Ravana and Mandhata

The sage continued - Ravana loved tormenting people. He captured women he liked and if the men protested, he challenged them to duels and defeated them. Then Ravana heard of Madhata, the great king. Ravana decided to fight him.
Mandhata and Ravana began fighting. Mandhata wounded Ravana who fainted. When he gained consciousness, he wounded Mandhata. Two kept fighting, none able to defeat the other.

Brahma sent the sage Bhargava to Mandhata. The sage said to Madhata - Ravana is under the protection of Brahma's boon. He will be killed by a specific weapon. Do not try to kill him now. he will not die but the balance of the world will be disturbed. In your dynasty will be born a person who will kill Ravana.

The battle was without any result. Both went back to their respective kingdoms. 

Ravana in the nether world

Rama asked the sage - What happens to sinners when they die?
Agastya said - Do not worry Rama. One listens to the complete Ramayana will never have to see Yama. Taking the name of Rama was equal to reading the four Vedas.
Rama said - Please tell more about Ravana. What did he do next?
Agastya said - Ravana wanted to win over the nether world. He took his army and decided to attack. Ravana and his army attacked the snakes in the nether world. The snakes ran to Vasuki. Vasuki started using his poison but Ravana using his weapons removed that. He then captured Vasuki and Vasuki agreed that he had been defeated. Ravana then let Vasuki go.
Ravana continuing came across kings whom he easily defeated in battle. He then across a king called Nipata and started fighting him. None could defeat the other. Brahma then appeared there and said it would be impossible to defeat one another, as both had been blessed with boons.
Both took leave of each other.

Staying there for sometime, Ravana decided to defeat Varuna, the God of Waters. He saw Surabhi, the celestial cow there and taking her blessings, he went knocked on the doors of Varuna. Varuna was not there and his sons attacked Ravana. Their arrows pierced Ravana who fainted. Seeing this, Ravana's commander attacked the brothers. The brothers went up in the sky and resumed fighting but were soon defeated.

Having won, Ravana resumed looking for Varuna. He was told Varuna had gone to meet Brahma. Not seeing Varuna, Ravana stole Varuna's noose and left.

Rama asked the sage - Where did Ravana go after that?
The sage said - Ravana heard that Bali was the king of the nether world. Ravana decided to go and fight him. He saw the palace of Bali that had been built by Vishwakarma, on the orders of Vishnu.
They saw a wonderful looking person guarding the doors of Bali. The person was dark in color and wonderful to look at. Ravana went and asked this person where he would find Bali. The person, who was none other than Vishnu, said Bali was inside.

Bali hearing Ravana had come, welcomed him. Bali asked Ravana the reason for his visit. Ravana said - I have heard that you are in the nether world because of Vishnu. Where is that person? I want to defeat him and free you.

Bali said You met him. He is the one guarding my door. There was none greater than Vishnu. This was the one who had slain Madhu and Kaitava and was the protector of the universe.

Ravana decided to go and fight Vishnu but could not see him at the door. He went back to Bali.

Bali realized that Ravana wanted war. Bali captured Ravana and made him his prisoner. When Ravana begged to be released, Bali sent him back and asked him never to return there. Ashamed Ravana left.

Rama asked - Where did Ravana go after this?

Ravana and Yama

The sage continuing said - Ravana kept looking for battle. One day, he came across Narada. Narada said people on earth were unhappy as they had to go to Yama, once their time on earth was over.
Ravana decided to go and fight Yama. Narada decided to follow and see the Ravana Yama battle.
Before Ravana, Narada went where Yama was sitting. Yama greeted teh sage and asked him why he had come to visit him, leaving the Three Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) aside.
Narada said he had come to warn him about Ravana who was on his way for battle.
Yama looked and in the distance he could see Ravana coming, riding the Pushpaka chariot.

Ravana went through the eastern gate. He saw the pious and truthful ones being worshiped. In their earlier lives, the ones who had donated cows to brahmans, were swimming in pools of milk and butter. The one who had provided shelter to the homeless was now relaxing on golden cots.  He saw the ones who had been devotees of Vishnu, being treated with utmost care.

Ravana then crossed to the western and the northern gates and saw people being treated very well. He then proceeded towards the southern gate. This was a very dark area.There Ravana saw people being drowned in vats of oil and some being whipped. Hearing their pleas for help, Ravana went there. Ravana knew that he had sinned and he was affected by what he was seeing.

