Clash with Marutta

Rama asked - Where did Ravana go, after the incident with Vedavati?
The sage said - Ravana did not heed any curse or rebukes. He did what he felt like.
A king called Marutta was performing a sacrifice. The brahmans were chanting from the Vedas and the Gods came to take their offerings. Ravana arrived there.
Seeing Ravana, dissatisfied, the Gods left the place, disguised as animals.
Ravana called for out a fight.
Marutta said I do not know you. Please identify yourself first. Ravana said I am Dashanan, brother of Kubera. I rule Lanka.
Marutta said You are proud of the fact that you defeated Kubera and took over his kingdom.
He was able to get up when he realized that leaving the sacrifice unfinished would be a sin. He decided to accept defeat.
With Ravana leaving, the Gods appeared there. They blessed the animals who had helped them. Indra blessed the peacock saying it will have eyes on its feathers. The pheasant who had got a boon from Kubera and got a golden hue and a crown on its head. Swan got a boon to have a moon like hue, as a blessing from Chandra.
Crow got a boon from Yama to be devoid of illness. 

Vedavati

Rama asked Agastya, Please tell me more. Where did Ravana go after this?
Agastya said There was a beautiful maiden called Vedavati. Fair and pure, she was praying in the forests to get Vishnu as her husband. Ravana passing by saw her and wanted her.
Seeing a guest, Vedavati greeted him and gave him a seat. Buring with passion, Ravana asked Vedavati who she was.
She said was the daughter of Kushadhwaja and the grand daughter of Brihaspati. She was born when her father was reciting the vedas, thus she was named Vedavati. She wished to have Vishnu as her husband and was thus praying to him.
Ravana said Why go for a dark God as your husband when I am there. Vishnu is shrewd.
Vedavati said It was not proper to say such words about Vishnu.
Ravana then grabbed Vedavati by her hair and tried to pull her towards him.
Vedavati escaped and jumped into a blazing fire. She said She would be born again and would be cause of Ravana's destruction. In that birth, she would get Vishnu as her husband.

Vedavati was then born as Sita, who got you, Rama as her husband. It was because of her that Ravana died. 

Ravana attacks Kailasha

With his army, Ravana attacked Kubera. Yakshas came to fight. The Yakshas could not stand ground in front of Ravana and had to flee. Ravana then ventured into Kubera's palace. Seeing no other alternative, Kubera came out to face Ravana. Kubera said to Ravana - You have killed my able Yakshas whom I sent to fight you. Why do you want to fight me?
Ravana did not listen and struck Kubera. Kubera started showering arrows and Ravana seeing no other alternative started using magic to combat Kubera. Kubera could not fight an enemy who was not visible. Ravana then ransacked the city of Kubera and looted his wealth.
Ravana then decided to attack Shiva on Kailasha. He parked his chariot in the Shravana forest which was the birth place of Shiva's son, Kartikeya.
Some of the rakshasas asked Ravana not to climb the mountain where both Shiva and Durga were.
Ravana did not listen and continued till he came across Nandi, the door keeper of Shiva. Nandi had a face like a vanara. Seeing him, Ravana started laughing.
Nandi said - I am the door keeper of Shiva. Why do you come here? You laugh seeing my face. Remember, the vanaras will destroy you one day. You will be destroyed one day.
Ravana did not hear what Nandi said to him. Spreading his arms, Ravana grabbed the mount Kailasha and tried to lift it.
The mountain began trembling and the residents ran to Shiva, asking him to help. Shiva smiled and pressed the ground with his left toe. Ravana gave out a loud shriek . Taking his chariot, Ravana fled from there.

King of Lanka

Ravana came back and told his father about the boons. Sumali heard this. Malyavan, who had recovered and Sumali, along with Maricha, Mahodara and Prahastha came from the nether world to greet Ravana. There were four sons of Malyavan who came and befriended Vibhishana and decided to stay with him.
Malayavan said to Ravana - I came back because of you. I was hiding, fearing Vishnu, but with your boons, now you can save us all. Lanka belonged to the rakshasas which was taken away from us. We need to get that back. Send a messenger to Kubera and ask him to leave Lanka or fight.
Ravana said it was not fair to fight an elder. Kubera was his elder brother.
Hearing this Prahastha said - There have been many instances where brothers have fought each other for throne. Listen to me. Indra fought his step brother and became the king of heaven. Nagas are the step brothers of Garuda, who kills them whenever he sees them. You promised your mother, you will get back Lanka. Now, you are going back on your word.
Ravana was agitated. He immediately sent a messenger to Kubera. The messenger said he had come from Ravana who had asked the Lord of Wealth of vacate Lanka, which belonged to the rakshasas.
Hearing this, Kubera went to his father, asking for advice. Vishwashrava said Ravana was now powerful and difficult to win over. It was best, if Kubera left Lanka and lived in Kailasha.
He also sent a messenger to Ravana with his blessings. he said while he was leaving Lanka, he would not give away his wealth.
Ravana was crowned the king of Lanka by the rakshasas.
One day when the three brothers were hunting, they came across the demon called Maya. Ravana asked him, who he was. Maya said he needed to know first whom he was addressing. Ravana said he was the ten headed king of Lanka.
Maya said he was aware of Vishwashrava and then offered the hand of his daughter, Mandodari, to Ravana. Maya also gave a spear called Shakti which traveled at the speed of wind. This was the weapon that had struck Lakshmana. Kumbhakarna also got married to a rakshasa princess who was equal to him in size. Vibhishana married a gandharva princess called Sarama.
The three brothers returned back.
Soon Mandodari gave birth to a son called Meghnad. Seeing the child, the Gods were afraid.
Ravana ruled Lanka alongside indulging in luxuries. Kumbhakarna slept peacefully, with rakshasas arranging for his food, when he woke up.
Drunk with power, Ravana did not care for anyone and kidnapped any beautiful woman he saw.
Kubera sent a messenger to Ravana, asking him to stop tormenting the people. The messenger said it was not good to carry a curse of any one. Once Kubera had seen with his left eye, Durga and Shiva playing around. Hearing this, Durga had cursed him and the left eye had melted away.
Ravana was angry hearing this. He said Kubera was elder to him and should mind his business. Picking up his sword, he cut the head off, of the messenger.
Ravana then asked his army to get ready and decided to go and conquer Kubera. 

