Ravana is on a full throttle rampage in the world. All the kings and mortal beings submit before him meekly without any challenge out of fear born from his powers and boons. There are few who stand still and face him in the war. A king of Ayodhya, Anaranya from the lineage of Ikshvaku dynasty is one who dares to face Ravana. He still loses the battle but prophesies someone from his lineage will overpower Ravana. We had already seen the young prince of Ayodhya in exile, Rama and Lakshmana emerge as his descendants to defeat Ravana. We are learning about the story of rise of Ravana along with seeds he has sown for his downfall years later. Killing of the king Anaranya is one of the seed sown long back for the emergence of Rama in the definite place and parentage. He had already sown the seeds for enmity with Sita, Varanas earlier when he oppressed Vedavati and Nandishvara. Now it is complete with laying inroads for the rise of Rama. Ravana converses with sage Narada and conveys his desire to control the three worlds, subjugate the gods, churn the ocean to obtain amrita, the elixir of immortality, which illustrates his thirst for power and control. He further challenges Yama, who is the God of death. He is determined to combat and defeat Yama, and also the four guardians of the world, underscoring a powerful desire to challenge the very concepts of life and death. We can look at the futile imaginations, continuation of war with Yama and further activities in following chapters.
In chapter 22, the duel between Ravana and Yama becomes intense when Brahma intervenes.
Yama, the god of death, confronts Ravana, the demon king. It begins with Yama hearing a resonant roar that leads him to believe that his forces have been defeated. As a response to this perceived crisis, Yama prepares for battle by summoning his divine chariot, which is accompanied by the personification of death, Mrityu, and armed with his formidable weapon, Kaladanda. The mere presence of Yama and the sight of his chariot instills fear across the three worlds, indicating his immense power and authority.
The main conflict occurs when Yama confronts Ravana. From the onset of their encounter, Ravana exhibits an undeterred demeanor, retaliating against Yama's advances with a barrage of arrows. This skirmish escalates into a fierce battle that continues unabated for seven nights. Throughout this duration, both Yama and Ravana remain evenly matched, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. Their confrontation draws the attention of various divine beings and rishis, all of whom gather as spectators to witness the extraordinary clash of powers between the god of death and the demon king.
As the battle progresses, Yama's frustration and anger grow exponentially. In a moment of rising tension, he prepares to unleash his powerful weapon, Kaladanda, intending to turn the tide of the battle in his favor. Mrityu, eager to support Yama, implores him to permit him to kill Ravana, emphasizing the dire situation that necessitates action against the demon king. In response to this mounting anger and the wish for vengeance, Yama raises Kaladanda, causing palpable fear among all creatures present in the vicinity of the battle, signifying the lethal intent behind his actions.
However, as Yama readies himself to strike, an intervention occurs. A grandfather figure, Brahma, who possesses wisdom and insight, steps in to caution Yama against using Kaladanda to attack Ravana. He reminds Yama that Ravana holds a boon which provides him protection from such divine assaults. This counsel resonates with Yama, who has been driven by fury but now faces the sobering reality of the conditions of the battle. Recognizing the wisdom in this intervention, Yama reluctantly withholds Kaladanda, exhibiting restraint despite his irritation at being unable to vanquish Ravana.
It culminates in Yama's withdrawal from the confrontation, as he vanishes from the battlefield, leaving Ravana to claim victory over the god of death. As Ravana departs from the scene, he does so with a sense of triumph, marking the conclusion of this significant encounter.
In chapter 23, Ravana’s confrontation with Varuna can be seen.
Ravana is known for his remarkable defeat of Yama, the god of death, which significantly boosted his pride and self-confidence. This decisive victory not only elevated Ravana’s status but also invigorated his aides, particularly Maricha, who were inspired by his prowess. Feeling emboldened by this achievement, Ravana ventured into rasatala, a mystical realm occupied by daityas (demons) and serpents, where he successfully subjugated its inhabitants.
In his quest for power, Ravana faced the formidable Nivatakavachas, engaging them in a fierce battle that led to a year-long stalemate. As the conflict dragged on without resolution, an elderly figure, possibly a wise elder or kin, proposed an alliance between Ravana and the Nivatakavachas. This strategic suggestion was pivotal, as it would not only reinforce Ravana's position but also grant him access to the knowledge that could enhance his abilities.
