{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_62496/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_62496","id":"gutenberg_62496","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62496","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Epic poetry, Sanskrit -- Translations into English","Folklore -- India","Rama (Hindu deity) -- Fiction","Valmiki -- Adaptations"],"text":"Produced by James Simmons.\n\nThis file was produced from page images at the Internet Archive.\n\n\n\n\nTranscriber\u2019s Note\n\n\nThis book was transcribed from two scans of the original found at the\nInternet Archive. Words in italics in this etext were italicized in the\noriginal book. I have corrected obvious misspellings but I\u2019ve left\nvariant spellings alone. Inconsistent spellings of names and incorrect\npunctuation have been fixed.\n\n\n\n\n THE\n\n *R\u0100M\u0100YANA.*\n\n\n TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH PROSE FROM THE ORIGINAL SANSKRIT OF\n VALMIKI.\n\n UTTARAK\u0100NDAM.\n\n\n EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY\n\n *MANMATHA NATH DUTT, M.A.*\n\n\n\n\n CALCUTTA\n\n 1894\n\n\n\n\n UTTARAK\u0100NDAM ......................................................\n SECTION I. ......................................................\n SECTION II. .....................................................\n SECTION III. ....................................................\n SECTION IV. .....................................................\n SECTION V. ......................................................\n SECTION VI. .....................................................\n SECTION VII. ....................................................\n SECTION VIII. ...................................................\n SECTION IX. .....................................................\n SECTION X. ......................................................\n SECTION XI. .....................................................\n SECTION XII. ....................................................\n SECTION XIII. ...................................................\n SECTION XIV. ....................................................\n SECTION XV. .....................................................\n SECTION XVI. ....................................................\n SECTION XVII. ...................................................\n SECTION XVIII. ..................................................\n SECTION XIX. ....................................................\n SECTION XX. .....................................................\n SECTION XX. .....................................................\n SECTION XXII. ...................................................\n SECTION XXIII. ..................................................\n SECTION XXIV. ...................................................\n SECTION XXV. ....................................................\n SECTION XXVI. ...................................................\n SECTION XXVII. ..................................................\n SECTION XXVIII. .................................................\n SECTION XXIX. ...................................................\n SECTION XXX. ....................................................\n SECTION XXXI. ...................................................\n SECTION XXXII. ..................................................\n SECTION XXXIII. .................................................\n SECTION XXXIV. ..................................................\n SECTION XXXV. ...................................................\n SECTION XXXVI. ..................................................\n SECTION XXXVII. .................................................\n SECTION XXXVIII. ................................................\n SECTION XXXIX. ..................................................\n SECTION XL. .....................................................\n SECTION XLI. ....................................................\n SECTION XLIII. ..................................................\n SECTION XLIV. ...................................................\n SECTION XLV. ....................................................\n SECTION XLVI. ...................................................\n SECTION XLVII. ..................................................\n SECTION XLVIII. .................................................\n SECTION XLIX. ...................................................\n SECTION XLX. ....................................................\n SECTION LI. .....................................................\n SECTION LII. ....................................................\n SECTION LIII. ...................................................\n SECTION LIV. ....................................................\n SECTION LV. .....................................................\n SECTION LVI. ....................................................\n SECTION LVII. ...................................................\n SECTION LVIII. ..................................................\n SECTION LIX. ....................................................\n SECTION LX. .....................................................\n SECTION LXI. ....................................................\n SECTION LXII. ...................................................\n SECTION LXIII. ..................................................\n SECTION LXIV. ...................................................\n SECTION LXV. ....................................................\n SECTION LXVI. ...................................................\n SECTION LXVII. ..................................................\n SECTION LXVIII. .................................................\n SECTION LXIX. ...................................................\n SECTION LXX. ....................................................\n SECTION LXXI. ...................................................\n SECTION LXXII. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXIII. .................................................\n SECTION LXXXV. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXVI. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXVII. .................................................\n SECTION LIXVIII. ................................................\n SECTION LXXVIII. ................................................\n SECTION LXXIX. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXX. ...................................................\n SECTION LXXXI. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXXII. .................................................\n SECTION LXXXIII. ................................................\n SECTION LXXXIV. .................................................\n SECTION LXXXV. ..................................................\n SECTION LXXXVI. .................................................\n SECTION LXXXVII. ................................................\n SECTION LXXXVIII. ...............................................\n SECTION LXXXV. ..................................................\n SECTION XC. .....................................................\n SECTION CXI. ....................................................\n SECTION CXII. ...................................................\n SECTION XCIII. ..................................................\n SECTION XCIV. ...................................................\n SECTION XCV. ....................................................\n SECTION CXVI. ...................................................\n SECTION CXVII. ..................................................\n SECTION XCVIII. .................................................\n SECTION XCIX. ...................................................\n SECTION C. ......................................................\n SECTION CI. .....................................................\n SECTION CII. ....................................................\n SECTION CIII. ...................................................\n SECTION CIV. ....................................................\n SECTION CV. .....................................................\n SECTION CVI. ....................................................\n SECTION CVII. ...................................................\n SECTION CVIII. ..................................................\n SECTION CIX. ....................................................\n SECTION CX. .....................................................\n SECTION CXI. ....................................................\n SECTION CXII. ...................................................\n SECTION CXIII. ..................................................\n SECTION ICXIV. ..................................................\n SECTION CXV. ....................................................\n SECTION CXVI. ...................................................\n SECTION CXVII. ..................................................\n SECTION CXIX. ...................................................\n SECTION CXX. ....................................................\n SECTION CXXI. ...................................................\n SECTION CXXII. ..................................................\n SECTION CXXIII. .................................................\n SECTION CXXIV. ..................................................\n\n\n\n\n *To*\n\n *His Highness*\n\n SRI PATMANABHA DASA VYNCHI BALA SIR RAMA VARMA\n\n KULASEKHARA KIRITAPATI MANNEY SULTAN\n\n MAHARAJA RAJA RAMRAJA BAHABUR SHAMSHIR JUNG\n\n KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER OF MOST\n\n EMINENT ORDER OF THE STAR OF INDIA.\n\n *Maharaja of Travancore*\n\n THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED\n\n BY\n\n *MANMATHA NATH DUTT.*\n\n _In testimony of his veneration for His Highness and in_\n\n _Grateful acknowledgement of the distinction conferred upon_\n\n _Him while in His Highness\u2019 capital, and the great pecuniary_\n\n _Help rendered by his Highness in publishing this work._\n\n\n\n\nUTTARAK\u0100NDAM\n\n\n\nSECTION I.\n\n\nOn the R\u0101kshasas having been slain, all the ascetics, for the purpose of\ncongratulating R\u0101ghava, came to R\u0101ma as he gained (back) his kingdom.\nKau\u00e7ika, and Yavakrita, and G\u0101rgya, and G\u0101lava, and Kanva\u2014son unto\nM\u0101dh\u0101lithi,\u2014who dwelt in the east, (came thither); and the reverend\nSwasty\u0101streya, and Namuchi, and Pramuchi, and Agastya, and the\nworshipful Atri, and Sumukha, and Vimukha,\u2014who dwelt in the south,\u2014came\nin company with Agastya.\u00b9 And Nrishadgu, and Kahashi, and Dhaumya, and\nthat mighty sage\u2014Kau\u00e7eya\u2014who abode in the western quarter, came there\naccompanied by their disciples. And Vasishtha and Ka\u00e7yapa and Atri and\nVi\u00e7wamitra with Gautama and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja and also the seven\nsages,\u00b2 who for aye resided in the northern quarter, (came there). And\non arriving at the residence of R\u0101ghava, those high-souled ones,\nresembling the fire in radiance, stopped at the gate, with the intention\nof communicating their arrival (to R\u0101ma) through the warder. And that\nforemost of ascetics\u2014the righteous Agastya\u2014versed in various branches of\nlearning and cognizant of the Vedas along with their branches,\u2014addressed\nthe warder, saying,\u2014\"Do thou say unto Da\u00e7aratha\u2019s son that we\u2014the\nsages\u2014have come (here).\" Then at the words of Agastya, the gate-keeper\nquick\u00b3 and swift presented himself with celerity before the high-souled\nR\u0101ghava. And that one versed in polity and emotional expressions, of\nworthy ways, possessed of ability and endowed with patience, swiftly\nseeing R\u0101ma resembling the full moon in brightness, communicated unto\nhim the arrival of that supreme of saints\u2014Agastya. Hearing of the\narrival of the anchorets, possessed of the effulgence of the sun\nnew-risen, he answered the warder, saying,\u2014\"Do thou usher them in,\nhaving regard to their comfort.\" And seeing the ascetics before him,\nR\u0101ma with joined hands worshipped their feet with _arghyas_, and with\nregard consecrated a cow unto each, and saluting them with a collected\nmind, he ordered seats (for the saints). And having, according to their\nrank, seated themselves on gorgeous and superb seats of Ku\u00e7a or\ndeer-skins embroidered with gold, those foremost of sages\u2014those mighty\nsaints, versed in the Vedas,\u2014along with their disciples and leaders,\nhaving (previously) been asked as to their welfare, addressed R\u0101ma,\nsaying,\u2014\"O son of Raghu. O mighty-armed one, complete welfare is ours.\nBy good luck it is that we see thee fortunate, with all thy foes\nfinished. By good luck it is that, O king, R\u0101vana\u2014destroyer of\ncreatures\u2014hath been slain by thee. Sure, O R\u0101ma, it was no great matter\nfor thee (to slay) R\u0101vana along with his sons and grandsons. Furnished\nwith thy bow, thou canst, without doubt, destroy the three worlds\nthemselves. By good fortune it is, O R\u0101ma, that R\u0101vana along with his\nsons and grandsons hath been slain by thee. By good fortune it is that\nto-day we see thee victorious along with Sit\u0101, and, O righteous-souled\none, with thy brother, Lakshmana, (ever) compassing thy profit. (By good\nfortune it is) that, O king, to-day we behold (thee) in company with thy\nmothers and thy brothers. By good fortune it is that those\nnight-rangers, Prahasta, and Vikata, and Virup\u0101ksha, and Mahodara, and\nthe unconquerable Akampana, have all been slain (by thee). By good\nfortune it is, O R\u0101ma, that he than whose proportions there are no\nother\u2019s greater on earth,\u2014even Kumbhakarna, was brought down (by thee).\nBy good luck it is, O R\u0101ma, that those highly powerful night-rangers.\nTri\u00e7iras and Atik\u0101ya and Dev\u0101ntaka and Nar\u0101ntaka, have been slain by\nthee. By good luck it is that thou hadst been encountered in a\nhand-to-hand combat with that foremost of R\u0101kshasas, incapable of being\nslain by the celestials themselves; and achieved victory (ultimately).\nTo defeat R\u0101vana in battle was (for thee) a small matter; but it is a\npiece of good fortune that R\u0101vana\u2019s son, who had confronted thee for\ncombat, hath been slain (by thee) in battle. By good fortune it is that\nthou, O mighty-armed one, hadst been liberated from (the bonds of) that\nfoe of the celestials whose course resembled that of Time\u2074;\u2014and that\nthou also hadst secured victory. Hearing of the destruction of Indrajit,\nwe congratulate thee (on thy success). He was incapable of being slain\nby all creatures, and in battle possessed mighty powers of illusion.\nHearing that Indrajit slain, amazement hath seized us all. Having\nconferred on us this holy freedom from fear, O K\u0101kutstha, O repressor of\nenemies, thou through good fortune, wilt grow in victory.\" Hearing the\nspeech of the ascetics of sacred souls, R\u0101ma, coming under the influence\nof a mighty wonder, said with joined hands,\u2014\"Ye worshipful ones,\nwherefore, passing by those exceedingly powerful ones Kumbhakarna and\nthe night-ranger, R\u0101vana\u2014do ye praise R\u0101vana\u2019s son? Wherefore, passing\nby Mahodara, and Prahasta, and the R\u0101kshasa\u2014Virupaksha\u2014and Matta, and\nUnmatta, and the irrepressible Dev\u0101ntaka and Nar\u0101ntaka\u2014redoubtable\nheroes all\u2014do ye extoll R\u0101vana\u2019s son? And wherefore, passing by Atik\u0101ya\nand Tri\u00e7iras and Dhumr\u0101ksha,\u2014that night-ranger\u2014all endowed with\nexceeding prowess,\u2014do you extoll R\u0101vana\u2019s son? What was his prowess? And\nwhat his strength? And what his might? And by virtue of what cause did\nhe surpass R\u0101vana? If I can well hear the same, (do ye tell it me). I by\nno means command you. If the thing can bear disclosure, I would hear it.\nPray, speak out. How was Sakra vanquished by him, and how also did he\nobtain the boon? And how was the son powerful,\u2014and not his sire\u2014R\u0101vana?\nHow could that R\u0101kshasa, surpassing his sire, conquer Sakra in mighty\nencounter, and how did he obtain the boon? O foremost of anchorets, do\nthou to-day unfold all this unto me, who ask (for the same).\"\n\n \u00b9 The name of Agastya had before been just specified among the\n incomers; but so it is in the text.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b2 _Ursa Major_, or the great bear, the seven stars of which are the\n souls of as many saints,\u2014Marichi, Atrai, Angiras, Pulastya,\n Pulaha, Kratu and Vasistha.\u2014T\n\n \u00b3 _Turnam_\u2014according to the commentator, is _mental celerity_, and\n _drutam\u2014physical_. This distinction, however, is seldom, if ever,\n observed by Sanskrit authors.\u2014T.\n\n \u2074 _i.e._ surpassing perception.\u2014T.\n\n\n\nSECTION II.\n\n\nHearing those words of his, the exceedingly energetic Kumbhayoni spoke\nas follows,\u2014\"Having regard to his (Indrajit\u2019s) energy and might, I shall\nrelate unto thee the history of his race, in the light of which thou\nwilt perceive why R\u0101vana\u2019s son had been capable of slaying his enemies,\nbut could not himself be slain by them. I shall, O R\u0101ghava, describe\nunto thee R\u0101vana\u2019s race and birth, as well as the boon that had been\nconferred on him.\n\n\"Formerly in the Krita age, O R\u0101ma, there was a Brahmarshi\u2014lord (of\ncreatures)\u2014son unto Praj\u0101pati, and like unto the very self of the\ngreat-father. His virtues, springing from righteousness and excellency\nof character, are past all delineation; I can only say that, forsooth,\nhe went by the name of Praj\u0101pati\u2019s son. Verily on account of his being\nthe son of Praj\u0101pati, he was the darling of the deities; as by virtue of\nhis spotless perfections, that magnanimous one was loved of all\ncreatures. And on a religious mission that foremost of ascetics,\nrepairing to the asylum of Trinavindu at the side of the mighty\nmountain, Meru, took up his abode there. And with his senses centered on\nthe study of the Vedas, that righteous-souled one, going to the\nhermitage, carried on austerities; but his religious rites were\ndisturbed by certain girls. And daughters of sages and Pannagas and\nthose of R\u0101jarshis,\u2014as well as those of Apsar\u0101s, sporting, arrived at\nthat quarter. And on account of every season being genial at that spot\nand also of the loveliness of the wood, the damsels, repairing to this\nplace, ever disport there. And on account of the beauty of that region,\nthose wenches, coming to where that twice-born one, Pulastya was, used\nto sing, to play on instruments, and to dance; and thus those blameless\nbeauties disturbed the rites of that anchoret practising austerities.\nThereat, the mighty ascetic, waxing wroth, said,\u2014\u2019She that comes within\nmy kin, shall conceive.\u2019 Hearing the words of the high-souled one, (the\ndamsels), afraid of a Br\u0101hmana\u2019s curse, ceased to haunt that place. But\nTrinavindu\u2019s daughter had not heard anything of all this; and, going to\nthe asylum, she ranged it fearlessly. And she did not see there any of\nher associates come to that spot. And at that time that exceedingly\nenergetic and mighty sage, Praj\u0101pati\u2019s son, with his soul sanctified\nthrough asceticism, was engaged in the study of the Veda. And, hearing\nthe sounds of Vaidika recitation, and seeing that storehouse of\nasceticism, she had her body turned pale, and signs of pregnancy\ndisplayed themselves. And, seeing that evil befall her, she was wrought\nup with anxiety; and, understanding matters, she said,\u2014\u2019What is this?\u2019\nAnd, going to her father\u2019s hermitage, stayed there. And, seeing her in\nthis condition, Trinavindu said,\u2014\u2019Wherefore is the person that thou\nbearest unlike what it used to be?\u2019 Thereat, in woe-begone guise, with\njoined hands, his daughter replied unto that one having asceticism for\nhis riches,\u2014\u2019O father, cause know I none whereby I have come by this\nappearance. But, searching for my associates, I had ere this alone\nrepaired to the noble asylum of the Maharshi Pulastya of a purified\nspirit. But associate found there I none, that had come thither. And\nseeing this change for the worse of my form, I from fear have come\nhither.\u2019 Thereat the Rajarshi, Trinavindu, having a live effulgence\nthrough asceticism, entered into contemplation, and saw the consequence\nof the sage\u2019s act. And coming to know that curse of the Maharshi of a\npurified spirit, he, taking his daughter, went to Pulastya and said,\u2014\u2019O\nworshipful one, O mighty sage, do thou accept this daughter of mine,\nadorned with her native perfections, who of herself hath come to thee as\nalms.\u2075 She will, without doubt, constantly tend thee, practising\nasceticism, and having thy senses fatigued.\u2019 When that virtuous (sage)\nhad said this, the twice-born Rajarshi, desirous of accepting the girl\n(after due nuptial rites), said unto the former,\u2014\u2019Well!\u2019 Having given\naway his daughter, the king went (back) to his asylum; and the girl\nstayed there, gratifying her husband with her virtues. And that best of\nascetics was gratified with her character and behavior. And well pleased\n(with her), that highly energetic one said,\u2014\u2019O thou of shapely hips,\nwell-pleased am I with thee with thy wealth of worth, and therefore, O\nexalted one, I will to-day confer on thee a son like unto thyself, who\nwill perpetuate both the lines\u2076\u2014being celebrated as Paulastya. And as\nthou hadst heard the Veda recited by me, so, without doubt, he shall be\nnamed _Vi\u00e7rav\u0101_.\u2019\u2077 Thus addressed, that noble damsel with her soul\nwrought up with delight, in a short time brought forth her son _Vi\u00e7rav\u0101_\nfamed over the three worlds and furnished with virtue and fame; versed\nin the Vedas, of an impartial spirit, and ever engaged in observing\nvows. And the ascetic, _Vi\u00e7rav\u0101_, was furnished with asceticism even\nlike his sire.\"\n\n \u2075 Compare Lear:\u2014\u2019Let your study be to content your lord who hath\n received you at fortune\u2019s _alms_.