Chapter 3
Ravana,
the Rakshasa King of Lanka, heard of Dasaratha and his fame. He was so filled
with envy that he determined on a sure plan to destroy him, by means, fair or
foul. Ravana sought for an excuse to provoke Dasaratha into a fight; one day,
he sent word through a messenger, that unless tribute was paid to him, he would
have to meet Ravana on the battlefield and demonstrate his superior might in
war. This call was against international morality, but what morality did a
Rakshasa respect?
When
Dasaratha heard the messenger speak, he laughed outright, in derision. Even
while the messenger was looking on, he shot sharp deadly arrows which reached
Lanka itself and fastened the gates of that City!
Addressing
the envoys, Dasaratha said, "Well, Sirs! I have now made fast the doors of
your fortress city; your master cannot open them, however hard he may try; that
is the 'tribute' I pay to your impertinent lord".
When the envoys returned and informed Ravana of this, he was shocked to find all the doors closed fast; the desperate efforts made by Ravana with all his men met with failure; they could not open the gates. When Ravana was struck with shame, strangely enough, the arrows returned to Ayodhya and the doors flew open.
Ravana,
however, decided that he must overpower all the rulers of the world and,
realizing that he could do so only by winning Divine Grace, he went over to the
depths of the forest and selected a favourable, auspicious spot for his ascetic
practices.
The
asceticism of Ravana was so intense and satisfying that God Brahma was
compelled to appear before him and offer to grant him whatever boon he desired.
"Ravana! Ask for anything you want! I shall give you your heart's
desire", said Brahma.
Ravana
was revolving in his mind the insult he had suffered at the hands of Dasaratha;
he argued that Dasaratha might get even mightier sons from whom he might suffer
more; so, he asked the boon he wanted, "Lord! Bless me with this gift of
Grace: let no child be born from the loins of Dasaratha".
At
this, Brahma said, "So be it", and immediately vanished from the
scene, lest Ravana might frame another foul request if He were present before
him! Ravana strutted about, proud and devoid of fear, exulting over his prowess
and success.
Meanwhile,
another project entered his head! "Dasaratha is a youth of marital age
now; if I so contrive that he does not marry at all, it will make my safety
doubly sure", he thought within himself! Looking about with the aid of his
Rakshasa skills, he discerned that there was a great likelihood that Dasaratha
will wed the daughter of the King of Kosala. So, he decided to put an end to
that princess! When one's own destruction is imminent, reason turns crooked -
as the saying goes! He entered the Kosala kingdom stealthily in disguise and
kidnapped the princess. Placing her in a wooden box, he cast it over the waves
of the sea.
Continued…
Love.
