Lk22. Ravana's Son Meghanada Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

LAVA KUSA (UTTARAKANDA)

Back on return to Lanka
Ravana met Meghanada,
In the sacrificial hall his son,
Wearing a black deer skin.

"What're you doing, oh child? "
This way when Ravana asked,
Meghanada replied, "Oh King!
More sacrifices I'm performing."

"Six sacrifices, well known,
I've done so far, as your son.
It's very difficult for anyone
To get Lord Siva's boon."

"Lord Vishnu gave me boons.
And Lord Siva also his grants,
Of powerful bow and arrows,
For conjuring trick on enemies."

"By this trick, I'll not be known,
In the battle field, to anyone,
And the missile can exterminate
The foes in any kind of fight."

Ravana said, "My enemies,
Whose leader Indra now is,
Who is worshiped by them
By giving offerings to him."

"You return to our abode.
Indra should be defeated,
From his powerful position,
And I need your help, my son."

While his son Meghanada
And his brother Kumbhakarna
Were both ready to join Ravana
An advice came from Vibhishana.

Vibhishana told him, "Wrong thing,
Oh Brother, you're now doing.
Knowingly you commit offences
Against all living beings."

"On your family, you bring a blot.
You've abducted women a lot.
That's not fair on your part,
As a powerful King to do it."

"Oh King, your own cousin,
Kumbhinasi, has been taken
Away by Madhu forcefully,
And should we remain happily? "

Hearing this Ravana got angry
He went with a huge army
To punish Madhu for his action
But was defended by his cousin."

Before Ravana she pleaded,
"Please don't kill my husband.
As a widow I can't live,
And I need him to survive."

Taking pity on her,
Ravana agreed to spare
From death, Madhu's life,
As pleaded by his wife.

Madhu joined his army
To fight against his enemy.
And both of them went
To Indra's domain at last.

Vibhishana stayed behind,
Practising virtues till the end,
While Kumbhakarna joined
Ravana's army in command.

Thus the war broke out,
As Ravana decided it,
In the Mount Kailasa,
On the abode of Indra.