We are in the initial chapters of Uttara Kanda which began with the question from Rama to sages to know about Rakshasas. Everything related to their clan will be put before Rama and this continues for a while in this kanda. As many as initial 40 chapters of this book brings us the stories and the historically important elements of Rakshasas till they crisscross with Rama while he is in exile. All the great sages who come to meet him talk to him at length and informs him everything he needs to know about the demons he just obliterated. We had seen about the birth of Ravana and his brothers to Vishrava and Kaikasi. Dashagriva or Ravana undergoes tremendous penance for thousands of years to get the boon of immortality and then occupy Lanka. He later gets married to Mandodari, Kumbhakarna to Vajrajvala and Vibhishana to Sarama. Mandodari gives birth to Meghanada or Indrajit who was more difficult to overcome in combat. As the union was in wrong time, Dashagriva treads wrong path even after intense penance to please Gods. He begins his crimes and gets into rivalry with higher beings like Yakshas, Devatas etc. which can be seen in following chapters.
In chapter 13, Ravana begin to commit crimes against Rishis and other celestial beings.
Kumbhakarna, who suffers from a profound sleep imposed by the creator of the worlds requests his brother, the king, to construct a residence for him. The king, Ravana dutifully builds with great splendor, resembling the divine abode of Kailasa, made with exquisite materials like crystal, gold, lapis lazuli, and diamonds. This beautiful residence serves as Kumbhakarna's sanctuary, where he sleeps for thousands of years without waking.
During Kumbhakarna's lengthy slumber, his brother, Dashanana (Ravana), wreaks havoc throughout the heavenly realms, attacking the gods, the rishis, and the celestial beings, demonstrating his power and fury. His destructive actions lead to devastating consequences in the Nandana groves and beyond.
Meanwhile, Vaishravana, also known as the lord of treasures, becomes aware of Dashanana's violent actions and, acting as a concerned elder, sends a messenger to remind Dashanana of his virtuous lineage and the need to adhere to dharma (righteousness). The messenger meets Vibhishana, Dashanana’s brother, and expresses concern about the destruction caused by Dashanana, warning him that the gods are preparing to oppose him.
Vibhishana shows respect to the messenger and provides access to Dashanana, who is seen blazing with his own energy. The messenger delivers a careful message, advising Dashanana to embrace virtue to enhance his character. He mentions the severe consequences of the king's actions, highlighting that the rishis have been harmed and there are preparations by the gods against him.
Despite the message's earnest appeal for virtue and caution about Dashanana's disregard for dharma, Dashanana reacts with anger, dismissing the messenger's words and threatening both him and his brother Vaishravana. Dashanana shows no intention of changing his current path and declares plans to conquer the three worlds instead. Driven by rage and a desire for power, he resolves to eliminate the guardians of the worlds, refusing to heed any advice or warnings.
He encapsulates themes of greed, preparing to face the consequences of neglecting virtue, and an inevitable clash between moral righteousness and tyrannical power. He faces the complexities of familial relationships and the weight of one's lineage, juxtaposed against the actions taken in pursuit of power. The residence of Kumbhakarna symbolizes a lost opportunity when sleep and indolence take control, contrasting sharply with Dashanana's relentless, yet destructive, ambition.
In chapter 14, the combat between Ravana and Yakshas is presented.
A fierce and tumultuous battle involving powerful beings, primarily focusing on the figure known as Dashagriva, who is accompanied by six formidable advisers: Mahodara, Prahasta, Maricha, Shuka, Sarana, and the brave Dhumraksha begins. It opens with Dashagriva, overwhelmed by rage and power, burning down cities, rivers, mountains, forests, groves and landscapes as he moves with urgency towards Mount Kailasa. Upon his arrival, he proclaims himself as the king’s brother, which prompts a gathering of those present to inform Dhanada, the lord of treasures, about Dashagriva's aggressive intentions. Dhanada permits them to engage in battle.
The ensuing conflict resembles a turbulent ocean, as the army of the king of the nairittas enters the fray, indicating a tumultuous and fierce engagement that causes the very mountains to shake. The yakshas face immense distress, and seeing their perilous condition, Dashagriva expresses delight and charges into the battle with reckless abandon. The rakshasas, led by the Indra among them, display extraordinary valor, with each adviser capable of taking on a thousand foes. Dashagriva engages intensely, wielding various weapons, such as clubs, maces, swords, spears, and javelins, demonstrating his brutality and prowess in combat.
The battlefield becomes a scene of massacre as Dashagriva unleashes havoc, slaughtering the yakshas and sending them to Yama’s eternal abode, illustrating the relentless nature of his assault. As the conflict escalates, the advisers of Dashagriva, including Mahodara and Shuka, join in defending their forces, compelling the dwindling yaksha ranks to flee, akin to the wind scattering clouds. The aftermath reveals immense carnage, with many yakshas falling in battle, some devastated by their injuries and others consumed by fear as they clung to each other amidst the chaos.
