Characters of Ramayana in Mahabharat

Some characters of Ramayana have references in the Mahabharata.
There is a part of the Mahabharata which narrates its version of the Ramayana.
Apart from this, Hanumana makes an appearance and meets Bhima.

While trying to find out more, I came across this one instance where Vibhishana, the king of Lanka and the monkey Nila, are mentioned.

This is in the second book of Mahabharata, the sabha parva.The sub parva is called Jarasandha Badh Parva.

Here, when Yudhistira is to be crowned emperor, he sends out his brothers in all directions to get acceptance of the kings. Either the kings accept the supremacy of Yudhistira as the emperor, or they fight a war.

In the 30th chapter, Sahadeva goes southwards. His objective was to get acceptance of the kings. He defeats the king of Matsya, king of Adhirajas, He then goes to the Nishada kingdom and gets the acceptance. He has a battle with the monkey kings of Kishkindha, who at that time were Mainda and Dwividha. In the battle that follows, Sahadeva is not able to defeat them. The kings, pleased with Sahadeva's valor, let him go and accept Yudhistira. He then encountered, the monkey Nila, who also accepted Sahadeva.

Marching southwards, Sahadeva then met Vibhishana in Lanka. Vibhishana, willingly accepted Yudhistira as the emperor.

After this, Sahadeva returned back to Yudhistira. 

Ramayan in Mahabharat - Conclusion

Kumbhakarna was killed by Rama as per Ramayana, but here Lakshmana has a bigger role in the war, and he is the one that kills the demon.

There is no account for Hanumana, fetching the mountain, for medicine.

Vibhishana has an active role in the war.

Sita's fire sacrifice is not mentioned here.

When Yudhistira after hearing the story of Rama, asked Markandeya what had Draupadi done that she should face this fate. How should chaste pure wives behave. It is then, that the rishi started telling the princes, the story of Savitri.


Angada saluted Ravana and conveyed Rama's message. Release Sita and will go in peace. Hearing Angada speak, the angered Rakshashas tried to attack him, but he fought and fled from Ravana's court. Seeing this, Rama launched an attack on Lanka. Accompanied with Lakshmana and Vibhishana, started showering arrows in all directions. Many Rakshashas died. Skilled worriers like Indrajit (Ravana's son) tried their best but could not contain the army of men, monkeys and bears. Vibhishana fought and killed many Rakshasha warriors. War stopped at sunset.
Seeing the fate of his army, Ravana gave orders to get Kumbhakarna to get ready for battle. Kumbhakarna was woken up. Awake, he got ready for battle.
The giant rakshasha came to the battlefield and started eating up monkeys, grabbing them and pushing them down his throat. He pounced on Sugriva and tried to eat him, but was stopped by Lakshamana. Brandishing a brahmastra, Lakshmana killed Kumbhakarna.

Hearing of heroic warriors falling in battle, Ravana asked Indrajit to go to battle. Indrajit came and challenged Lakshama to battle. Lakshmana was able to live up to the challenge. Sensing defeat, Indrajit made himself invisible and started showering arrows. Rama and Lakshamana fell down senseless. Seeing them fall, Indrajit, thinking them dead, left the battle field.

Vibhishana was fighting in another part of the battle. Hearing of Rama's fall, he quickly arrived. Knowing the art of medicine, he brought Rama and Lakshmana brought back to sense and got their wounds dressed. Then he gave Rama, water that was a gift from Kubera. Applying that water on the eyes, would make all invisible creatures visible.

Getting up, Lakshmana wanted to take revenge on Indrajit. Indrajit, surprised, returned to the battlefield. In the battle that followed, Indrajit was killed by Lakshmana.

Ravana, on hearing the news of his son's death wanted to kill Sita but was advised against killing any women by his well wishers. Agreeing, Ravana went to the battlefield.

Knowing that a fierce battle would take place, Indra sent his chariot for Rama.  In the battle that followed, Rama killed Ravana. Rama then crowned Vibhishana as the new king on Lanka. Rama then went to Sita and told her she was free. He also told her, as he was not aware of her purity, she was free to go where she wanted. Brahma then appeared and told Rama that Sita was pure.

Accompanied by his renaming army, Rama and Lakshmama returned back from Lanka, along with Sita. Crowing Angada as the king of Kishkindhya, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, realizing their time of exile was over, went over to Nandigrama, where Bharata was staying. United, all brothers went back to their kingdom.

Thus ends the Ramayan as told by Rishi Markandeya.

Ramayana in Mahabharata - Rama crosses the ocean

In continuation, from Vana Parva (sub Parva - Draupadi Harana Parva) - sectons 277 to 281.

Rama does not search for Sita along with Lakshmana, but is informed of the same by Jatayu.
Hanuman crossing the ocean has just a small mention.
Sita is aware of all that is happening in Rama's camp.
Burning of Lanka is just a mention.


