32. Mandodari's advise to Ravana

      After Sita's abduction, Ravana took her to Lanka and held her captive in Ashok Vatika which is a beautiful garden in his kingdom. Ravana wanted to show off his kingdom's beauty to her. Sita sat under a tree in Ashok vatika and was waiting for Rama to rescue her. Ravana didn't want to own Sita forcibly. He kept  strict security around her and allotted many maids to serve her. He was proposing her everyday to be his queen to which Sita was rejecting. Ravana's wife Mandodari advised him not to do this sin and to give Sita to Rama and make friendship. Ravana was too arrogant and refused. Mandodhari asked Ravana what if Rama found out Sita's where abouts and declared a war on Lanka. Ravana was so confidant that he can win Rama. Then Mandodari reminded him two incidents.

      Once king Karthaveeryarjuna (Refer Parashuramavatar) went to river Narmadha with his beautiful wives to play water games and to bath . With his powerful thousand hands he stopped the flow of water in the river, entered the river and started playing in the water with his wives. Without knowing this, Ravana also came to the same river noted the flow in the river was very less. So he put a tent on the bank of the river and entered the river had a good bath, sat near his tent, started to perform Shiva Puja. Karthaveeryarjuna decided to finish his water game after some time and and go back to his palace. So he removed the blockage of water and allowed the flow in the river. The stopped water flew with great force in the river and affected Ravana’s Shiva puja. His tent was taken away by the force of flood. Ravana was very furious at the sudden flow of water in the river and understood that it was the work of Karthaveeryarjuna. He ran towards Karthaveeryarjuna to hit him. Karthaveeryarjuna lifted him with his fingers without any effort as if he was lifting a tiny creature even before he could start the fight, took him to his capital city Magishmathi and imprisoned him. Ravana had to be in the prison for many years. After some years Karthaveeryarjuna took pity on him and released him from the prison. Later Karthaveeryarjuna was killed by Parashurama (Refer Parashuramavatar). Parashurama accepted his defeat to Rama (Refer Sita's Swayamvaram). So Mandodari asked Ravana how he can win over Rama as he couldn't even stand a chance with Karthaveeryarjuna.

      Ravana had a son named Meghanath. One day Ravana mentioned Meghanath that he defeated all his enemies and should teach a lesson to Indra now. Ravana advised Meghanath to go and fight with Indra. They both fought went to heaven and challenged Indra for a battle. After a terrible battle, Indra lost and was brought to Lanka as prisoner. Ravana chained Indra to a big pillar and made him an object of fun. Finally he released Indra by request of Lord Brahma. Meghanath was given the title of 'Indrajit' (who won over Indra). People in Lanka were celebrating the victory. Sage Narada came to Ravana and praised him. Narada told Ravana that everyone in the world praising him except one. Ravana got angry and asked who as that. Narada told him that's its a big monkey named Vali ho is the king of Vanaras. Ravana pledged that he will defeat Vali and bring him to Lanka for the children to play with. He ordered his son and soldiers to get ready for battle. Narada laughed and said that it is shame to use a big troop of soldiers to fight with a monkey. So Ravana himself set out immediately to fight with Vali alone.

      Ravana and Narada reached Vali's place and Narada showed Vali to Ravana who was frightened by seeing a huge monkey. Vali was praying at that time. Ravana regained his confidence and challenged Vali to fight. As Vali was busy in praying, he didn't mind Ravana's words. Ravana was screaming a lot disturbing Vali's prayer. So Vali took Ravana in a hand and tied him with his tail. Ravana couldnt move any part of his body. Vali continued his prayer and went to all rivers to take bath. All the time Ravana was tied to hs tail helplessly. Finally when Vali reached Kishkindha, other Vanaras saw Ravana and asked Vali about him. Then Vali remembered and released him. Vali asked Ravana what was the matter. Ravana couldn't say anything except requesting him his friendship. From then Vali and Ravana became friends. Mandodari asked Ravana that he failed in battle with Vali and how can he win over Rama who killed Vali. Still Ravana was not convinced and was ready to fight with Rama.

31. Searching For Sita

      As explained in Vali and Sugriva, Rama and Sugriva became good friends and decided to help each other. Rama promised Sugriva that he will kill Vali and make Sugriva the king of Kishkindha. Sugriva promised Rama that he will send his troops all over the world to search for Sita once he becomes king of Kishkindha. But Vali was not confidant that Rama can kill Vali. There were 9 trees in that forest and vanaras believed that ho ever can cut all those trees with a single arrow, will be capable to kill Vali. To gain their confidence, Rama strike an arrow and cut all those trees in one shot. Then Rama told Sugriva to go and challenge Vali and planned to kill Vali while he was fighting with Sugriva. As planned, Sugriva challenged Vali to fight and they started fighting. Rama hid behind a tree and waiting to strike an arrow on Vali to kill him. But as Vali and Sugriva look a like, Rama couldn't distinguish between them. Finally Sugriva lost and fled. Rama explained him about his confusion and advised Sugriva to wear a garland and fight again with Vali. Sugriva wore a garland and challenged Vali again. This time while Vali and Sugriva were fighting, Rama hid behind a tree and killed Vali with his arrow.

      Before dieing, Vali asked Rama why he did wrong by not fighting face to face to which Rama explained that as Vali took his brother's wife forcibly, he is like an animal so he did right thing according to Kiratha nyayam (Rule of hunters). Rama promised Vali that Vali's son Angada will be the prince of Kishkindha and Vali died peacefully. Sugriva became the king of Kishkindha and Angada became the prince. Now its time Sugriva had to fulfil his promise. He had to send his troops to search for Sita. But due to rainy season, he asked Rama to wait till winter. Rama agreed and was waiting for winter. Sugriva was enjoying his royal pleasures and forgot about his promise to Rama. Rama asked Lakshmana to approach Sugriva and remind about the promise. Lakshmana did the same and Sugriva came to Rama will all his troops and asked his forgiveness. He divided his troops into some groups and sent them to all sides to search for Sita. Rama gave his ring to Hanuman and told him to show it to Sita if he meet her so that she can recognise him as Rama's friend.

      Hanuman, Angada, Jambavantha and some other vanaras headed south side. They reached the edge of south region of India and ocean ahead. They were sad that they couldn't find Sita. While they were talking, they spoke about Jatayu who sacrificed his life while trying to save Sita. Then Jatayu's brother Sampati (Refer Story of Jatayu and Sabari) was around and heard their talk. Sampati asked them about his brother Jatayu as he was searching for him for a long time. Vanaras told him that his brother is died while trying to rescue Sita. Sampati felt sad about his brother's death and informed vanaras that while flying over Lanka, he saw Lanka's king Ravana recently with a beautiful lady who was pleading him to release herself. She might be Sita. Now vanaras were thinking how to cross the ocean to reach Lanka and confirm about Sita's presence.