Mandodari and Ravana

“You have done the irreparable, Ravana, and you know it. Not only are you doomed, but this is the beginning of the end of Lanka and everything else you have loved and cared for,” Mandodari lamented.

Ravana’s face darkened. But he went on relentlessly, “You worry too much, Mandodari. I am far too strong and far too protected for anything to happen to me or to my kingdom.”

“And therein lies your destruction; in your arrogance, in your belief that you are immortal.”

“Well, I am immortal. I am empowered by Lord Brahma’s boon that I cannot be destroyed by any god, celestial being, beast, or demon.”

“Indeed. You forgot human beings!”

“Pah! Human beings! Those weaklings! What do I need protection from them for? I can easily crush anyone who tries to stand against me?” The darkness of fear left Ravana’s face even as he remembered his power. 

“Can’t you see the truth? No female form has resisted you. You could have any woman you want, and they happily agreed to give in to your lust. until now, a human whom you so easily dismiss.  You’ve been trying to woo Sita for months now, and she has stood her ground. Not even Ekajata, her formidable and highly persuasive female guards, has been able to convince her to give in to you.”

Ravana’s face clouded again. Hoping that she hit on a vulnerable spot, Mandodari continued, “Kidnapping Sita was a grievous sin, an unforgivable one. And now it is clear she is made of a different mettle. She is far more powerful than she lets on. She is endowed with resilience beyond our expectations. And her belief in her husband’s power to come and rescue her is resolute, isn’t it?”

“She’s overconfident,” replied Ravana, although the confidence in his voice reduced a notch.

“You are merely fooling yourself. That monkey’s visit a few days ago has rattled you, hasn’t it? It has put the fear of death and destruction in me,” Mandodari said.

“Pah! That silly thing was an aberration. Have you seen how quickly we have rebuilt and restored what that vain monkey destroyed?”

“My point is now Sita’s husband knows her location. I am certain he will come with a horde of such monkeys to rescue her. Imagine what destruction a horde of monkeys would do to our country.”

Ravana’s patience wore thin. He screamed at his wife, “You don’t trust me? Don’t you think I can keep my kingdom safe? Isn’t your distrust ironic, considering I have conquered so many kingdoms on my own?”

“I trust your physical prowess, my dear husband. I fear for your vulnerabilities that you so easily dismiss. Please be aware of your weakness. And I fear your stubbornness in keeping a woman in your home against her will for months.”

“That stubbornness is not a weakness. It is a strength.”

“I’m afraid it is not strength, Ravana. Kidnapping another man’s wife is adharma. Holding her against her will is even worse.”

“What about the way her husband and brother insulted Shurpanaka?”

“They are dharmic ways of avenging her insult,” Mandodari pleaded, knowing his sister was another weakness for her husband. “Call for an open fight with Rama or Lakshmana. Battle like a true warrior. Why kidnap his wife?”

Ravana didn’t have an answer. He stormed out even as their son, Indrajith walked in. Ravana was so distracted by his wife’s words, which rang true, that he didn’t acknowledge his son at all, who quickly bowed respectfully and got out of his father’s way.

Mandodari and Indrajith

Seeing his mother’s anxious expression, Indrajith asked, “What are you both fighting about, again? Uff, can parents at least pretend to love each other in front of their children?” Indrajith winked at his mother and gave her a reassuring hug. 

Mandodari smiled weakly at her son’s attempt to lighten the mood. “Aah! You are now old enough and married too, to understand the dynamics of a married couple, right?” She retorted in mock anger. 

“I can’t argue that.”

With the mood a little better now, Indrajith asked seriously, “Sita, again?”

His mother nodded, her eyes darkening in fear and anxiety. “I don’t know who to make your father see sense.”

“I know. I have tried to talk to him, too. Although we managed to restore some order after the havoc created by the monkey messenger from Sita’s husband, I cannot be naive enough not to accept that Prince Rama is serious about rescuing his wife.”

“Wouldn’t you do the same if your wife were kidnapped by some man?”

“Undoubtedly, Mother. I would move the earth and heavens until I find my beloved Sulochana. That’s why I have tried to speak to Father to return Sita safely. I have no doubt that if he doesn’t do so, war is imminent. I wonder why he is so obsessed with her.”

“My fear, exactly. I’ve heard that when someone’s time is nearing, they can no longer see reason. They lose their sense of judgment. I fear that is happening with your father. I cannot help him any more. But can you promise me you will not fight in the war against Rama? Go away from here. Go and live in Alkapuri with Sulochana. I am sure your Uncle Kubera will be happy to have you. Stay safe until whatever dark period is due to happen is over. Then, return so you can rule over your father’s kingdom.”

Indrajith laughed. But there was no merriment in it. “You know I cannot promise you that. What kind of son am I if I cannot be here for my father? Even if there is danger to my life and the lives of my loved ones.”

Mandodari nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I knew you’d say that. I don’t think I have the courage to live to see the horrible days that are bound to happen. I hope the God of Death has mercy and takes me away before all that.”

She sobbed into her son’s chest as he held her tightly, hoping to comfort her as much as possible because he knew as much as his mother did that their days were nearing. The beginning of the end of his father, Ravana’s Lanka, started on the day his Aunt Shurpanaka came running for help to avenge her insult by the Princes of Ayodhya.

This post is a part of BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2026

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