Lk16. Ravana's Atrocities Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

LAVA KUSA (UTTARAKANDA)

After Vedavati's suicidal death
Ravana went around the earth
In his Pushpak aerial car
As he liked, wide and far.

Right in Demi-gods' presence
King Marutta did a sacrifice
To promote a good cause
But Ravana was against this.

It was an impossible task
To face Ravana's attack
As his life was well protected
By several boons he had earned.

As he was on the way,
Demi-gods ran away,
Just to hide themselves,
In various animals' shapes.

Like, Indra as a Peacock,
Yama as a crow black.
Kubera as a chameleon,
And Varuna as a swan.

Ravana came there to fight
But the king took it light
On Sage Samvarta's advice,
"Don't fight. Go for peace."

"Boons many he had got,
So, for him there's no defeat,
When he comes to fight;
You better take it light."

The King heard his advice,
And threw away the weapons,
Accepting his wish for peace,
Ravana went on his rounds.

After Ravana had gone,
The Demi-gods, one by one,
Came out from the animals
And gave them all boons.

A blue tail Indra gave peacock
Freeing its fear from any snake
Saying, "You'll enjoy rains,
With your open wings dance."

To the crow Lord Yama said,
"No more death for you bird,
Unless someone kills you,
And no disease will haunt you."

Kubera blessed the chameleon,
And said, "Your body will turn
To hue colour from black
And head golden from dark.."

To the Swan Varuna said,
"I make you the best bird,
With a body white in colour,
And will be graceful in water."

Thus each one gave a boon.
The sacrifice was o'er soon.
Happily all the Demi-gods
Went back to their abodes.