Part 4: Rāvaṇa’s sons

Then Queen Mandodarī bore a son, Indrajit, having wonderful strength, equal to Indra in splendor. After some time she bore a second son, Meghavāhana, delighting the eyes like a cloud.

After they had heard of the hostility between their fathers, Kumbhakarṇa and Bibhīṣaṇa were always attacking Laṅkā ruled over by Vaiśravaṇa. Then Vaiśravaṇa sent word to Sumālin by a messenger, “Control your own sons, look you! these younger brothers of Rāvaṇa. They, insolent, thinking themselves heroes, do not know the (comparative) strength of themselves and others. Living in Pātālalaṅkā, they are like frogs in a well. They make attacks on our city through trickery, excited by having the semblance of conquerors. For a long time I have paid no attention to them. If you do not control them, little fellow, I shall send them with you, too, by the path of Mālin.^[1] You ḍo not know our strength.”

Noble Rāvaṇa, angry, replied with these words: “Sirrah! who is this Vaiśravaṇa, who is tributary to an enemy? Is he who rules Laṅkā at another’s command not ashamed of himself, speaking so? This is great audacity on his part, indeed! You are a messenger. Therefore, I shall not kill you. Go!”

So addressed by Daśamauli, the messenger went to Vaiśravaṇa and related everything as it happened. Immediately after the messenger, Daśakaṇṭha started to Laṅkā with his brothers and his army in great anger. His advance having been announced by the messenger who had gone ahead, Vaiśravaṇa went forth from Laṅkā with his army to fight. Daśakandhara destroyed his army in a moment, like a wind destroying a forest, advancing unchecked. When his army had been destroyed by Rāvaṇa, considering himself destroyed, Vaiśravaṇa reflected, the fire of anger extinguished:

“Shame upon the continued existence of a proud man broken by enemies, like a pool whose flowers have been plucked, like an elephant whose tusks have been broken, like a tree whose branches have been cut, like an ornament without gems, like a moon whose moonlight has been destroyed, like a cloud whose water is gone. Or rather, let there be continued existence of him striving for emancipation. A man who has abandoned little, desiring much, is not an object of shame.^[2] Enough for me of this kingdom bestowing many worthless objects. I shall adopt mendicancy, the door to the house of nirvāṇa. Even Kumbhakarṇa and Bibhīṣaṇa, who did injuries to me, have become my benefactors by showing such a path. Rāvaṇa was a relative^[3] in the beginning; now he is a relative from his acts. For this intention of mine would not exist except for this coming here on his part.”

Reflecting in this way, Vaiśravaṇa abandoned weapons, et cetera completely and adopted mendicancy by himself, absorbed in the Principles. Rāvana bowed to him and said to him, his hands folded respectfully: “You are my elder brother. Pardon the sin of the younger brother. Make your kingdom even in Laṅkā without fear, brother. We shall go elsewhere. Earth is not lacking.”

The noble Vaiśravaṇa, absorbed in pratimā, destined for emancipation in that birth, answered nothing at all to him saying this. Realizing that Vaiśravaṇa was free from desire, he asked his forgiveness, bowed to him, and took his car Puṣpaka together with Laṅkā.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Indra had killed Mālin and given Laṅkā to Vaiśravaṇa.

[2]:

The ‘little’ is the kingdom and the ‘much’ is emancipation.

[3]:

A cousin, as were they all.