Search

In Lanka, Rāvaṇa had assembled his ministers for a full council meeting. Seeing the terrible carnage and destruction wrought by …

Rāvaṇa looked around at his advisors. He asked them to carefully deliberate and then decide on their next course of …

Rāvaṇa continued, “I am depending upon your advice, O Rākṣasas. It is said that he is a wise person who, …

The demon king’s generals were all powerful, but they lacked intelligence and political wisdom. Without understanding the full extent and …

One of the mightiest Rākṣasas, Prahasta, stood up and, with his palms folded toward Rāvaṇa, spoke in a voice that …

Another powerful Rākṣasa named Virupaksha stood up and spoke furiously, holding aloft his frightful iron bludgeon which was stained with …

One Rākṣasa suggested that they employ trickery, disguising themselves as humans and infiltrating Rāma’s army. They could pretend to be …

One after another, each of the leading Rākṣasas declared that he alone could defeat Rāma and His troops. Rāvaṇa should …

Vibhishana, Rāvaṇa’s younger brother, then stood up. As the clamor of the other demons died down he spoke to Rāvaṇa. …

Vibhishana was not like the other Rākṣasas. He did not share their inclination for wanton living and violent behavior. Although …

Vibhishana advised Rāvaṇa to give Sītā back to Rāma. If he did not do so, then before long he would …

Rāvaṇa listened to his brother without comment. He did not like Vibhishana’s advice, but it made him somewhat circumspect. The …

The following day at dawn, Vibhishana again approached Rāvaṇa. As he passed through the long, wide passageways of Rāvaṇa’s palace …

Vibhishana entered Rāvaṇa’s chambers and greeted his brother with gentle and soothing words. Rāvaṇa glanced over at an ornate golden …

Vibhishana described many other types of evil portents and again asked Rāvaṇa to return Sītā to Rāma. “This action alone …

Rāvaṇa sat shaking his head. He grunted contemptuously and replied to his brother. “How can Rāma stand before me in …

Vibhishana shook his head sorrowfully. It was hopeless. Rāvaṇa seemed bent upon his own destruction.

Rāvaṇa dismissed Vibhishana and sat brooding for a while. He had to have Sītā. For the last ten months he …

Rāvaṇa would not be cowed by any enemy. He would fight. The demon rose up and swept toward his assembly …