We are seeing the many pursuits of Ravana in the last many chapters. As he is a habitual predator, prying upon beautiful women, he comes across the celestial Rambha and forces upon her. In response, her husband Nalakuvara makes sure he never touches any other woman against her wish and would break his head into seven pieces if this is violated. This curse haunts Ravana to his end and protects Sita. Meanwhile Ravana pursues his dream to claim upper hand over Gods and wages war against Indra and his forces. This causes fear among the Devas as the Asura forces overwhelm them with their powerful repertoire. Ravana himself creates panic among the Deva ranks headed by Indra who approaches Vishnu for rescue. Vishnu observes he cannot be defeated by demons or Gods but his downfall would be certain at a later point of time. He himself incarnates in human form to defeat the evil which has threatened the very existence of cosmic balance in universe. Emboldened by the many boons, Ravana engages in a fierce battle with Gods to defeat them. The war hangs in balance for some time as both sides emerge equal and we can see in the following chapters how Ravani or son of Ravana, Indrajit takes Indra captive.
In chapter 29, Ravani takes Indra captive
In the midst of a chaotic and intense battle between the rakshasas and the gods, a profound darkness enveloped the battlefield, blinding most of the warriors. Despite the confusion, three figures—Indra, Ravana, and Ravana's immensely powerful son—remained unaffected by the darkness. The battle reduced both armies to a mere tenth of their original strength, with the rest succumbing to death and reaching Yama’s abode.
Filled with rage at the sight of the slain armies, Ravana instructed his son, who was on a chariot, to take him to the center of the enemy forces. Determined to annihilate the gods, Ravana vowed to destroy Indra, Varuna, Yama, and others, proclaiming his intent to rule the heavens. The charioteer, obeying Ravana’s command, drove the horses swiftly, bringing Ravana face-to-face with the gods.
Shakra (Indra), the lord of the gods, assessed the situation and devised a strategy to capture Ravana alive. Recognizing Ravana's strength and the protection afforded by a divine boon, Indra believed that capturing him would weaken the rakshasas and secure the gods’ victory. As Indra moved to a different position, he engaged the rakshasa forces and inflicted heavy losses. However, Ravana, undeterred, launched a fierce counterattack, penetrating deep into the gods’ ranks. Indra responded by leading his forces into the southern flank of the battlefield, while Ravana attacked from the north, unleashing devastating arrows that overwhelmed the gods’ army.
Amidst this chaos, Ravana's son, filled with rage, joined the battle. Utilizing powerful maya (illusory powers), he became invisible and attacked the gods with torrents of arrows. This gave him a significant advantage, as the gods struggled to identify their enemy. Capitalizing on this confusion, Ravana’s son confronted Indra directly. Despite Indra’s valiant defense and exceptional archery skills, Ravana’s son, Indrajit managed to overpower him with his maya. Eventually, he captured Indra and transported him to the rakshasa camp, leaving the gods in shock and despair.
The gods, unable to see their captured leader due to the strength of Ravana’s son’s maya, were demoralized. Meanwhile, Ravana faced an onslaught from celestial warriors, including the Vasus, Adityas, and Maruts. Although his strength initially allowed him to hold his ground, the relentless attacks from divine weapons exhausted him, and he struggled to continue the fight. At this critical moment, Ravana’s son, still invisible, urged his father to withdraw from the battle. He reassured Ravana of their victory, pointing out that Indra, the leader of the gods, had been captured. With the enemy in disarray, Ravana could now assert dominance over the heavens without further combat.
Taking his son’s advice, Ravana ended the battle. The gods’ forces, demoralized by Indra’s capture, retreated from the battlefield. Victorious and assured, Ravana returned to his residence. He praised his son for his immense valor, comparing it to that of the immortals, and expressed pride in his lineage. He commanded his son to secure Indra and bring him to the city, surrounded by rakshasa forces.
