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CHAPTER I
ORIGIN OF THE RĀKṢASAVANŠA AND VĀNARAVANSA
Herein are related the lives of Baladeva Padma, of Viṣņu Nārāyaṇa, and of Prativiṣṇu Rāvaṇa, whose births took place in the congregation of Sri Suvrata Svāmin whose complexion was the color of antimony,88 the moon of the Hari-line.
Ravana's lineage (3-143)
At the time that the Arhat Ajita was wandering (over the earth), Ghanavāhana was the bulb of the Rakṣasline in Lankā on the Rakṣodvipa in this same Bharata. He, very wise, settled his kingdom on his son, Mahārakṣas, became a mendicant at the feet of Ajita Svāmin, and attained emancipation. After he had enjoyed the kingdom for a long time, Mahārakṣas also bestowed it on his son, Devarakṣas, became a mendicant, and attained emancipation. After innumerable lords of Rakṣodvipa had come and gone thus, Kirtidhavala was lord of the Rākṣasas in the congregation of Śreyansa.
At that time there was a renowned king of Vidyādharas, Atindra, in the city Meghapura on Mt. Vaitāḍhya. By his wife, Śrīmati, he had a son, Śrīkantha, and a daughter, Devi, like a goddess in beauty. The Vidyadhara-lord, Puspottara, lord of Ratnapura, asked the fair-eyed maiden in marriage for his son Padmottara. By the decree of fate, Atindra did not give her to him, though he was meritorious and distinguished, but he gave her to Kirtidhavala. When King Puspottara heard that she was married to Kirtidhavala, he, a destroyer of arrogance, became hostile to Atindra and Srikaṇṭha.
88 1. Antimony trisulphide. I.e., black.
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