\u2019\u2014Act I., Scene I., lines 67\u201469.\n\n \u2076 _i.e._ maternal and paternal lines.\n\n \u2077 From the root, _Sru\u2014to hear_.\n\n\n\nSECTION III.\n\n\n\"And Pulastya\u2019s son\u2014that prime of ascetics\u2014Vi\u00e7rav\u0101\u2014in a short time was\nengaged in asceticism like his father. And he was truthful, and of\nexcellent character and controlled senses; was ever engaged in the study\nof the Vedas; and was of a sanctified spirit; and he was not addicted to\nany of the pleasures of life, and was always studious of religion.\nLearning of his ways, that mighty ascetic, Bharadw\u0101ja, gave unto Vi\u00e7rav\u0101\nfor his wife, his own daughter, Devavarnini. And having religiously wed\nBharadw\u0101ja\u2019s daughter, that foremost of ascetics, Vi\u00e7rav\u0101, conceiving\nthe highest delight, began to reflect on the welfare of his offspring\nwith an intelligence concentrated on them. And on her that one cognizant\nof righteousness begot a child, exceedingly wonderful, endowed with\nenergy, and adorned with all Brahm\u0101\u2078 qualities. On his having been born,\nhis grand-father was rejoiced, and, marking the profitable intelligence\n(of the boy, he thought that) he would be the lord of riches. And\nwell-pleased, (Pulastya) in company with the Devarshis\n(thought),\u2014\u2019Inasmuch as this is Vi\u00e7rav\u0101\u2019s offspring, and as he resembles\nVi\u00e7rav\u0101 himself, so he should be known by the name of Vai\u00e7ravana. And\nthen the exceedingly energetic Vai\u00e7ravana, repairing to the wood of\nasceticism, increased (in power) like unto a fire fed by sacrificial\noblations. And as he was staying in the hermitage, that high-souled one\nthought,\u2014\u2019I shall practise prime righteousness: verily virtue is the\nsupreme way.\u2019 And for a thousand years, he, having his senses\ncontrolled, practised rigid austerities in that mighty forest, observing\n(all the while) the most rigorous restrictions. And on a thousand years\nhaving been numbered, he by turns observed the rules relative to each\nterm; (at first) living on water, (then) on air, and (last) going\nabsolutely without any fare. Thus passed away a thousand years like one.\nAnd then the highly energetic Brahm\u0101 along with Indra and the\ncelestials, coming to that asylum, addressed (Vai\u00e7ravana), saying,\u2014\u2019O\nchild, I am well-pleased with thee for this act of thine, O thou of\nexcellent vows. Do thou, good betide thee, ask for the boon (that thou\nwouldst have), for, O magnanimous one, thou art worthy of a boon. 9 Then\nVai\u00e7ravana said unto the great-father, who was present,\u2014\u2019O reverend one,\nI crave for the power of maintaining and protecting people.\u2019 Thereat,\nBrahm\u0101 along with the deities gladly said in a gratified spirit,\u2014\u2019Very\nwell! I am about to create the fourth of the Protectors of\ncreatures\u2014Yama, Indra and Varuna,\u2014the position which is sought for by\nthee. Do thou, O thou cognizant of righteousness, attain the same; do\nthou receive the position of the lord of riches. Thou shalt be the\nfourth among Sakra, the lord of waters, etc. And do thou take for thy\nvehicle this car, named Pushpaka, resembling the Sun himself, and thus\nraise thyself to an equality with the celestials. Good betide thee! We\nshall (now) go whither we had come, having, my child, done my duty and\nbestowed on thee the couple of boons.\u2019 Having said this, Brahm\u0101 along\nwith the celestials went to his own quarters. On the deities with Brahm\u0101\nat their head, having departed for the heavenly regions, the\nself-possessed lord of wealth of subdued senses with joined hands spoke\nunto his sire, saying,\u2014\u2019O reverend one, I have received the wished-for\nboon from the great-father, but the exalted lord of creatures hath not\nfixed any abode for me. Therefore, O lord, do thou seek out some\ndwelling for me, where no creature whatever can come by misfortune.\u2019\nThus accosted by his son, that best of ascetics, Vi\u00e7rav\u0101, spoke, O\nrighteous one,\u2014\u2019Listen! O excellent one. On the shore of the Southern\nsea there is a mount named Trikuta. On its brow is a beautiful and broad\ncity built by Vi\u00e7wakarm\u0101, named Lank\u0101, resembling the city itself of\nIndra the great, designed for the abode of R\u0101kshasas,\u2014like unto the\nAmaravati of Indra. There in Lank\u0101, do thou, forsooth, reside. That\nromantic city is surrounded with a golden wall and a moat, and is\nfurnished with engines and weapons; and hath gateways of gold and\nlapises. Formerly she was renounced by the R\u0101kshasas afflicted with the\nfear of Vishnu; and was empty of swarms of Rakshas, who had gone to the\nnethermost regions. Now Lank\u0101 is vacant,\u2014and there is no one that lords\nit over her. Do thou, my child, for abode, at thine ease repair thither.\nThy stay there shall meet with no rub, and no manner of disturbance\nshall occur there.\u2019 Hearing the righteous speech of his sire, that\nvirtuous-souled one along with thousands of delighted and joyous\nR\u0101kshasas, began to reside in Lank\u0101 stationed on the top of the mount.\nIn a short time (Lank\u0101), through his sway, abounded (in wealth). And\nthat foremost of Nairitas, the righteous son of Vi\u00e7rav\u0101, well-pleased,\nabode in Lank\u0101 having the Ocean for her entrenchment. At times the\nrighteous-souled lord of riches, mounted on Pushpaka, in humble guise\nvisited his father and mother. And hymned by hosts of deities and\nGandharvas, having his mansion graced with the dancing of Apsar\u0101s, and\nfloating on rays like the sun himself, that ruler of riches went to his\nsire.\"\n\n \u2078 Such as self-control, asceticism, purity, etc.\n\n\n\nSECTION IV.\n\n\nHearing the words uttered by Agastya, R\u0101ma wondered as to how formerly\nR\u0101kshasas were generated in Lank\u0101. And then shaking his head, he, struck\nwith wonder, momentarily eying Agastya, addressed Agastya resembling\nfire, saying,\u2014\"O worshipful one, hearing thy words that formerly Lank\u0101\nhad been in the possession of the flesh-eaters, I have been seized with\ngreat amazement. We had heard that the R\u0101kshasas had sprung in the race\nof Pulastya. But now thou hast said that they owe their origin to a\ndifferent source. But were they more powerful than R\u0101vana and\nKumbhakarna and Prahasta and Vikata and the sons of R\u0101vana? Who was\ntheir progenitor? And what was the name of that one of terrific\nstrength? And through what transgression were they driven out by Vishnu?\nAll this, O sinless one, do thou tell me in detail, and do thou dispell\nmy curiosity even as the sun dispells darkness.\"\n\nHearing R\u0101ghava\u2019s words, fair and fraught with polished phrase and\nperiod, Agastya, struck with surprise, said unto R\u0101ghava,\u2014\"The lord of\ncreatures sprung from water, first created water. And the lotus-born one\ngenerated creatures for protecting that element. And thereupon those\ncreatures humbly presented themselves before the creator, saying,\u2014\u2019What\nshall we do? We are sore tried by hunger and thirst.\u2019 The lord of\ncreatures, laughing, addressed them, saying,\u2014\u2019Ye men, do ye carefully\nguard this (water).\u2019 Thereat some said \u2019Raksh\u0101ma,\u2019\u2079 and others\n\u2019Yaksh\u0101ma.\u2019\u00b9\u2070 Thus accosted by those afflicted with hunger and thirst,\nthe creator said,\u2014\u2019Those among you who have said \u2019Raksh\u0101ma,\u2019 shall be\nR\u0101kshasas; and those among you who have said \u2018Yaksh\u0101ma,\u2019 shall be\nYakshas. And there sprang the brothers\u2014repressors of foes\u2014Heti and\nPraheti\u2014lords of R\u0101kshasas, resembling Madhu Kaitava himself. Praheti,\nwho was righteous, went to the wood of asceticism. And Heti exerted\nhimself to the utmost to get himself wived. And that magnanimous one of\nimmeasurable soul married the exceedingly terrific sister of K\u0101la, named\nBhaya.\u00b9\u00b9 And on her Heti\u2014foremost of R\u0101kshasas and best of those having\nsons\u2014begat a son, known as Vidyutke\u00e7a. And Heti\u2019s son, the exceedingly\nenergetic Vidyutke\u00e7a, possessed of the splendour of the sun, grew up\neven like a lotus in water. And when that night-ranger arrived at proper\nyouth, his sire turned his attention towards his marriage. And that best\nof R\u0101kshasas\u2014Heti\u2014in the interests of his son asked for the hand of\nSandhy\u0101\u2019s daughter, like unto Sandhy\u0101\u00b9\u00b2 herself in potency. Sandhy\u0101,\nreflecting that she needs must have to be given away by her, bestowed\nher on Vidyutke\u00e7a, O R\u0101ghava. Having obtained Sandhy\u0101\u2019s daughter, the\nnight-ranger, Vidyutke\u00e7a, sports with her even as Maghav\u0101n doth with the\ndaughter of Pulom\u0101. And it came to pass that after a length of time, O\nR\u0101ma, S\u0101la Katankat\u0101 was filled with child by Vidyutke\u00e7a, as the clouds\nare furnished with water by the Ocean. And then repairing to Mandara,\nthe R\u0101kshasi brought forth her child, having the splendour of\nrain-charged clouds; even as Gang\u0101 had delivered herself of the child\nbegotten by Fire.\u00b9\u00b3 And having delivered herself of her offspring, she\nagain became bent on disporting with Vidyutke\u00e7a. And then forsaking her\nson, she began to sport with her husband; and the child having sounds\nresembling the rumbling of clouds, was renounced (by his mother). And\nforsaken by them both, the infant furnished with the brightness of the\nautumnal sun, entering his clenched fist into his mouth, began to cry\nslowly. And it so fell that, journeying with P\u0101rvati, Siva, riding his\nbull through the aerial regions, heard the sounds of weeping. And along\nwith Um\u0101, he saw the R\u0101kshasa\u2019s son, as he was crying. And sent by\nP\u0101rvati, whose heart was moved by compassion, Bhava\u2014destroyer of\nTripur\u0101\u2014made that R\u0101kshasa\u2019s offspring attain the age of his mother, and\nconferred on him immortality. And for compassing P\u0101rvati\u2019s pleasure,\nMah\u0101deva, indestructible and undeteriorating, granted (the R\u0101kshasa) the\npower of ranging the air. And, O son of the king, Um\u0101 also bestowed a\nboon: \u2019Henceforth the R\u0101kshasis shall conceive in a day, bring forth\n(child) in a day, and the child shall in a day be furnished with the age\nof its mother.\u2019 And then the great and magnanimous Suke\u00e7a, puffed up\nwith the receipt of the boons, having obtained auspiciousness at the\nhands of the lord, Hara, began to range everywhere, even as Purandara\ndid on having obtained heaven.\"\n\n \u2079 _i.e._ _We shall protect._\n\n \u00b9\u2070 _We shall worship._\n\n \u00b9\u00b9 _Fear._\n\n \u00b9\u00b2 The evening Twilight, spouse of the Sun.\n\n \u00b9\u00b3 Mahe\u00e7wara.\n\n\n\nSECTION V.\n\n\n\"Seeing Suke\u00e7a righteous and furnished with the boon, a virtuous\nGandharva, named Gr\u0101mani, of the effulgence of fire, who had a daughter,\ncalled Devavati, like unto a second Sri herself, famed over the three\nworlds, and endowed with beauty and youth,\u2014bestowed her on Sukega as if\nhe had bestowed the goddess of fortune of the Rakshas. And like an\nindigent person on obtaining wealth, Devavati, on obtaining her beloved\nhusband, affluent in consequence of having received the boon, was\n(greatly) delighted. And in her company, that night-ranger appeared\ngraceful, even as a mighly elephant sprung from Anjana\u00b9\u2074 doth in the\ncompany of a she-elephant. In good time Suke\u00e7a, O R\u0101ghava, begot (on\nher) three sons, resembling the three Fires, And that lord of R\u0101kshasas\nbegot (on her) three sons, resembling his three eyes\u2014the R\u0101kshasas\nMalyav\u0101n, Sum\u0101li and that foremost of the strong\u2014M\u0101li; all resembling\nthe three worlds possessing themselves in calmness; like unto the three\nFires established; fierce like unto the three vinntras,\u2014dreadful like\nthree diseases springing respectively from morbid Air, Bile and\nPhlegm.\u00b9\u2075 And the sons of Suke\u00e7a, having the energy of the three Fires,\ngrew up like a disease which hath been disregarded. And learning that\ntheir father had received a boon by virtue of his power proceeding from\nasceticism, the brothers, firmly resolved, went to Meru for practising\npenances. And adopting rigid restrictions, the R\u0101kshasas, O best of\nkings, entered upon austerities, terrible, and capable of arousing the\nfear of all beings. And practising penances rare on earth with truth and\ncandour and self-control, they afflicted the three worlds with gods,\nAsuras and human beings. Then that lord\u2014the four-faced one\u2014stationed on\na superb car, addressed Suke\u00e7a\u2019s sons, saying,\u2014\u2019I am for conferring\nboons (on you).\u2019 Knowing that Brahm\u0101 surrounded by Indra and the other\ncelestials was ready to bestow boons, they, with joined hands, said,\ntrembling like trees, \u2018O god that hast been adored through asceticism,\nif thou dost intend to confer on us a boon, let us be invincible,\ncapable of slaying foes, immortal, lordly, and ever devoted to each\nother.\u2019 Thereat, saying \u2018So be it,\u2019 unto the sons of Suke\u00e7a, the lord\nBrahm\u0101, (ever) cherishing Br\u0101hmanas with affection, went to the Brahm\u0101\nregions. O R\u0101ma, having obtained the boons, those night-rangers,\nrendered intrepid in consequence of having the boon conferred on them,\nbegan to disturb celestials and Asuras. And like unto men abiding in\nhell, the celestials, Charanas and hosts of sages, being harassed (by\nRakshasas), did not find any deliverer. And then, O foremost of the\nRaghus, the Rakshasas, assembled together, joyfully said unto the\nundeteriorating Vi\u00e7wakarm\u0101\u2014prince of artists,\u2014\u2018Thou by thy own energy\nart the architect of the great gods, endowed with energy and prowess and\nstrength. Do thou, O magnanimous one, construct a fabric for us after\nour heart hard by Himav\u0101n, or Meru, or Mandara. And do thou erect a\nmagnificent mansion for us resembling the mansion itself of Mahe\u00e7wara.\u2019\nThereat Vi\u00e7wakarm\u0101\u2014the mighty-arm of the Rakshasas\u2014spoke of a building\nlike the Amar\u0101vati of Sakra, \u2018On the shore of the Southern sea is a\nmountain named Trikuta. A second also is there called Suvela, ye lords\nof R\u0101kshasas. On the midmost peak of that mountain resembling clouds,\ninaccessible even to the fowls of the air, all the four quarters have\nbeen hewn with bones.\u00b9\u2076 If I am desired by you, I can construct the city\nof Lank\u0101 (there), having an area of thirty Yojanas, and measuring an\nhundred in length; surrounded with a golden wall and furnished with\ngolden gateways. In her do ye dwell, ye irrepressible ones, ye foremost\nof R\u0101kshasas; even as do the celestials with Indra, approaching\nAmar\u0101vati, And occupying the citadel of Lank\u0101, backed by innumerable\nR\u0101kshasas, ye will be invincible to foes and capable of destroying\nthem.\u2019 Hearing Vi\u00e7wakarm\u0101\u2019s speech, those foremost of Rakshasas,\naccompanied by thousands of followers, went to the palace and set up in\nthe same, having a strong wall and a moat, abounding in hundreds of\ngolden edifices. And obtaining Lank\u0101, the night-rangers, exceedingly\ndelighted, began to dwell therein. At this time, O R\u0101ghava, there lived\nat her pleasure a Gandharvi, named Narmad\u0101. O son of Raghu, she had\nthree daughters, resembling Sri, Hri, and Kirti in splendour. And albeit\nno R\u0101kshasi herself, she, beginning with the eldest, gladly married to\nthe R\u0101kshasas her daughters having faces resembling the full moon. And\nunder the influence of the star, Bhagadaivata, those three exalted\ndaughters of a Gandharvi were respectively conferred by their mother on\nthe three several R\u0101kshasas of eminence. And having wedded, O R\u0101ma,\nSuke\u00e7a\u2019s sons began to sport with their wives, like celestials sporting\nwith Apsar\u0101s. Malyav\u0101n\u2019s beautiful spouse was named Sundari. On her he\nbegot, do thou understand, whom;\u2014Vajramusthi, and Virup\u0101ksha, and the\nR\u0101kshasa\u2014Burmukha,\u2014and Suptaghna, and Yajnakopa, and Matta and Unmatta;\nand, O R\u0101ma, there was also born a lovely daughter of Sundari, Anal\u0101.\nAnd Sum\u0101li\u2019s wife, of face like the full Moon, named Ketumati, was\ndearer to him than his life itself. O mighty king, do thou, gradually,\nknow the offspring that were begot by Sum\u0101li on Ketumati,\u2014Prahasta, and\nKampana, and Vikata, and K\u0101lik\u0101mukha, and Dhumr\u0101ksha, and Danda, and the\nredoubtable Sup\u0101rcwa, and Sanhr\u0101di, and Praghasa, and the R\u0101kshasa,\nBh\u0101sakarna, and R\u0101k\u0101, and Pashpotkat\u0101, and Kaikasi of luminous smiles,\nand Kumbhinasi\u2014these are known as the offspring of Sum\u0101li. M\u0101li had for\nwife a graceful Gandharvi, having eyes resembling lotus-petals, of a\nlovely look, and like unto the most magnificent Yakshi of them all. Do\nthou, O master, listen to me as I mention to thee, O R\u0101ghava, the\noffspring that Sum\u0101li\u2019s younger brother begat on her,\u2014Anala, and Nila,\nand Samp\u0101ti. These night-rangers\u2014sons unto M\u0101li\u2014were the courtiers of\nBibhisana. And those three foremost of R\u0101kshasas, accompanied by\nhundreds of sons\u2014night-rangers all\u2014elated on account of their\nmeasureless prowess, began to worry the sages and serpents and Yakshas,\nand celestials with Indra (at their head). And incapable of being\nconfronted (in battle), these resembling Death himself in\nenergy,\u2014wondrous elated in consequence of the boon having been conferred\non them, ranging the world like unto the Wind, were ever engaged in\ndisturbing the sacrifices (of the sages).\"\n\n \u00b9\u2074 The designation of an elephant.\n\n \u00b9\u2075 The entire edifice of Hindu Pathology is based on the three-fold\n division of the morbid humours into Air, Bile and Phlegm. This\n division, albeit it may appear crude and unscientific to\n Europeans, taken all, in all, wonderfully answers its purpose. The\n tact displayed by Hindu physicians in diagnosing diseases on this\n method is wonderful. From feeling the Pulse alone, a Hindu\n physician, getting at the predominance of one or more morbid\n humours of the system, can accurately ascertain a patient\u2019s\n health. The infallibility with which predictions of death are\n generally made, attests the scientific soundness of the division\n in question, and renders superfluous any elaborate argument in its\n defense.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b9\u2076 Tanka\u2014may also mean a hatchet or a sword.\u2014T,\n\n\n\nSECTION VI.\n\n\n\"Thus afflicted, the deities, sages, and ascetics, wrought up with fear,\nsought the protection of that god of gods\u2014Mahe\u00e7wara\u2014creator and\ndestroyer of the cosmos,\u2014unborn, of an unmanifest form, the stay of all\ncreatures, worthy of being adored,\u2014and the supreme preceptor (of all).\nAnd coming to that enemy of K\u0101ma\u00b9\u2077 and foe of Tripur\u0101\u2014the three-eyed\n(Deity), the gods, with their voices faltering through fear, represented\nwith joined hands,\u2014\u2019O reverend one, the creatures of the lord of\ncreatures are being (sorely) troubled by the sons of Suke\u00e7a, given to\nharassing their foes,\u2014swollen with insolence on account of the boon\nconferred on them by the great-father, Our asylums,\u2014constituting our\nrefuges,\u2014have been divested of their power of granting shelter; and\ndriving off the deities from the etherial regions, they are sporting\nthere like the immortals. \u2019I am Vishnu!\u2019 \u2019I am Rudra!\u2019 \u2019I am the king of\nthe celestials!\u2019 \u2019I am Yama!\u2019 \u2019I am Varuna!\u2019 \u2019I am the Moon!\u2019 \u2019I am the\nSun!\u2019\u2014flattering themselves in this fashion, M\u0101li and Sum\u0101li and the\nR\u0101kshasa\u2014Malyav\u0101n\u2014as well as those going before them, are annoying (the\ngods), breathing exhilaration of martial spirits. Therefore, god, it\nbehoveth thee to liberate us from fear, who have been greatly tormented\nby it. Do thou, assuming thy terrific form, slay the thorns of the\ncelestials.\" Thus addressed by the immortals in a body, that lord,\nKaparddi of red-blue hue, reflecting that it would be wrong for him to\ndestroy Suke\u00e7a (with his own hands), spoke unto the gods:\u2014\"I shall not\nslay them, ye gods; they are incapable of being slain by me. But I shall\nunfold unto you the way in which they will be destroyed. Do ye, ye\nMaharshis, in the heat of this affair, seek the shelter of Vishnu. That\nlord will slay them.\" Thereat, saluting Mahe\u00e7wara with the sounds of\n_Jaya_, (the celestials) afflicted with the fear of the night-rangers,\npresented themselves before Vishnu. And bowing down unto the god holding\nthe conch, discus and mace, and paying him high homage, they, greatly\nflurried, addressed him about the sons of Suke\u00e7a, saying,\u2014\"O god, by\nvirtue of the boon (that hath been bestowed on them), resembling the\nthree fires, Suke\u00e7a\u2019s three sons, assailing us, have deprived us of our\nabode. There is a city named Lank\u0101, stationed on the top of Trikuta,\n(extremely) difficult of entrance. Taking up their station at that\nplace, the night-rangers in a body pursue us. Do thou, O slayer of\nMadhu, destroy them for our welfare. We have sought thy shelter. Become\nour refuge, O foremost of celestials. Do thou dedicate to Yama the\nlotuses of their faces, severed (in pieces) with thy discus. Save thee,\nwe have none who can, while tormented with fright, inspire us with\ncourage. Slay in encounter the elated R\u0101kshasas along with their\nadherents; and even as the sun drieth up dew, do thou dispell this fear\nof ours.\" Thus accosted by the deities, that god of gods\u2014Jan\u0101rddana\u2014who\nbringeth fear unto foes\u2014cheering up the celestials, said unto them,\u2014\"I\nknow the R\u0101kshasa, Suke\u00e7a, as flushed with the boon bestowed by I\u00e7\u0101na.\nAnd I also know his sons, of whom Malyav\u0101n is the eldest. Those worst of\nR\u0101kshasas that have over-riden your dignity will I, wrought up with\nwrath, slay (in battle); therefore, ye gods, be of good cheer.