Ravana once camped near the city of Kubera, when coming back from his mission to sister Kumbinasi from the hands of the ogre Madhu. Kumbinasi was the daughter of Kaikasi's sister. Kaikasi was, as we may recall, the mother of Ravana. After completing his mission, Ravana was resting in the vicinity of Kubera's city. With a cloudless sky, a lovely atmosphere and the love-laden songs sung by Kinnaras and Vidhyadharas, he easily fell a prey to his own lust.
Unfortunately, he was not accompanied by any of his favourites. It so happened by sheer accident that Rambha, the celestial nymph, passed by. She was married to Nalakubara, son of Kubera and therefore in all fairness, the daughter-in-law of Ravana. Of course, Ravana was unaware of this fact at first, when he grabbed her to him. Rambha pleaded with him to restrain himself informing that she actually belongs to Nalakubara and the relationship between her and Ravana was far above carnal appeasement ( Valmiki Ramayana, Uttara Kanda, Canto XXVI, Sloka 29). "I can understand that if you are the wife of my son Indrajit. But you are the wife of my brother's son! The plea which you have given in the words, 'I am your daughter-in-law' holds good in the case of those who have (only) one husband. Celestial nymphs have no husband nor are gods committed to a single wife such is the eternal law obtaining in the realm of gods" (Sloka 39). Ravana violated her that day, though she kept pleading with him not to do so. She was not for this kind of an illicit relationship. Ravana, appeased and satiated left her alone. She went to her husband Nalakubara with folded hands and tears welling up her eyes and narrated him the entire episode.
The enraged Nalakubara poured a little water in his palms and pronounced this curse on Ravana, sprinkling the water.
"Since, O blessed lady, you stand violated by him perforce, unwilling as you were, he shall no longer be able to approach any other young woman who is unwilling to accept him. When (however) stricken with love, he will violate a woman who is unwilling to approach him, his head will actually be split into seven pieces that (very moment) (Sloka 55).
Ravana was shaken for the first time in his entire lifetime. "Hearing of the aforesaid execration, which caused his hair to stand on end, Ravana, (the ten-headed monster) felt inclined no more to copulate with women who were unwilling to approach him" (Sloka 59). And this gives relief to all women, who were devoted to their husbands and had been brought by him, says Valmiki.
2007-08-21 19:53:55
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answer #1
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answered by C. Sri Vidya Rajagopalan 7
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The celestial dame, Vedavati, once inflicted a curse on Ravana that if he were to force another woman against her will his head should break into a hundred pieces. -
In treta yuga, when Lord Vishnu had incarnated as Ram, Ravan had deceit- fully abducted his consort--Sita. But fortunately she was not Sita but Agni's consort Swaha. Before this incident could occur,Agni had already taken Sita to Patalloka and kept his own wife 'Swaha' in her place. Indra's act had special purpose behind it--to avenge Swaha's death,who was Vedavati in her previous birth and who had committed suicide after being touched by the same demon.Actually, Agni's consort 'Swaha' was 'Vedavati' in her previous birth. So, in reality Ravan had abducted Vedavati instead of Sita. Later on, Vishnu thanked Agni and promised him that he would make Vedavati my consort in Kaliyuga. The same vedavati has taken birth as Padmavati.
2007-08-21 18:35:15
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answer #2
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answered by Jayaraman 7
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