Through this alliance, Ravana absorbed a wealth of knowledge, learning over a hundred types of maya (illusionary arts) from the Nivatakavachas. This newfound expertise would later prove invaluable as he seized control of the city of Ashma, where he killed four hundred daityas, further solidifying his dominance over the region.
Ravana’s conquests didn’t stop there; he also paid a visit to Varuna, the god of the ocean. During this encounter, he witnessed the cow Surabhee, known for its magical capacity to produce milk that contributed to the creation of the ocean Kshiroda. This event reflected Ravana's reach beyond terrestrial realms, as he engaged with divine beings and absorbed their powers.
However, Ravana’s ambitions led to conflict with Varuna, resulting from his aggressive actions towards Varuna's forces. Provoked by Ravana's demands for combat, Varuna, furious at the affront, mobilized his sons and grandsons to confront Ravana in battle. This engagement marked the beginning of a fierce confrontation, where Ravana's forces initially gained the upper hand against Varuna’s troops.
In the heat of battle, Mahodara, one of Ravana’s stalwart advisors, stood out for his bravery. He fought valiantly against Varuna’s sons, demonstrating remarkable skill by destroying Varuna’s chariots and horses, which inflicted considerable distress on Varuna’s forces. Despite the chaos and turmoil that ensued, Varuna’s sons rallied and mounted a counterattack. However, Ravana countered their efforts effectively with powerful arrows and weapons.
The conflict escalated as both sides engaged in relentless fighting. Eventually, Ravana's might proved overwhelming, leading to the repulsion of Varuna's forces. Just as the fight reached its climax, Varuna’s minister approached Ravana to inform him that Varuna was currently away, implying that the ongoing battle was unnecessary.
Content with demonstrating his superiority and the power he wielded, Ravana chose to end the confrontation. Satisfied with the outcomes of the skirmish, he returned to Lanka, celebrating his triumphs and the prestige they conferred upon him.
In chapter 23b, Ravana’s meeting with Bali is discussed.
A concise narrative of Ravana's encounter with a magnificent palace in Ashma, which sets the stage for a significant confrontation.
Ravana discovers a grand palace filled with splendid riches, including emeralds, pearls, and gold, which makes it reminiscent of Mahendra, the abode of the gods. Intrigued by the palace, Ravana dispatches his follower, Prahasta, to investigate who owns this magnificent structure.
Prahasta's exploration takes a terrifying turn as he encounters a man seated in flames, who bears a frightening resemblance to Yama, the god of death. This figure elicits fear in Prahasta, and ominous signs start to unfold as Ravana approaches the palace, hinting at the supernatural events that are about to transpire.
Upon reaching the palace, Ravana finds his entrance blocked by a powerful figure who challenges him to combat. This figure introduces himself as Bali, the Lord of the Danavas, known for his immense strength and valor. Bali warns Ravana of the might of the being who guards the door, revealing that it is Lord Vishnu.
Bali recounts his own history, explaining how he was imprisoned by Vishnu and how Vishnu had previously vanquished powerful Danavas. He portrays Vishnu as the Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer of the universe, emphasizing that no being, including Ravana, can challenge Vishnu's control and power over existence.
Despite these warnings, Ravana's anger and pride compel him to confront the divine presence. In a display of bravado, he attempts to lift a celestial disc, representing an effort to assert his own power. However, he quickly discovers his limitations when he fails in this endeavor.
As the interaction unfolds, Vishnu, honoring the wishes of Brahma, chooses not to slay Ravana, opting instead to become invisible. This act of restraint leads Ravana to believe that he has triumphed over the situation, and in a state of exultation, he departs from the palace, seemingly unaffected by the warnings he had received.
Ravana's encounter with the palace illustrates his character as a powerful yet flawed king who, despite warnings and displays of supernatural strength, is unable to overcome the ultimate reality of divine might.
This concludes chapters 22, 23 and 23b of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Ravana face Yama, Varuna and Bali while prevailing upon all of them without getting death due to a boon received earlier. He can never be killed by higher forms but only possible by lowly humans. Ravana however, causes fear by these exploits and also learns to weave magic powers. We can look at his further encounters in the subsequent chapters.
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