\" Thus\naddressed by the mighty Vishnu, the gods, highly rejoiced, went to their\nrespective quarters, extolling Jan\u0101rdana.\n\n\"And hearing of the activity of the celestials, the\nnight-ranger\u2014Malyav\u0101n\u2014addressed his heroic brothers, saying,\u2014\u2019The\nimmortals and sages, going to Sankara, spake these words, desirous of\nour destruction,\u2014The terrific sons of Suke\u00e7a, puffed up, and swollen on\naccount of their strength flowing from the boon, are crossing us at\nevery step. We have been overpowered by the R\u0101kshasas. And, O lord of\ncreatures, from fear of those wicked-minded ones, we cannot remain in\nour own homes. Therefore, to do us good, do thou, O three-eyed one,\ndestroy them; and, O best of consuming ones, do thou with thy roars,\nburn them up.\u2014Thus addressed by the deities, the slayer of Andhaka,\nhearing their speech, said, shaking his head and hands,\u2014Ye gods,\nSuke\u00e7a\u2019s sons are incapable of being slain by me in battle. But I shall\ntell you the means whereby they may be slain. Do ye seek the shelter of\nhim who holdeth the discus and mace in his hands, and who is clad in a\nyellow attire,\u2014of Jan\u0101rdana, Hari, even of the auspicious\nN\u0101r\u0101yana.\u2014Having received this counsel of Hara, they, rendering\nreverence unto that enemy of K\u0101ma, came to the abode of N\u0101r\u0101yana and\ncommunicated everything unto him. Then N\u0101r\u0101yana spoke unto the\ncelestials with Indra at their head,\u2014I will slay those foes of the\ncelestials. Ye gods, cast off all fear!\u2014O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, Hari\npromised unto the frightened celestials that he would slay us. Therefore\ndo ye think as to what is fit. Hiranyaka\u00e7ipu hath met with death (at the\nhands of Hari), as also other enemies of the immortals. And Namuchi and\nK\u0101lanemi, and that foremost of heroes,\u2014Sanhr\u0101da\u2014and R\u0101dheya, and\nVahum\u0101yi, and the virtuous Lokap\u0101la, and Y\u0101mala, and Arjuna, and\nH\u0101rdikya, and Sumbha and Ni\u00e7umbhaka,\u2014Asuras and D\u0101navas endowed with\nstrength and possessed of terrific prowess\u2014all these, who, having come\nto the field, had never been heard of as worsted, who had performed\nhundreds of sacrifices, who had been well skilled in illusion, who had\nbeen versed in every branch of knowledge, and who were the terrors of\ntheir foes\u2014have by hundreds and by thousands been destroyed by N\u0101r\u0101yana.\nLearning this, it behoveth you to do what would conduce to the behoof of\nall. It is a sore task to defeat N\u0101r\u0101yana, who wisheth to slay us.\u2019\nThereat Sum\u0101li and M\u0101li, hearing the words of M\u0101lyav\u0101n, said unto their\neldest brother, like the Acwins addressing V\u0101sava,\u2014\u2019We have studied,\nperformed sacrifices, practised charity, and obtained riches; and\nattaining long health and long life, we have established sterling\nrighteousness in our path. And with arms plunging into the sea of\ncelestials, we have conquered our unrivalled enemies. Therefore, we have\nno fear touching death. Even N\u0101r\u0101yana and Rudra, Sakra and Yama, ever\nfear to stay before us (in the field). And, O lord of R\u0101kshasas, there\nis no occasion for Vishnu\u2019s displeasure of us. The mind of Vishnu hath\nwavered in consequence of the evil caused by the celestials. Therefore\nwill we even avenge ourselves on the gods, from whom hath sprung this\nwrong.\u2019 Having taken counsel together, those powerful ones conciliated\ntheir forces. And proclaiming (their order) that preparations were to be\nmade, all the foremost Nairitas sallied forth for battle, like unto\nthose led by Jamva and Vritra. And, O R\u0101ma, having thus taken counsel\ntogether, with all the preparations complete, those huge-bodied and\nredoubtable Rakshas marched forth for conflict, mounted on cars, and\nelephants, and horses resembling elephants, and mules, and kine, and\ncamels, and purpoises,\u00b9\u2078 and serpents, _makaras_, and tortoises, and\nfishes, and fowls resembling Garuda himself, lions and tigers and boars\nand _Srimaras_\u00b9\u2079 and _Ch\u0101maras_.\u00b2\u2070 And puffed up with pride of prowess,\nthe Rakshas march, leaving Lank\u0101, and the enemies of the celestials went\nto the heavenly regions for battle. And perceiving the destruction of\nLank\u0101 at hand, those deities that had taken up their quarters there,\neverywhere were struck with fear and felt their spirits depressed. And\nmounting the best of cars, the R\u0101kshasas by hundreds and thousands with\nintent minds swiftly sallied forth for the celestial regions. And the\ndeities (aforementioned) followed the tract of the R\u0101kshasas. And at the\ncommand of K\u0101la, terrible evil omens foreshadowing the destruction of\nthe R\u0101kshasa-chiefs began to arise on the earth well as in the sky. The\nclouds showered down bones and hot blood. The oceans overleapt their\ncontinents;\u00b2\u00b9 and the mountains shook. And jackals of terrific forms,\nhaving voices resembling the roaring of clouds,\u2014bursting out into a\nhorse-laugh, began to emit cries frightfully. Creatures were one after\nanother seen to drop down; and mighty swarms of vultures, with mouths\nbelching forth flames, began to wheel over the R\u0101kshasa, like unto K\u0101la\nhimself. And blood-footed pigeons and S\u0101rik\u0101s\u00b2\u00b2 darted off (around). And\ncrows and two-legged cats began to cry in loud accents. But fast bound\nwith the noose of Death, the R\u0101kshasas, proud of their strength,\ndisregarding these omens, march on, and do not stay their\ncourse,\u2014M\u0101lyav\u0101n and Sum\u0101li possessed of prodigious strength, going\nbefore the R\u0101kshasas, like flaming fires. And even as the gods take\nrefuge under Dhata, the night-rangers take refuge under Malyav\u0101n\nresembling the mountain, Malyav\u0101n. And under the command of M\u0101li, that\nhost of R\u0101kshasas, roaring like mighty clouds, inspired with the desire\nof victory, went to the celestial regions. And the lord N\u0101r\u0101yana,\nhearing of the preparations of the R\u0101kshasas from a celestial messenger,\nset his heart on fight. And equipped with weapons and quivers, he\nmounted on Vinata\u2019s offspring.\u00b2\u00b3 And donning on his mail furnished with\nthe effulgence of a thousand suns, fastening his spotless quivers filled\nwith shafts, being engirt with his waist-band and bright falchion, and\nequipped with his conch, discus, mace, _S\u0101rnga_,\u00b2\u2074 sword, and other\nsuperior weapons, that lotus-eyed lord, seated on Vinata\u2019s offspring\nlike a very mountain, set out speedily for compassing the destruction of\nthe R\u0101kshasas. And seated on Suparna\u2019s\u00b2\u2075 back, the blue-brown Hari clad\nin yellow attire resembled a mass of clouds on the crest of the golden\nmountain, with lightning playing through it. And hymned by Siddhas and\ncelestials and sages and mighty (semi-divine) serpents and Gandharvas\nand Yakhas, the enemy of the Asura hosts presented himself, bearing in\nhis hands the discus, sword, that weapon\u2014_S\u0101rnga_\u2014and the conch. And the\nR\u0101kshasa-hosts, struck by the wind produced by the wings of Suparna,\nwith their pennons swinging to and fro and their weapons scattered\nabout, quaked like the blue summit of a mountain with its crags tossed\nabout. Then the night-rangers, hemming in M\u0101dhava,\u00b2\u2076 began to pierce him\nwith thousands of excellent sharpened weapons dyed in flesh and blood,\nand resembling the fire of Doomsday.\"\n\n \u00b9\u2077 The Hindu Cupid. Mah\u0101deva had burnt to ashes K\u0101ma, when he had the\n fool-hardiness to disturb the contemplation of the former. By the\n way, K\u0101lid\u0101sa has reared his faery fabric, entitled _Kum\u0101ra\n Sambhava_, on the basis of this legend.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b9\u2078 How purpoises could be pressed into the service passes my\n conception, unless _Si\u00e7um\u0101ra_ have any other meaning.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b9\u2079 Wilson gives the meanings: (i) \u2019a kind of animal\u2019 and (2) \u2019a young\n deer\u2019.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b2\u2070 _Bos Grunniens._\n\n \u00b2\u00b9 Used in the Shakesperean sense: _Vide Macbeth_.\n\n \u00b2\u00b2 A species of harlot.\n\n \u00b2\u00b3 Garuda, N\u0101r\u0101yana\u2019s vehicle.\n\n \u00b2\u2074 The bow of Vishnu is so named.\n\n \u00b2\u2075 Lit. _fair-feathered_\u2014a name of Garuda.\n\n \u00b2\u2076 One of the many designations of Vishnu,\n\n\n\nSECTION VII.\n\n\n\"And as clouds assail a mountain with showers, then the R\u0101kshasas,\nrepresenting clouds, setting up shouts, began to assail N\u0101r\u0101yana\nrepresenting a mountain. And Vishnu of a bright brown-blue hue, being\nsurrounded by the flower of the night-rangers with dark visages,\nresembled the mountain, Anjana, on which the clouds pour down. And as\nlocusts (flood) a field, gnats (throng) about a flame, gad-flies\n(cluster) around a pot of honey, or _makaras_ (range) the deep, so the\nshafts shot by the bows of the Rakhas, having (the energy of) the\nthunder-bolt and endowed with (the velocity of) the wind or thought,\npierce Hari as if at the universal dissolution. And those mounted on\ncars (assailed him) with their cars, and those mounted on the backs of\nelephants (assailed him) with their elephants, and those riding horses\n(assailed him) with their horses, and the foot-soldiers attacked him,\nstationed in the sky; and the foremost of R\u0101kshasas resembling\nmountains, by means of darts, _rishtis_ and _tomaras_, suspended the\nrespiration of Hari even as the _pr\u0101n\u0101y\u0101ma_\u00b2\u2077 doth that of a twice-born\none. On being sore tried by the night-rangers, like the great Ocean by\nthe fishes (residing in it), that invincible one, taking his _S\u0101rnga_,\nshowered shafts among the R\u0101kshasas. And with sharpened arrows\nresembling the thunder, and endowed with the velocity of the wind, shot\nfrom his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, Vishnu cut off (R\u0101kshasas) by\nhundreds and by thousands. And dashing away (the R\u0101kshasa ranks) with\nhis arrowy shower, even as the wind aroused dasheth away a downpour,\nthat best of male beings blew his mighty conch\u2014P\u0101nchajanya. And winded\nby Hari with his utmost might, that water-sprung king of conchs, endowed\nwith terrific blares, roared, as if afflicting the three worlds. And the\nsounds of that king of conchs struck terror into the R\u0101kshasas, even as\nin a mighty forest a lion (strikes terror into the hearts of) elephants\nin rut. And thereat the horses could not keep their ground, and the\nelephants were reft of their temporal flow, and shorn of their virtue at\nthe roars of the conch, heroes began to topple down from their cars. And\ndight with dainty feathered parts having heads, the shafts discharged\nfrom the _S\u0101rnga_, resembling thunder-bolts, riving those Rakshas,\nentered the earth. And in that conflict, pierced by the arrows\ndischarged from N\u0101r\u0101yana\u2019s arm, the R\u0101kshasas began to drop to the\nground like mountains struck with the thunder-bolt. And the wounds on\nthe persons of the foes inflicted by the discus of Vishnu discharge\nblood in streams, like mountains discharging streams of red chalk. And\nthe sounds of that king of conchs, as well as those of the _S\u0101rnga_,\ncombined with the roars emitted by Vishnu himself, swallowed up the\nroars of the R\u0101kshasas. And Hari by means of his shafts cut off their\nnecks, and arrows, and standards, and bows, and cars, and ensigns, and\nquivers. And like fierce rays streaming about from the sun, like\ntorrents dashing from the ocean, like elephants coming down a mountain,\nor like showers descending from clouds, the shafts shot by N\u0101r\u0101yana\npursue (the foes) by hundreds and by thousands. And even as an elephant\npursueth a tiger, a tiger a wolf, a wolf a dog, a dog a cat, a cat a\nsnake, or a snake a rat, so the mighty Vishnu pursueth the R\u0101kshasa\nhost; and others, (struck down by him), measure their lengths on the\nground. Then, having despatched thousands of R\u0101kshasas, the destroyer of\nMadhu blew his water-sprung (conch), even as the sovereign of the\ncelestials filleth clouds (with rain). And agitated by the arrows of\nN\u0101r\u0101yana, with their senses bewildered by the blares of the conch, the\nbroken R\u0101kshasa forces made for Lank\u0101. And on the R\u0101kshasa army having\nbeen broken in consequence of the beating it got at the hands of\nN\u0101r\u0101yana, Sum\u0101li with showers of shafts resisted Hari in the encounter;\nand as a mist envelopes the Sun, he enveloped him (with his arrows).\nThereat, the R\u0101kshasas again summoned up their fortitude. And fired with\nrage, that R\u0101kshasa, inflated with insolence on account of his strength,\nsetting up a tremendous roar, darted at his antagonist in the conflict,\nthereby seeming to revive the R\u0101kshasas. And as an elephant flourishes\nits trunk, that R\u0101kshasa, lifting up his arm adorned with ornaments,\nbegan to roar from rapture, like a mass of clouds lighted up with\nlightning. And (Vishnu) cut off the head flaming with ear-rings of the\ncharioteer of the shouting Sum\u0101li; and thereat the horses of that\nR\u0101kshasa aimlessly strayed hither and thither. And with his bewildered\nsteeds Sum\u0101li wanders like a person deprived of patience, whose senses\nare under a hallucination. And on Sum\u0101li\u2019s car being drawn at random by\nhis steeds, M\u0101li, taking his bow and equipped therewith, darted at\nVishnu\u2019s car and assailed that mighty-armed one as he was descending on\nthe field of fight. And like birds entering the Krauncha,\u00b2\u2078 the arrows\ndischarged from M\u0101li\u2019s bow, graced with gold, hit Hari and entered (into\nhis body). And thereat, as a person holding his senses under subjection\nis not thrown out of his mental balance, Vishnu, assailed in that\nencounter with thousands of arrows shot by M\u0101li, was not disturbed ever\nso little. And then that creator of all beings, the reverend\nGad\u0101dhara,\u00b2\u2079 twanging his bow-string, showered vollies of shafts on\nM\u0101li. And getting at M\u0101li\u2019s body, the arrows furnished with the\nluminousness of lightning, drink his blood, like unto serpents drinking\nnectar. And baffling M\u0101li, the holder of the conch, discus, and mace,\nbrought down M\u0101li\u2019s crown, standard, bow and steeds. And then that\nforemost of night-rangers, on being deprived of his car, sprang forward,\nmace in hand, even as a lion bounds up from the brow of a hillock. And\nhe with his mace smote at the forehead of that lord of birds, even as\nthe Destroyer had smitten I\u00e7\u0101na,\u00b3\u2070 or as Indra smiteth a mountain with\nhis thunder-bolt. On being severely struck by M\u0101li with his mace,\nGaruda, writhing in torments, moved the god away from the field of\nbattle. On the god having been removed from the field by M\u0101li as well as\nGaruda, there arose a mighty din of Rakshas roaring (in chorus). And\nhearing the cheers of the Rakshas, Indra\u2019s younger brother, the reverend\nHari, sitting awry on that lord of birds, albeit moved off from the\nscene of conflict, waxing enraged, from a desire of slaying (M\u0101li)\nhurled his disc at him. And thereat the disc, possessed of the splendour\nof the solar disc, and resembling the wheel\u00b3\u00b9 itself of K\u0101la, flooding\nall the heavens with radiance, brought down M\u0101li\u2019s head to the ground.\nAnd that head of the lord of R\u0101kshasas, terrific to behold, on being cut\noff (by Vishnu), vomitting blood, fell down before (the R\u0101kshasas), as\nformerly R\u0101hu\u2019s head\u2019 had fallen. And then the deities experiencing\nexcess of joy set up leonine cheers with might and main,\ncrying,\u2014\u2019Excellent, O god.\u2019 Seeing M\u0101li slain, Sum\u0101li and Malyav\u0101n,\nburning in grief, fled precipitately towards Lank\u0101 along with their\nforces. And Garuda, being cheered, turned round, and growing enraged, as\nbefore drove the R\u0101kshasas with the wind of his wings. And (some) with\ntheir lotus-faces cut by the discus, (some) with their chests crushed\nwith the mace, (some) with their necks torn off by the plough, (some)\nwith their heads riven by the club, and some hewn by the sword, and\nothers pierced by arrows, the R\u0101kshasas began to drop fast from the sky\ninto the waters of the ocean. And as the thunder-bolt with lightning\n(riveth) a mighty mass of clouds, N\u0101r\u0101yana by means of the thunder-bolts\nof his arrows discharged from his bow, rived the night-rangers with\ntheir hair dishevelled and streaming (in the wind). And the forces\nhaving their umbrellas rent, their arms falling off, their goodly\ngarments scattered, their entrails coming out and their eyes\nrolling,\u2014became incapable of distinguishing their own party from that of\nthe foe. And even like (the roars and the vehemence) displayed by\nelephants on being attacked by lions, the roars and the vehemence of the\nnight-rangers and their elephants, sore assailed by the Primaeval\nLion,\u00b3\u00b2 were equal. And driven by Hari\u2019s networks of arrows, and\ndischarging (all the while) their own showers of shafts, those\nnight-rangers resembling the clouds of doom, are driven like the\nveritable clouds of the universal dissolution drifted by the wind. And\nhewn in twain with swords, the foremost R\u0101kshasas fell like unto hills\n(toppling headlong). And the Earth was seen to be (covered) with\nnight-rangers resembling dark clouds, adorned with jewelled necklaces\nand ear-rings,\u2014falling down,\u2014as if covered with dark mountains dropping\ndown.\"\n\n \u00b2\u2077 The practice of regulating respiration and finally suspending the\n same. This is practised by the Yogis of India, who attribute\n wonderful virtues to it.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b2\u2078 The mountain so named.\n\n \u00b2\u2079 Lit. _the holder of the mace_, a name of Vishnu.\n\n \u00b3\u2070 There took place an encounter between Rudra and Yama in the Sweta\n forest, for the protection of M\u0101rkandeya and a certain king. In\n this battle, Yama had smitten Rudra. This is narrated in the\n Pur\u0101nas.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b3\u00b9 The wheel of K\u0101la or Time, representing the Reaper consists,\n remarks R\u0101m\u0101nuja, of days, months, years, decades, centuries,\n aeons, _etc._\u2014T.\n\n \u00b3\u00b2 Vishnu as a _man-lion_ had formerly taken the conceit out of\n Hiranyaka\u00e7ipu\u2014the Asura king\u2014and slain him, to rid his\n devotee\u2014Prahl\u0101da\u2014of his mortal foe in the form of a father.\u2014T.\n\n\n\nSECTION VIII.\n\n\n\"On that host being sore pressed at its back by Padman\u0101bha,\u00b3\u00b3 M\u0101lyav\u0101n\nturned back even as the ocean doth on meeting with its shore. And with\nhis eyes reddened, that night-ranger waxing wroth, shaking his head,\naddressed that prime of male persons\u2014Padman\u0101bha,\u2014saying,\u2014\u2019O N\u0101r\u0101yana,\nthou art ignorant of the time-honored morality of Kshatriyas; and\ntherefore like a base wight thou slayest us, desisting from fight and\nexercised with fear. O lord of the celestials, he that commits the crime\nof slaying one that desists from fight, cannot go to the celestial\nregions as the fruit of meritorious acts. If thou art bent upon battle,\nO holder of the conch, the discus and the mace, taking up my post\n(here), I shall see (thy strength). Do thou show (me) the same.\u2019 Seeing\nM\u0101lyav\u0101n resembling the mountain, M\u0101lyav\u0101n, stay, the powerful younger\nbrother of the sovereign of the celestials spoke unto him,\u2014\u2019I have\nremoved the fear of the deities, affrighted at you, by promising that I\nwill make root and branch work with the R\u0101kshasas; and that same promise\nI am now fulfilling. I should always lay down my life for serving the\ncelestials; and you I will slay even if ye should go to the nethermost\nregions.\u2019 As that god of gods having eyes resembling red lotuses was\nspeaking thus, the lord of R\u0101kshasas in high wrath pierced his breast\nwith a dart. And hurled by the hand of M\u0101lyav\u0101n, the dart resonant with\nbells, appeared graceful on Hari\u2019s breast like lightning embosomed in\nclouds. Thereat drawing out the same dart, that one dear unto the\nWielder of the Dart,\u00b3\u2074 having eyes resembling red lotuses, aiming at\nM\u0101lyav\u0101n, hurled it at him. Thereat the dart discharged by the hand of\nGovinda like unto the Dart discharged by the hand of Skanda, rushing\ntowards the R\u0101kshasa like a meteor coursing towards the Anjana mountain,\ndescended on the spacious chest of the lord of R\u0101kshasas decked with the\nweight of a chain, even as the thunder-clap bursts at the summit of a\nmountain. And on having his mail rent, M\u0101lyav\u0101n was utterly deprived of\nhis senses; but (anon) reposing for a while, he again stood like a\nmoveless hill. Then taking up a javelin made of black iron girt with\nmany a thorn, he furiously smote that deity on the chest. And that\nnight-ranger delighting in battle, dealing a box at V\u0101sava\u2019s younger\nbrother, moved away to a distance measuring a bow\u2019s length. And now\nthere arose a mighty tumult in the sky of \u2019Excellent!\u2019 \u2019Excellent!\u2019 And\nhaving struck Vishnu, the R\u0101kshasa also hit Garuda. Thereat Vinat\u0101\u2019s\nson, growing enraged, drove the R\u0101kshasas away with the wind of his\nwings, even as a lusty wind bloweth about sere leaves. And seeing his\nelder brother driven by the wind produced by the wing\u2019s of that bird,\nSum\u0101li along with his forces, made for Lank\u0101. And pushed off by the\nviolence of the wind of (Garuda\u2019s) wings, the R\u0101kshasa M\u0101lyav\u0101n also,\njoined by his own forces, departed for Lank\u0101, covered with shame. Thus,\nO R\u0101ma, O lotus-eyed one, (the R\u0101kshasas) had innumerable warriors\nbeaten down and their foremost leaders slain. And albeit inflated with\npride, they, incapable of coping with Vishnu, leaving Lank\u0101, went to the\nnether regions with their wives for dwelling there. O best of the\nRaghus, these R\u0101kshasas of celebrated prowess, related to the race of\nS\u0101lakantankat\u0101, remained under the leadership of the R\u0101kshasa Sum\u0101li.