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The Ethical Excellence of Ravan
237
The ambitious actions of a power-monger throw thousands of people into the bottomless abysm of death and destruction.
Bhuvanalankar sped towards Iravan. Within a few moments, Ravan and Indra were fáce to face, in the battle-field. In the beginning, of course, the two elephants began fighting with their massive trunks. They attacked each other with their pointed and admantine tusks. As a result of this, blood began to flow down the temples of both the elephants. In the same manner, Indra and Ravan pounced upon each other not caring for their lives; and dealt deadly blows to each other. They fought against each other with arrows, maces, dumb-bells and spears.
When they found that they could not attain victory by using such ordinary weapons, they began to use supernatural weapons. Each began to release supernatural weapons after reciting the relevent-mantras : Yet Ravan could not defeat Indra. He felt a little powerless finding that all his supernatural devices were also powerless against Indra. Ravan glanced towards Sugriv. It did not take much time for Sugriv to realise that it was difficult to defeat Indra by those methods; so going near Ravan, he whispered something into his ears.
Accordingly, Ravan went a few steps forward and when he got an opportunity, he leaped on to the back of the elephant Iravan. With one stroke he cut off the head of the mahaut and without losing a single moment, he held Indra tightly; and took him captive.
Ravan carried out this plan with lightning speed; and so, Indra had no time to retaliate. On seeing that Indra was captured, his soldiers began to run away from the battle-field. The Vidyadhar heroes remained helpless ant woefully frustrated. Ravan took Indra and his elephant Iravan to his camp. The Rakshasa warriors were greatly elated; and began dancing and singing, drinking and revelling with exultation and jubilation. Ravan, in consequence, became the emperor of the Vidyadhar world.
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