Boons for the brothers

Nikasha remained in the ashrama of her husband living a life like humans. One day Ravana was sitting on the lap of his mother, when Kubera came to see his father. Pointing to him, Nikasha said This is your step brother, the lord of wealth. He lives in Lanka which was ours. If you can win him and get Lanka, I will be happy.
Ravana said he would grab Lanka back. For that, he said, he needed to perform penance, please the Gods and get boons.
Along with his brothers, Ravana went and started praying. They chose the forest of Gokarna to pray. Kumbhakarna prayed standing upside down.In the summers, they stood near fire and prayed. In winters, they stood in cold waters and prayed. They forgot sleep and hunger. Soon their hair became matted and they were reduced to skin and bones. For five thousand years they prayed. The Gods were afraid. What did the rakshasas need? They went to Brahma and asked him to do something.
Brahma went to the brothers and asked them to ask for a boon. Ravana said he wanted to be immortal. Brahma said that would not be possible. Ravana said then he did not want anything else. Brahma went away and Ravana resumed his worship. Ravana then started cutting off and sacrificing his heads one by one. After nine heads were cut off, Ravana was about to cut off the last head with his sword when Brahma appeared before him and asked him to stop. Ravana asked for immortality which Brahma refused. Ravana then said if immortality was not possible, then he should be victorious when he fought Gods, Asuras, Yakshas. Brahma said So be it. Brahma said there were the humans and the vanaras left. Ravana said he did not fear them. Ravana then asked for his cut heads to be restored. Brahma said If your heads are cut off, you will not die.
Brahma then went to Vibhishana who asked that he should not sway from the path of truth. Brahma blessed Vibhishana with immortality.
Brahma then went to Kumbhakarna. The Gods were afraid seeing this. Kumbhakarna was ferocious even without any boons. What he asked for something. They asked Saraswati to intervene. They asked her to sit on Kumbhakarna's tongue. When Brahma asked him what he wanted, he was to say he wanted to sleep. The goddess entered his throat. When Brahma asked him what he wanted, he said he wanted to sleep for ever. Brahma said So be it. Saraswati left.
When Ravana heard this he appealed to Brahma to do something. Brahma said You brother will sleep for six months, wake for a day, then go back to sleep.. He will have immense strength and appetite. If he is woken untimely, he will meet his end. Brahma left and Ravana and Vibhishana then carried Kumbhakarna back home, on their shoulders.

Birth of Ravana

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.

Vishnu fights the rakshasas

The Gods went to Vishnu. They narrated to him the trouble they were facing because of the Rakshasas. Vishnu told them to go back. He would do something.
Narada hearing this went to Lanka. On the gem studded throne, the three rakshasa brothers were seated. Seeing Narada, they got up, bowed to him and offered their seat. They asked the sage for reason for his visit.
Narada said he was a well wisher of theirs and had come to warn them that Vishnu had pledged to kill them.
After Narada left, Brahma went to Lanka. The brothers greeted Brahma and asked for the reason for the visit. Brahma said You are dear to me, as you always pray to me. I want you to rule in peace. That is my wish but you never abide by that and are always performing evil deeds. The Gods are not thinking ill of anyone then why do you attack the Gods and take their places away from them. Anyone who is jealous of the Gods and the Brahmans, invites misfortune. Leave your ways else Vishnu will put an end to you.
Saying this Brahma left. Malyavan said the the three brothers could kill Vishnu together. Sumali said he had heard Vishnu was very strong. He had killed rakshasas like Hiranyakashipu. Who could kill one like this? Mali said a war was needed. The three brothers would have fight united. First target would be Vishnu, then other Gods, brahmans and enlightened people. Then the heaven would be won.
Chariots were made ready and the three brothers attacked Vaikuntha. Vishnu appeared riding on Garuda. A fight started with weapons being showered on Vishnu which was combated by him. The army of rakshasas fell. Sumali and Mali then hit Garuda on his head. Garuda, hurt, started fleeing. Vishnu managed to calm Garuda and steer him back.
With his discus, Vishnu cut off the head of Mali. Malyavan and Sumali, seeing this, fled. Going some distance, they decided to return back. Malyavan said he would kill Vishnu. Vishnu said he had promised the Gods that he would end the lives of the rakshasas. With a fiery weapon, Vishnu burnt Malyavan. Seeing this, the rakshasas fled to the nether world. Lanka was empty.
Vishnu made Kubera king of Lanka.