Baal Kaanda
34 - The birth of Ravana and his brothers, their austerities, opulence and tyranny
Chaupais
Description
Great demon warriors had been living there. They were all exterminated in battle by the gods. Now under Indra's commission it was occupied by a garrison consisting of ten million guards of Kubera (the chief of the Yaksas). Having obtained this news from some quarter Ravana marshalled his army and besieged the fortress. Seeing his vast force of fierce warriors, the Yaksas fled for their lives. Thereupon Ravana surveyed the whole city; he was much pleased with what he saw and all his anxiety (about a suitable capital) was gone. Perceiving that the city was naturally beautiful and inaccessible for others, Ravana fixed his capital there. By assigning quarters to his followers according to their several deserts he made them all happy. On one occasion he led an expedition against Kubera and carried away his aerial car known by the name of Puspaka as a trophy.