While Ravana was carrying away Sita, elsewhere Rama, disturbed hurried towards his hut, only to see Lakshmana approaching him, Lakshama told Rama that when he had refused to leave her, Sita had rebuked and insulted him. Ashamed, he had then left her alone.
Rma and Lakshmana then hurried towards the hut to see if Sita was safe. Seeing Jatayu, dying, Rama mistook him initially for a Rakshasha and drew his bow. Then realizing who this was, they asked Jatayu for forgiveness and wated to know about Sita.
Pointing his head southwards, Jatayu told Rama that Ravana had abducted Sita and taken her in tht direction. So saying, Jatayu passed away.

 Rama and Lakshmana started their journey southwards. On the way, they came across a huge headless Rakshasha. It had a pair of large eyes on his breast, and the opening of his mouth was on his belly. Seizing Lakshmana by one hand, it tried to push him towards his belly where its mouth was. Seeing this, Rama cut off the hand that was holding Lakshmana. Dropping to the ground, Lakshama cut off the other hand of the monster. Then both brothers attacked the monster till it lay dead. Suddenly, from the belly of the monster appeared a gandharva. The Gandharva told Rama to go and meet Sugriva near the Rishyamukha mountain.  Sugriva would be able to help Rama find and rescue Sita.

Seeing Rama approach, Sugriva sent his counsellor Hanuman to find out who these two were. Hanuman, on learning who they were, took them to Sugriva. Rama told Sugriva about his woe. Surgriva showed some jewels that Rma identified as that of Sita. Having made friends with Sugriva, Rama killed Vali. Sugriva became the king of Kishkindhya and agreed to help Raama rescue Sita once the monsoon was over.

Meanwhile Ravana had reached Lanka, in a forest full of Ashoka trees, he kept Sita. Many Rakshasha women were kept there to guard Sita. Of these, one was called Trijata who consoled Sita and told her she had heard of Rama's friendship with Sugriva and would soon come and rescue her. Sita spent her days in hope. Many times Ravana approached her, asking for her hand, but Sita used to rebuke him and send him away.

Meanwhile with the monsoon ending, Rama wanted to know what Sugriva had done so far. Sugriva said monkeys had been dispatched in all directions with instruction to return within a month with news. Soon all monkeys except the ones who had gone South, returned with no news.

After two months, Hanuman, who with son of Vali, Angada, had gone southwards, returned.  Hanuman told Rama he had seen Sita.  In their southward journey, they had come across a long cave. At the end of the cave, a female ascetic, Prabhavati, showed them the way to the ocean. On the banks of the ocean, they had met Sampati, brother of Jatayu. Sampati told them Ravana resided in Lanka, on the other side of the ocean.
When others in the troupe were against crossing the ocean, Hanumana jumped across and reached Lanka and met Sita. Sita said she knew all about him, as Trijata had told her about Rama and his search operation. Sita then gave Hanumana a jewel to take to Rama as her sign. Hanuman told Rama that on his way back, he had been  seized by Ravana's soldiers, and then had set fire to the city of Lanka.

Rama then consulted Sugriva, and then with all other monkeys and bears on their side, Rama and Lakshama set forth towards the office. Reaching the ocean, they setup camp on its shore. Rama then began praying to the Ocean. Appearing before Rama, the Ocean told him to use the services of Nala, in the army, who was a skilled architect, to build a bridge. Ocean agreed to keep the bridge afloat and held together.

While the bridge was being built, Vibhishana, brother of Ravana, along with four of his counsellors, came o Rama and asked for refuge. Rama promised him the kingdom of Lanka. Soon the bridge was built and Rama crossed over to the other side with his army. He then sent Angada, as his messenger to Ravana.

Ramayana in Mahabharata - the begining

Ravana's mother as per Ramayan is someone else and here it is someone else.
No mention of Rama's wedding of Sita (at least  not till where I read it)
Kaikeyi never asks for two boons and she is not shown being brain washed by Manthara.
Lakshman Rekha (protective circle drawn by Lakshmana to protect Sita) does not appear here.
Ravana does ride the Pushpaka. He was cursed by Kuvera, that he will die if he rides Pushpaka. Ravana had taken over the chariot after defeating Kuvera. 

This is from Vana Parva (sub Parva - Draupadi Harana Parva) - sectons 265 to 276. More follows, this is just a small part. When I get time again, I will put down some more.

