Ilibila Warns Kubera

“Please be careful, very careful, son,” warned his mother, Ilibila, as she saw his face flush with the victory of accomplishing years of tapas and winning multiple boons from Lord Brahma. 

“Why, Mother?” Her son, Kubera, queried. “What is worrying you so much? Aren’t you happy that I could please Lord Brahma with years of penance? That he gave me Lanka, the wealthy, prosperous kingdom to rule over? That he gifted me the Pushpaka Vimana, the flying chariot? That I am worshipped as the God of Wealth along with Goddess Lakshmi?”

“I am more than happy. I am delighted at your success. But remember the more successful you are, the more envious Ravana and his brothers are going to get.”

“Oh! You are unduly worried about my stepbrothers. They are not really as strong as they believe they are. I am way above their station.”

Sensing a tinge of pride and vanity, Ilibila looked sternly at Kubera. “Don’t ever underestimate anyone, especially Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, and Shurpanaka. From their mother’s side, they belong to the Asura clan, known for their physical prowess and guile. You do remember how their mother, Princess Kaikesi, daughter of the powerful Asura King Sumali, beguiled your father and begot her four children. In fact, I have heard she came to your father with the intention of bearing children that would combine the strength of the Asuras and the intelligence and wisdom of sages.”

“Yes, I have heard that too. But didn’t our father warn Mother Kaikesi of the inopportune time she approached him? And how she didn’t listen to his advice to wait for a better time? Otherwise, the children born of that unholy union could lead to the destruction of the entire Asura clan?”

“Yes, that is true.”

“Then, why are you so worried about my well-being. I can handle my half-siblings. They can do me no harm. Anyway, they are not wanting for anything. Our father, Sage Vishravas, loves all of us equally.”

“Yes, he does. But I have heard your half-brothers, especially Ravana, is overcome by jealousy at your success. I heard he and his three brothers are doing penance to please Lord Brahma and receive boons, the same as you. Jealousy is a powerful emotion.”

“Okay, Mother. I will be careful, I promise.”

Ilibila Words Come True

Ravana received several boons, the most important ones being invincibility against gods, goddesses, all celestial beings, demons, asuras, and beasts. With the power of this boon and the help of his brother, Kumbhakarna, and sister Shurpanaka, he attacked Lanka, overthrew Kubera and declared himself the Lord of Lanka. Kubera had little choice but to flee Lanka. He took control of the mighty and beautiful Pushpaka Vimana too. 

As Ilibila and Kubera fled from Lanka, he said, “You were right, Mother. Jealousy is a powerful emotion, and I should have been more careful.”

“Indeed. Don’t worry, Kubera. With your goodness and hard work, and with the help of our gods, you will be able to establish a new kingdom, as beautiful as Lanka.”

“Yes, I promise I will do it. Maybe near the Himlayas, as far away as possible from the malicious Ravana. I wonder what will bring about his downfall.”

“Aah! I think it will be some seemingly humble human being,” replied Ilibila. “Remember, he got the power to be unbeaen by all kinds of beings except humans. Probably because he thought that humans were too weak to worry about. I am certain there will come a day when Ravana will tempt fate beyond reasonableness, and that is when he will meet his end,” prophesied Ilibila.

Authors’ Note:

Ilibila, the mother of Kubera, also known as Devavarnini, is mentioned in the Ramayana, though only in passing. I chose to expand her relationship with her son, Kubera, in this imaginative story, while keeping the spirit of the original intact. Kubera, also known as Vaisravana, is worshipped as the God of Wealth, along with Goddess Lakshmi. After losing Lanka to Ravana, he set up a new kingdom called Alakapuri, comparable in beauty and prosperity to Indraloka, near the Himalayas. 

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

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