\nAll those exalted R\u0101kshasas going under the name of Paulastya that had\nbeen headed by Sum\u0101li, Malyav\u0101n and M\u0101li, were stronger than R\u0101vana. No\nother than the god N\u0101r\u0101yana, holding the conch, the discus and the mace,\ncould slay those R\u0101kshasas\u2014foes to the celestials and thorns in the side\nof the deities. And thou art that eternal god\u2014the four armed\nN\u0101r\u0101yana,\u2014the lord, undeteriorating and unconquerable, sprung to\nexterminate R\u0101kshasas. The creator of beings\u2014that one ever cherishing\nthose seeking his refuge\u2014appeareth at times to compass the destruction\nof marauders, bringing the religion of people to rack and ruin.\u00b3\u2075 Thus,\nO lord of men, to-day I have truly related unto thee at length the\norigin of the R\u0101kshasas. Again, foremost of the Raghus, do thou\nunderstand the matchless birth and potency of R\u0101vana and his sons\nrelated in detail. And that powerful R\u0101kshasa, Sum\u0101li, afflicted with\nthe fear of Vishnu, along with his sons and grand-sons for a long time\nranged the nether regions, and the lord of riches resided in Lank\u0101.\"\n\n \u00b3\u00b3 Lit. _the lotus-naveled_\u2014a name of Vishnu.\n\n \u00b3\u2074 A name of K\u0101rtikeya\u2014the celestial generalissimo.\n\n \u00b3\u2075 This tallies wonderfully with the corresponding view given in the\n Bible. Great men appear in the fullness of time to bring about\n reforms in religion, when, as was the case before the birth of\n Christ, men have wandered farthest from the true path.\u2014T\n\n\n\nSECTION IX.\n\n\n\"After a while the R\u0101kshasa named Sum\u0101li, coming up from the nether\nregions, began to range all over the earth. And resembling dark clouds,\nthat lord of R\u0101kshasas decked in ear-rings of burnished gold, taking his\ndaughter like unto Sree herself without her lotus, and wandering over\nthe earth, saw the lord of riches journeying in his Pushpaka, going to\nsee his sire\u2014that lord, the son of Pulastya. And seeing that one\nresembling an immortal and like unto fire, journeying on, (Sum\u0101li)\nstruck with amazement, entered the nether regions from the earth. And\nthat mighty-minded one reflected thus,\u2014\u2019By adopting what measure may the\nwelfare of the R\u0101kshasas be brought about, and how can we increase (in\npower)?\u2019 And that great-minded lord of R\u0101kshasas, resembling dark\nclouds, decked in burnished ear-rings of gold, then began to reflect.\nAnd then the Raksha addressed his daughter, named Kaikasi, saying,\u2014\u2019O\ndaughter, the time hath come when I should give thee away. Thy youth is\nabout to be passed. (Kept back) by the fear of refusal, no suitor hath\nsought thee (up to this time). But desirous of acquiring religious\nmerit, we are striving our best in thy interests. My daughter, thou art\nfurnished with every perfection like unto Sree herself. The being father\nto a daughter is misery to every one that seeketh honor. O daughter, one\ndoth not know who shall ask for one\u2019s daughter. Wherever may a daughter\nbe conferred, a daughter stayeth, placing in uncertainty the three\nraces\u00b3\u2076 to which she is related. Do thou, my daughter, seek for thy\nhusband that best and foremost of ascetics sprung in the line of\nPrajapati\u2014Pulastya\u2019s son,\u2014Vi\u00e7rava, and of thyself accept him (for thy\nlord). And then, O daughter, even as is this lord of riches, so thou\nwilt, without doubt, have sons resembling the Sun himself in energy.\u2019\nHearing that speech of his, the daughter for the sake of the dignity of\nher sire, going to where Vi\u00e7rava was practising penances, stood there.\nIn the meanwhile, O R\u0101ma, that twice-born one\u2014Pulastya\u2019s son\u2014was\nperforming the Agnihotra, like the fourth Fire itself. And without\nminding that terrific time, (Kaikasi), having regard to the dignity of\nher sire, coming up before him, stood (there) hanging her head down\ntowards his feet and throwing up the earth with her great foe. And\nseeing that one of shapely hips, having a face fair as the full Moon,\n(that exceedingly high-minded ascetic) flaming in energy accosted her\nthus,\u2014\u2019O gentle on, whose daughter art thou? And whence dost thou come\nhither? And what is thy errand? And for whom (dost thou come)? O\nbeauteous (damsel), truly tell me this.\u2019 Thus addressed, the girl, with\njoined hands, said,\u2014\u2019O ascetic, thou art competent to get at my intent\nby virtue of thy own power. Yet, O Brahmarshi, know me as having come\nhere at the mandate of my sire. My name is Kaikasi. The rest do thou\nread thyself.\u2019 And thereupon, the ascetic, entering into contemplation,\nsaid these words,\u2014\u2019O gentle lady, I have learnt the purpose that is in\nthy heart. O thou having the gait of a mad elephant, there reigns a\npowerful desire in thee for having offspring. Inasmuch as thou hast come\nto me at this fierce hour, hearken, thou amiable one, as to the kind of\noffspring that thou shalt bring forth. Thou shalt, O thou of graceful\nhips, bring forth terrible and grim-visaged R\u0101kshasas delighting in\nfrightful friends, and of cruel deeds.\u2019 Hearing his speech, she, bowing\ndown, said,\u2014\u2019O reverend (ascetic), such sons of terrific ways seek I not\nfrom thee that followest the Veda. Therefore it behoveth thee to favor\nme.\u2019 On being thus besought by the girl, Vi\u00e7rava\u2014best of ascetics\u2014again\naddressed Kaikasi, like the full Moon addressing Rohini,\u00b3\u2077\u2014\u2019O fair-faced\none, the son that thou bringest forth last, shall be like unto my\nline,\u2014he shall, without doubt\u2014be righteous-souled.\u2019 Having been thus\naccosted, the girl, O R\u0101ma, after a length of time brought forth a very\nterrible and hideous offspring having the form of a Raksha,\u2014having ten\nnecks, furnished with large teeth, and resembling a heap of collyrium,\nwith coppery lips, twenty arms, huge faces, and flaming hair. On his\nhaving been born, jackals with flaming mouths and other ferocious beasts\nbegan to gyrate on the left. And that god showered down blood; and the\nclouds uttered forth harsh sounds. And the Sun was deprived of his\nsplendour; and meteors began to dart to the earth. And the earth shook;\nand the wind swept away violently. And that lord of streams\u2014the ocean,\nwhich was calm before, became agitated. And his sire resembling his\ngrand-father named him, (saying),\u2014\u2019As this one hath been born with ten\nnecks, he shall be called Ten-necked.\u2019 After him was born Kumbhakarna\nendowed with prodigious strength, than whose proportions there are none\nother\u2019s on earth. Then was born she that, having a frightful visage,\ngoeth under the name of Surpanakh\u0101; the righteous Bibhishana is the\nyoungest son of Kaikasi. On that one endowed with great strength having\nbeen born, blossoms were showered down from heaven; and celestial\nkettle-drums were sounded in the heavenly regions. And then there arose\nthe sounds of \u2019Excellent!\u2019 \u2019Excellent!\u2019 And in that extensive forest\nthose exceedingly energetic ones\u2014Kumbhakarna and the Ten-necked one grew\nup,\u2014and became the sources of anxiety to people. And Kumbhakarna,\nmaddened to the height, devouring mighty saints devoted to religion,\nconstantly ranged the triune world in a dissatisfied spirit. But the\nrighteous Bibhishana, ever intent on piety, dwelt there, studying the\nVeda, restraining his fare, and controlling his senses. And it came to\npass that after a length of time the god, Vai\u00e7ravana\u2014lord of riches\u2014came\nto see his sire, mounted on Pushpaka. Seeing him, the\nR\u0101kshasi\u2014Kaikasi\u2014flaming up in energy, coming to the Ten-necked one,\nrepresented to him,\u2014\u2019O son, behold thy brother, Vai\u00e7ravana, enfolded in\neffulgence; and, albeit of equal fraternity, behold thee in this plight!\nTherefore, O Ten-necked one, O thou of measureless prowess, do thou so\nstrive that thou also, my son, may be like Vai\u00e7ravana himself. Hearing\nthat speech of his mother, the powerful Ten-necked one was wrought up\nwith exceeding great ill-will, and he vowed then,\u2014\u2019I truly promise unto\nthee that I will be equal to my brother (in energy), or excel him in it.\nTherefore do thou cast off this sorrow that is in thy heart.\u2019 And\ninfluenced by that passion, the Ten-necked one with his younger brother\nbegan to perform rigid acts, with his mind fixed on asceticism. \u2019I must\nthrough austerities have my wish,\u2019 thus fixed and resolved, he for\ncompassing his end, came to the sacred asylum of Gokarna. And there the\nR\u0101kshasa of unrivalled prowess along with his younger brother carried on\nausterities and thus gratified that lord\u2014the great-father. And beings\ngratified (with him), he conferred on him boons bringing on victory.\"\n\n \u00b3\u2076 The races respectively of her father, mother and husband.\n\n \u00b3\u2077 Hesperus.\n\n\n\nSECTION X.\n\n\nThen R\u0101ma spoke unto the ascetic,\u2014\"O Br\u0101hmana, how did those exceedingly\nmighty brothers carry on austerities in that forest; and what kind of\npenances were theirs?\" Thereat there Agastya said unto R\u0101ma of a\ncomplacent mind,\u2014\"The brothers severally observed the morality proper to\neach. And Kumbhakarna, putting forth his best energies, constantly abode\nin the path of righteousness. And remaining in the midst of five fires\nin summer, he practised austerities, and in the rainy season, soaked in\nwater (poured down) by clouds, he sat in the heroic attitude.\u00b3\u2078 And in\nwinter he always remained in the water. Thus passed away ten thousand\nyears of that one putting forth exertions in behalf of religion, and\nestablished in the path of honesty. And the virtuous Bibhishana, ever\nintent on virtue and pure of spirit, remained standing on one leg for\nfive thousand years. And when he had completed (his term of\nrestriction), swarms of Apsar\u0101s danced, and blossoms showered, and the\ndeities hymned (him). And for five thousand years, he adored the Sun,\nand with his mind concentrated in the study of the Veda, remained with\nhis head and hands raised up. In this wise Bibhishana like a deity in\nNandana passed away ten thousand years, observing restrictions. And the\nTen-necked one passed ten thousand years without fare. On a thousand\nyears being complete, he offered his own head as a sacrifice to Fire. In\nthis way he passed away nine thousand years; and nine of his heads\nentered into Fire. And as in the tenth year he intended to strike off\nhis tenth head, the Great-father presented himself at that place. And\nwell-pleased, the Great-father came there along with the celestials. \u2019O\nTen-necked one,\u2019 said (the Great-father), \u2019I am well-pleased with thee.\nDo thou, O thou cognizant of righteousness, at once ask for the boon\nthat thou wishest to have. What wish of thine shall I realize? Thy toil\nmust not go for nothing.\u2019 Thereat, the Ten-necked one, bowing down his\nhead unto the deity, said with a delighted heart,\u2014his words faltering\nwith ecstacy,\u2014\u2019O Reverend one, creatures have no other fear than (that\nof) death; and enemy there is none that is like unto death. Therefore\nimmortality is even what I crave for.\u2019 Thus accosted, Brahm\u0101 spoke unto\nthe Ten-necked one,\u2014Thou canst not be immortal. Do thou therefore ask of\nme some other boon.\u2019 Thus addressed by the creator, Brahm\u0101, the\nTen-necked one, O R\u0101ma, standing before him with joined hands, said,\u2014\u2019O\nlord of creatures, I would, O eternal one, be incapable of being slain\nby birds and serpents, Yakshas, Daityas, D\u0101navas and R\u0101kshasas, and the\ndeities; for, O thou that art worshipped by the immortals, anxiety I\nhave none from any other beings. Indeed, I deem as straw creatures such\nas men _etc._\u2019 Thus accosted by the Raksha\u2014the Ten-necked one\u2014that\nrighteous-souled one, the Great-father, along with the celestials,\nsaid,\u2014\u2019O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, what thou sayest shall come to pass.\u2019\nHaving, O R\u0101ma, said this unto the Ten-necked one, the Great-father\n(again spoke),\u2014\u2019Hear! I, having been gratified, will confer on thee a\nfresh boon. O R\u0101kshasa, O sinless one, those heads of thine which have\nbeen offered as sacrifices and which have sunk into the fire, shall\nagain be thine. And, O placid one, I shall also confer on thee another\nboon difficult of being obtained,\u2014The form that thou shalt wish to wear,\nshall instantly be thine. As soon as the Ten-necked Raksha had spoken\nthus, the heads that had been offered as sacrifices into the fire, rose\nup again. Having said this unto the Ten-necked one, the Great-sire of\nall creatures addressed Bibhishana, saying,\u2014\u2019O Bibhishana, gratified\nhave I been by thee, whose intelligence is established in righteousness.\nTherefore, my child, O righteous-souled one, O thou of excellent vows,\nask for the boon that thou wouldst have.\u2019 Thereat the virtuous\nBibhishana spoke with joined hands,\u2014\u2019O reverend one, since the spiritual\npreceptor of all creatures himself (is pleased) with me,\u2014I (deem myself)\nas furnished with every perfection, even as the Moon is environed with\nrays. If thou wilt bestow on me a boon with pleasure, then, thou of\nexcellent vows, hear of the boon that I would have. May my mind remain\nfast fixed on righteousness, even when I shall happen to fall into high\nperil; and may I attain Brahm\u0101 knowledge without any instructions! And\nmay every sense of mine sprung during the observance of particular modes\nof life, be in unison with righteousness,\u2014so that I may practise the\nform of religion (in harmony with any particular mode of life!) O\nexceedingly noble one, this best of boons, is even what is sought for by\nme, for nothing in this world is incapable of being attained by those\nattached to righteousness.\u2019 Then the lord of creatures, being again\ndelighted, spoke unto Bibhishana,\u2014\u2019As thou art virtuous, so all this\nshall come to pass on thy behalf. And inasmuch as in spite of thy having\nbeen born in the R\u0101kshasa race, thy thoughts, O destroyer of enemies, do\nnot originate in sin, I confer on thee immortality.\u2019 Having said this,\nhe intended to grant boons unto Kumbhakarna. Thereat the celestials in a\nbody represented to the lord of creatures with joined hands,\u2014\u2019On\nKumbhakarna thou shouldst confer no boons, since thou knowest in what\nmanner doth this wicked-minded one frighten people. And, O Brahman,\nseven Apsar\u0101s in Nandana, ten attendants of Mahendra, as well as sages\nand human beings, have been devoured by this one. Considering what this\nR\u0101kshasa did when he had not obtained any boon whatever, if he obtain\none now he shall eat up the three worlds. Do thou then, O lord having\nimmeasurable prowess, pretending to give him a boon, give stupifaction\n(instead). Thereby the welfare of people would be secured, and the honor\nof this one too shall be maintained.\u2019 Thus addressed by the celestials,\nBrahm\u0101, the Lotus-sprung one, pondered. The goddess, Saraswati, who was\nby his side was also agitated with anxiety. And remaining by him,\nSaraswati with joined hands observed,\u2014\u2018O god, I have come here. What\nwork shall I accomplish?\u2019 And the lord of creatures, on having her,\nspake unto \u2019Saraswati,\u2014\u2018O V\u0101ni!\u00b3\u2079 be thou the goddess of speech of this\nforemost of R\u0101kshasas,\u2074\u2070 favorable unto the deities. Having said,\u2014\u2018So be\nit,\u2019 she entered (within Kumbhakarna\u2019s throat); and Praj\u0101pati said,\u2014\u2018O\nKumbhakarna, O mighty-armed one, do thou ask for the boon that thou\nwouldst have. Hearing those words, Kumbhakarna said,\u2014\u2018O god of gods, my\nwish is that I may sleep for a good many years.\u2019 Thereupon, saying,\u2014\u2018So\nbe it,\u2019 Brahm\u0101 along with the celestials went away; and the goddess,\nSaraswati, also again left the R\u0101kshasa. And on Brahm\u0101 accompanied by\nthe deities going to the celestial regions, he was renounced by\nSaraswati, and then he regained his consciousness. And then the\nwicked-minded Kumbhakarna sorrowfully thought,\u2014\u2018What is this speech that\nhas to-day come out from my lips? Meseems I had then been stupified by\nthe deities that had come.\u2019 Having thus obtained the boons, the brothers\nendowed with flaming energy, going to the Sleshm\u0101taka wood, began to\ndwell there peacefully.\"\n\n \u00b3\u2078 Hindu Yogis practise various attitudes, which are favorable to the\n regulation of respiration.\u2014T.\n\n \u00b3\u2079 Lit. word, a designation of Saraswati.\n\n \u2074\u2070 i.e. preside over Kumbhakarna\u2019s speech while asking for the\n boon,\u2014and let him, through thy power, ask for such a gift as may\n turn out profitable to the gods.\u2014T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XI.\n\n\n\"Learning that these night-rangers had obtained boons, Sum\u0101li with his\nfollowers, casting off fear, rose up from the nether regions. And\nwrought up with exceeding great wrath, the counsellors of that\nRaksha\u2014M\u0101richa and Prahasta and Virup\u0101ksha and Mahodara\u2014also rose up.\nAnd accompanied by his counsellors\u2014foremost of R\u0101kshasas\u2014Sum\u0101li\npresenting himself before the Ten-necked one and embracing him,\naddressed him, saying,\u2014\u2018By good fortune it is, O child, that through\nthee we have had the wish that was in our heart, inasmuch as thou hast\nreceived the best of boons from him that is the foremost in all these\nthree worlds. O mighty-armed one, that great fear arising from Vishnu,\nfrom which leaving Lank\u0101, we had gone to the nethermost abysses, hath\nbeen removed. Full many a time, brought down by that fear, we, on being\npursued (by our enemies), forsaking our homes, had gone to the nether\nregions along with all those (related to us). This Lank\u0101 was our city,\ninhabited by R\u0101kshasas. (Now) it is inhabited by thy brother\u2014the\nintelligent lord of riches. O mighty-armed one, if thou canst through\nself-control or charity or by a sudden display of prowess, repossess\nthyself of the same, a (great) thing shall have been achieved; and then,\nO child, thou shouldst, without doubt, be the lord of Lank\u0101; and this\nR\u0101kshasa race, which hath sunk, shall have been raised up by thee. And,\nO thou endowed with prodigious strength, thou shalt be the lord of all.\u2019\nThen the Ten-necked one addressed his maternal grand-father, who was\npresent, saying,\u2014\u2018The lord of riches is our superior; therefore thou\nought not to speak thus.\u2019 On that dignified R\u0101kshasa-chief having\nthrough moderation thus passed it by, that Raksha, understanding his\nintent, did not then say anything more. And it came to pass that when\nR\u0101vana had resided there for a time, Prahasta addressed him in a humble\nspeech,\u2014\u2019O Ten-necked one, O long-armed (hero), it doth not behove thee\nto speak thus. Fraternal feeling there is none among heroes. Listen to\nthese words of mine! There were two sisters\u2014Aditi and Diti. And mutually\nattached to each other, those (damsels) endowed with surpassing beauty,\nbecame the wives of that lord of creatures\u2014Ka\u00e7yapa. And Aditi brought\nforth the gods,\u2014who are the lords of the three worlds. And Diti gave\nbirth to the Daityas,\u2014offspring of Ka\u00e7yapa. O thou cognizant of\nrighteousness, formerly this earth, O hero, having the ocean for her\ngarment, and furnished with mountains, belonged to the Daityas; and\n(gradually) they grew very powerful. And then this undeteriorating\ntriune world was brought under the dominion of the celestials. So that\nthou art not the only one that would act inimically (to thy brother);\nbut this course had formerly been pursued by both the celestials and the\nAsuras. Therefore do thou act in conformity with my word.\u2019 Thus\nexhorted, the Ten-necked one, with a delighted heart, reflecting for a\nmoment, said, \u2018Very well.\u2019 And wrought up with delight, the Ten-necked\none endowed with prowess the very same day went to the forest,\naccompanied by the night-rangers. And arriving at Trikuta, that one\nskilled in speech\u2014the night-ranger, R\u0101vana\u2014sent Prahasta in the capacity\nof an ambassador: \u2018O Prahasta, hie thee; and tell the foremost of\nNairitas\u2014the lord of riches\u2014in my words informed with mildness,\u2014This\ncity of Lank\u0101, O king, belongs to the high-souled Rakshasas; but thou\nhast established thyself in her. This, O sinless one, is not proper for\nthee. Therefore, O thou of unrivalled prowess, if thou shouldst render\nthe same (back), I shall be highly gratified; and righteousness also\nthou wilt maintain.\u2014\u2019 Thereupon, repairing to Lank\u0101, well-protected by\nthe giver of riches, Prahasta communicated these words unto the highly\ngenerous ruler of riches,\u2014\u2018O thou of excellent vows, I have been sent to\nthee by thy brother, the Ten-necked one, O long-armed one, O foremost of\nthose versed in all branches of learning, do thou listen to my words, O\nlord of wealth,\u2014and what the Ten-faced one says,\u2014This beautiful city, O\nthou furnished with expansive eyes, was formerly inhabited by R\u0101kshasas\nof dreadful prowess headed by Sum\u0101li; and for that reason, O son of\nVi\u00e7rava, he asks thee this. Do thou, my child, grant this unto him, who\nis humbly begging for it.\u2019\u2014Hearing these words from Prahasta, the god\nVai\u00e7ravana, best of those skilled in speech, answered the former,\nsaying,\u2014\u2018My father had given this unto me, when it had been emptied of\nnight-rangers; and, O Raksha, I have inhabited this place, furnished\nwith charity, honor, and other virtues. Go and tell the Ten-necked one,\nas this city and this kingdom are mine, so they are thine, O\nmighty-armed one. Do thou enjoy this kingdom without a foe. May my\nkingdom and wealth never undergo division when thou art present!