|
Continued
from yesterday’s instalment
 There is a general belief among many that Ravana did not have any fault in his character and that the only blunder in his entire lifetime was to have fallen in blind love with Sita. Many even go to the extent of claiming that he was a gentleman to the core since though he imprisoned her, he did not touch her and was patiently waiting for her acceptance. But the Book paints a diametrically opposite picture.
The list of exploits and escapades of Ravana is very long endless - his victory over the Nagas, his fight with the Nivatakavacas, whom he befriended at the end on the advice of Brahma his war with Varuna, to mention a few. Brahma appeared before Ravana and Nivatakavacas when they were fighting and told them that he favoured friendly ties between them as they were equals in prowess and that none of the two could establish a clear win over the other. Ravana learnt his conjuring tricks from Nivatakavacas. This was followed by the battle with Kalakeyas during which time Ravana killed them all, without realising that Vidyujjihva, who was the husband of his sister Surpanakha was one among them.
On the other hand, his weakness for the fair sex is spoken elaborately in the Book. There is for instance, the story of Ravana carrying off numberless women forcibly in his aerial car when returning from the battle with Varuna. "While returning (home) highly rejoiced, the said Ravana of perverse soul bore away on the way the virgin daughters of kings, Rishis (the seers of Vedic Mantras), gods and Danavas. Killing the kinsfolk of the maiden or woman whom he actually found to be comely, the ogre would forthwith shut her up in his aerial car. In this manner he lifted into his aerial car virgin daughters of Nagas, nay, those of ogres, demons and human beings as well as those of Yaksas and Danavas," says Valmiki. (Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, Canto XXIV, Sloka 1-3)
And Valmiki goes on to narrate the wailings of these poor souls who were forcibly carried away against their will. "How, I wonder will my son actually fare without me? How will my mother and brother, completely submerged in an ocean of grief get on? Oh, how shall I do without that husband of mine?" (Ibid, Sloka 13-14)
 Here is abundant proof, if proof were needed, that lets the material that Ravana was made of, out. He did just anything to appease his hunger. He did not have any respect for values. The above Slokas clearly establish that women who were married and were mothers of young children were in the aerial car whom he carried away by force.
And it is this curse of the maidens which is spoken about again and again by Vibishana and others in the war council and at other times. "Ah, though holding fast to evil conduct, he does not feel disgusted with himself; the prowess of the evil-minded fellow is for that matter entirely becoming of him. This act of laying his hands on others' wives is (quite) unworthy of him.
Since this wretch among the ogres takes delight in the wives of others, hence the evil-minded fellow will undoubtedly meet his death through the effort of a woman
alone." (Ibid, Sloka 19-20)
Taking by force and keeping in isolation for a time has worked for Ravana in achieving his purpose. Physically weak, psychologically wrecked and finding no purpose in existence after some time, a good number of them must have yielded to him much later. And it is this kind of seasoning and experience that impelled Ravana to think that Sita could be brought to his way in a similar manner. Such kind of scheming is not possible for plain minds, otherwise. A scholar in scriptures, no doubt; a person who spent a good part of his life in penance, notwithstanding; one who turned into a devotee of Lord Shiva later, not denied; Ravana had never had respect for values, for the feelings of others and had his way with everyone by force and threat. Here lie the clues for his behaviour later with Sita.
More follows...
Published on 28th July 2002
Hari Krishnan
Index
| Next Article
|
|
