Namaste,
Wondering what Ravana is doing in Mahabharata? Ramanaya is summarized in Mahabharata in three or four instances by different characters. Rama, Sita, Hanuman, and Ravana are mentioned quite a few times. Vibhishana (Ravana’s brother who ruled Lanka after his death) had a small role in Sabha Parva as one of the kings who sent tribute to Yudhistira for the Rajasuya. Vibhishana is a chiranjeevi (someone who lived for a really long time) and was still ruling Lanka even as the Treta Yuga changed to Dwpara Yuga.
In Arnyaka Parva, Rishi Markandeya narrated Ramayana
to Yudhistira to cheer him up. Unlike other versions, this one began with
Ravana’s family history.
- Ravana
was the grandson of Prajapati.
- Prajapati
had a mind-born son Pulastya.
- One
of Pulastya’s sons was Vaisravana-Kubera (the
Yaksha king).
When Kubera chose his grandfather over his father,
Pulastya was enraged and created another being from himself called Visravas.
(This form wasn’t a son but the darker version of Pulastya. Alter ego types.)
When Kubera found that Visravas was created by his
father's anger and harbored the same hate for him, he sent wealth, gifts, and
three rakshashis (demonesses) - Puspotkata, Raka, and Malini to serve him.
Visravas calmed down after a while and gave a boon to the rakshashis. Each of
them had children with the qualities she desired.
- Puspotkata
had two sons named Kumbakarna and Ravana
- Raka
had a son called Khara and a daughter called Surpanakha
- Malini
had a son called Vibhishana
While Vibhishana was the most handsome, he was also
dharmic and pious. Ravana was the strongest and bravest. He performed penance
to get a boon from Brahma that he wouldn’t face defeat or death from ‘Gandharvas,
Gods, Kinnaras, Anti-Gods, Yaksas, Rakshasas, Serpents, and Bhuta-Spirits’.
Brahma granted him the boon, saying none except humans could harm Ravana.
Meanwhile, Kumbhakarna got a boon from Brahma that
he could sleep for as long as he wanted. Vibhishana asked for a different boon.
He wanted a boon that would not allow him to deviate from dharma no matter
what. Pleased, Brahma granted him this and also made him a chiranjeevi, though
he was a rakshasa.
The boon (almost assured immortality) made Ravana invincible. He attacked his
brother Vaisravana-Kubera and captured Lanka. Kubera and the yakshas
gandharvas, kinnaras, spirits, etc., left Lanka and moved to Gandhamadana. Then
Ravana made Kubera give up the Pushpaka.
That’s how Ravana became the ruler of Lanka and
owned the golden flying vehicle. His two brothers and sister also accompanied him
to the kingdom.
Trijata said to Sita: "... Gentle lady, have no fear of Ravana who is cursed by the entire world. You are protected by Nalakubara's curse. This wretched scoundrel earlier raped his own daughter-in-law, Nalakubara’s wife Rambha, and was cursed - he cannot rape any other woman. Your intelligent husband, accompanied by Sumitra's son and protected by Sugriva, will come soon and rescue you." (Section 280)
Ravana waiting for Sita (after kidnapping her) to change her mind and accept him had nothing to do with chivalry but was an act of self-preservation.
Check out a few short stories from Mahabharata.
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The AI images are made on Bing.
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