Pushpaka's movement. 

At that moment, Nandishvara, a powerful follower of Bhava (Shiva), arrived beside Dashagriva. He boldly informed the rakshasa king that Shankara (another name for Shiva) was present on that mountain, making it impassable for various creatures including rakshasas. Enraged, Dashagriva attempted to determine who this Shankara was and descended from his celestial vehicle, Pushpaka. 

Soon, he encountered Nandishvara, who resembled Shankara and held a spear. Dismissive of Nandishvara’s appearance and in his ignorance, Dashagriva laughed, failing to acknowledge the power behind this individual. However, Nandishvara, angered by this slight, warned the rakshasa king that because of his insolence, a lineage of vanaras (monkey-like beings) similar to Nandishvara's form would arise to ensure Dashagriva’s destruction. Despite the threat, Dashagriva was unperturbed and continued to defy the mountain and its guardian. 

He boasted that he would destroy the mountain, which he claimed had hindered his progress and Pushpaka’s movement. With this declaration, Dashagriva attempted to lift the mountain, much like a beast lifting a tree with prey atop it. However, Mahadeva, amused by Dashagriva's futile efforts, simply pressed down on the mountain with the toe of his foot, crushing the hands of Dashagriva that were wedged underneath. 

The pain inflicted upon Dashagriva caused him to emit a roar so loud that it echoed through the three worlds, instilling terror in humans and distracting the gods from their tasks. Yet, Mahadeva, seated calmly at the summit, was pleased with Dashagriva's show of ferocity and valor. He addressed the rakshasa king, commending him and bestowing upon him the name Ravana, which means "the one who makes the worlds scream," due to his terrible roar. 

With this new name, Ravana was filled with confidence and was granted permission by Mahadeva to depart. Having accepted his name from the god himself, Ravana mounted his celestial vehicle, the vimana, and began to roam the earth with newfound purpose. He started to challenge and obstruct the mightiest kshatriyas, displaying his valor and strength as he journeyed through realms, embracing the legacy that Mahadeva had just conferred upon him. 

Thus, the tale of Ravana's rise unfolds, marked by his encounter with divine entities and the fate that awaited him as a powerful figure in the mythos of the rakshasas and their timeless rivalry with the forces of good represented by the gods. The transformation from a mere rakshasa king to a legendary figure possesses a significant weight, symbolizing themes of pride, power, and the inevitable consequences of one’s actions in the grand tapestry of mythological history. 

In chapter 17, the story of Vedavati can be known. 

Ravana, the mighty rakshasa king, roamed the earth and found himself in a secluded Himalayan forest. There, he encountered a beautiful maiden, Vedavati, who was performing rigorous austerities and rituals, her long hair matted and dressed in a black antelope skin. Enchanted by her beauty, Ravana approached her with curiosity and desire, questioning her choice to engage in such severe penance instead of enjoying her youth. 

Vedavati, responding to Ravana's inquiries, revealed her noble lineage. She was the daughter of Kushadhvaja, a revered brahmana rishi, who was known for his virtuous practices and adherence to the Vedas. Vedavati explained her ongoing austerities were in service of her father's desire for her to marry Vishnu, the supreme god, rejecting all other suitors, including those from among gods, gandharvas, yakshas, and rakshasas. This commitment stemmed from a tragic event: her father was killed by a powerful daitya king, Shambhu, who was furious upon learning that Kushadhvaja intended to give his daughter to Vishnu. With her father’s death weighing heavily on her heart, Vedavati pledged to fulfill his wishes regarding Vishnu. 

As Ravana pressed her, questioning her desire for Vishnu amidst her beauty and youth, Vedavati fiercely declared her intentions. Despite Ravana's attempts to entice her and challenge her resolve, she remained steadfast in her dedication to Narayana or Vishnu, even calling him supreme amongst gods. When Ravana attempted to forcefully take hold of her, she resisted fiercely; despite his strength, Vedavati was not cowed. In a moment of defiance, she cut off her own hair and proclaimed that she would no longer wish to live in the presence of such oppression. She made the momentous decision to embrace death by self-immolation, entering a fire she had lit. 

Before entering the flames, Vedavati announced her intentions with clarity: she wished for her soul to be reborn to fulfill her father’s wish, yet her mortal form could not endure the shame of being seized by a rakshasa. Vedavati’s curse would not be directed at Ravana, for she recognized that doing so would diminish her power accumulated through her austerities. Instead, her resolve was to be reborn as a virtuous daughter of another noble lineage, one who followed dharma. 

