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INTERVENING STORIES
137
According to the VR, after defeating Yama, Rāvana enters the Rasātala, conquers the Nāgas of Bhogavatīpurī, makes friends with the Nivātakavaca Daityas of Manimayapuri, conquers Ašmanagara and kills Vidyujjihva (Śūrpanakha's husband, already referred to), fights with the sons of Varuna and overpowers them. He further challenges Varuna, but the latter was not there at that time. Varuņa's minister Prahāsa admits the defeat of the sons of Varuna. At this Rāvana gets elated and returns to Laikā. No second fight with Varuna is mentioned.
The TR merely refers to the vacating of their respective places by the Lokapālas as Rāvana attacks them. He is further said to have subdued Ravi, Sasi, Pavana, Varuņa, Dhanadhārī (Kubera), Agni, Kala, Jama, the Kinnaras, Siddhas, Manujas, Suras and the Nagas. Rāvana is called the paramount emperor of the whole world. 1
The PCR mentions that Varuņa married his daughter Satyavati? to Rāvana (19. 99). The PCS follows the PCR and further adds that Hanumat made an attempt to bind the enemies with his magic tail (20.8 1). The RPS follows the PCS and refers to the binding of the enemy-soldiers by Hanumat with the help of his 'la igūla' charm (p. 69). The TSP follows the PCV.
The Ultarakānda of the VR contains some interpolated chapters. The first five chapters after 7. 33 describe the discomfiture of Rāvana at the hands of Bali, the former's attack on Sürya, Candra and Māndhata and his defeat at the hands of Kapiladeva. These descriptions do not find place in the PCV.
Out of the next five chapters inserted between 7. 37 and 7. 38, the first chapter describes the birth of Vāli and Sugriva. This account of the VR has been compared with that of the PVC. The next three chapters describe the purpose of Rāvana's decision to abduct Sitā. It is said that Rāvana kidnapped Sītā to attain emancipation at the hands of Rāma, i. e. Hari or Vişņu. This account has been referred to in the Comparative Rama-story' at relevant places. Then the fifth chapter narrates the humiliation and defeat of Rāvana at the hands of the women of Svetadvīpa. This account has no mention in the PCV
1. Bhujabala bisva basya kari rāk hesi kou na sutantra)
Mandalika mani Rāvana rāja karai nija mantra//-1. 182. 2. According to the PCV she is married to Hanumat (19. 32). 3. See 'Vanara Vamsa under 'Orgin and Genealogies of various Varhsas'.