Ravana then prepared to follow with his advisors, celebrating their triumph. With Indra captured and the gods defeated, Ravana and his forces returned to their city, brimming with confidence and satisfaction. The rakshasas were granted permission to disperse and rest, marking the end of their victorious campaign against the gods.
This showcases Ravani’s exceptional prowess, and the destructive consequences of the battle between divine and demonic forces.
In chapter 30, A curse is pronounced by sage Gautama on Shakra.
Ravana’s son, immensely strong and valorous, triumphed over the great Indra in battle. Following this, Prajapati, leading the gods, went to Lanka to address Ravana. Positioned in the sky, Prajapati spoke to Ravana in a conciliatory tone, praising the exceptional bravery and generosity of Ravana’s son. He acknowledged that Indrajit’s valor rivaled, or even surpassed, that of Ravana himself. Prajapati reminded Ravana of his achievements, having subdued all three worlds through his might and fulfilled his ambitions.
Prajapati Brahma bestowed upon Ravana’s son the name Indrajit, signifying his victory over Indra. He foretold that Indrajit would become famous for vanquishing formidable enemies and credited him with aiding Ravana in subjugating the gods. Prajapati urged Ravana to release Indra, the chastiser of Paka, and asked what the gods could offer in exchange for his freedom.
Indrajit, confident and triumphant, declared his desire for immortality as a condition for releasing Indra. Prajapati, born from the lotus, explained that no being could be granted true immortality. Indrajit then proposed an alternative: he sought a boon ensuring that he could only be killed if he entered battle without completing his sacred rituals and fire oblations beforehand. Prajapati consented to this unique request, granting Indrajit his wish. Subsequently, Indra was freed, and he and the gods returned to heaven, albeit in a state of distress.
Indra, the mighty lord of the gods, was visibly shaken by his defeat and humiliation. His garments and garlands were disheveled, and he sank into deep contemplation. Seeing his anguish, Prajapati addressed him, reminding him of an earlier transgression that had led to this calamity.
Prajapati recounted the tale of Ahalya, a flawless woman created by combining the finest attributes of many beings. Her unparalleled beauty sparked envy and desire among the gods, including Indra. Though she was bestowed upon the sage Gautama as his wife, Indra, overcome by arrogance and desire, sought to possess her. One day, he entered Gautama’s hermitage and oppressed Ahalya, an act that enraged the sage. Gautama, a paragon of fortitude, discovered Indra’s misdeed and cursed him for this act.
Gautama’s curse decreed that Indra would face humiliation and defeat, including being captured in battle by his enemies. The sage also cursed Ahalya, condemning her to lose her unparalleled beauty and remain disfigured near his hermitage. As a result of these events, beauty was no longer confined to a single individual but became a shared attribute among all beings. This marked a transformation in creation, driven by the fallout of Indra’s actions.
Prajapati explained to Indra that his capture by Indrajit was a direct consequence of the curse, not a reflection of his inherent strength or courage. He advised Indra to purify himself through a Vaishnava sacrifice, which would restore his honor and allow him to regain control of heaven. Furthermore, Prajapati revealed that Indra’s son, who was thought to have perished in battle, had been saved and hidden by his grandfather within the great ocean.
Heeding Prajapati’s counsel, Indra performed the Vaishnava sacrifice and returned to heaven with the gods, reclaiming their dominion. Despite the setback, this emphasized the extraordinary power and might of Indrajit, who defeated the ruler of the gods and cemented his place in legend.
The tale serves as a testament to Indrajit’s valor and cunning, Ravana’s ambition, and the enduring consequences of adharma (unrighteous actions), even for the gods.
In chapter 31, Ravana goes to the banks of the Narmada river.
Astounded by the tale of Ravana’s exploits, Rama humbly sought further knowledge from the sage Agastya. He questioned how Ravana, the rakshasa lord, managed to dominate without facing opposition. Sage Agastya, smiling kindly, recounted the tale of Ravana’s adventures on Earth, specifically his encounter with the Haihaya king, Arjuna, near the river Narmada.
