Once, when the three demon brothers Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishan were young, they went off to do a penance. Pleased with them, Lord Brahma appeared before the brothers and asked each of them for his desired boon. Ravana asked for power; he desired to be the king of the world. Brahma said, “So be it! I grant you the boon.” His brother Kumbhakarna had planned that he would want to have dominion over heaven. And he wanted Indra’s throne.Indra realised Kumbhakarna’s wicked intention. He went to goddess Saraswati and asked her to create some magic so that Kumbhakarna might make a mistake while asking for his boon. Saraswati agreed to help him. Lord Brahma then asked Kumbhakarna what he wanted. Kumbhakarna opened his mouth but instead of saying that he wanted Indra’s asan, he said that he wanted Nidra’s asan. Brahma fulfilled his desire by saying that he granted him the posture of sleep. Vibhishan in his turn desired for pure devotion to Lord Rama. And Lord Brahma granted his wish and said that one day he would meet Lord Rama and his brother Laxman and offer his services to them.
THE BOONS TO THE DEMON BROTHERS