\u2019 Having\nsaid this, the lord of riches sought the side of his sire,\u2014and, paying\nhim reverence, he communicated R\u0101vana\u2019s wish unto him: \u2019My father, this\nTen-necked one had sent a messenger to me, saying,\u2014Give (back) the city\nof Lank\u0101, which had before been inhabited by hosts of Rakshas.\u2014Now, O\nthou of excellent vows, do thou tell me what I should do.\u2019 Thus\naccosted, that foremost of ascetics, the Brahmarshi\u2014Vi\u00e7rava\u2014spoke unto\nthe lord of riches (standing) with joined hands,\u2014\u2018O son, listen to my\nwords. The mighty-armed Ten-necked one had (once) spoken in my presence\n(to that effect). Thereat I greatly rebuked that wicked-minded one; and\nI said again and again in anger,\u2014Thou disregardest (thy religion and\nhonor). Do thou listen to my words fraught with religion and profit. Of\na wicked heart, thou, with thy understanding spoilt in consequence of\nthe granting of the boon, canst not distinguish between those deserving\nhonor and those not; and, further, through my curse, thou hast come by a\nfierce nature. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, go to the mountain,\nKaila\u00e7a. Do thou, along with thy retainers, for the purpose of dwelling\nthere, take up thy quarters (there). There floweth the Mand\u0101kini\u2014best of\nstreams, with her water covered with golden lotuses resembling suns, as\nalso with lilies and blue lotuses and various other fragrant flowers.\nAnd coming there frequently, celestials with Gandharvas and Apsar\u0101s and\nserpents and Kinnaras, ever sport there, O lord of riches, thou ought\nnot to enter into hostilities with that Raksha. Thou knowest how he hath\nobtained a great boon.\u2019 Thus addressed, Vi\u00e7ravana, for the sake of his\nfather\u2019s dignity, with his wives and sons, with his counsellors and his\nvehicles and wealth went (to Kaila\u00e7a). And Prahasta, going (back),\njoyfully spoke unto the high-souled Ten-necked one, (seated) with his\ncounsellors and his younger brothers,\u2014\u2019The city of Lank\u0101 is (now) empty.\nRenouncing her, the bestower of riches hath gone out of her. (Now)\nentering into her, along with us, do thou there maintain thine own\nreligion.\u2019 Thus addressed by Prahasta, the redoubtable Ten-necked one\nentered the city of Lank\u0101 with his brothers and forces and followers.\nAnd then even as the lord of the celestials ascends heaven, that foe of\nthe immortals ascended Lank\u0101 well-divided by highways,\u2014which had been\nforsaken by the lord of wealth. And having been installed, that\nnight-ranger\u2014the Ten-faced one\u2014dwelt in that city; and that city teemed\nwith night-rangers resembling dark clouds. And the lord of riches, for\nthe sake of his father\u2019s dignity, dwelt in a palace situated on the hill\nbright as moon-light, graced with ornamented superb piles; even as\nPurandara dwells in Amaravati.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XII.\n\n\n\"The lord of R\u0101kshasas was installed along with his brothers. And then\nhe thought of the giving away in marriage of his R\u0101kshasi sister. Then\nthat R\u0101kshasa bestowed his sister, the R\u0101kshasi Surpanakh\u0101, on that lord\nof the D\u0101navas and king of the K\u0101lakas\u2014Vidyujjibha. And having given her\naway, the Raksha was wandering about for the purpose of hunting, when,\nR\u0101ma, he happened to see Diti\u2019s son, named Maya. And seeing him\naccompanied by his daughter, that night-ranger\u2014the Ten-necked one\u2014asked\nhim, saying,\u2014\u2019Who art thou that (wanderest) alone in this forest devoid\nof men as well as deer? And art thou accompanied by this one having the\neyes of a young deer?\u2019 Thereat Maya, O R\u0101ma, answered that night-ranger,\nwhen he had asked this,\u2014\u2019Listen. I shall tell thee all about this. Thou\nmayst ere this have heard of an Apsar\u0101 named Hem\u0101. She like unto the\nPaulomi of Satakratu was bestowed on me by the gods. And I passed a\nthousand years, being devoted to her. Thirteen years have passed away\nsince she had gone on a business of the celestials, as also the\nfourteenth year. Then I through my extraordinary skill constructed a\ngolden palace, adorned with diamonds and lapises. There I dwelt,\naggrieved and sorrowful on account of her separation. From thence,\ntaking my daughter, I have come to this wood. This, O king, is my\ndaughter, grown in her womb. I have come hither with her, seeking for\nher husband. Verily being father to a daughter is misery to every one\nthat seeketh one\u2019s honour. A daughter, forsooth, stayeth, ever placing\nthe two lines\u2074\u00b9 in uncertainty. And on this wife of mine I have also\nbegat two sons;\u2014the first is M\u0101y\u0101vi and the next Dundubhi. Thus have I\ntruly related everything unto thee that hadst asked for it. But, my\nchild, how can I know thee now? Who art thou?\u2019 Thus addressed, the\nRaksha humbly said,\u2014Ten-necked by name, I am the son of the ascetic,\nPaulastya, who was born as the third son of Brahm\u0101.\u2019 Thus accosted, O\nR\u0101ma, by that lord of R\u0101kshasas, that D\u0101nava and foremost of D\u0101navas,\nMaya, learning that he was the son of the Maharshi, Paulastya, there\ndesired in his heart to give away his daughter to him. And taking her\nhand with his own, Maya\u2014lord of Daityas\u2014laughing, said unto that lord of\nthe Rlkshasas,\u2014\u2019This daughter of mine, O king, borne by the Apsar\u0101,\nHem\u0101, this my daughter named Mandodari do thou accept as thy wife.\u2019\n\u2019Well\u2019 thereupon the Ten-necked answered him, O R\u0101ma. And lighting a\nfire, he took her hand. Maya, O R\u0101ma, knew the curse of the sage\ntouching him.\u2074\u00b2 Knowing this, he gave away his daughter, having regard\nto the race of R\u0101vana\u2019s paternal grand-father; and he also conferred on\nhim an exceedingly wonderful dart acquired through the most rigid\nausterities,\u2014by which he wounded Lakshmana. Having thus wedded, that\nmaster\u2014Lank\u0101\u2019s lord\u2014going (back) to that city, married his brothers. And\nR\u0101vana married the grand-daughter of Virochana (on the maternal side)\nnamed Vajrajw\u0101l\u0101, to Kumbhakarna.\u2014And Bibhishana obtained for his wife\nthe righteous (damsel) named Saram\u0101\u2014daughter unto the\nhigh-souled\u2014Sailusha\u2014sovereign of the Gandharvas. (Saram\u0101) was born on\nthe shores of the lake, M\u0101nasa. And while the lake, M\u0101nasa, was swollen\nwith water on the arrival of the rains, her mother, hearing her cries,\naffectionately said,\u2014_Sarom\u0101varddhata_\u2014\u2019O lake, do not swell,\u2019 and from\nthis circumstance, her name became Saram\u0101. Having thus wedded, those\nR\u0101kshasas, taking each his wife, set about sporting there, like unto\nGandharvas sporting in Nandana. And then was born Mandodari\u2019s\nson\u2014Meghan\u0101da. Him ye call Indrajit. As soon as he was born, R\u0101vana\u2019s\nson, formerly crying, emitted a tremendous roar resembling the rumbling\nof clouds. And, O R\u0101ghava, Lank\u0101 was petrified at his voice; and\n(accordingly) his sire himself kept his name, Meghan\u0101da. And, O R\u0101ma,\nremaining hidden like a fire by fuel, R\u0101vana\u2019s son, rejoicing (the\nbosoms of) his father and mother, grew up in R\u0101vana\u2019s elegant inner\napartments.\"\n\n \u2074\u00b9 The lines, namely, of her father and mother. The line of a mother\n as distinct from that of a father would be impossible under the\n present economy of Hindu society inasmuch as, as soon as a girl is\n married, she by that ceremony leaves her father\u2019s line and becomes\n incorporated with that of her husband. But this seems to have been\n otherwise in ancient times. This opens up an interesting social\n problem for the research of orientalists.\u2014T.\n\n \u2074\u00b2 Respecting his birth.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIII.\n\n\n\"And once on a time it came to pass that, dispatched by the lord of\ncreatures, Sleep in her (native) form powerfully overpowered\nKumbhakarna. And then Kumbhakarna spoke unto his brother, who was\nseated,\u2014\u2019O king, Sleep obstructs me. Do thou, therefore, have my mansion\nmade.\u2019 And, thereupon, employed by the king, architects resembling\nVi\u00e7wakarm\u0101 constructed an edifice beautiful to behold, measuring the\nsmooth space of a Yojana diagonally and two in area; graceful to the\nview, and having no obstruction (to hide its beauty). And the R\u0101kshasa\ncaused a splendid and delightful pile to be built, adorned all round\nwith pillars decked with gold and crystal,\u2014having stairs composed of\nlapises, furnished with networks of small bells, set with ivory\ngateways, and containing daises dight with diamonds and crystal,\u2014elegant\nthroughout, and enduring,\u2014like unto a goodly cave of Maru. And there,\novercome with slumber, the wondrous strong Kumbhakarna, lying down for\nmany thousand years, did not wake up. And while Kumbhakarna was\noverpowered by sleep, Da\u00e7\u0101nana\u2074\u00b3 without let began to destroy Devarshis,\nYakshas and Gandharvas,\u2014and going to graceful gardens, Nandana, etc., he\ndevastated them (ruthlessly). And that R\u0101kshasa spread destruction, even\nas an elephant sporting agitates a river, as the wind bringeth down\ntrees, or as the thunder-bolt riveth mountain-peaks. Hearing of the\ndoings of Da\u00e7agriva,\u2074\u2074 and remembering his conduct chiming in with his\nrace, the righteous lord of riches\u2014Vai\u00e7ravana\u2014showing his fraternal\naffection, despatched a messenger to Lank\u0101, seeking the welfare of\nDa\u00e7agriva. And going to the city of Lank\u0101, he presented himself before\nBibhishana. And having received him with honor, he asked him as to the\ncause of his visit. And having enquired after the welfare of the king as\nwell as his kindred, Bibhishana, showed him unto Da\u00e7\u0101nana seated in his\ncourt. And seeing the king there flaming in his own energy, he (the\nmessenger), saluting him (R\u0101vana) with the word\u2014_Jaya_\u2074\u2075\u2014stood silent.\nAnd the envoy addressed Dacagriva seated on a superb couch, graced with\na costly coverlet,\u2014\u2019O king, I shall tell thee all that thy brother hath\nsaid, worthy of both the character and race of your father and\nmother,\u2014Enough of wrong-doing. Now thou shouldst mend thy ways. If thou\ncanst, stay in righteousness. I have seen Nandana ravaged; and I have\nheard of the sages slain, and O king, of the preparations the deities\nare making against thee. I have been utterly disregarded by thee; but\neven if a boy should transgress, he should for all that be protected by\nhis friends. Self-restrained and controlling my senses, I, adopting a\nterrific vow, had gone to the breast of the Himav\u0101n for practising\nrighteousness. There I saw that lord of the gods in company with Um\u0101.\nThere I happened to cast my left eye on the goddess, for knowing, O\nmighty king, who she was,\u2014and not for any other reason. Rudr\u0101ni was\nstaying then, wearing a surpassing form. Thereupon through the divine\nenergy of the goddess my left eye was burnt and seemed to be covered\nwith dust, and its lustre became tawny. Then I, going to another\nspacious peak of the mountain, became engaged in silently observing a\nmighty vow. On my term of restraint having been complete, that lord of\nthe gods\u2014Mahe\u00e7wara\u2014with a gratified heart addressed me, saying,\u2014O\nrighteous one, O thou of fair vows, I am well-pleased with this\nasceticism of thine. I also had observed this vow; and thou also, O lord\nof riches, hast done the same, A third person there is none that\npractiseth such a vow. This vow is hard to perform, and formerly it was\nI that introduced it. Therefore, O mild one, O lord of riches, do thou\ncontract friendship with me. And thou hast conquered me by thy penances.\nTherefore, O sinless one, be thou my friend. And this thy left eye hath\nbeen burnt through the energy of the goddess, and hath turned tawny in\nconsequence of having seen the grace of the goddess; so thy name shall\never be Ek\u0101kshipingali.\u2014Then at Sankara\u2019s command I have obtained the\nprivilege of companionship (with him). Having come here I have heard of\nthy evil designs. Do thou then desist from this impious course, tending\nto sully thy line, The celestials along with the sages are pondering\nover the means of compassing thy death.\u2014\u2019 Thus addressed, the Ten-necked\none, with his eyes reddened in wrath, rubbing his hands and knashing his\nteeth, said,\u2014\u2019O messenger, I have learnt what thou hast uttered. Neither\nthou nor this brother of mine by whom thou hast been despatched, (shall\nlive); nor doth the keeper of riches say what is for my good. And the\nfool makes me hear the circumstance of his having made friends with\nMahe\u00e7wara. I shall never forgive what thou hast said. Up to this I had\nborne him, considering that he, being my elder brother and as such my\nsuperior should not be slain by me. But now hearing his (utterances),\neven this is my resolve. Depending upon the might of my arms, I shall\nconquer the three worlds. On his account solely I shall on the instant\ndespatch the four Lokap\u0101las to the abode of Death.\u2019 Having said this,\nLank\u0101\u2019s lord killed the emissary with his sword and made him over to the\nwicked R\u0101kshasas for being eaten. Then, having performed Swasty\u0101yana,\u2074\u2076\nR\u0101vana, ascending his car, went to where the lord of riches was, bent on\nconquering the three worlds.\"\n\n \u2074\u00b3 Henceforth we shall use this significant surname of R\u0101vana,\n meaning _Ten-faced_.\n\n \u2074\u2074 Ten-necked.\n\n \u2074\u2075 _Jaya_ may mean (1) victory and (2) all the deities of the Hindu\n pantheon.\u2014T.\n\n \u2074\u2076 A religious ceremony performed for propitiating any deity or\n malign star, and so warding off an impending disaster, or bringing\n luck to any undertaking. This has obtained to this day in Hindu\n society.\u2014T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XIV.\n\n\n\"Accompanied by his six counsellors\u2014Mahodara and Prahasta, M\u0101richa, Suka\nand S\u0101rana, and the heroic Dhumr\u0101ksha\u2014eager for encounter\u2014the graceful\nR\u0101vana, elated with his strength sallied out, as if consuming all\ncreatures with his wrath. And leaving behind cities and streams and\nhills and woods and groves, he in a moment came to the mountain\u2014Kaila\u00e7a.\nAnd hearing that wicked-minded lord of R\u0101kshasas, breathing high\nspirits, had arrived at the mount in company with his counsellors, the\nYakshas could not stay before that Raksha,\u2014and knowing \u2019This one is the\nking\u2019s brother\u2019\u2014went to where the lord of riches was. Going to him they\nin full related all about the doings of his brother. And on being\npermitted by the bestower of treasures, they went out for battle. And\nthen, like unto the agitation of the ocean, there took place a mighty\nferment of the forces of the Nairita king, as if making the mountain\ntremble. And then there took place an encounter between the Yakshas and\nthe R\u0101kshasas; and therein the councillors of the R\u0101kshasa were smitten\nfiercely. And finding his forces in that plight, Da\u00e7agriva set up full\nmany a cheerful shout and in wrath began to speak. Of the councillors of\nthe R\u0101kshasa-chief, each coped with a thousand Yakshas. And then struck\nwith maces and clubs and swords and darts and _tomaras_, the Ten-necked\none dived into (that deep) of a host. And rendered inert and sore\nassailed, Da\u00e7\u0101nana was deprived of his movements with vollies of weapons\nremembling torrents of rain. And albeit drenched with blood streaming\ndown in hundreds of torrents, he like a mountain flooded with a\ndownpour, being wounded with the weapons of the Yakshas,\u2014doth not betray\nany smart. And that high-souled one, raising up his mace resembling the\nrod itself of Time, entered into that army, despatching Yakshas to the\nabode of Yama. And as a flaming fire burneth up an extensive sward of\ngrass stocked with dry fire-wood, he began to consume that Yaksha army.\nAnd as the wind scattereth clouds, the small remnant of Yaksha army was\nscattered by the redoubtable councillors (of R\u0101vana)\u2014Mahodara, Suka,\netc. And some were wounded, and (some) broken down, and (some) measured\ntheir lengths on the ground in the encounter, and other Yakshas deprived\nof their arms in the field, being fatigued, sank down, embracing each\nother, even as banks drop down, on being worn away by water. And no room\nwas left (in the sky) in consequence of its being thronged by hosts of\nsages; and warriors, wounded and rushing for conflict, and (finally)\nascending heaven.\u2074\u2077 And finding the foremost Yakshas endowed with great\nstrength give way, the mighty-armed lord of riches dispatched (other)\nYakshas. In the meantime, O R\u0101ma, a Yaksha named Sanyodhakantaka,\naccompanied by an extensive force and a large number of vehicles,\u2014on\nbeing despatched, rushed (on the foe). And wounded in the conflict (by\nSanyodhakantaka) with his discus, as if by Vishnu himself, M\u0101richa\ntoppled down to the ground from the mountain, like unto a planet whose\nmerit hath waned, And in a moment regaining his consciousness and\nresting (for a while), that night-ranger fought with the Yaksha; and\nthereat, on being defeated, he\u2074\u2078 fled. Then (R\u0101vana) entered within the\ngate-way (of the palace), garnished with gold, and decked with lapises\nand silver, And thereat, O king, the warder named Suryyabh\u0101nu prevented\nthe night-ranger\u2014Da\u00e7agriva\u2014as he was entering. And albeit prevented, the\nnight-ranger entered in. And when, O R\u0101ma, that R\u0101kshasa was prevented,\nhe did not stay. And then struck by that Yaksha with the gate-way\nuprooted, he, discharging blood in streams, looked like a hill with\nminerals running on it. And hit with that gate-way resembling a\nmountain-summit in splendour, that hero did not sustain any injury, on\naccount of the boon he had received from the Self-sprung. And on being\nstruck by the same gate-way, the Yaksha ceased to be seen, his body\nhaving then been consumed to ashes. And witnessing the prowess of the\nRaksha, all began to flee; and then they afflicted with affright,\nfatigued, and with pale faces, entered into rivers and caves, leaving\ntheir arms behind.\"\n\n \u2074\u2077 The idea of the author is: \"The welkin was thronged with sages as\n well as warriors, who swelled the ranks of the sages stationed in\n the sky, by ascending heaven after having fallen in fight.\"\u2014T.\n\n \u2074\u2078 The Yaksha, that is.\n\n\n\nSECTION XV.\n\n\n\"Seeing the foremost of the Yakshas by thousands undergoing trepidation,\nthe lord of riches spoke unto a mighty Yaksha\u2014Manichara,\u2014\u2019O foremost of\nYakshas, slay the wicked R\u0101vana, set on sin; and do thou (thus) become\nthe refuge of those heroic Yakshas, who are carrying on the conflict.\u2019\nThus addressed, the mighty-armed and invincible M\u0101nibhadra, surrounded\nby four thousand Yakshas began the fight. And attacking the R\u0101kshasas\nwith maces and clubs and bearded darts, and with darts _tomoras_ and\nbludgeons, the Yakshas rushed at (their adversaries). And fast safely\nwhirling about like hawks, they fought fiercely. And (some) said, \u2019Well,\ngive me battle,\u2019 and (others), \u2019I don\u2019t want,\u2019 and (others, again), \u2019Let\nme have (fight)\u2019. And then the celestials and the Gandharvas and the\nsages studying the Vedas, beholding the great encounter, were filled\nwith mighty amazement. And a thousand of the Yakshas were slain by\nPrahasta in the conflict; and another thousand of capable warriors were\nslain by Mahodara. And O king, in the twinkling of an eye M\u0101richa,\nwaxing wroth and eager for encounter brought down two thousand (of\nenemy\u2019s soldiers). Where is the candid-coursing fight of the Yakshas and\nwhere the fight of the Rakshas by help of the power of illusion; and\ntherefore in that battle the advantage was on the side of the R\u0101kshasas.\nAnd Dhumr\u0101cksha, confronting M\u0101nibhadra in the mighty conflict hit him\nat the chest with a bludgeon; but he did not move thereat. And then\nM\u0101nibhadra dealt the R\u0101kshasa a blow with his mace; and thereat\nDhumr\u0101cksha smit at the head fell down senseless (on the ground). And\nseeing Dhumr\u0101ckhsa wounded and down, bathed in blood, the Ten-necked one\nrushed at M\u0101nibhadra in the encounter. And then that foremost of Yakshas\nhit Da\u00e7\u0101nana with three darts as he was rushing in wrath. And on being\nthus hit, (R\u0101vana) struck at M\u0101nibhadra\u2019s head; and at that stroke his\ncrown was depressed at one side. And from that day forth that Yaksha\nremained with his head hollow on one side. And on the high-souled\nM\u0101nibhadra having been baffled, a great uproar, O king, rose in that\nmountain. And then at a distance, the lord of riches, mace in hand,\naccompanied by Sukra and Praushthapada and Padma and Sanka saw (R\u0101vana)\nin the field. And seeing his brother in the encounter with his glory\nobscured through the curse (he had ere this come by), the intelligent\n(lord of Yakshas) spoke in words worthy of the line of his\ngrand-father,\u2014\u2019As, O wicked-minded one, thou desistest not, albeit\nforbidden by me, thou shalt, afterwards attaining the fruit of this, and\nrepairing to hell, know (the fate that followeth thee). That perverse\none, that through ignorance having drunk poison, neglects to adopt\nproper measures, knoweth the consequence of his act ultimately. The gods\nhave set their face against thee on account of a certain misdeed of\nthine; and having for this, been reduced to this condition, thou dost\nnot understand things. He that dishonoreth his father and mother\u2074\u2079 and\nspiritual preceptor, reapeth the fruit of his act on coming under the\nsway of the sovereign of the dead. Having regard that this body is\nuncertain, that foolish person, that doth not acquire asceticism, dying\ngoeth the way that he deserveth. The mind of a perverse man doth not\nwillingly incline towards good; and he reapeth as he soweth. In this\nworld people, making their own good fortune and beauty, strength, sons,\nwealth and valor, gain these by virtue of their pious acts. Being given\nto such iniquitous acts, thou wilt go to hell; and thy designs being\nsuch, I will not hold parley with thee. Honest people should act\ncarefully in connection with the wicked.