Rama asked the helpers of Yama to stop the torture. The helpers said they were just doing their duty and giving punishment to the people for what they had done in their lifetime. They said to Ravana that they were also keeping track of his sins and would be seeing him soon.

This angered Ravana. He started shooting arrows at the helpers. Seeing Ravana defeating his helpers, Yama, son of Surya, came out to fight, in his chariot.
A fierce battle started. Yama seeing no option, lifted up his noose, that he carried in his hand.

Brahma came to Yama and said Ravana was destined to die in the hands of Vishnu, born as a human. The noose of Yama would have no effect. Yama kept the noose down. In the battle. Ravana's army fled and soon Ravana alone was there, fighting.
The battle was terrible and none was able to defeat the other. On advise of Brahma, Ravana made himself invisible.

Ravana was happy thinking Yama fled, afraid of him. Ravana l

Ravana and Vali

Rama said to the sage - Where did he go from there.
Agastya said - Always ready for combat, Ravana roamed around. One day in Kishkindhya, he went to Vali's palace and asked for a fight. The people asked Ravana to flee else he would get killed. They said Vali was not present and had gone to perform his evening prayers.
Ravana went towards the southern sea where Vali was deep in meditation. Vali opened his eyes and saw Ravana there. Vali said It seems that your death has brought you here.
Vali wrapped his tail around Ravana and those rose to the sky. Ravana kept shouting asking to be released, but Vali did not care. He kept jumping from mountain to mountain, with Ravana being dashed against the rocks. Vali jumped towards the eastern sea and offered his prayers, Ravana still tied. From there, Vali went to the northern sea and offered his prayers. Ravana was nearly dead. With Vali visiting all the seas, he kept dipping his tail in the waters and Ravana was drinking the waters of the seas.
Going back to his palace, Vali asked Ravana if he wanted more.
Ravana begged for forgiveness and becoming friends with Vali, he left from there.

Ravana released from the dungeons

In the heavens, Pulastya heard of this. He came to Kartavirya. The king came and greeted the sage and said one who is worshiped by the Gods has come to me. I am blessed.
Pulastya said Ravana was a grandson of his and he came to plead for his release.

The king ordered Ravana to be brought there. Ravana came, with his head bent down.

Ravana then went away to Lanka and Pulastya went back to the heavens. 

Fight with Kartavirya Arjuna

Rama said The king was old and did not have the knowledge of the weapon of Brahma, which is why Ravana was able to win over.
The sage said - Ravana knew magic and it was difficult to defeat someone who was skilled in that art.
In the lunar dynasty was a king called Kartavirya Arjuna. Supposed to a descendant of Vishnu, this king had a thousand hands. The king was bathing in the waters of the river Narmada with his women, when Ravana appeared there, asking for battle. Seeing the welcoming waters of the river, Ravana also decided to take a in the water and wash off the blood from his body, which he had got from his battles. With his twenty hands, Ravana blocked the flow of water.
Kartavirya suddenly found himself in dry land. Suddenly Ravana removed his hands, and the water started gushing and the women in the water started getting swept away. With his thousand hands, Kartavirya controlled the flow of the water.  He then saw Ravana in the water, worshiping Shiva. The king sent a messenger to Ravana wanting to meet him.
Ravana saw the king in the water and said to the messenger - Tell your king that Ravana has come asking for battle.
A mighty battle started between the two. Ravana attacked with his twenty hands and his army, and the king fought along, using his thousand hands. Seeing a chance, the king grabbed Ravana by his hands and took him a prisoner. The rakshasas tried to pleed, but the king not listening, took Ravana inside his palace and put him in the dungeons. Ravana was chained up there.
Keeping him there, the king went back to the river. 

Fight with Anaranya

Marutta's sacrifice was something to write home about. He had mountains of gold and even Kubera was jealous of his wealth.

Rama smiled and said - Dear Sage, Do tell me where Ravana went after defeating Marutta. The sage said :

Ravana, always anxious to fight, kept a look out for the brave and was ready to attack them. If the other person accepted defeat Ravana left the person in peace, else a battle took place. Indra, knowing this, had accepted defeat.

There was a king called Anaranya who ruled Ayodhya. Hearing of him, Ravana went to him, asking for a fight. This king was an ancestor of yours, Rama.

Hearing that Ravana had come to fight, The king came out and a fight began. The king was brave and old. He fought hard. Both Ravana and the king were injured in the battle. Seeing a chance, Ravana struck the old king. The king said this was war - one had to loose someday, and win another day. One day someone will be born in my clan, in whose hand you will die.  Saying this, the old king died.