Ravana, ever ambitious and eager to prove his might, roamed the Earth, seeking challenges. He arrived at Mahishmati, a city as resplendent as the heavens, where King Arjuna of the Haihayas ruled with power comparable to the supreme Vasuretas. On the day of Ravana’s arrival, King Arjuna had gone to the Narmada to indulge in leisure with his companions. Determined to confront the king, Ravana demanded his location from the citizens, who informed him that Arjuna was away. Disappointed but resolute, Ravana departed for the Vindhya Mountains, a majestic range teeming with life and beauty.
The Vindhyas, with their thousand peaks and radiant caverns, captivated Ravana. Waterfalls laughed as they cascaded down the cliffs, and rivers sparkled like jewels amidst the greenery. Gods, danavas, gandharvas, and kinnaras frolicked with their consorts, while apsaras graced the mountains with their presence. Enchanted by the grandeur of the region, Ravana continued his journey to the sacred river Narmada, whose flowing waters sparkled like a celestial maiden adorned with ornaments.
The Narmada, revered as one of the finest rivers, was alive with activity. Animals such as buffaloes, lions, and elephants quenched their thirst along its banks, while flocks of swans and cranes sang in harmony. The river’s beauty was likened to a woman adorned with ornaments—flowering trees served as her jewelry, foam as her garment, and blooming lotuses as her eyes. Ravana, descending from his celestial Pushpaka chariot, approached the river with awe. He bathed in its refreshing waters, describing it as akin to embracing a beloved.
After his bath, Ravana settled by the riverbank, where he admired the scenery and praised the river’s serene beauty. Addressing his advisers—Maricha, Shuka, and Sarana—he remarked on the Narmada’s ability to dispel exhaustion and likened it to a frightened woman in its stillness. Commanding his entourage to cleanse themselves in the river, Ravana joked about the subdued behavior of natural forces in his presence, as though they feared his might.
His advisers, along with other rakshasas, immersed themselves in the Narmada. Like great elephants bathing in the Ganga, their movements agitated the waters. They then emerged from the river and gathered a vast assortment of flowers to offer as homage. Ravana, adorned with the fragrant blooms, descended into the river once more and performed rituals of purification. He chanted hymns in devotion to Lord Shiva, whom he revered as the supreme being capable of removing afflictions and granting boons.
With a golden linga carried by his followers, Ravana prepared an altar of sand on the riverbank and conducted elaborate worship. He adorned the linga with flowers and immortal scents, offering his prayers to Hara, the one who wears the moon as a crown. Enraptured by his devotion, Ravana extended his massive arms and danced in ecstasy, his steps echoing his profound reverence.
This puts forth Ravana’s complex persona: a conqueror seeking to dominate the world, yet deeply devout in his worship of Lord Shiva. As we can see, fhrough his acts of piety and celebration, Ravana demonstrated not only his might but also his unwavering faith, blending his ambitions with spiritual devotion.
This concludes chapters 29, 30 and 31 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Ravani or the son of Ravana dominate the celestial forces with his magical powers and take Indra captive. The power of Ravani came to the fore with this episode which was put before Rama who is astonished at his own war exploits with the son of Ravana. Rama questions the sages about the amazing display from Indrajit and where he got his much-famed abilities. The sages construct the entire response which puts the adventures of Ravana first and then comes to Ravani who seem to eclipse his own father. Ravana’s son came to be known as Indrajit with his capture of Indra and ends the war victorious over Gods. Ravana then takes Indra to his kingdom, elated by the acts of his son. Indra on the other hand comes to know from Prajapati that this is due to the curse of Sage Gautama. Indra’s release was also reached after Ravani was given a boon of near invincibility. Rama questions the sages how Ravana dominated without facing opposition. Agastya recounts the tale of his encounter with king Arjuna near river Narmada. We can see how Arjuna captures Ravana and further tales of the past in subsequent chapters.
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