Chapter 273

Markandeya said, “The Muni named Visrava, who was begotten of half thesoul of Pulastya, in a fit of passion, began to look upon Vaisravana withgreat anger. But, O monarch, Kuvera, the king of the Rakshasas, knowingthat his father was angry with him, always sought to please him. And, Obest of Bharata’s race, that king of kings living in Lanka, and borneupon the shoulders of men, sent three Rakshasa women to wait upon hisfather. Their names, O king, were Pushpotkata, Raka and Malini. And theywere skilled in singing and dancing and were always assiduous in theirattentions on that high-souled Rishi. And those slender-waisted ladiesvied with one another, O king, in gratifying the Rishi. And thathigh-souled and adorable being was pleased with them and granted themboons. And to every one of them he gave princely sons according to theirdesire. Two sons–those foremost of Rakshasas named Kumvakarna and theTen-headed Ravana,–both unequalled on earth in prowess, were born toPushpotkata. And Malini had a son named Vibhishana, and Raka had twinchildren named Khara and Surpanakha. And Vibhishana surpassed them all inbeauty. And that excellent person was very pious and assiduouslyperformed all religious rites. But that foremost of Rakshasas, with tenheads, was the eldest to them all. And he was religious, and energeticand possessed of great strength and prowess. And the Rakshasa Kumvakarnawas the most powerful in battle, for he was fierce and terrible and athorough master of the arts of illusion. And Khara was proficient inarchery, and hostile to the Brahmanas, subsisting as he did on flesh. Andthe fierce Surpanakha was constant source of trouble to the ascetics. Andthe warriors, learned in the Vedas and diligent in ceremonial rites, alllived with their father in the Gandhamadana. And there they beheldVaisravana seated with their father, possessed of riches and borne on theshoulders of men. And seized with jealousy, they resolved upon performingpenances. And with ascetic penances of the most severe kind, theygratified Brahma. And the Ten-headed Ravana, supporting life by means ofair alone and surrounded by the five sacred fires and absorbed inmeditation, remained standing on one leg for a thousand years. AndKumvakarna with head downwards, and with restricted diet, was constant inausterities. And the wise and magnanimous Vibhishana, observing fasts andsubsisting only on dry leaves and engaged in meditation, practised severeausterities for a long period. And Khara and Surpanakha, with cheerfulhearts, protected and attended on them while they were performing thoseausterities. And at the close of a thousand years, the invincibleTen-headed One, cutting off his own heads, offered them as offering tothe sacred fire. And at this act of his, the Lord of the Universe waspleased with him. And then Brahma, personally appearing to them, badethem desist from those austerities and promised to grant boons unto everyone of them. And the adorable Brahma said, I am pleased with you, mysons! Cease now from these austerities and ask boons of me! Whatever yourdesires may be, they, with the single exception of that of immortality,will be fulfilled! As thou hast offered thy heads to the fire from greatambition, they will again adorn thy body as before, according to thydesire. And thy body will not be disfigured and thou shall be able toassume any form according to thy desire and become the conqueror of thyfoes in battle. There is no doubt of this!’ thereupon Ravana said, ‘May Inever experience defeat at the hands of Gandharvas, Celestials, Kinnaras,Asuras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Serpents and all other creatures!’ Brahmasaid, ‘From those that hast named, thou shalt never have cause of fear;except from men (thou shalt have no occasion for fear). Good betide thee!So hath it been ordained by me!’

“Markandeya said, ‘Thus addressed, the Ten-headed (Ravana) was highlygratified, for on account of his perverted understanding, the man-eatingone slightened human beings. Then the great Grandsire addressedKumbhakarna as before. His reason being clouded by darkness, he asked forlong-lasting sleep. Saying, ‘It shall be so’ ‘Brahma then addressedVibhishana, ‘O my son, I am much pleased with thee! Ask any boon thoupleasest!’ Thereupon, Vibhishana replied, ‘Even in great danger, may Inever swerve from the path of righteousness, and though ignorant, may I,O adorable Sire, be illumined with the light of divine knowledge!’ AndBrahma replied, ‘O scourge of thy enemies, as thy soul inclines not tounrighteousness although born in the Rakshasa race, I grant theeimmortality!’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having obtained this boon, the Ten-headedRakshasa defeated Kuvera in battle and obtained from him the sovereigntyof Lanka. That adorable Being, leaving Lanka and followed by Gandharvas,Yakshas, Rakshas, and Kinnaras, went to live on mount Gandhamadana. AndRavana forcibly took from him the celestial chariot Pushpaka. And uponthis Vaisravana cursed him, saying, ‘This chariot shall never carry thee;it shall bear him who will slay thee in battle! And as thou hast insultedme, thy elder brother, thou shalt soon die!’

“The pious Vibhishana, O King, treading in the path followed by thevirtuous and possessed of great glory, followed Kuvera. That adorableLord of wealth, highly pleased with his younger brothers, invested himwith the command of the Yaksha and Raksha hosts. On the other hand, thepowerful and man-eating Rakshasas and Pisachas, having assembledtogether, invested the Ten-headed Ravana with their sovereignty. AndRavana, capable of assuming any form at will and terrible in prowess, andcapable also of passing through the air, attacked the gods and theDaityas and wrested from them all their valuable possessions. And as hehad terrified all creatures, he was called Ravana. And Ravana, capable ofmustering any measure of might inspired the very gods with terror.”