Ramopakhyana Parva — The story of the birth of Rama and Ravana

Markandeya said : The ascetic Vishrava, who was begotten of the half body of Pulastya, with great anger began to look upon Vaishravana.

Knowing that his sire was angry with him, Kubera, the lord of Rakshasas, always tried to please him, O king.

Living in Lanka that king of kings, borne on the shoulders of men, sent three Rakshasis to wait upon his father.

O foremost of the Bharata, they, well-versed in the art of singing and dancing, always engaged in encompassing the pleasure of the high-souled Rishi.

O lord of the world, O king, Pushpotkata and Raka and Malini, slender waisted, vied with one another in pleasing him.

Being pleased with them, the high-souled sage conferred boons on them-and on each of them sons like Lokapalas according to their desire.

He begot on Pushpotkata two sons, the lords of the Rakshasas, Kumbhakarna and the tenheaded (Ravana) both unequalled in prowess on earth.

On Malini he begot one son named Vibhishana; on Raka he begot one son and one daughter named Khara and Shurpanakha.

In beauty Vibhishana surpassed them all; he grew very pious and used to perform rites.

That foremost of Rakshasas, the ten-headed (Ravana) became the greatest of them all; highly energetic, powerful and gifted with great strength and prowess.

The Rakshasa Kumbhakarna was the most powerful in battle; he was fierce, terrible and a perfect master of the arts of illustration.

Khara was proficient in archery, inimical towards Brahmanas and used to eat flesh; Shurpanakha used always to put impediments in the performance of ascetic observances.

All those heroes, well-versed in the Vedas and intent on the performance of religious rites, lived with their father in the Gandhamadana mountain.

There they saw Vaishravana seated with their father possessed of wealth and carried by men.

Possessed by jealousy they made up their mind to perform devout penances; and they pleased Brahma with severest ascetic penances.

Subsisting on air only surrounded by five sacred fires and engaged in meditation the tenheaded Ravana remained standing on one leg for a thousand years.

Lying down on earth and with restricted diet Kumbhakarna was engaged in penances; the wise and noble Vibhishana, fasting and living on dry leaves, engaged in meditation and practised devout penances for as long a period.

Khara and Shurpanakha with delighted hearts waited upon and protected them who were thus engaged in devout penances.

After the completion of a thousand years the invincible ten-headed, cutting off his ten heads, made them an offering to the sacred fire. The Lord of the universe was pleased with this act.

Thereupon Brahma, going there himself, made them desist from ascetic observances by promising to confer upon each one of them boons separately.

Brahma said: I am pleased with you, desist, O sons and pray for boons; all your desires, with the exception of immortality only, will be fulfilled.

As you have given your heads to fire from great ambition, they will again adorn your body as before, according to your desire.

There will be no disfigurement in your person; you shall be able to assume any person according to your desire, you shall always vanquish your enemies in battle.

Ravana said: May I never meet with defeat at the hands of Gandharvas, celestials, Kinnaras Asuras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Nagas and all other creatures.

Brahma said: You shall have no fear from those of whom you have mentioned except from men; may good betide you, this has been ordained by me.

Markandeya said : Thus accosted the ten headed Ravana was greatly delighted; on account of his perverted understanding, the man-eating (demon) disregarded human beings.

In the same way the grandfather addressed Kumbhakarna also; his reason being clouded by darkness he prayed for long lasting sleep.

Saying "So it shall be" he said to Vibhishana, “pray for a boon, O my son, I have been repeatedly pleased with you."

Vibhishana said: Even in great calamity may I have no inclination for impiety; ignorant, as I am, O lord, may the light of divine knowledge appear before me.

Brahma said : O repressor of your enemies, as your mind is not inclined to impiety, although you are born as a Rakshasas, I grant you immortality.

Markandeya said : Having obtained this boon, the ten-headed Ravana defeated Kubera in battle and wrested from him the sovereignty of Lanka.

That Divine one leaving Lanka and followed by Gandharva, Yakshas, Rakshasas and Kinnaras went to live on the mor atain Gandhamadana.

By force Ravana took from him the chariot Pushpaka. Vaishravana then cursed him, “This will not carry you;

It will carry him who will kill you in battle; as you have insulted me who am your adorable, you shall soon die.”

Always wending the way of the pious, those virtuous-souled Vibhishana, endued with great glory, followed him, O great king.

Then pleased with his younger brother, the Divine king of wealth, conferred upon him the command of the Yaksha and Rakshasa hosts.

The man-eating and highly powerful Rakshasas and Pishachas, having assembled together, installed the ten-headed Ravana as their king.

The terribly powerful, ten-headed (Ravana) assuming form at will and capable of going through the sky, attacked the gods and demons and took away by force from them their valuable property.

Because he had terrified all creatures he was called Ravana. And the ten-headed demon, capable of having any might at will, struck terror even to the very gods.