Balakanda - Doha 171 to 180

Doha - 171

Again he carried off the king's family priest and , depriving him of his senses by his supernatural power, kept him in a mountain-cave.

Himself assuming the form of the family priest, the demon went and lay down on the former's sumptuous bed. The king woke even before daybreak and felt much astonished to find himself at home . Attributing the miracle to supernatural power of the sage, he got up quietly , unperceived by the queen . Mounting the same horse he rode off to the woods without any man or woman of the city knowing it. When it was midday , the king returned; there was rejocing and festal music in every house . When the king saw his family-priest , he looked at him in amazement, recollecting the object he held so dear to his heart . The interval of there days hung heavy on the monarch as an age, his mind being set on the feet of the false anchorite. At the appointed time the prist came and reminded him in detail of all that had been agreed upon.

The king was delighted to recognize his preceptor (in the priest's form); his mind was too clouded to have any sense left. At once he invited a hundred thousand chosen Brahmanas with their families.

The priest cooked four kinds of foods with six different tastes as mentioned in the Vedas. He prepared an illusory banquet and a variety of seasoned dishes more than one could count . Dressing the flesh of a variety of seasoned dishes more than one could count . Dressing the flesh of a variety of animals the wretch mixed with it the cooked flesh of Brahmanas. All the invited Brahmanas were then called for the dinner. Their feet were duly washed and they were respectfully shown to their place . The moment the king began to serve the food , a (fictitious) voice from heaven (raised by the demon kalaketu himself )said ,"Up , up , Brahmanas! and return to your homes. Taste not this food; it most harmful. The dishes include the flesh of the Brahmanas. "Up rose all the the Brahmanas! and return to your homes. Taste not this food; it is most harmful. The dishes include the flesh of the Brahmanas. "Up rose all the Brahmanas believing the ethereal voice the king lost his neeerve; his mind was bewildered with infatuation. As fate would have it, he could not utter a word.

Then exclaimed the Brahmanas in wrath, regardless of consequences, "O foolish king go and take birth in the demon's form, you and all your family."

"O vile Ksatriya! inviting the Brahmanas you were out to ruin them with their families. But God has preserved our sanctity , it is you and your race that are undone. In the course of a year you shall perish; and not a soul shall be left in your family to ofter water to gratify your spirit. Hearing the curse the king was sore stricken with fear. Again, a voice was heard from heaven . O holy Brahmitted you have uttered this curse without careful thought; the king has committed no crime . "The Brahmanas were astounded when they heard the ethereal voice . The king hastened to the kitchen . There was neither any food there nor the Brahmana cook. The king returned in deep thought. He related the whole story to the Brahmana cook. The king retuened in deep thought. He related the whole story to the Brahmanas and threw himself on the grounf frantic with fear.

"Even though you are guiltless, O king what is inevitable fails not. A Brahmana's curse is very terrible; no anmount of effort can counteract it."

So saying, all the Brahmanas dispersed. When the people of the city received the news , they were much perturbed and began to blame Providence, who had begun upon a swan and produced a crow instead . Conveying the priest to his house , the demon (kalaketu) communicated the tidings to the priest to his house, the demon (kalaketu) communicated the tidings to the hermit. The wretch in his turn despatched letters in all directions and a host of princes hastened with their troops martially arrayed and, beating their kettledrums beleaguered the city. Everyday battles were fought in diverse forms .All his champions fought valiantly and fell. And the king with his brother bit the dust . Not one of Satyaketu's family surviived; a Brahmana's curse can never fail. Having vanquished the foe and re-inhabiting the city all the chiefs returned to their own capitals with victory and fame.

Listen, O Bharadvaja; whosoever incurs the displeasure of heaven, for him a grain of dust becomes vast as Mount Meru, a father becomes frightful as Yama (the god of deart) and every rope a snake.

O sage, in due time , I tell you, this king, with his family, was as a demon. He had ten heads and twenty arms . His name was Ravana; he was a formidable hero . The king's younger brother, Arimardana by name , become the powerful Kumbhakarna. His minister , who was known as Dharmaruci, became Ravana's younger half-brother, Vibhisana by name, who is known to the whole world as a devotee of God Visnu and a repository of wisdom. And the king's sons and servants, they were born a fierce demon crew. These wretches could take any shape they liked and bleonged to various orders. They were all wicked, monstrous and devoid of sense and were ruthless, bloody and sinful. They were a torment to all creation beyond what words can tell.