Sage Pulastya had a grandson Visrava. Visrava was busy in meditation so Visrava's son, Kuvera,  went and started staying with his grandfather (Pulastya). Pulastya was please and granted his grandson the boon of immortality, and made him the lord of wealth and also gifted him the kingdom of Lanka and a chariot Pushpaka, that could could travel at will of its rider.
Visrava was enraged. He wanted his son to serve him, and not Pulastya.
Realizing his father was not satisfied, Kuvera sent three Rakshasha women to wait and serve and please his father. They were called Pushpotkata, Raka and Malini. In due course children were born to all three Rakshasha women. Kumbhakarna and Ravana were born to Pushpotkata. Malini had a son named Vibhishana, and Raka had twin children named Khara and Surpanakha.
The children lived with their father and mothers on the mount Gandhamadana.

Wanting to be more powerful the children went into forests to perform penance and please the gods and get boons. While Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana meditated, Khara and Surpanakha waited on them.

Ravana had been born with ten heads. Seeing the gods not being pleased, he started sacrificing his one by one, in the sacrificial fire. Pleased, Brahma appeared and agreed to give boons to each of them. He also told them not to ask for immortality as that would not be granted. To Ravana who had started his heads, he restored all his heads and granted him the boon to assume any shape at will. Ravana also asked for protection in battle from  Gandharvas, Celestials, Kinnaras, Asuras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, Serpents and all other creatures. Brahma said he would have protection form all except men.

His thought have become cloudy, Kumbhakarna asked for sleep. Vibhishana asked to stay in the path of righteousness and obtain divine knowledge. Hearing this Brahma granted him imortality.

Having obtained boons, Ravana went into battle with Kuvera and obtained the kingdom of Lanka. Vibhishana, who was peace loving also left Lanka, along with Kuvera.

Seeing Ravana's power, Brahma addressed all Gods and asked him to be born on earth as bears and monkeys. When Vishnu would be born on earth, the bears and monkeys would help in the fight against Ravana.

Meanwhile Dasaratha, king of Kosala lived with four sons, three wives. The four sons were married and lived in peace and harmony. Dasaratha wanted the eldest son, Rama to be king after him. Hearing this Manthara, Kaikeyi's maid, started scheming along with Kaikeyi.

Kaikeyi went to Dasaratha and wanted to have what her hearth desired. The king promised to give her rhat.  Kaikeyi asked for her son, Bharata to be king and Rama be sent to exile for fourteen years.

Rama learning of this agreed to go to the forest to respect his father's promise. His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana left alomg with him. Shocked, Dasaratha gave up his life. Bharata got to know of this and he was aghast. He went into the forest to look for Rama, along with the people of Kosala. Spotting Rama on Chitrakuta , he requested him to return but was dismissed. Bharata returned home, with Rama's wooden sandals. Returning home, Bharata setup his kingdom in Nandigrama, and ruled Kosala from there.

In his travels, Rama lived in the Dandaka forest where he helped the sages by killing many Rakshasas, insulted Surpanakha by mutilating her ears and nose, and killed  Khara who came to avenge Surpanakha's insult.

Surpanakh then went to Ravana and asked for justice. Ravana went to meet Maricha, who was staying as an ascetic in the forest. Ravana asked Maricha to tempt Sita, taking the form of a golden deer. Seeing this, Sita would ask Rama and Lakshmana to get the deer for her, and seeing an empty house, Ravana would abduct Sita.

Sita seeing the deer asked Rama to get it for her. Rama left and later realized this was no ordinary animal. On being shot, the animal, imitating Rama's voice, called out for help.

Hearing Rama's voice, Sita was scared. She asked Lakshmana to go and help Rama. Leaving Sita alone, Lakshmana went off. Ravana, guised as a monk approached Sita. He asked her to join him as his wife.
 When Sita refused, Ravana dragged Sita off, pulling her by her hair. He rose to the air with Sita. Seeing this, Jatayu, king of Vultures and a friend of Dasaratha, went on to attack Ravana. In the fight that ensued, Jatayu was slain. Sita then started throwing bits of her clothing and jewels to leave a trail for Rama.

Eventually Ravana reached Lanka with Sita.

Ramayana in Mahabharata

This is something I came across and wanted to share across.

In Mahabharata, after the Pandavas lost the game of dice, they along with Draupadi went into exile for twelve years.

In forest, Jayadhrata, husband of Duryodhan's sister, abducted Draupadi. The Pandavas fought Jayadratha and rescued their wife.

Living with ascetics in the forest with ascetics, Yudhistira, the eldest of the Pandavas , approached Markandeya. He asked the rishi how could misfortune come to those who had not sinned.

Draupadi was fire born, and had not sinned. The Pandavas themselves had led good pious lives, upholding Dharma. Even in these circumstances, misfortune was coming on to them.

That is when Markandeya narrates the story of Rama. He narrates how Ravana has also abducted Sita, and how with the help of Sugriva, Rama defeated Ravana and rescued Sita.

I found this quite interesting. Till now I knew of Hanuman being in the Mahabharata. Hanuman meets Bhima in the guise of an old frail monkey and tests Bhima. Later he says he will sit on top of Arjuna's chariot.