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The Tale of Ravana
Yoga Shastra, Second Light, Verse 99:
"So much time has passed. Now is the time to serve them. Therefore, either show your devotion to them, or show your strength by fighting them. If you do not show either devotion or strength, your everything will be destroyed."
The king, hearing this, said to the messenger, "The poor, weak kings must have served him with devotion. No powerful ruler has dared to face him. Now, intoxicated with power, he wants me to serve him and worship him. Until now, Ravana's time has passed peacefully. Now it seems that the days of his destruction are left. Therefore, go to your master and tell him that if he wishes well, he should show devotion to me, otherwise, he should show his strength. If he does not show either devotion or strength, then understand that his destruction is certain."
The messenger went and told Ravana the whole truth. Hearing this, Ravana, filled with rage, became like the turbulent sea of the apocalypse. With his infinite army like surging waves, he arrived on the battlefield. The armies of both sides began to fight with great force. The shower of weapons from both sides seemed like the rain of clouds during the Samvartaka Pushkara Avarta.
After saluting Ravana, Ravana's son, Meghnad, challenged Indra to battle. "A valiant man does not give way to anyone in the game of war." To decide who would be victorious, the armies of both sides were moved away, and Ravana's son and Indra, both valiant warriors, engaged in a duel. Both crossed the river of war, striking each other with weapons. They quickly dodged each other, making it difficult to tell whether Meghnad was above or below, or whether Indra was above or below. Victory, frightened, went to Indra for a moment, and then to Meghnad in the next. Just as Indra, puffed up with pride like a musk deer, was about to strike, Meghnad attacked him with all his might. Immediately, Meghnad knocked Indra down and bound him. "The first reason for the victory of a man who desires victory is haste."
With a roar that shook the sky, Meghnad, like a living victory, handed the bound Indra over to his father, Ravana. Ravana also imprisoned him in a strong, secure prison. For the strong one does both - he kills and he protects.
At that moment, enraged by the capture of Indra, Yama, Varuna, Soma, and Kubera, the four Indra Subhats, immediately arrived and surrounded Ravana. Ravana, desiring victory, became four times more enthusiastic and clashed with the four Subhats. First, he broke the staff of the staff-bearer (Yama). Then he shattered Kubera's mace. After that, he broke Varuna's bow of the ocean. Just as a big elephant overpowers a small elephant, Ravana overpowered the four so much that they were completely defeated. Then, for the destruction of the enemy, he bound the four.
Taking Indra with him, along with the seven limbs of the kingdom, Ravana marched to conquer Patala Lanka. He killed the king of Chandrodya there and gave his kingdom to Khara, who had three heads and was strong in deceit. Khara, a strong and powerful man, took possession of all the palaces of Chandrodya. Only one pregnant queen escaped. After that, Ravana, the king of Lanka, returned to Lanka from Patala Lanka and made his kingdom, which was like thorns to the gods, thornless. [In other stories, it is described that Khara himself conquers the kingdom of Patala Lanka.]
Once, Ravana was going for a pleasure trip in his Pushpaka Vimana, when he saw the Marut king performing a great sacrifice. To see his sacrifice, Ravana descended from his Vimana and reached the sacrificial ground. The Marut king welcomed Ravana with a throne and other things. In the course of conversation, Ravana said to the Marut king, "Brother! Why are you performing this violent sacrifice that takes people to hell? The omniscient, benevolent gods who are well-wishers of the three worlds have declared non-violence as the dharma. Then how can dharma be achieved through this sacrifice, which is impure due to the killing of animals? Therefore, do not perform this sacrifice, which is like an enemy who spoils both worlds. If you reject my words and perform a sacrifice in the future, then..."
1. In another story, there is a description of Ravana binding Indra.
2. In one story, there is a description of Narada telling Ravana.
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