December 26,2012.Day 42. Srimad Valmiki Ramayan - The First Epic Poem Of India. (Continued)

Book I : Bala Kanda - Book Of Youthful Majesties : Chapter 1(Continued)

ततो ज्ञाति वधम् श्रुत्वा रावणः क्रोध मूर्छितः || १-१-४९
सहायम् वरयामास मारीचम् नाम राक्षसम् |

49b, 50a tataH = then; raavaNaH = Ravana; j~naati vadham shrutvaa = cousins, slaughter of, on hearing; krodha muurChitaH = in anger, convulsed; mariicham naama raakshasam = from Maareecha, named, demon; sahaayam varayaamaasa = help, started to seek.

"Then on hearing the slaughter of his cousins, Ravana is convulsed in anger and sought the help of a demon named Maareecha... [1-1-49b, 50a]

Ravana is the supremo of demons and the main antagonist in this epic. His name is Dashagriiva, meaning that he has ten heads, whereby he can be called Decahedral demon, or a Decahedron, in a fanciful way. This name 'Ravana' obtains from the root ru - shabde raavayati iti raavaNaH 'one who makes people criers by his violent actions...' and it also means vishravasaH apatyam pumaan raavaNaH, vishravaso vishravaNa ravaNau 'the son of one named Vishravasa...' Govindaraja.