\u2019\u2014Thus reprimanded by him, his\n(R\u0101vana\u2019s) councillors, headed by M\u0101richa, on being struck, took to\ntheir heels. Then Da\u00e7agriva on being struck in the head with the mace by\nthe lord of Yakshas, did not move from his place. And then, O R\u0101ma, the\nYaksha and R\u0101kshasa, smiting each other in mighty encounter, did not get\nbewildered or experience fatigue. And then the bestower of riches\ndischarged a fiery weapon at him; and thereat the lord of R\u0101kshasas\nresisted it with a Varuna weapon. And then the R\u0101kshasa king entered\nupon R\u0101kshasi-illusion; and began to assume a thousand shapes for\ncompassing the destruction (of his adversary). And the Ten-necked one\n(successively) assumed the shapes of a tiger, a boar, a cloud, a hill,\nthe ocean, a tree, a Yaksha and a Daitya. Thus he wore full many forms\nand he was not visible in his native shape. And then, O R\u0101ma, seizing a\nmighty weapon the Ten-necked one, whirling the same, brought that\nredoubtable mace down on the head of the bestower of riches. Thus\nsmitten by him, the lord of wealth, baffled, toppled down to the earth\ncovered with blood like an _a\u00e7oka_ whose roots have been hewn away.\nThereat Padma and other Nidhi deities, surrounding the granter of\nwealth, raised him up and brought him to the Nandana wood. Conquering\nthe bestower of wealth, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, with a delighted heart,\npossessed himself of his Pushpaka, the car, as a sign of victory;\nfurnished with golden pillars, gateways set with lapises, covered with\nnetworks of pearls, having trees yielding the fruits of all seasons,\nendowed with the celerity of thought, ranging everywhere at will,\nwearing forms at pleasure, capable of coursing in the sky, with golden\nand jewelled stairs, and daises of polished gold,\u2014the vehicle of the\ngods\u2014undeteriorating, bringing delight to the mind and sight; wonderous\nexceedingly: painted with images designed to fill the mind with\nreverence,\u2014constructed by Brahm\u0101, containing all objects of desire,\ncharming and nonpariel not cold and not yet hot, granting gratification\nin every season, and graceful to the view. And ascending that (car)\ncoursing at will, won by his prowess, that utterly wicked one, out of\nswelling insolence, deemed himself master of the three worlds. And\nhaving vanquished the deity Vai\u00e7ravana, he descended from Kail\u0101\u00e7a. And\nhaving by his energy obtained the victory, the powerful night-ranger\nwearing a bright diadem and necklace, and seated on that superb\ncar,\u2014appeared radiant in his court like Fire himself.\"\n\n \u2074\u2079 Unless he serveth his parents, his heart doth not incline to\n piety.\n\n\n\nSECTION XVI.\n\n\n\"O R\u0101ma, having vanquished his brother, the lord of riches, the king of\nR\u0101kshasas went to the great wood of reeds, where Mah\u0101sena was born. And\nthe Ten-necked one saw the great golden wood of reeds. Furnished with\nnetworks of solar rays, and appearing like a second Sun, and ascending\nthe mountain, he was surveying the heart of the forest, when, O R\u0101ma,\nPushpaka was (suddenly) deprived of its motion. And the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas could not comprehend how the car which had been so made as to\ncourse in accordance with the wish of the rider, could have its course\nimpeded; and thereat he in company with his councillors thought,\n\u2019Wherefore doth not this Pushpaka course at my desire over this\nmountain? Whose act is this?\u2019 Thereat M\u0101richa\u2014foremost of intelligent\nones\u2014said,\u2014That Pushpaka doth not course cannot, sire, be without cause;\nor it may be that in consequence of Pushpak\u0101 not having borne any other\nthan the bestower of riches, it hath ceased its course not having the\nlord of wealth for its rider.\u2019 As they were speaking thus, that\nattendant of Bhava, Nandi, terrific, of yellow black hue, dwarfish,\nfrightful, with his head shaven, having short arms, and stout,\u2014coming up\nto them, said (this). And the lordly Nandi, undaunted, addressed the\nsovereign of the R\u0101kshasas, saying: \u2019Desist thou O Ten-necked one;\nSankara sporteth in the mountain; and (now) He is incapable of being\napproached by every one\u2014birds, serpents and Yakshas; gods, Gandharvas\nand Rakshas?\u2019 Hearing Nandi\u2019s speech, (R\u0101vana), wrought up with wrath,\nhis eyes coppery, and his ear-rings shaking, leapt down from Pushpaka.\nAnd saying, \u2019Who is this Sankara?\u2019 he came down to the base of the\nmount, and beheld there Nandi stationed at the side of that deity,\nsupporting himself on his flaming dart, resembling a second Sankara. And\nseeing that one having the face of a monkey, the R\u0101kshasa, deriding him,\nburst out into laughter, and seemed as if a mass of clouds were sending\nroars. Thereat, growing enraged, the reverend Nandi\u2014Sankara\u2019s other\nbody\u2014spoke unto that Raksha\u2014The Ten-necked one\u2014present there; \u2019As O\nDa\u00e7anana, deriding me for my monkey-form, thou hast indulged in a\nlaughter resembling the bursting of thunder, so monkeys endowed with\nprowess, and possessed of my form and energy shall be born for\ncompassing the destruction of thy race. And armed with teeth and claws,\nand fierce and furnished with the fleetness of thought, and mad for\nencounter, and bursting with vigor, and resembling moving mountains. And\nbeing born, they shall crush thy high pride and power along with thy\ncourtiers and sons. But, O night-ranger, I can even now end thee quite;\nyet I must not slay thee for thou hast ere this been slain by thine\nacts.\u2019 When that high-souled god had spoken thus celestial kettle-drums\nsounded and a blossomy shower rained from the sky. But without hefting\nNandi\u2019s speech, that highly powerful one\u2014Da\u00e7anana\u2014coming to the\nmountain, said,\u2014\u2019O Gopati, I will even uproot this mountain, for whom\nPushpaka was deprived of its motion as I was journeying. It must be\nknown by what influence Bhavaswara sporteth here king-like. He doth not\nknow that an occasion of fear hath presented itself?\u2019 Having said this,\nO R\u0101ma, R\u0101vana seizing the mountain with his arms, lifted it up at once;\nand then the mountain trembled greatly. And in consequence of the\nmountain shaking the attendants of the deity (dwelling in it) also\nshook. And P\u0101rvati also trembled and embraced Mahe\u00e7wara. And then, O\nR\u0101ma, Mah\u0101deva\u2014foremost of the deities\u2014even Hara, as in sport pressed\nthe mount with his great toe. And thereat his arms, resembling blocks of\nstone felt the shock and then there the councillors of that Raksha were\nstruck with amaze. And the Raksha, from wrath and the pain felt in his\narms, set up a shout that shook the entire triune world. And his\ncouncillors considered it as the concussion of the thunder at the\nuniversal disruption. And then the celestials with Indra at their head\nshook on their way; and the sea was wild and the mountains shook. And\nYakshas and Vidyadharas and Siddhas asked, \u2019What is this.\u2019 \u2019Do thou\npropitiate Um\u0101\u2019s lord\u2014the blue-throated Mah\u0101deva; for, O Da\u00e7anana, save\nhim thy refuge see we none in this matter. Bowing thyself down, do thou\nseek him as thy shelter. Then the kind Sankara, on being gratified, will\nconfer on thee his favor.\u2019 Thus accosted by his councillors, the\nTen-faced one, bowing down to him having the bull for his standard,\nbegan to hymn him with various _soma_ hymns; and the Raksha passed away\na good thousand years in lamentations. And thereat that Lord Mahadeva,\npleased, set free the hands of Da\u00e7anana stationed at the top of the\nmount, and O R\u0101ma, addressed him, saying, \u2019O Dac\u0101nana, pleased am I with\nthee on account of thy hymns. And as in consequence of thy arms having\nbeen hurt by the mountain, thou hast uttered a terrific yell, which\nstruck horror unto the three worlds and put them shaking, therefore, O\nKing, thy name shall be R\u0101vana. And deities and men and Yakshas and\nothers living on earth shall call thee R\u0101vana\u2014terror to creatures. So, O\nPaulastya, which way thou wishest, and permitted by me, O Lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, go thou.\u2019 Thus accosted by Sambhu, Lank\u0101\u2019s lord said of\nhimself. \u2019If thou art pleased with me, grant me a boon, who ask thee for\nit. I have already obtained a boon, bestowing on me immunity from death\nat the hands of gods, Gandharvas and D\u0101navas; and R\u0101kshasas and Guyhakas\nand Nagas; and others also that are of more than ordinary strength. Man\ncount I not O god: they, I deem, are insignificant. I have also, O\ndestroyer of Tripura, received a long lease of life from Brahm\u0101. Now I\nwish to pass the remainder of my days in peace: and do thou grant me a\nweapon.\u2019 Thus addressed by him, (R\u0101vana,) Sankara gave him an\nexceedingly effulgent sword, famed as Chandrahasa; and the master of\nspectres then also granted him peace for the rest of his life. And\nmaking (the sword) over to him, Sambhu said,\u2014\u2019Thou must not disregard\nthis. If disregarded, it will for certain come (back) to me?\u2019 Having\nthus received his name from Mahe\u00e7wara, R\u0101vana, saluting Mahadeva,\nascended Pushpaka. And then, O R\u0101ma, R\u0101vana, began to go round the\nearth. And opposed at places, by the heroic Kshatriyas endowed with\nenergy and irrepressible in fight, who refused submission, he\nexterminated them along with their retainers; while other men of wisdom,\nknowing the Raksha to be invincible, said unto the R\u0101kshasa elated with\nstrength,\u2014\u2019We have been conquered?\u2019\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XVII.\n\n\n\"And then, O King, the mighty-armed R\u0101vana ranging the earth, came to\nHimav\u0101n and began to go round it. And it came to pass that there he saw\na damsel wearing a dark deer-skin and matted locks, leading the life of\na saint, and flaming like a celestial. And seeing the girl observing\nhigh vows, endowed with beauty, he, with his soul overwhelmed with lust\nasked her, laughing, \u2019How is it, O amiable one that thou actest thus\ncontrary to thy youth? This course of life surely doth not befit thy\nbeauty. Thy loveliness, O timid one, is peerless, capable of maddening\nfolk with desire. It doth not behove thee to lead an ascetic mode of\nlife,\u2014this would suit an old person. Whose daughter art thou, O gentle\nlady? And what is this (vow) that thou practisest? And O fair faced\nwrench, who is thy husband? He who hath thee for his wife, is, O\ntimorous one, hath religious merit on earth. Tell all about this to me\nwho ask for it. For whom dost thou put thyself to trouble?\u2019 Thus\naccosted by R\u0101vana, that illustrious girl, having asceticism for wealth,\nhaving received him hospitably in due form, said, \u2019My sire is named\nKu\u00e7odwaja\u2014a Brahmarshi of immeasurable energy, son unto Vrihaspati,\nendowed with grace, and like unto Vrihaspati himself in intelligence.\nAnd while that high-souled one was engaged in the daily study of the\nVedas, I was born as his word-impregnated daughter, named Vedavati. When\nthe gods and the Gandharvas and the Yakshas, R\u0101kshasas, and Pannagas,\ncoming to my sire asked for me, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, my father did\nnot bestow me on any one of them. And I shall tell thee the reason\nthereof; listen, O long-armed one. My father\u2019s intended son-in-law was\neven Vishnu\u2014sovereign of the celestials, and the lord of the triune\nworld; and my father would not bestow me on any other. And hearing this,\na certain king of the Daityas, named Sumbhu\u2014proud, of his prowess was\nwrought up with wrath, and one night as my sire was on bed, that wicked\none slew him. Thereat my forlorn mother, of exalted righteousness,\nembracing my father\u2019s body entered into fire. Then wishing to realize my\nfather\u2019s wish touching N\u0101r\u0101yana, I have fixed my heart even upon him.\nHaving made this promise, I have been carrying on rigid austerities.\nThus, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas. I have related unto thee everything.\nN\u0101r\u0101yana is my husband, and not any one else than that best of male\nbeings; and desirous of having N\u0101r\u0101yana I have adopted severe\nrestraints. I know thee, O king. Go thou O son of Paulastya. By virtue\nof my asceticism I know all that takes place in these three regions.\u2019\nThereat descending from the front of his car, R\u0101vana, afflicted with the\nshafts of Kandarpa, again addressed that girl, observant of a mighty\nvow, \u2019O thou of shapely hips, in as much as such is thy intent, thou\nmust be very proud. O thou having the eyes of a young antelope,\naccumulation of religious merit suits old people. Thou, furnished with\nevery perfection, should not talk thus. Thou art the paragon in these\nthree worlds. Thy youth waxeth away. I am the lord of Lank\u0101, O gentle\nlady, known as Da\u00e7agriva. Be thou my wife, and enjoy pleasures according\nto thy desire. Who is he whom thou callest Vishnu? O mild one, neither\nin prowess, nor in asceticism, nor in enjoyment, nor in strength, is he\nmy equal, whom, O damsel, thou seekest.\u2019 Thus accosted, Vedavati said\nunto the night-ranger \u2019Do not say so\u2019 in respect of Vishnu, lord of this\ntriune sphere, bowed down unto by all creatures. Save and except thee\nalone, who, that is intelligent, crieth down (N\u0101r\u0101yana), O King of\nR\u0101kshasas.\u2019 Thus addressed there by Vedavati, the night-ranger seized\nthe girl by the hair. Thereat Vedavati, wroth, cut off her hair with her\nhand transformed into a sword. And then, flaming up in ire and as if\nconsuming the night-ranger, she, preparing a funeral pyre, hastened to\nmake away with herself. \u2019Thou abject, having been outraged by thee I\nwish not to live. Therefore, O Raksha, I will enter into fire in thy\nvery presence. And as I have in this world been dishonored by thee thou\nart nefarious. I shall again be born to compass thy destruction. It\nlieth not in a female to slay a male intent on sin; and if I utter a\ncurse, it shall cost my asceticism. But if I have done anything, given\naway any thing, offered oblations unto the fire, then I shall be the\nchaste daughter of some virtuous person, albeit unborn of any female\nvessel.\u2019 Having delivered herself thus, she entered into the flaming\nfire; and thereat a celestial shower of blossoms rained all around from\nheaven. O Lord, this is she that hath been born as the daughter of king\nJanaka,\u2014thy wife, O mighty-armed one. Thou art the eternal Vishnu. The\nenemy, endowed with the splendour of a hill, formerly that had been\nslain through the wrath (of Vedavati), hath now been slain by her, by\nhelp of thine superhuman prowess. And this one of eminent righteousnesss\nwould again spring up on earth like a flame from a field furrowed by the\nplough. This one named Vedavati was born in the Krita age; and in the\nTret\u0101 age, for compassing the destruction of that Raksha, she was born\nin the Maithila line of the high-souled Janaka.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XVIII.\n\n\n\"When Vedavati had entered into fire, R\u0101vana, ascending Pushpaka, began\nto range the earth. And coming to U\u00e7iraviga, R\u0101vana saw a king (named)\nMarutta, sacrificing along with the deities. And a righteous Brahmarshi\nnamed Samvartta, the very brother of Vrihashpati, officiated at the\nsacrifice accompanied by the deities. And seeing that Raksha invincible\nby reason of the boon he had received, the deities, apprehensive of\nbeing worsted by him, assumed the forms of beasts. And Indra became a\npeacock and the king of righteousness, a crow, and the bestower of\nriches a lizard, and Varuna a swan; and, O slayer of foes, others also\nbecame other beasts. And then R\u0101vana entered into that sacrifice like an\nunclean dog. And then coming up to the king, R\u0101vana\u2014lord of\nR\u0101kshasas\u2014said: \u2019Give me battle, or say,\u2014_I am defeated._\u2019 Whereat king\nMarutta asked, him\u2014\u2019Who art thou?\u2019 And R\u0101vana laughing in contempt\nsaid,\u2014\u2019O king, I am delighted, that lacking curiosity, thou dost not\ndishonour R\u0101vana, younger brother unto the bestower of riches. What\nother man is there in these three regions that knoweth not the might of\nme, who, conquering my brother, has got possession of this car.\u2019 Thereat\nMarutta spoke unto R\u0101vana, saying,\u2014\u2019Blessed for sooth art thou, by whom\nthy elder brother hath been vanquished in fight; and a person so\npraiseworthy there is not in the three worlds. An act, that is divorced\nfrom righteousness and that is reprehended by people, can never be\npraiseworthy. Having committed a foul act, plumest thou upon thy having\nvanquished thy brother? And practising what piety hadst thou a-fortune\nreceived the boon? I had never before heard the like of what thou\nsayest. But O perverse one, stay now. Living thou shalt not back. To-day\nwith my sharpened shafts shall I despatch thee to the abode of Yama.\u2019\nThen taking up his bow and arrows, that king of men went out for\nencounter; but Samavartta stood in the way. And that great sage said\nunto Marutta words informed with affection \u2019If thou hear my speech, thou\nshouldst not fight. If this Mahe\u00e7wara-sacrifice should remain\nincomplete, it will burn up thy dynasty. Where is the fight of one\ninitiated in a sacrifice? And where is the passion of one initiated in a\nsacrifice? And victory is ever uncertain; and the R\u0101kshasa is difficult\nto vanquish. And thereupon, the lord of Earth\u2014Marutta\u2014desisted in\nconsonance with the instructions of his spiritual preceptor; and\ncomposed addressed himself to completing the sacrifice, giving up his\nbow with the arrow set. And thereat considering him as defeated, Suka\nproclaimed this all round; and from delight cried aloud, \u2019Victory unto\nR\u0101vana!\u2019 And then devouring the Maharshis that were present at the place\nof sacrifice, R\u0101vana, satiated with their blood, again went to the\nearth. On R\u0101vana having departed, the deities, inhabiting the etherial\nregions\u2014Indra etc.\u2014assuming their proper forms, addressed those\ncreatures. And from joy Indra spoke unto the purple-plumed\npeacock,\u2014\u2019Pleased am I with thee thou righteous one. No fear shall\nspring to thee from serpents; and thy plumage shall be furnished with an\nhundred eyes. And when I shall shower, thou shalt be filled with glee as\na token of my satisfaction with thee.\u2019 Thus did Indra\u2014chief of\ncelestials, confer a boon on the peacock. Formerly, O king, the\npeacock\u2019s wings had one unvaried blue. Having received the boon, the\npeacock departed. Then O R\u0101ma, the king of righteousness said unto the\ncrow, seated in front of the sacrificial apartment \u2019O bird, I am well\npleased with thee. Listen to my words as I utter them. As I have been\npleased with thee, thou shalt without doubt, enjoy immunity from the\nvarious ailments to which the birds are subject. And O bird, from my\ncurse fear of death shall not approach thee; and thou shalt exist so\nlong as people do not slay thee. And those men residing in my dominion,\nbeing smitten with hunger, shall be refreshed along with thy relations,\nwhen thou hast eaten and been refreshed.\u2019 Then Varuna addressed that\nlord of birds the swan ranging the waters of the Gang\u0101,\u2014\u2019Listen to my\nwords fraught with joy, thy hue shall be charming, mild, and like unto\nthe lunar disc; and it shall be beautiful, resembling the sheen of\nspotless foam. And approaching my person thou shalt ever be beautiful to\nbehold; and thou shalt, as a sign of my gratification, attain\nunparalleled complacence.\u2019 Formerly, O R\u0101ma, swans had not a hue of one\nunvaried whiteness. Their wings ended in blue, and their breasts wore\nthe spotless hue of tender grass. And then Vai\u00e7ravana addressed the\nchameleon as it was stationed at the mountain: \u2019Thy hue shall be\ngold-gleaming. Pleased am I with thee. Thy undeteriorating head shall be\never gold-hued. And this golden hue of thine shall proceed from my\ngratification?\u2019 Having thus conferred boons on them at that festal\nplace, the celestials, along with the king, (on the sacrifice) having\nended, went to their abode.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XIX.\n\n\n\"Having vanquished Marutta, that lord of R\u0101kshasas\u2014the Ten-faced\none\u2014eager for encounter, began to range the capitals of the foremost\nmonarchs (of the earth). And coming to the most powerful crowned heads\n(in the world) resembling Mahendra and Varuna, the R\u0101kshasa king said:\n\u2019Give me battle; or declare\u2014we have been defeated. This I am resolved\nupon. Otherewise there is no escape for you?\u2019 Thereat those wise kings,\npossessed of great strength, and ever abiding by righteousness, being\nfrightened (at R\u0101vana\u2019s intimidation), took counsel of each other. And\nknowing the superior strength of the foe, they said,\u2014\u2019We have been\ndefeated.\u2019 Dushkanta, O child, and Suratha, and G\u0101dhi, and Gaya and king\nPururav\u0101\u2014all these kings said: \u2019We have been defeated.\u2019 And then\nR\u0101vana\u2014sovereign of the R\u0101kshasas\u2014presented himself before Ayodhy\u0101,\ngoverned by Anaranya, like Amar\u0101vati ruled by Sakra. And coming to that\nforemost of men\u2014king like unto Purandara himself in prowess, R\u0101vana\nsaid,\u2014\u2019 Give me battle; or say I have been defeated. This is my\nmandate.