As she walked into the fire, divine flowers rained from the heavens, honoring her sacrifice. Vedavati’s fortitude and sacrifices did not go unnoticed, and so her spirit was born again from the mouth of a plough in a field, likened to the flame of fire that emerges from a sacrificial altar. This rebirth took place in treta yuga, and though she was born of different origins, she retained the essence of her previous life. 
She
was
born
from
a
plough and
people
referred
to
her
as
Sita. Thus, she was known once more as Vedavati, destined for greater developments in her destiny, hinting at a significant fate entwined with the mighty Ravana. 

The tale of Vedavati paints a portrait of unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and the pursuit of dharma amidst overwhelming desires and adversities. Her story exemplifies the trials faced by those bound to fulfill noble aspirations, reiterating the idea that true virtue often comes at a great personal cost. This cycle of rebirth and commitment to a higher purpose would later intertwine with her identity as Sita, further validating her resolve and the overarching narrative of love, virtue, and righteousness that transcends the challenges faced in the corporeal realm. 

In chapter 18, the Gods assume a thousand forms in fear of Ravana. 

The rakshasa king Ravana soars through the skies on his Pushpaka vimana, after witnessing the self-immolation of Vedavati. His journey takes him to Ushirabija, where King Marutta is performing a grand sacrifice alongside the rishi Samvarta, renowned for his knowledge of dharma and akin to the esteemed Brihaspati. 

The atmosphere is tense as the gods, fearful of Ravana's invincibility due to a boon he possessed, disguise themselves to avoid confrontation. Indra transforms into a peacock, Dharmaraja into a crow, Varuna into a swan, and the lord of wealth into a lizard. Ravana boldly approaches King Marutta, demanding a duel or an admission of defeat. Surprised, the king asks for Ravana’s identity, prompting a boisterous laugh from the rakshasa, who revels in his notoriety. He boasts about his triumph over his elder brother, Dhanada, declaring his might and prowess. 

King Marutta, however, does not cower in the face of Ravana’s arrogance. He challenges the validity of Ravana's victory over his brother, rebuking him for deriving pride from an act deemed immoral and contrary to dharma. This accusation ignites a furious response; Marutta, incensed, prepares for combat. 

Yet, just as the king is about to unleash his wrath, the wise rishi Samvarta interjects, asserting that engaging in battle would jeopardize the sacrifice and thus threaten the continuity of Marutta's lineage. He implores the king to consider the sacredness of his undertaking and the inherent uncertainty of battle, especially against a formidable opponent like Ravana. Persuaded by Samvarta's wisdom and concern, Marutta lays down his weapons, refocusing on the sacrifice. 

With a sense of victory surging through him, Ravana declares his triumph, consuming the rishis gathered for the sacrifice, quenching his bloodlust. After he departs, the gods, returning to their divine forms, acknowledge their survival and express gratitude among themselves. Indra warmly addresses the peacock, wishing it well for its virtuous actions, promising to adorn its feathers with his thousands of eyes, a mark of favor. Similarly, Dharmaraja consoles the crow, assuring it of safety from illness, establishing a bond that will protect it as it interacts with humans. 

Varuna grants the swan an exquisite appearance and a promise of unmatched joy while confirming the transformation of these beings due to divine blessings. Vaishravana, the master of wealth, presents the lizard with a golden hue, ensuring its beauty will shine for eternity. These boons not only serve as rewards but also as embellishments that enhance the essence of each creature's existence in a world heavily influenced by divine favor and the looming presence of evil. 

The proceedings undeniably reflect a tapestry woven with admiration for dharma as the gods commend their allies, reinforcing their transformations as acts of divine love. 

This concludes chapters 16, 17 and 18 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Ravana face Nandishvara, dismisses him and cursed by Nandishvara that monkey forms or vanaras will emerge as forms of destruction for him. Ravana then tries to lift the mountain which is guarded and pressed down by Mahadeva. Unable to feel the pain, Ravana emits a roar which terrifies all beings and makes the world scream, earning him the name ‘Ravana’ which means the ‘one who roars.’ Buoyed by the name from Mahadeva, he begins to roam around the Earth fearlessly. Ravana then encounters Vedavati who performs austerities to marry Vishnu. Attracted by her beauty, Ravana forces her and catches her by hair. She cuts off her hair and having been oppressed decides to die. She is faultless and to avenge, she wishes to born again for his destruction. Thus, Vedavati in Krita yuga, gets her birth again in Treta yuga as Sita. By invoking Vanaras and Vedavati against him, he creates a path for his own downfall. After the self-immolation of Vedavati, Ravana proceeds to disturb the sacrifice of King Marutta where all the Gods present hide in the form of animals out of fear. We can see how Ravana continues his acts of atrocities further in the subsequent chapters.