Ravana Determined to Fight

Ravana Determined to Fight

The next day, when Ravana reappeared in the council chamber, to general disapproval Vibhisana tried again to bring Ravana to reason, but Ravana felt too attracted to Sita and could not accept things as they really were. He completely ignored Vibhisana and cut him off. Turning to Prahasta, he announced:

“I’ve made my decision. I will not give up on Sita. I cannot show fear in the face of such an inconsistent enemy. I am the invincible Ravana and have never known the shame of defeat. Rama and his monkey army don’t scare me. We will fight them and destroy them. Therefore, deploy our troops to defend the city and prepare them for war.”

Everyone shouted for joy and celebrated their king’s decision. At that moment, a deafening noise stopped the discussion. A guard warned Ravana that his younger brother Kumbhakarna had just awakened from a long sleep and was on his way.

Kumbhakarna was the strongest Raksasa that ever existed. He was gigantic, and just thinking of him was terrifying. 

When he entered they all greeted him respectfully. Ravana informed him of the latest events. Kumbhakarna did not seem to approve the act of Sita’s kidnapping, however, he assured him that in case of war he would give him his support. Ravana thought that if Kumbhakarna fought, the victory would be certain.

Mahaparsva, one of the most famous of the generals, intervened.

“Why, since you are so attracted to that woman, don’t you take her by force? After all, you are the king here, and everything on this territory is rightfully yours.”

Vibhisana shuddered with rage at the vile suggestion. Ravana seemed to think for a while.

“Yes, it is right that you know,” he said then. “There is one thing I have kept secret for a long time and now I want to tell you. I cannot take a woman against her will, otherwise I would die. One day, I raped an Apsara named Punjikasthala who ran to Brahma asking for revenge. Then Brahma was furious and cursed me by saying:

“Ravana, if you took a woman against her will, your heads will explode into a hundred pieces.”

“Dear friends, it is only for this reason that I have not yet taken Sita by force. If I hadn’t had that terrible curse upon me, I would have already fulfilled my dearest wish.”

The virtuous Vibhisana, at that point, tried again to persuade him to bring Sita back to her husband, but everyone disapproved of that advice as an act of cowardice. Losing his patience, Ravana insulted him and Vibhisana decided to leave Lanka and go to help Rama against those evil forces.