Lk08. Boons To Ravana And Brothers Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

LAVA KUSA (UTTARAKANDA)

"Kubera, the lord of riches in the Heaven,
One day, in his aerial car came down,
With all his glow and luster,
To see Sage Visrava, his father, "

"Kaikasi told her son Dasagriva,
"Oh my son, see Lord Kubera
Your half-brother full of luster.
Why you should look so poor? "

"As a brother, you're equal to him.
And you should become like him.
You're gifted with limitless prowess
That should get you all the powers."

"Dasagriva took this seriously.
He did penance so severely.
That for years he had no food,
And spent his life in the wood."

"Every thousand years he offered,
In sacrificial fire his one head.
His tenth head he was about to cut.
His hands Lord Brahma caught."

"Whatever boons he asked for,
Brahma was willing to consider.
He asked for immortality.
No death for him in totality."

"Brahma advised him to choose
Other than this, something else,
As on this earth every birth
One day, is followed by death."

"He asked, "No death from Suparnas,
Nagas, Yaksas, Daityas, Danavas,
As also from gods or Raksasas.
He didn't mind from lesser beings."

"Human beings were mere straw,
In his arrogant look he saw.
This limited boon Brahma granted.
All his heads the Lord then restored."

"Another boon the Lord gave him.
He can, at his will, assume any form.
Thus mighty powers Dasagriva got,
From Brahma whatever he sought."

"Satisfied with Vibhisana's penance
Brahma gave him boons hence,
That a virtuous path he'll pursue,
As righteousness he always chose."

"Considering Kumbhakarna's penance,
Brahma showed his appearance.
But by then all the gods pleaded,
This demon need not be heeded."

"Brahma called his consort,
Goddess Saraswati on the spot,
To confuse the demon's mouth,
Who wished to attain no death."

"His tongue Saraswati twisted
He asked for ‘sleep' instead.
‘Be it so' Brahma at once said.
Thus by gods he was cheated."