\u2019 The lord of Ayodhy\u0101, on hearing the words of that\nwicked-minded one, Anaranya, enraged, addressed the R\u0101kshasa-chief,\nsaying,\u2014\u2019O king of R\u0101kshasas, I will give thee combat, stay thou. At\nonce prepare for fight, and I also shall go and prepare myself.\u2019 And\nwhen he had heard everything (regarding R\u0101vana), the forces of that\nforemost of kings that had been intended for conquering (R\u0101vana),\nsallied forth ready for bringing about the destruction of the\nRaksha,\u2014ten thousand elephants, a _niyuta_ horse, and many thousands of\ncars and infantry, O best of men; and, that host consisting of infantry\nand cars, marched for encounter, covering up the earth. And then, O thou\nproficient in fight, there took place a mighty and wonderful encounter\nbetween king Anaranya and that lord of R\u0101kshasas. And that host of the\nking encountering the forces of R\u0101vana, were extinguished like unto\nclarified butter thrown into the (sacrificial) fire. And having fought\nvalorously for a long time, the remnant of the royal forces, suddenly\ncoming in contact with the flaming R\u0101kshasa ranks, were destroyed like\nunto swarms of locusts entering into fire. And he saw the mighty army of\nthat powerful monarch destroyed by the (adversary), like unto a hundred\nstreams absorbed by an approaching ocean. And then himself drawing his\nbow resembling the bow itself of Sakra, that foremost of sovereigns,\nbeside himself with wrath, approached R\u0101vana. And brought down by\nAnaranya, his (R\u0101vana\u2019s) councillors\u2014M\u0101richa, Suka, and S\u0101rana with\nPrahasta,\u2014took to their heels like unto dear. And then that son of the\nIkshw\u0101ku race discharged eight hundred arrows at R\u0101vana\u2019s head. And like\nunto showers pouring down on the top of a mountain, his shafts did not\ninflict any wound (on R\u0101vana). And then the king, smitten on the head\nwith a slap by the enraged king of R\u0101kshasas, dropped down from his car.\nAnd the king, deprived of his senses, fell down on the earth, with his\nbody trembling all over; as falls in a forest a _s\u0101la_ scathed with\nheaven\u2019s fire. And thereat the Raksha, laughing, spoke unto that\nIkshw\u0101ku, lord of the earth,\u2014\u2019What is this that thou hast gathered as\nthe fruit of thy encounter with me. O king, there is none in this triune\nsphere that can combat with me. Having hitherto been sunk in lunacy thou\nhast not heard of my strength.\u2019 As he was speaking thus, the king, whose\nsounds were fast running out said: \u2019What can I do in this matter. Verily\ntime is incapable of being controlled. I have been overcome by Time;\nthou art merely an instrument. What can I do now, when I am going to\nlose my life? I never turned away from fight; I have been slain\nfighting. But, O R\u0101kshasa, I shall tell thee something in consequence of\nthe disgrace that the Ikshw\u0101ku race has met with (to-day). If I have\npractised charity, if I have offered oblations into fire, if I have\ncarried on pious penances, if I have governed my people well, then be my\nwords verified! There shall spring in the line of the high-souled\nIkshw\u0101ku, one named R\u0101ma\u2014son unto Da\u00e7aratha, who shall deprive thee of\nthy life.\u2019 As he uttered this imprecation, the celestial kettle-drums\nsounded like the roaring of clouds; and blossoms showered down from the\nsky. And then that best of kings went to heaven; and when that king had\ngone to the celestial regions, the R\u0101kshasa (also) went away.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XX.\n\n\n\"As the lord of R\u0101kshasas was ranging the earth frightening everyone,\nN\u0101rada\u2014foremost of ascetics, came to that wood mounted on a cloud. And\nthereupon saluting him, the night-ranger Ten-necked one\u2014enquired after\nhis welfare as well as the occasion of his visit. And that Devarshi\u2014the\nexceedingly energetic N\u0101rada of immeasurable splendour, seated on the\nback of the cloud, addressed R\u0101vana, who was stationed in Pushpaka,\nsaying,\u2014\u2019O lord of R\u0101kshasas, O placid one, O son of Vi\u00e7rav\u0101, stay. I am\nwell pleased with thy prowess and fame. And even as Vishnu had pleased\nme by destroying the Daityas, thou pleased me by harassing the\nGandharvas and serpents. I will tell thee something. If thou wouldst\nhear what I have to say then, O child, listen heedfully as I unfold it.\nWhy, my child, dost thou slay these;\u2075\u2070 thou art incapable of being slain\nby even the celestials. All these (men) are subject to death, they are\nverily slain. The world of man is unworthy of being afflicted by thee\nwho art incapable of being destroyed by Deities, D\u0101navas, Daityas,\nYakshas, Gandharvas and Rakshas. Who should slay creatures, who are ever\nstupid in respect of their welfare, environed by mighty dangers, and\nencompassed by decrepitude and hundreds o\u00a3 ailments? What sensible\nperson can set his heart on slaying human beings who are everywhere\nbeset with a perrennial stream of evils. Do not thou enfeeble those\nbeings who are already enfeebled and smitten by Divinity with hunger,\nthirst, old age etc. and who are overwhelmed with sorrow, and grief. O\nmighty-armed one, O lord of R\u0101kshasas, behold man, albeit having their\nsense stupified, engaged in the pursuit of various interests, and\nthemselves not understanding their own ways;\u2075\u00b9 some pass their time\nmerrily with dancing and playing on musical instruments while others\nweep distressfully with tears streaming from their eyes down their\ncheeks. And down fallen on account of their attachment for their mothers\nand fathers and sons, and of their desires touching their wives and\nfriends they set small store by labours having the hereafter as their\nobject. What then is the use of afflicting a race that is brought down\never by its own infatuation. O placid one, this world is verily\nconquered by thee. These for certain will have to repair to the abode of\nYama. Therefore, O Paulastya, O captor of hostile capitals, do thou put\ndown Yama. On him being conquered, all will doubtless be conquered by\nthee.\u2019 Thus addressed Lank\u0101\u2019s lord, flaming in native energy, addressed\nN\u0101rada, laughing and saluting him, \u2019O thou that delightest in the sport\nof gods and Gandharvas, and that takest pleasure in warfare, I am ready\nto go to the nethermost regions for the purpose of conquest. And\nconquering the three worlds, and bringing under subjection serpents and\ncelestials I shall for ambrosia churn the nether regions.\u2019 Then the\nreverend sage N\u0101rada spoke Unto the Ten-necked one,\u2014\u2019Who save thee can\nforsooth go on that journey? Verily, O irrepressible one, O destroyer of\nfoes, the way leading to the city of the lord of the dead is difficult\nof access.\u2019 Thereat laughing, the Ten-faced one said to the saint\nresembling a mass of white clouds, \u2019This is done. Therefore,\u2075\u00b2 O great\nBrahman, intent upon slaying the Vaiva\u00e7wata\u2019s son, I will go by this way\nwhich leadeth to the king\u2014the offspring of the sun. And, O master, from\nwrath I have vowed that I will, eager for encounter, O reverend one,\nconquer the four Lokap\u0101las. Then here go I to the city of the lord of\nthe Pitris; and I am determined to compass the death of him that\nvisiteth creatures with smart.\u2019 Having delivered himself thus and\nsaluted the sage, he, entering the southern way with his councillors,\nproceeded along. And the exceedingly energetic N\u0101rada\u2014best of\nBrahmans\u2014resembling a smokeless fire, remaining rapt for a while, began\nto reflect;\u2014\u2019How can (R\u0101vana) conquer Time who, when its life waneth,\nrighteously visiteth with affliction the time, sphere with Indra,\nfraught with mobile and immobile. How can this lord of R\u0101kshasas, of\nhimself, go to him who, resembling another fire, beareth to the gifts\nand acts (of persons),\u2014that high-souled one of whom attaining\nconsciousness, people put forth their activity; and afflicted with the\nfear of whom these three worlds fall away? How can (R\u0101vana) subdue him\nwho ordaineth things both great and small, who meteth rewards and\npunishments for good and bad acts, and who himself hath conquered the\nthree worlds? Resorting\u2075\u00b3 to what other means shall R\u0101vana secure\n(victory)? I am curious about it: To Yama\u2019s abode shall I go for\nwitnessing the encounter between Yama and the R\u0101kshasa.\"\n\n \u2075\u2070 _i.e._ human beings.\n\n \u2075\u00b9 _Gati_\u2014according to the commentator, means the time of employment\n and suffering.\u2014I think the ordinary meaning answers, and give it\n accordingly.-T.\n\n \u2075\u00b2 _i.e._ As thou hast commanded me.\n\n \u2075\u00b3 Explains the commentator: \"Time hath every thing under its\n control. Like the all-enclosing space, time pervades all that is.\n This being so, resorting what transcending Time, shall R\u0101vana\n obtain victory over it.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XX.\n\n\n\"Having reflected thus, that foremost of Vipras endowed with fleet\nvigor, bent his steps towards the abode of Yama, for the purpose of\nrelating to him all that had taken place. And there (he) saw that\ngod\u2014Yama\u2014sitting in front of fire and offering into it the good and evil\nfruits of their actions.\u2075\u2074\n\n\"And seeing the Maharshi N\u0101rada arrive there, Yama offering him _arghya_\naccording to the ordinance, addressed him saying, when he was seated at\nhis ease: \u2019O Devarshi, is it well with thee? And doth virtue\ndeteriorate.\u2019\u2075\u2075 And, why, O thou honored of deities, and Gandharvas,\ndost thou come?\u2019 Thereat the reverend sage, N\u0101rada, said; Hearken. I\nshall tell (thee); and (after hearing me out) do thou what is fit. O\nking of the Pitris, here cometh the night-ranger named ten-necked, for\nbringing thee under his sway\u2014thee who art incapable of being conquered.\nAnd, O master, for this reason it is that I have come hither\nhastily,\u2014doubtful what shall befall thee who hast the rod for thy\nweapon. In the meanwhile they saw the Raksha\u2019s car approach from afar,\nflaming and like unto the ray-furnished (one) risen. And dispelling the\ngloom of that region with the effulgence of Pushpaka, that exceedingly\npowerful (R\u0101kshasa) came forward. And the mighty-armed ten-necked one\nall around saw creatures reaping the consequences of their fair and foul\nacts. And there he saw Yama\u2019s soldiery along with Yama\u2019s followers,\nfierce-forms, grim-visaged and terrific. And he saw corporeal beings\nundergoing torments and pain, and emitting loud cries and sharp shrieks;\npreyed on by worms and fell dogs: and uttering words capable of striking\npain and terror into the heart (of the hearer): and people swimming in\nthe Vaitaraini profusely running blood; and momentarily burning with hot\nsands; unrighteous wights pierced in a wood of _asipatra_, (plunged) in\nRaurava, in the river of borate of soda; and (cut) with razor-edges;\nasking for drinks; and afflicted with hunger and thirst; converted into\ncorpses, lean, woe-begone, and pallid with hair flowing loosely; having\ndust and filth (on their bodies), and running about distressfully with\ndry forms;\u2014on the way saw R\u0101vana by hundreds and by thousands. And\nR\u0101vana also saw some in front of houses engaged in merry-making with\nsongs and strains of instruments,\u2014as the fruit of their pious acts; and\n(saw) the giver of kine regailing themselves with milk; the dispenser of\nrice, feeding on the same, the bestower of abodes, enjoying mansions, as\nthe fruit of their several acts; and persons living with damsels decked\nwith gold and gems and jewels; and other pious folks, flaming in their\nnative energy, all these saw R\u0101vana lord of R\u0101kshasas. And by his might\nthat mighty one delivered those that were being tormented by their\nwicked acts. And on being liberated by that Raksha\u2014the ten-necked one,\nthose creatures in a moment began to enjoy their release, that had come\nto them without thought or suspense. And on the dead being delivered by\nthe magnanimous R\u0101kshasa, the guards of the dead, getting enraged,\nrushed at the R\u0101kshasa sovereign. And there arose a mighty tumult from\nall sides; from the heroic warriors of the king of righteousness rushing\n(all around.) And those heroes by hundreds and by thousands assailed\n(Pushpaka) with _pr\u0101\u00e7as_, and bludgeons, and darts and maces, and spears\nand _tomaras_. And swiftly swarming like bees, they began to break the\nseats, blocks, daises and gateways (of the car.) And in that conflict\nPushpaka presided over by divine energy, incapable of being destroyed by\nvirtue of Brahm\u0101 power, being broken, resumed its former shape.\nCountless were the soldiers of that high-souled one consisting hundreds\nand thousands of heroic warriors, (ever) forward for fight. And\naccording to the measure of their might his (R\u0101vana\u2019s) councillors\u2014great\nheroes all, as well as the ten-faced one himself with might and main,\nfought with trees and crags and hundreds of blocks of buildings. And\nthose councillors of the lord of R\u0101kshasas, assailed with every kind of\nweapons, with their persons bathed in blood, fought fiercely. And O\nlarge-armed one the exalted councillors of Yama and R\u0101vana sore assailed\neach other with arms. And leaving the councillors alone the highly\npowerful warriors of Yama rushed against Da\u00e7\u0101nana\u2075\u2076 with a shower of\nspears. And then pierced through and through by those weapons, with his\nperson covered with blood, the R\u0101kshasa king appeared like a flowering\nKin\u00e7uka in Pushpaka.\u2075\u2077 And thereat that powerful one, by virtue of his\nmastery over weapons, began to hurl darts and maces, _pr\u0101\u00e7as_ and spears\nand _tomaras_ and crags and trees. And that terrific shower of trees,\nrocks and arms, alighted on the army of Yama (fighting) on the earth.\nAnd snapping those weapons and resisting (those vollies of) arms, they\nsmote at the R\u0101kshasa fighting alone by hundreds and thousands. And\nencompassing him even as clouds encompass a mountain, they rendered\n(R\u0101vana) inert by means of _Bhindip\u0101las_ and darts. And with his mail\ntorn open, his anger raging fiercely, and covered with blood streaming\nover his person, he, forsaking his car, stood upon the ground. And then\nfurnished with his bow and holding his shafts, (R\u0101vana) regaining his\nsenses in a short time, increased in energy and stood in the field like\nthe finisher. And now fixing the divine P\u0101\u00e7upata on his bow, and saying\nunto them, \u2019Slay! Slay!\u2019 he drew that bow. And enraged, (R\u0101vana)\nresembling Rudra himself, in fight drawing his bow to his car,\ndischarged that shaft even as Sankara had discharged at Tripura. And the\nappearance of the shaft was like an extinguishing fire in summer with\nsmoke with flames, burning up a forest. And garlanded with glory that\nshaft followed by ghosts,\u2075\u2078 in that encounter; rushed on, burning to\nashes the loose bushes and trees lying in its way. And burnt up by its\nenergy, the most of Vaivaswata fell down in the field like unto banners\nof Mahendra. And thereat the R\u0101kshasa of terrific prowess along with his\ncouncillors began to set up tremendous shouts; as if making the earth\ntremble.\"\n\n \u2075\u2074 Ordaining happiness and misery to the lives of people according to\n their acts.\u2014T.\n\n \u2075\u2075 The original has: \"Doth not virtue wane.\" This in English would\n imply the very reverse what N\u0101rada intends to say. He says: \"Doth\n religion deteriorate?\"\u2014_i.e._ \"I hope, religion doth _not_\n deteriorate.\" This is an idiom and natural usage accounts for it,\n although that usage must in the nature of things be based on a\n subtle ground of reason.\u2014T.\n\n \u2075\u2076 R\u0101vana.\n\n \u2075\u2077 This simile is peculiarly appropriate and beautiful. Pushpaka, the\n name of R\u0101vana\u2019s car, means composed of flowers; and this\n signification shining askance, as it were, over the direct sense\n of the sentence, heightens the delight the reader feels on\n imagining the principal figure. \u2019R\u0101vana seated in _Pushpaka_,\n covered with blood, looked like a blossoming Kinsuka.\u2019\u2014T.\n\n \u2075\u2078 The instrument being Siva\u2019s, it naturally was followed by ghosts,\n as his attendants.\u2014T.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXII.\n\n\n\"Hearing his mighty shouts, that lord Vaivaswata knew that his adversary\nhad gained the day and that his own host had been destroyed. And knowing\nthat his forces had been slain, he, with his eyes crimsoned with passion\nhastily spoke unto his charioteer, \u2019Bring thou my car.\u2019 And thereat the\ncharioteer brought the noble and mighty car and stood (there) and then\nthat exceeding energetic one mounted the car. And in front (of his car)\nstood death, equipped with _pra\u00e7as_ and maces in his hands, who makes\nnothing of this entire triune world; incapable of deterioration. And\nbeside (him) was the rod of Time in its native from\u2014the divine\ninstrument of Yama like unto a flaming fire on account of its own\nenergy. And then on beholding Time, infuriated, tending to strike terror\ninto all creatures, was agitated the triune universe, and trembling over\ntook the denizens of heaven. And the charioteer urged on the steeds\npossessed of graceful splendour; and arrived where the lord of R\u0101kshasas\nwas posted. And in a moment those horses like unto thought (in\ncelerity,) and resembling the steeds themselves of Hari, took Yama where\nthe warfare had already begun. And seeing the frightful car in that\naspect with Death present in it, the ministers of the R\u0101kshasa monarch\nat once took to their heels. And in consequence of their being\ncomparatively inferior in point of strength they were deprived of their\nsenses, and afflicted with fear; and saying, \u2019Here we are not equal to\nfighting\u2019 they went their way. But seeing that car capable of striking\nterror into folks, the Ten-necked did not experience any agitation, nor\ndid fear enter his heart. And approaching R\u0101vana, Yama, enraged,\ndischarged spears and _tomaras_, and began to pierce R\u0101vana\u2019s marrow.\nBut R\u0101vana, without at all feeling any smart, began to shower arrows on\nVaivaswata\u2019s vehicle, resembling a downpour caused by clouds. And again\nat his spacious breast, that R\u0101kshasa who had undergone slender injury,\ncould not resist, (Yama\u2019s arms) with hundreds of mighty darts hurled.\nAnd in this way that destroyer of foes\u2014Yama fought for seven nights with\nvarious arms; until at length his enemy was driven back and deprived of\nhis senses. And then, O hero, there took place mighty onset between Yama\nand the R\u0101kshasa both eager for victory and both never tiring of fight.\nAnd celestials and Gandharvas and Siddhas, and the supreme saints,\nplacing Prajapati at their head, presented themselves at the fight. And\nthe encounter that then took place between that foremost of of R\u0101kshasas\nand the lord of the Dead was like the universal upheaval. And stretching\nhis bow resembling in spleandour the thunderbolt of Indra, he discharged\narrows covering up the sky. And he smote Death with four, the (Yama\u2019s)\ncharioteer with seven, and swiftly struck Yama in the marrow with\nhundreds and thousands of shafts. And then from forth Yama\u2019s mouth there\nissued darted flames with his teeth mixed with smoke, the fire of his\nfury. And witnessing this wonder in the presence of the deities and\nD\u0101navas, both Death and Time were fired with wrath and were filled with\ndelight. And the Death, growing still more wroth, addressed Vaivaswata\nsaying;\u2014\u2019Let me go. I shall slay this sinful R\u0101kshasa. Even this is my\nnative might this R\u0101kshasa will be no more. Hiranyaka\u00e7ipu, the graceful\nNemuchi, and Shamvara, Nishandi and Dhumaketu and Virochana\u2019s offspring\nV\u0101li, and the Daitya Shamvu that mighty monarchs, Vritra and B\u0101na; and\nK\u0101jarshis versed in all branches of learnings and Grandharvas, and\nmighty serpents, and sages, and Pannagas and Yakshas, and swarms of\nApsar\u0101s and the Earth herself containing vasty oceans and mountains and\nrivers and trees, at the unrolling of a Yuga\u2014all these, O mighty monarch\nhave I brought to dissolution. All these and many more endowed with\nstrength and incapable of being overcome, were at the very sight of me\ncompassed with peril,\u2014and what is this ranger of the night? Let me go. O\nthou cognizant of righteousness,\u2014I shall slay this one. There is none\nthat, albeit strong, can survive after having been seen by me. Verily\nthis is not mine strength,\u2014this might pertaineth to me by nature. O\nTime, if seen by me, he won\u2019t live for a moment.\u2019 Hearing these words of\nhis, the puissant king of righteousness spake there unto death,\u2014\u2019Do thou\nstay. I myself shall slay him.\u2019 Then with his eyes reddened that lord,\nVaivaswata, wielded with his hand the infallible dart of time; while by\nhim lay the redoubtable noose of time and the mace in its native shape\nresembling fire and the thunderbolt. He, who by his very sight draweth\naway the lives of creatures,\u2014what should be said of its touching and\nbeing hurled at people? And touched by that powerful one, that mighty\nweapon, _engist_ with flames, attained access of energy, and seemed to\nconsume the R\u0101kshasa. And in the field of battle, every one afflicted\nwith fear, ran away from it. And beholding Yama with his rod uplifted,\nthe celestials were agitated. And on Yama being desirous of slaying\nR\u0101vana, the great-father manifesting himself spake unto Yama: \u2019O\nVaivaswata, O mighty-armed one, O thou of immeasurable prowess, this\ncertainly must not be; Thou shouldst not with thy rod slay the\nnight-ranger; for, O foremost of celestials, I have conferred a boon on\nhim; and thou shouldst not render false the words that I have uttered.