Ravana’s sorrow - Chapter 17

In the previous chapter, we saw Lakshmana kills Indrajit. , Now we'll see Ravana’s sorrow.

Ravana was informed by his ministers about the fierce war and the death of Indrajit at the hands of Lakshmana. He could not bear the news and fell down unconscious. After a long time, he came back to his senses and he began to lament for his son. He could not believe that his son who was so valorous and a great warrior and who had never known defeat in his life could ever be killed by anyone. He said that this would make the Devas and rishis happy but for him, the world looked empty. He regretted that it fell to his lot to do the last rites for his son whereas it would have been more appropriate if it were to be otherwise. All his sorrow crystallized into anger and he looked fearful with his big red eyes rolling and he spat fire as it were. The sound of his grinding his teeth produced such a loud noise as the machine ((Yantra) which the rakshasas turned. All those present were so scared that they turned away to escape his eyes.

Valmiki does not mention specifically what type of machine he meant. Earlier Hanuman describes huge contrivances which were kept along the wall of Lanka city which could hurl heavy objects to defend from the aggressors. Perhaps Valmiki alluded to such a machine!

Ravana then addressed all present and said “Who can dare face me armed with the armour gifted to me by Lord Brahma? No one is capable of breaking it with any weapon. Let the mighty bow given to me by Lord Brahma be brought now to the accompaniment of instrumental music (Ravana was a great lover of music and he himself played the Veena) with which I will kill Rama and Lakshmana”. Then his anger knew no bounds and he decided to kill Sita. He said that he would kill Sita this time really alluding to Indrajit who had earlier created only such an illusion to demoralize Rama. He drew his big sword and started to go and meet Sita. His friends tried to stop him but in vain.

Sita saw Ravana dashing towards her with a sword in his hands and how he could not be stopped by others. She started weeping and said to herself that her end apparently was not far. She feared that Rama and Lakshmana had already been killed. She said to herself that if Kausalya came to know this she would jump into the fire. She cursed her ill luck and repented that she became the sole cause of the total destruction of the Ikshvaku family.

At that time one of Ravana’s ministers called Suparshwa saw Sita grief-stricken and told Ravana “Ravana how could you, who have mastered all the Vedas and Shastras forget the principles of Dharma and decide to kill Sita. There is nothing that you do not know so spare Sita and show your anger on Rama. You avenge the death of your son by killing Rama and then come to Sita who is so pretty. You start the preparations of war today, which is the fourteenth day (in the bright fortnight), and leave tomorrow on the New moon day. You will return successfully after killing Rama”. Ravana listened to this advice and returned to his palace sparing Sita.

Ravana was a great king. He had studied all the Vedas and mastered them. He did great penance and pleased Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma and obtained several boons from them. But then he had the great defect of being short-tempered and impulsive. He did not have a steady mind at all. For instance, he brought Sita stealthily because he wanted to marry her. When he saw her in the Ashoka Vana he praised her beauty and told her that if only she accepted him he would put the empire under her feet and make all his queens serve her. But when Sita insulted him and rejected his advances he got angry and said that he gave Sita an ultimatum saying he would wait two months and if she still rejected him he would cut her into pieces and eat her for his breakfast. So how far he really loved her? Again now after his son Indrajit’s death, he showed his anger toward Sita and wanted to kill her without any hesitation. So he was fickle-minded. It is these defects that brought doom to him and his people.

Ravana ordered his army to go and attack Rama and kill him. He said that he would do it himself the next day if they failed to do so.

The rakshasa army went fully armed and attacked the Vanaras. They fought fiercely and the dust raised by them settled down with the river of blood that flowed over there. While the rakshasas used weapons to strike, the Vanaras used trees, rocks, nails, and teeth. Rama saw this and entered the field and showered his arrows on the enemy. He destroyed them like a wildfire would a forest. He moved about so swiftly that no one could see him. He was invisible like the ‘Jeevatma’ (soul is the closest translation) residing in each living being. Rama was like the fire of destruction and he annihilated the mighty rakshasa army in no time. Those who could save their lives returned to Lanka. Rishis, Gandharvas, Devas, and Siddhas praised Rama for his valorous performance. Rama then told Sugreeva, Hanuman, and other Vanara chiefs that the power of the astras that he had used was equaled only by those of Lord Shiva.

In the next chapter, We'll see The lamentations of the Rakshasis.