Srimad Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa | Araṇya Kāṇḍa ~ Sarga 35 of 75

On hearing the exciting advise of Shuurpanakha then Ravana bade adieu to ministers, and indeed on resolving his further task he proceeded to his personal palace chambers. [3-35-1] .

That lordly demon then has gone to the vehicle garage in secrecy, and directed the charioteer thus as, ‘let the chariot be harnessed.’ [3-35-4]

This ‘secretly going to his own garage…’ is one among the many oddities of Ravana that is suggested here. Kings never go to stables or garages but horses or chariots come to their fore, if ordered. Ravana’s ministers have heard Shuurpanakha’s report about the destruction of all the demons in Janasthaana. Because they have heard, it will not remain a secret or suppressible fact, but it will spread as a wild fire. Then some action has become necessary for Ravana now to save his face. praaNam eva parityajya maanam eva abhirakshatu ‘Let life go but not the self-respect…’ So, his first thinking is to wage a war with Rama, but it may become a worthless expedition because Rama’s capabilities are partially known. Next, he thought to abduct Seetha, for she is said not only to be beautiful but a dearly cherished wife of Rama. If Seetha is distracted from Rama, Rama may die anguishing for Seetha, thus this imminent danger, called Rama, gets ruined once for all.

The human nature is bhaaryaa duHkham punar bhaaryaa just ‘to lament for a parted wife for some time till a second wife is secured…’ Thus, that wife-addict Rama will lament for Seetha for some time and seeks another woman as his wife. Instead, if he starts searching for Seetha alone, it is impossible for those two young humans to come searching this far, or to cross the ocean, or to enter Lanka. And even on entering Lanka, it is impossible to survive further at the hands of demons. These are some of the many of his deliberations on the ‘strengths and weaknesses and the credits and discredits…’ of his thought mentioned in the verse.

Then he enters his beautiful vehicle garage secretly. Why a king shall behave this quirkily? Because ‘walls have ears…’ and what all Shuurpanakha barked in the court must be audible throughout the palace by now, or may be all over Lanka, and if someone sees Ravana’s exit at this point of time, everyone despises him, on the charge that he is trying to bring yet another woman. Though it is not said vividly here, that he is going to abduct Seetha thievishly keeping his valour and bravery aside, this will be made known in the words of Kumbhakarna in Yuddha Kaanda. This is shameful for his own self, as he did not do this way on previous occasions. For such a cowardly act, even Ravana’s cherished wife Mandodari may despise or deride Ravana. So, he came to stables with a quirk of secrecy, which of course, will not remain a secret, soon.

When that brisk-paced charioteer is said in this way he instantly harnessed the favourite and choicest chariot of Ravana with horses and got it ready. [3-35-5] .

That dauntless Ravana forged ahead while viewing the area along the coastline which is interspersed with thousands of mountains and which is with variously flowered and fruited trees. [3-35-11] .

Everywhere the coastland is bedecked with lotus-lakes containing clean and cool waters, and with extensive thresholds of hermitages containing Fire-altars. [3-35-12] .

Entire coast is gleaming with banana plantation and glistening with coconut trees, and the saala, palm, and tamaala trees are also in full blossom. [3-35-13] .

With thousands of celestial maidens divine in their mien, namely apsara-s, who are prettified with divine ornaments and garlands, and who are also the experts in the methodical sex-games that seaside is pervaded. [3-35-16] .

That seacoast is adored by the propitious wives of gods and frequented by the assemblages of gods who thrive upon ambrosia, and even patronised by demons that strive for ambrosia. [3-35-17]

The demons did not get their share of amR^ita ‘divine elixir’ therefore they cannot be called amR^ita ashibhiH ‘ambrosia consumers.’ As such, some other mms contain this expression amR^ita arthibhiH ‘desirers of ambrosia…’ the demons. They also frequent those coasts along with gods .

It is spread with swans, ruddy-gees and frogs, and there the waterfowls are very noisy, and stones overlain on the coast are like lapis-gems, and with the ambience of ocean that whole delta is appearing smooth and sludgy. [3-35-18] .

Ravana proceeded while observing thousands of woodlands with sandalwood trees that are soothing and satisfying the sense of smell, and that oozed sweet-smelling resin at their bases. [3-35-21] .

He also observed on his way the forests and woodlands containing the noteworthy aloe plants, Takkola trees, and the nutmeg trees that are with fruits and aromatic, as well. [3-35-22] .

Also seen are the flowers of Tamaala trees, shrubberies of pepper, and heaps of desiccating pearl-oysters along the seashore. [3-35-23] .

Thus, he saw the peaking boulders, like that the reefs of corals, and like that also at the mountains that have golden and silvern crests. [3-35-24] .

When his valour has become twice as much with that happiness that heedful Garuda indeed resolved to bring ambrosia from heaven. [3-35-34] .

Smashing the guard of iron-grid completely and crashing the unbreakable diamond -like strongroom in which the ambrosia is safeguarded, then Garuda carried off ambrosia from the palace of Indra. [3-35-35] .

Ravana on his way saw such a banyan tree named as Subhadra which is a much sought after tree for assemblages of great sages, and which betokens the deeds of that best-winged Garuda. [3-35-36] .

On going to the other side of the lord of rivers, namely ocean, Ravana saw a pleasing hermitage in the sacred and scenic interior of the forest. [3-35-37] .

At that place Ravana saw the demon named Maareecha, wearing jute-clothes and black deerskin and tufts of hairs, and the one with regulated diet. [3-35-38] .

That demon Maareecha welcomed the king Ravana and customarily entertained him catering all the offerings that are beyond the scope of humans. [3-35-39] .

On personally offering meals and drinking water, and venerating him properly Maareecha spoke this sentence to Ravana which is connotative of significance. [3-35-40] .

“Oh, king of the demons, is everything well with your Lanka? Oh, king, for what reason you have put in an appearance again, that too in a trice? [3-35-41]

This statement contains ‘why you have come again?’ and taking hold of this word, ‘again…’ some, who hold that the episode of Akampana is justifiable, say that the episode of Akampana is not interpolated but the original work of Valmiki. For this, the ex-party says that when a whole of chapter is included, inclusion of one word ‘again…’ is not a bothersome affair to the mythologists or interpolators. When it is questioned that interspersing Akampana’s episode defeats the spectacular entry of Ravana, the defendants say that the antagonists need not be given such priorities. So also, Vali’s Kishkindha is not portrayed in a spectacular way when Sugreeva attacked Vali for the first time, but it is detailed in the second round, to some extent, and fully when Lakshmana enters it.

In this episode, a jump of event to Garuda’s exploits may be jerky, but it is questioned when can Ravana recollect about Garuda’s might, why does he ignore still mightier Vishnu. Ravana’s continuous fear for Vishnu made him to think of Garuda – that too, on seeing Subhadra, the banyan tree, and that too – while going to kidnap Seetha.

The path through which Ravana coursed is towards Himalayas, where an idolatry place called deva bhuumi is said to be earmarked for higher souls. When Rama hit Maareecha, he fell far off from the ritual place of Vishwamitra. That place is said to be on northern side of Himalayas. Some ancient mms contain this verse which also tell about that place as deva bhuumi and it is on the northern side of kuru i.e., kurukhsetra where Great War of Maha Bharata occurred:
uttaraanshca kuruun pashyan pashyan caiva nagottamaan |
deva daanava sanghaiH ca sevitam hi amR^ita arthibhiH || .

When Maareecha spoke to him thus, that highly radiant and eloquent Ravana then afterwards spoke this sentence to Maareecha. [3-35-42] .