Kuvera
Also known as: God of Gold / King of Gold / Lord of Gold / Vaiśravaṇ · Family: Gods · Role: king of gold · First appears: Book I, Canto 6 · The King
In Book I, Kuvera is named as a rival in wealth to Daśaratha, and as the brother of Rávaṇ, who drives him from his seat. The same book names Gandhamádan as Kuvera’s child.
In Book III, Kuvera curses Tumburu to wear a hideous shape for loving Rambhá, and decrees that Ráma will destroy him, restoring his proper shape and sending him back to heaven. Later in that book, Rávaṇ defeats Kuvera and takes Pushpak, his flying car; Rávaṇ also recounts the victory under Kuvera’s name, Vaiśravaṇ.
In Book VI, Pushpak is described as a prize seized from Kuvera, and after Ráma’s meeting with Bharat, the car speeds homeward to its owner, the Lord of Gold.
Relationship record
Life events
- Rávaṇ drove Kuvera from his seat.(Book I, Canto 14 · Rávan Doomed)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “Kuvera’s self in sad defeat Is driven from his blissful seat.”
- Kuvera curses Tumburu to wear a hideous shape for loving Rambhá.(Book III, Canto 4 · Virádha’s Death)
- With: Virádha
- “Cursed by Kuvera’s stern decree I wear the hideous shape you see.”
- Kuvera decrees that Ráma will destroy Tumburu, restoring his proper shape and return to heaven.(Book III, Canto 4 · Virádha’s Death)
- With: Virádha
- “When Ráma, Daśaratha’s son, Destroys thee and the fight is won, Thy proper shape once more assume, And heaven again shall give thee room.”
- Rávaṇ defeated Kuvera and stole Pushpak.(Book III, Canto 32 · Rávan Roused · 📍 Kailása)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “Kailása’s lofty crest he sought, And when in vain Kuvera fought, Stole Pushpak thence, the car that through The air, as willed the master, flew.”
- Rávaṇ fought Vaiśravaṇ, overcame him, and took his Pushpak car.(Book III, Canto 48 · Rávan’s Speech)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “Vaiśravaṇ once, my brother, wrought To ire, encountered me and fought, But yielding to superior might Fled from his home in sore affright. Lord of the man-drawn chariot, still He dwells on famed Kailása’s hill. I made the vanquished king resign The glorious car which now is mine,— Pushpak, the far-renowned, that flies”
- Rávaṇ takes Kuvera’s chariot after defeating him in battle.(Book III, Canto 55 · Sítá In Prison)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “There stand, of chariots far the best, The car my brother once possessed. Which, victor in the stricken field, I forced the Lord of Gold to yield.”
- Rávan overthrew Kuvera and took the magic car after Kuvera’s servants fell.(Book VI, Canto 7 · Rávan Encouraged · 📍 Mount Kailása)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “Scaled Mount Kailása and o’erthrew Kuvera and his Yaksha crew, Compelling Śiva’s haughty friend Beneath a mightier arm to bend? Didst thou not bring from realms afar The marvel of the magic car, When they who served Kuvera fell Crushed in their mountain citadel?”
- Rávaṇ seized the Pushpak chariot from Kuvera.(Book VI, Canto 123 · The Magic Car)
- With: Rávaṇ
- “The prize which Rávaṇ seized of old Victorious o’er the God of Gold?”
Book I, Canto 6 · The King
- with Daśaratha (Rival in wealth.) “A rival in his wealth untold Of Indra and the Lord of Gold.”
Book I, Canto 14 · Rávan Doomed
- enemies with Rávaṇ (Rávaṇ’s might drives Kuvera from his seat.) “Kuvera’s self in sad defeat Is driven from his blissful seat.”
Book I, Canto 16 · The Vánars
- child: Gandhamádan “Of Gandhamádan brave and bold The father was the Lord of Gold.”
Book I, Canto 22 · Dasaratha’s Speech
- siblings with Rávaṇ “His brother is the Lord of Gold.”
Book III, Canto 4 · Virádha’s Death
- enemies with Virádha “Cursed by Kuvera’s stern decree I wear the hideous shape you see.”
- enemies with Tumburu “Cursed by Kuvera’s stern decree I wear the hideous shape you see.”
Book III, Canto 32 · Rávan Roused
- enemies with Rávaṇ “And when in vain Kuvera fought, Stole Pushpak thence, the car that through”
Book III, Canto 48 · Rávan’s Speech
- siblings with Rávaṇ “In me O fairest dame, behold The brother of the King of Gold.”
- enemies with Rávaṇ “Vaiśravaṇ once, my brother, wrought To ire, encountered me and fought,”
Book III, Canto 55 · Sítá In Prison
- enemies with Rávaṇ “There stand, of chariots far the best, The car my brother once possessed. Which, victor in the stricken field, I forced the Lord of Gold to yield.”
- siblings with Rávaṇ “There stand, of chariots far the best, The car my brother once possessed. Which, victor in the stricken field, I forced the Lord of Gold to yield.”
Book III, Canto 69 · The Death Of Jatáyus
- siblings with Rávaṇ “Him, brother of the Lord of Gold, Viśravas’ self begot of old.”
Book IV, Canto 58 · Tidings Of Sítá
- siblings with Rávaṇ “That giant Rávaṇ, famed of old, Is brother of the Lord of Gold.”
Book VI, Canto 7 · Rávan Encouraged
- enemies with Rávaṇ “Scaled Mount Kailása and o’erthrew Kuvera and his Yaksha crew,”
Book VI, Canto 25 · Rávan’s Spies
- siblings with Rávaṇ “Fierce brother of the Lord of Gold:”
Book VI, Canto 123 · The Magic Car
- enemies with Rávaṇ “The prize which Rávaṇ seized of old Victorious o’er the God of Gold?”
Book VI, Canto 129 · The Meeting With Bharat
- with Ráma (Vaiśravaṇ owned the wondrous car.) “Sped homeward to the Lord of Gold Who owned the wondrous prize of old.”
⭐ Constellation map → · 📖 Read the original → · 🗂 Character index → · 🕰 Chronicle → · 📍 Places →
Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.