Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2869

c9.2869

11) *The Sun and Rāvaṇa.* Once Rāvaṇa happened to reach the Solar region, while he was conducting regional conquest. That night he rested on Mahāmeru, and then got into his plane Puṣpaka, ready for fight in the morning. Seeing the Sun rising up, Rāvaṇa called his minister Prahasta and said to him. “Minister, go and convey my words to the Sun. ‘Rāvaṇa has come to fight. Either get down and fight or admit defeat.’ Prahasta walked towards the sun and told the words of the King to the two gate-keepers Piṅgala and Daṇḍi. The Sun was informed of this by Daṇḍi. The Sun told Daṇḍi thus: “Daṇḍi, I don’t mind whether I defeat or I am defeated by Rāvaṇa. The thing is, that I have no time.” Daṇḍi informed Rāvaṇa of this. Rāvaṇa went away shouting that he had defeated the Sun.