Rama asked Agastya How was Ravana born of a brahman. Kubera and Ravana are brothers, but why did they differ so much in their characters?
Agastya said Listen while I tell you about the birth of Ravana.
Pulastya was the son of Brfahma. He spent his life meditating. The apsaras wanted to win him but the sage was not moved. Soon, a daughter of a sage, who was incomparable in beauty, came there. She tried to woo over the sage but was unable to. Disturbed, the sage cursed her to become pregnant, This did not deter her, she still kept disturbing the sage. The sage then cursed her and milk started flowing from her breasts. The girl ran to her father.
The sage went to Pulastya and asked for the reason for the curses. Pulastya said he was being disturbed time and again by this girl. The sage said his unmarried daughter becoming pregnant would not be looked upon well. He asked Pulastya to do something. Pulastya said he could not think of anything. The sage then asked Pulastya to marry his daughter. Pulastya agreed.
Soon the marriage took place. The girl looked after Pulastya well and served him with devotion. Pleased Pulastya said You were cursed by me to become pregnant and the child that will be born will be equal to none. He will be a very learned person.
A son was born who was called Vishwashrava. Vishwashrava, when he grew up, married the daughter of the sage Bharadwaja called Lata. Kubera was born as the son of Lata.
Kubera did austere penances and Brahma pleased with his devotion granted him immortality. The other Gods blessed Kubera and made him the God of Wealth. He was given the chariot called Pushpaka which had been crafted by Brahma himself.
Pleased, Kubera went and told his father all this. Vishwashrava asked Kubera to occupy Lanka, from which the rakshasas had fled.
The rakshasas hiding in the nether world saw Kubera flying in his Pushpaka and living in Lanka. They were filled with rage. Lanka was theirs. They then thought, If Vishwashrava had another son, then they had a chance of getting Lanka back.
Malyavan's daughter was sent for. Her name was Nikasha and she was very beautiful. She was asked to go and entice the sage and in turn get a boon of sons from him.
The sage was meditating in the evening when Nikasha approached him. The sage asked her who she was and she said she was someone who wanted a son. The sage said You can live here with me. You will have three sons and a daughter. The eldest will be a strong one who will win over worlds. The middle one will have great appetite. The daughter will be born next who will be ugly and also characterless. Nikasha hearing this was hurt. Is that all that is my destiny? These are your sons, will they not have your characteristics? The sage said you approached me when the fire was being extinguished. This is an evil moment. The last child born to you will be a righteous person who will save your dynasty.
Soon it was time for the children to be born.
The first child was born with with ten heads and twenty hands. This was Ravana. The next came Kumbhakarna. As soon as he was born, he ate up the women who had come to help in the child birth. The daughter, born next was very ugly. This was Surpanakha who had a very sharp nose. Vibhishana was born in the end.
The rakshasas, happy, came to see the children.
Agastya said Listen while I tell you about the birth of Ravana.
Pulastya was the son of Brfahma. He spent his life meditating. The apsaras wanted to win him but the sage was not moved. Soon, a daughter of a sage, who was incomparable in beauty, came there. She tried to woo over the sage but was unable to. Disturbed, the sage cursed her to become pregnant, This did not deter her, she still kept disturbing the sage. The sage then cursed her and milk started flowing from her breasts. The girl ran to her father.
The sage went to Pulastya and asked for the reason for the curses. Pulastya said he was being disturbed time and again by this girl. The sage said his unmarried daughter becoming pregnant would not be looked upon well. He asked Pulastya to do something. Pulastya said he could not think of anything. The sage then asked Pulastya to marry his daughter. Pulastya agreed.
Soon the marriage took place. The girl looked after Pulastya well and served him with devotion. Pleased Pulastya said You were cursed by me to become pregnant and the child that will be born will be equal to none. He will be a very learned person.
A son was born who was called Vishwashrava. Vishwashrava, when he grew up, married the daughter of the sage Bharadwaja called Lata. Kubera was born as the son of Lata.
Kubera did austere penances and Brahma pleased with his devotion granted him immortality. The other Gods blessed Kubera and made him the God of Wealth. He was given the chariot called Pushpaka which had been crafted by Brahma himself.
Pleased, Kubera went and told his father all this. Vishwashrava asked Kubera to occupy Lanka, from which the rakshasas had fled.
The rakshasas hiding in the nether world saw Kubera flying in his Pushpaka and living in Lanka. They were filled with rage. Lanka was theirs. They then thought, If Vishwashrava had another son, then they had a chance of getting Lanka back.
Malyavan's daughter was sent for. Her name was Nikasha and she was very beautiful. She was asked to go and entice the sage and in turn get a boon of sons from him.
The sage was meditating in the evening when Nikasha approached him. The sage asked her who she was and she said she was someone who wanted a son. The sage said You can live here with me. You will have three sons and a daughter. The eldest will be a strong one who will win over worlds. The middle one will have great appetite. The daughter will be born next who will be ugly and also characterless. Nikasha hearing this was hurt. Is that all that is my destiny? These are your sons, will they not have your characteristics? The sage said you approached me when the fire was being extinguished. This is an evil moment. The last child born to you will be a righteous person who will save your dynasty.
Soon it was time for the children to be born.
The first child was born with with ten heads and twenty hands. This was Ravana. The next came Kumbhakarna. As soon as he was born, he ate up the women who had come to help in the child birth. The daughter, born next was very ugly. This was Surpanakha who had a very sharp nose. Vibhishana was born in the end.
The rakshasas, happy, came to see the children.
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