The war was a war of heroes. The first day Ravana lead his army and did badly. The chivalry of Rama saved his life. The poet said, 'he grieved not that all the foes he used to mock would now jeer at him; but he grieved that Sita of the lance-like look would smile at his empty boasts and mock at his wordy valor.'
Ravana recovered the next day and at his chief minister's suggestion, Kumbhakarna his brother was woken up from his long sleep. But his brother once he knew the purpose, advised Ravana to give up Sita. When he saw that his brother was upset, he relented and went to war. He had no hopes of defeating Rama and said, 'So at least after I shall have died, give up that pearl of chastity...Thy blessed face I am not given to see again.' And Ravana wept, as his brother left for the battle.
When Vibhishana who had crossed over to Rama's camp tried to convert his brother Kumbhakarna, he did not succeed. Kumbhakarna said he rather die than see his brother Ravana defeated. However, he was not upset with Vibhishana who was different! Khumbhakarna died at the hands of Rama after inflicting considerable damage.
Meanwhile, Ravana went to Sita to press her to accept him and was again rejected with a reply that she was living only for Rama and to 'see the day when his arrows shall send thee to the other world; and that is why I do not end myself.' And it was at this moment the messengers came with the news of Kumbhakarna's fall and great was the grief of Ravana.
But the war went on and his passion for Sita increased with every defeat. It was his son Indrajit next, who also told his father that it was better to send Sita back. But Ravana laughed at him and asked, 'is it for releasing her that I have twenty arms? Let me send away Sita and then who will count me as Ravana?' Indrajit with no answer went back to fight and was felled by Lakshmana's arrow!
Finally it was Ravana who fell and the prophecy was fulfilled, the world was freed once more of the spirit of evil.
Now that the story is practically out of the way, I am keen to see how the author deals with the comparison between VR and KR. But we can discern the tragic personality of Ravana emerging! While his army, his brother and finally his son were all being demolished, his focus had not changed. He continued to hope that Sita would change her mind and be willing to be his wife. Being rejected was something alien to the all powerfull Ravana and he did not know how to deal with it.
Vinasha Kale Viparitha Buddhi
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