Despite their efforts, the yakshas find themselves devoid of spirit and coordination, ultimately falling to Dashagriva’s overwhelming strength. The gruesome imagery invokes a sense of loss, as those who perish ascend to heaven, though their struggle was fought on the earthly plane. As the multitude of rishis observe the battlefield, space in the sky becomes scarce, a testament to the sheer scale of the conflict.
Amidst this turmoil, a superior yaksha named Samyodhakantaka arrives with a formidable army and mounts, escalating the tension further. He strikes down Maricha, causing him to collapse as if he has lost his last bit of merit. However, soon Maricha recovers his strength and retaliates, successfully forcing Samyodhakantaka to retreat.
Throughout this chaotic exchange, the gates of a golden fortress adorned with lapis lazuli and silver become central to the unfolding events. Dashagriva successfully breaches these gates, facing a doorkeeper named Suryabhanu who attempts to restrain him. In a striking display of strength, Dashagriva uproots the gate and assaults Suryabhanu, who, due to a boon received earlier, is unharmed. This act of defiance causes panic among the yakshas, who begin to flee the battlefield, seeking refuge in rivers and caves, overwhelmed by Dashagriva’s relentless might.
In Chapter 15, the combat between Ravana and Dhanada is narrated.
A fierce battle continues between yakshas and rakshasas, particularly featuring key figures such as Manichara, Dhanada (the lord of treasures), and Dashagriva (the king of rakshasas). The yakshas, led by the formidable Manichara, found themselves under attack, having lost many comrades. As the battle escalated, they employed a variety of weapons—clubs, maces, spears, javelins, spikes, and bludgeons—to engage the rakshasas.
Prahasta, on one side, heroically killed a thousand opponents, while Mahodara accomplished the same feat with his weaponry. The battle became even more intense when Maricha, filled with anger, swiftly eliminated two thousand foes. Amidst this chaos, Dhumraksha faced off against Manibhadra, where an impactful blow from Manibhadra caused Dhumraksha to lose consciousness, spilling his blood on the battlefield.
This sight ignited fury in Dashanana, who retaliated fiercely against Manibhadra, likening his wrath to a destructive fire. Dashanana struck three javelins, followed by a powerful club strike that dislodged Manibhadra’s crown. Consequently, Manibhadra became renowned as Parshvamouli due to this encounter.
During the confrontation, the lord of treasures appeared, grappling with memories of his downfall—this transformation activated by an ancestral curse. Addressing his brother involved in the battle, he expressed concern over his present actions, emphasizing that the deeds of an evil-minded individual lead to dire consequences, essentially when they encounter the king of the dead.
Dhanada, the lord of treasures or Kubera urged that foolish actions, much like the effects of poison, catalyze suffering in the afterlife. He remarked on how ignorance during one's lifetime prompts various forms of misfortune, suggesting that true intelligence cannot flourish when wickedness prevails. Insisting that a lack of respect towards familial and authoritative figures blinds individuals to potential repercussions, Dhanada denied further engagement with evil conduct.
Upon the dismal responses, the great-souled Indra among the yakshas struck Dashagriva, but the rakshasa remained unfazed. The battle raged on with neither side showing signs of defeat or exhaustion. Unyielding, Dhanada unleashed the agneyastra, while Dashagriva countered with varunastra, each clashing with unpredictable ferocity.
As the battle reached fever pitch, Dashagriva overwhelmed Dhanada with a colossal club, causing him to lose awareness and witness blood cascading onto the ground. Eventually, the lord of treasures collapsed, akin to an ashoka tree severed from its roots. To restore Dhanada, his companions Padma and other nidhis took him to the verdant grove of Nandana.
Despite the yaksha's revival, Dashagriva emerged victorious over Dhanada, claiming the celestial Pushpaka vimana, resplendent with golden pillars and adorned with gem-encrusted doors. It was a vehicle of unparalleled luxury, capable of traversing wherever its master desired. Having achieved this victory through sheer valor, Dashagriva mounted the vimana and, after defeating the god Vaishravana, returned from Kailasa victorious.
This concludes chapters 13, 14 and 15 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Ravana began to commit crimes against Rishis, Yakshas and other celestial figures destroying their habitas and clashing with them. When Vibhishana and a messenger from Vaishravana presents good words to put him on the dharma, it was met with derision and a severe lust for power. Dashagriva clashes with Yakshas who fall ultimately to overwhelming strength. On seeing many Yakshas driven away, the lord of treasures or Dhanada himself comes to the battle. Ultimately, Manichara, Manibhadra and other key Yaksha strongmen fell to Dashagriva who also overpowers Dhanada. Dashagriva then claims the celestial Pushpaka vimana which can traverse to any location the master desires. Dashagriva then returns from Kailasa victorious and how Gods tremble with fear upon hearing Ravana can be seen in subsequent chapters.
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