Even though they were born in the incomparably pure and holy line of the sage Pulastya, yet on account of the Brahmana's curse, they were all embodiments of sin.

All the three brothers practised austerities of various kinds , terrible beyond all description. Seeing their penance the Creator drew nigh and said to the eidest of them, "Ask a boon ,dear son. " The ten-headed Ravana suppliantly clasped his feet and addressed to him the following words . Listen O lord of the universe; my prayer is that I should die at the hands of none save monkeys and men . " "So be it; you have done great penance." This was the boon Brahma and I granted to him (said Siva) . The Creator then approached Kumbhakarna and was astonished to see his gigantic form . Brahma said to himself. "Should this wretch have his daily repast, the whole world will be laid waste," so Brahma directed Sarada, who changed his mind. Accordngly the demon asked for continued sleep, extending over six months.

Last of all Brahma went up to Vibhisana and said , "Ask a boon , my son." He asked for pure love for the lotus feet of the Lord.

Having granted them boons Brahma went away, while they retuened to their home rejoicing. The demon Maya had a daughter , Mandodaroi by name, who was exceedingly beautiful. a jewel of womankinds Maya brought and made her over to Ravana, knowing that the latter was going to become the lord of the demons. Delighted at having obtained such a good wife , Ravana next went and married his two brothers. On a three -peaked mountain called Trikuta in the middle of the ocean there stood a very large fortress built by Brahma himself . The demon Maya (who was a great architect) renovated it. It contained numberless palaces of gold and jewels and was more beautiful and charming than Bhogavati (the capital of patala, the nethermost region in the core ot the globe), the city of the serpents, and Amaravati, the capital of Indra (the lord of paradise) . It was known throughout the world by the name of Lanka.

The ocean surrounded it on all sided as a very deep moat. It had a strong fortification wall built of gold and jewels. the architectural beauty of which defied description. Whoever was preordained by Sri Hari to be the chief of the demons in a particular cycle , that illustrious hero of incomparable might lived there with his army.

Great domen worries had been living there. They were all exterminated in battle by the gods. Now under Indra's commission it was occupied by a garrison consiting of ten million guardas of Kubera (the chief of the Yaksas). Having obtained this news from some quarter Ravana marshalled his army and besieged the fortressw. Seeing his vast force of fierce warriors, the yaksas fled for their lives. Thereupon Ravana surveyed the whole city; he was much pleased with what he saw and all his anxiety (about a suitable capital) was gone. Perceiving that the city was naturally beautiful and inaccessible for others, Ravana fixed his capital there. By assigning quarters to his followers according to their several deserts he made them all happy. On one occasion he led an expedition against Kubera and carried away his aerial car known by the name of Puspaka as a trophy. (1-4)

Again in sprtive mood he went and lifted Mount Kailasa and thereby testing as it were the might of his arms, returned most jubilant (179)

His happiness and prosperity, the number of his sons, his army and his allies, his victories and glory, his might, wisdom and fame grew from more to more everyday even as avarice grows with each new gain. He had a stalwart brother like Kumbhakarna, a rival to whom was never born in this world. Drinking his fill he remained buried in sleep for six months; and at his waking the three worlds trembled. Were he to take his meals everyday, the whole universe would universe would soon have been ruined. He was unspeakably staunch in fight and there were numberless brave warriors who could be compared with him. Ravana eldest son was Meghanada, who ranked foremost among the champions of the world. Before him none could stande in battle. Due to him there was a stampede in the city of the immortals everyday. (1-4)

There were many more champions such as the hideous Kumukha, the intrepid Akampana, Kulisarada with teeth like thunderbolts, the fiery Dhumaketu and the gigantic Atikaya, each one of whom was able to subdue the whole world. (180)

Taking form at will, they were skilled in all forms of demoniac Maya (deceit); they never thought of piety or compassion even in dream. One day the ten-headed Ravana was seated in court and reviewed his innumerable retainers, hosts of sons and grandsons, relatives and servant, troops of demons, more than anyone could count On seeing the host the naturally pround Ravana spoke words full of wrath and arrogance." Listen, all demon troops: the host of heaven are my enemies. They never dare to stand up in open fight, but flee away at the sight of a powerful adversary. There is only one way of causing their death, which I tell you in detail; now listen to it, Go and prevent the feasting of Brahmanas, the performance of sacrifices, the pouring of oblations into the sacred fire, the ceremony of Sraddha (offering food etc., to a departed soul) and all other relighious functions. (1-4)