\nVerily he, that, whether a god or a human being, shall falsify my words,\nshall render this triune universe false. There is no doubt about this.\nIf this terrific weapon, capable of affrighting the three spheres, be\ndischarged alike at friends and foes, it will destroy creatures. This\nrod of time, of immeasurable might and incapable of being resisted by\ncreatures, was created by me as having the power of compassing the death\nof all beings. Therefore, O mild one, thou forsooth shouldst not bring\nit down on R\u0101vana\u2019s head. If this alights on any one, he doth not live\nfor a moment, Whether on this weapon allighting, the ten-necked does not\ndie, or if he does do either way falsehood is the consequence, therefore\ndo thou keep thy uplifted weapon off Lank\u0101\u2019s lord. If thou have any care\nfor these worlds do thou establish my truth.\u2019 Thus addressed, Yama then\nanswered, \u2019I restrain this rod. Thou art our Lord. But as I can not slay\nthis one who hath obtained a boon, what then shall I do now in the\nfield? Therefore shall I disappear from the sight of this Raksha.\u2019\nHaving said this, even there did he vanish with his car and horses. And\nhaving vanquished him and distinguished his name, he again ascended his\nPushpaka and went out of the abode of Yama. And with a delighted heart\nVaivaswata along with the deities headed by Brahm\u0101\u2014as well as that\nmighty ascetic-N\u0101rada, went to the celestial regions.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIII.\n\n\n\"Having vanquished Yama, the foremost of celestials, R\u0101vana delighting\nin warfare, saw his adherents. And seeing R\u0101vana, with his person bathed\nin blood, bettered by the weapon discharged at him, they were seized\nwith surprise. And hailing him with victory, the councillors headed by\nM\u0101richa, having been encouraged by R\u0101vana, ascended Pushpaka. And then\nthe Raksha entered the region of waters\u2014the abode of Daityas and\nserpents, well protected by Varuna. And arriving at Bhogavati\u2014the city\ngoverned by V\u0101suki, he brought the serpents under subjection and then,\ndelighted, bent his course to the palace\u2014Manimayi. There dwelt the\nNivatakavachas, who had obtained boons. Those Daityas were possessed of\nprowess and endowed with strength,\u2014carrying various weapons, breathing\nhigh spirits and invincible in battle. And the D\u0101navas and R\u0101kshasas\ngrowing enraged fell to raving each other with darts and tridents,\nKuli\u00e7as and axes and _patti\u00e7as_. And as they fought one entire year\npassed away and neither side obtained victory or was worsted. And then\nthat way of the triune sphere, that God, the undeteriorating\nGreat-father, swiftly presented himself on the scene mounted on his\nexcellent car. And making the Nivatakavachas desist from battle the\nancient great-father spake in clear words\u2014\u2019Even the celestials and the\nAsuras are not able to vanquish this R\u0101vana in battle; nor can the\nD\u0101navas backed by the gods can destroy you. Do you therefore turn your\nminds to making friends with the R\u0101kshasa. All interests are forsooth\nthe common possession of friends.\u2019 Thereat R\u0101vana made friends with the\nNivatakavachas in the presence of Fire; and then rejoiced greatly. And\nduly honored (by them) Da\u00e7\u0101nana passed there a year, without any feeling\nof that place being different from his own home: and spent his time\nagreeably. And having learnt there an hundred sorts of illusion, he\ndirected his course to Rasatala, searching for the city of the lord of\nwaters. And then going to the city named A\u00e7ma ruled by the Kalakayas,\n(R\u0101vana) slew the Kalakayas endowed with terrific strength; and then\nwith his sword cut off his brother-in-law,\u2075\u2079 the husband of Surpanakh\u0101,\nthe mighty Vidyutjibha possessed of terrific strength; as that R\u0101kshasa\nin the encounter was licking (the limbs of R\u0101vana\u2019s followers).\u2076\u2070 Having\nvanquished him, he, in a moment, destroyed four hundred Daityas. And\nthen the lord of R\u0101kshasas saw the grand abode of Varuna resembling a\nmass of white clouds, and effulgent like unto Kail\u0101\u00e7a itself;\u2014and also\nsaw the milk-conserving Surabhi stationed there; from the streams of\nwhose milk was produced the ocean named Kshiroda.\u2076\u00b9 And there R\u0101vana saw\nthe mother of kine and the foremost of bulls; from whom springeth that\nmaker of night the mild-beaming-moon; taking refuge under whom subsist\nthe prime saints and those living on froth, the froth\u2076\u00b2 (of milk); and\nwherefrom sprang ambrosia as well as the Swadha of Sw\u0101dh\u0101-subsisting\nones,\u2076\u00b3 even her that goeth with human beings under the name of Surabhi.\nHaving gone round this wonderful (cow), R\u0101vana entered the exceedingly\ndreadful abode of Varuna guarded by various kinds of forces. And then he\nbeheld Varuna\u2019s splendid mansion, streaming with hundreds of torrents,\nresembling a mass of autumnal clouds, and always wearing a delightful\naspect. And killing the generals of the forces, after having been\nresisted by them, he addressed the warriors, saying,\u2014\u2019Do you speedily\nacquaint your king with this. R\u0101vana hath come here seeking battle. Do\nthou give him fight, or say with joined hands, \"I have been defeated by\nthee,\" and then thou hast no fear whatever.\u2019 In the meantime the sons\nand grandsons of the high-souled Varuna, as well as those of Pushkara\nissued forth. And they, endowed with every virtue, accompanied by their\nown forces, yoked cars furnished with the effulgence of the rising Sun,\nand coursing at the desire of their riders. And then there took place a\nmighty encounter capable of making people\u2019s down stand on end, between\nthe sons of the lord of waters, and those of the intelligent R\u0101vana. And\nin a short while that entire host of Varuna was brought down by the\nhighly powerful councillor of that R\u0101kshasa Da\u00e7agriva. And seeing their\nown forces brought to straits in the conflict and driven back in the\nfight with networks of shafts, and down on the ground and seeing R\u0101vana\nin Pushpaka, Varuna\u2019s sons swiftly shot into the welkin with their\nfleet-footing cars. And after they had attained a station of equal\nvantage (with R\u0101vana) in the sky,\u2076\u2074 great was the encounter that then\ntook place in the sky, resembling the encounter of the deities and the\nD\u0101navas. And turning away R\u0101vana in the conflict by means of shafts\nresembling fire, they, exceedingly rejoiced, emitted various shouts. And\nthen Mahodara, enraged on seeing the king sore pressed, casting off\nfear, and wrought up with rage, began to go around, eager for fight. And\nsmit with his mace by Mahodara, Varuna\u2019s sons coursing at will and\nresembling the wind (in velocity), dropped down to the ground. And\nhaving slain those warriors and also those horses of Varuna\u2019s sons\n(Mahodara) seeing them lying down deprived of their cars swiftly sent up\na tremendous cheer. And destroyed by Mahodara, their cars and horses\ntogether with their foremost charioteers, lay low on the earth. And then\nforsaking their cars, the sons of the high-souled Varuna, stationed in\nthe sky, did not experience any pain\u2076\u2075 by virtue of their native power.\nAnd having stretched their bows they pierced Mahodara, and then, all\ntogether they greatly angered prevented R\u0101vana. As the clouds, with a\nthousand torrents cleave a mountain, so they, with dreadful shafts,\nresembling thunderbolts and discharged off the bows, pierced him.\nThereupon the Ten-necked (demon), excited with wrath like the fire of\ndessolution, pierced them to their very vitals with highly dreadful\narrows. And stationed above, he showered on them variegated maces,\n_Vall\u0101s_,\u2076\u2076 _P\u0101tticas_, _saktis_ and huge _Sataghnis_.\n\n\"Thereupon with the arrows the infantry were greatly exhausted like unto\nyoung elephants six years old, fallen in mire. Beholding Varuna\u2019s sons\nthus worn out and overwhelmed the highly powerful R\u0101vana roared in\ndelight like unto clouds. Thereupon emitting loud cries the R\u0101kshaha,\nlike unto a cloud, with a downpour of diverse shafts, destroyed the\noffspring of Varuna. Thereupon they were all defeated and fell dead on\nthe ground and all their followers fled away from the field of battle to\ntheir homes. R\u0101vana spoke unto them.\u2014\u2019Do ye communicate this to Varuna.\u2019\nWhereto his minister Prahasta replied unto R\u0101vana saying\u2014\u2019O great\nking\u2014Varuna\u2019s sons are slain and the lord of waters, whom thou art\ninviting for battle, hath gone to the region of Brahm\u0101, to hear songs.\nWhile the king is away, what is the use of taking trouble, O hero? And\nall these heroic sons (of Varuna) have been vanquished.\u2019 Hearing these\nwords and spreading his own name the lord of R\u0101kshasas expressing sign\nof joy, issued out of Varuna\u2019s abode. And returning by the way by which\nhe had come, the Raksha, stationed in the welkin, proceeded towards\nLank\u0101.\"\n\n \u2075\u2079 _Cyal\u0101_ means a wife\u2019s brother, Vidyujjibha was however, _the\n husband of his sister_.\u2014T.\n\n \u2076\u2070 This explanation is the commentator\u2019s.\n\n \u2076\u00b9 Lit. the sea of milk.\n\n \u2076\u00b2 A typical instance of the lengths which the self-denial of the\n Hindu sages went is furnished by the case of a certain class of\n ascetics, who, abstaining from every other kind of food, lived\n solely on the froth of milk, falling off from the udders after the\n calf had drunk it. This froth-drinking, in preference to drinking\n the milk itself was dictated by a motive of charity\u2014_viz_, not to\n deprive the calf of her legitimate fare.\u2014T\n\n \u2076\u00b3 The ancestral manes.\n\n \u2076\u2074 Ere this R\u0101vana was fighting on Pushpaka, while Varuna\u2019s sous\n fought on the earth.\n\n \u2076\u2075 By virtue of their immortal origin.\n\n \u2076\u2076 An arrow with a crescent-shaped head.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIV.\n\n\n\"And again journeyed in the city of A\u00e7ma (the followers of R\u0101vana)\ndreadful in fight. There the Ten-necked demon beheld a highly\npicturesque house\u2014adorned with networks of pearls, having gateways\ncrested with Vaidurjas, golden pillars and abounding in pavements. And\nthe stairs, of that picturesque house resembling the abode of Mahendra,\ncovered with girdles, were made of crystal. Beholding that excellent\nboost the highly powerful R\u0101vana thought within himself\u2014\u2019Whose is this\nbeautiful house, resembling the summit of Meru? Go O Prahasta, and learn\nquickly whose house is this.\u2019 Thus ordered, Prahasta entered that\nexcellent house\u2014and finding none in one appartment he entered another\nand thus entering seven apartments he at last saw a flame of fire. There\nwas a man in that flame, who, when seen, laughed aloud. Hearing that\ndreadful laughter Prahasta\u2019s down stood on their end. There was another\nman in that flame, as if in a swoon, engarlanded with golden lotuses,\nincapable of being looked at, like the sun, and resembling the Yama\u2019s\nself. Beholding that the night-ranger speedily issued out of the house\nand communicated it unto R\u0101vana. Thereupon, O R\u0101ma, having descended\nfrom Pushpaka, the Ten-necked demon, black as collyrium, entered that\nhouse. (Immediately) obstructing the door there stood a huge-bodied man,\ndreadful like Siva\u2014his tongue was all flame, his eyes were red, rows of\nteeth beautiful, lips like _Bimba_, his form was handsome, nose\ndreadful, neck like a shell marked with three lines, jaws were spacious,\nbeards thick, bone fleshy, teeth huge and his appearance was all\ndreadful. And taking up an iron mace he stood at the gate. Beholding\nhim, Da\u00e7\u0101nana\u2019s hairs stood on their end\u2014his heart and body trembled.\nAnd seeing these bad omens, O R\u0101ma, he began to think within himself. He\nthus meditating that man said\u2014\u2019What art thou thinking, O R\u0101kshasa? Tell\nme all in confidence. I shall confer upon thee the hospitality of\nfighting, O hero, O night-ranger.\u2019 Having said this he again spoke unto\nR\u0101vana, saying\u2014\u2019Dost thou wish to enter into conflict with Bali, or what\nelse is thy intention?\u2019 R\u0101vana was so overwhelmed that his hairs stood\non their end; but resorting to calmness he said\u2014\u2019O thou foremost of\nthose skilled in speech, who residest in this house? I shall fight with\nhim; speak out what thou wishest.\u2019 He again said (to R\u0101vana)\u2014\u2019The lord\nof D\u0101navas lives here\u2014he is highly generous, heroic, and hath truth for\nhis prowess. He is gifted with many qualities, resplendent like unto\nYama with mace in his hand or the newly risen sun and incapable of being\ndefeated in conflict, impetuous, invincible, victorious, powerful, a\nveritable ocean of accomplishments, sweet-speeched, supporter of the\ndependants, fond of preceptor and Brahmans, always waiting for opportune\nhours, gifted with high powers, truthful, of a handsome person, skilful,\ngifted with all accomplishments, heroic and engaged in the study of the\nVedas. He sometimes walks on foot and moves about like the wind\u2014he\nshines like fire and spreads heat like the sun. He travels with the\ngods, spirits, serpents and birds. He does not know fear; dost thou wish\nto fight with him? If thou dost wish to fight with Bali, O lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, O thou gifted with great energy, do thou speedily enter (this\nhouse) and engage in the encounter.\u2019 Being thus addressed the Ten-necked\ndemon entered where Bali was. Beholding the lord of Lank\u0101, the foremost\nof D\u0101navas, resembling the flaming fire, and hard to look at like the\nsun, laughed. And taking that R\u0101kshasa by the hand and placing him on\nhis lap he said. \u2019O Ten-necked lord of R\u0101kshasas, O thou having long\narms, what desire of thine may I satisfy? Do thou tell me what for thou\nhast come hither.\u2019 Being thus addressed by Bali R\u0101vana said\u2014\u2019I have\nheard, O illustrious sir, that formerly thou wast bound by Vishnu.\nForsooth I am capable of releasing thee from the bonds.\u2019 Hearing that\nBali laughed and said\u2014\u2019Hear, I shall relate to thee what thou hast\nasked, O R\u0101vana. The red-hued man, who stands always at the door\u2014by him\nformerly all the leading D\u0101navas and other powerful lords were brought\ninto subjection\u2014by him I was also bound. He is invincible like unto\ndeath; who is there on this earth that can deceive him? He, who stands\nat the door, is the destroyer of all beings, creator and preserver and\nthe lord of the three worlds. Thou dost not know him nor do I. He is\nidentical with past, future and present and is the lord. He is Kali and\nhe is Time\u2014the destroyer of all beings. He is the destroyer and the\ncreator of the three worlds\u2014and he slays all beings mobile and immobile.\nAnd that lord of all gods again creates the universe without beginning\nor end. O night-ranger, he governs and preserves all sacrifices, gifts\nand oblations to fire. Forsooth he is the creator and the preserver of\nthe universe\u2014there is none so wonderful in the three worlds. O son of\nPulasta, He hath been guiding the former D\u0101navas, myself, yourself like\nso many beasts bound with ropes. Vitra, Danu, Suka, Sambhu, Nishumbha,\nSumbha, K\u0101lanemi, Prahlada and others, Kuta, Vairochana, Mridu, Jamala,\nArjuna, Kansa, Kaitabha, and Madhu used to impart heat like the sun,\nappear resplendant like the rays, move about like air and pour showers\nlike Indra. All of them celebrated many a sacrifice and were engaged in\naustere penances. All of them were high-souled and considered the\npractice of Yoga as a great virtue. Having got by an immense accession\nof wealth they enjoyed many pleasures, made many gifts, celebrated many\nsacrifices, studied (many lores) and governed their subjects. They were\nall protectors of their own kith and kin and slayers of enemies; and in\nbattle, there was none equal to them in the three worlds. They were all\nheroic, of a high pedigree, versed in all sacred writings, proficient in\nall branches of learning and indomitable in warfare. Having defeated\nthousands of celestials in conflict, the high-souled ones conquered the\nregions. They were always engaged in those works which were not liked by\nthe celestials and used to maintain their own men. They were all\ninflated with pride and haughtiness and effulgent like the newly-risen\nsun. The glorious Hari, the lord Vishnu, knoweth only how to bring about\ntheir destruction who perpetually assail the celestials. He creates all\nthese and He, bringing about their destruction, existeth in Himself at\nthe time of dissolution. These highly powerful and high-souled Danava\nchiefs, assuming shapes at will, have been destroyed by the glorious\nGod. Besides, all these heroes, who have been heard of as being\nirrepressible and invincible in warfare, have been discomfitted by the\nwondrous power of Krit\u0101nta.\u2019 Having said this the lord of D\u0101navas again\nspoke unto the lord of R\u0101kshsas\u2014\u2019O hero, O thou gifted with great\nstrength, take that flaming discus which thou beholdest and come to my\nside. I shall then relate to thee the means of eternal liberation. Do\nwhat I have told thee, O thou having long arms. Delay not R\u0101vana.\u2019\nHearing this the highly powerful Raksha proceeded, laughing, O\ndescendant of Raghu, where that celestial _kundala_ was. R\u0101vana, proud\nof his prowess, easily took it up but could not move it by any means.\nAnd being ashamed that highly powerful one again attempted. As soon as\nit was uplifted the R\u0101kshasa dropped down on ground, bathed in a pool of\nblood, like unto an uprooted S\u0101la tree. In the meantime there arose a\nsound from Pushpaka, and the councillors of that lord of R\u0101kshasas cried\naloud. Regaining his sense that Raksha rose up in a moment and lowered\nhis head in shame. Bali said to him\u2014\u2019Do thou come, O foremost of\nR\u0101kshasas and hear my words. O hero, the _kundala_, crested with jewels,\nwhich thou didst assay to take up, is an ornament for the ear of one of\nmy forefathers. This fell here on the ground, O thou gifted with great\nstrength; another _kundala_ was thrown on the summit of the mountain.\nBesides these _kundalas_ his crown was also cast off on the ground\nbefore the altar during the encounter. Formerly none bore enmity towards\nmy ancestor Hiranya Kasipu\u2014Time death, or illness. He had no death\nduring the day, night, evening or morning. O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, he\ndid not experience death from any weapon whatsoever. He created a\ndreadful enmity with Prahlada. This conflict having taken place with the\nhigh-souled and heroic Prahlada there rose up a dreadful figure of\nman-lion\u2014a terror unto all, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas. And that terrible\nfigure casting his looks about, all the worlds were over-whelmed.\n\n\"\u2019Thereupon taking him up with his arms he destroyed him with his nails.\nThe person, who is standing at the door, is this supreme Yasudeva, void\nof passion. I shall now relate to thee the words of that supreme God; do\nthou hear, if thy heart is filled with spiritual thoughts. The person,\nwho is standing at the door, hath brought into subjection, in thousands\nof years, a thousand of Indras, an Ayuta of gods and hundreds of great\nRishis.\u2019 Hearing these words R\u0101vana said\u2014\u2019(I have seen) Krit\u0101nta, the\nlord of spirits with Death himself, with hairs standing erect. Serpents\nand scorpions are his hairs\u2014his tongue is hard as the lightning, his\nteeth are dreadful\u2014his eyes are red and he is gifted with great velocity\nand a terror unto all beings. He is incapable of being looked at like\nunto the sun, unconquerable in battle and is the chastiser of the\nsinners. He even was defeated by me in conflict. There I did not feel\nthe least pain or fear, O lord of D\u0101navas. I do not know (this\nperson)\u2014it behoveth thee to give me an account.\u2019\n\n\"Hearing the words of R\u0101vana Bali said\u2014\u2019He is the lord Hari\u2014N\u0101r\u0101yana\u2014the\nprotector of the three worlds. He is Ananta,\u2076\u2077 Kapila,\u2076\u2078 Jishnu,\u2076\u2079 and\nthe highly effulgent Man-lion.\u2077\u2070 He is Kratudh\u0101ma,\u2077\u00b9 Sudh\u0101ma,\u2077\u00b2 and hath\nthe dreadful mace in his hand. He is like unto the twelve Adityas,\nPurana and the excellent Purusha; he is like unto the red clouds\u2014the\nlord of gods and the best god. O thou having long arms, he is encircled\nby flames, a great devotee and fond of devotees; this lord preserveth\nthe universe and hath created it. And he, gifted with great strength,\nbrought about destruction in the form of Time; and this Hari, with a\ndiscus in his hand, is sacrifice and is being worshipped in sacrifices.\nHe is at one with all gods\u2014all beings, all worlds and all knowledge. He\nis all forms, the great form, Baladeva and hath long arms; he slayeth\nheroes, hath heroic eyes, is imperishable and the preceptor of the three\nworlds. All these sages, who long for final liberation, meditate upon\nhim\u2014he, who can know this Purusha, is not sullied with sins. By\nremembering him, hearing of him and worshipping him, every thing can be\nobtained.\u2019 Hearing these words of Bali, the highly powerful R\u0101vana,\nhaving his eyes reddened with ire, issued out with uplifted weapon.\nBeholding him thus excited, the lord Hari, with a club in his hand,\nthought within himself, O R\u0101ma, \u2019I shall not slay this sinner for the\nsatisfaction of Brahm\u0101\u2019 and assuming his own shape disappeared. And not\nbeholding that Purusha there, the night-ranger issued out of the abode\nof Varuna, shouting with joy. He went away by the way he had come.\"\n\n \u2076\u2077 Lit, eternal, endless. Here it is the name of Vishnu.\n\n \u2076\u2078 A celebrated Muni or saint, the founder of the _Sankhya_ system of\n philosophy; the son of Kardama by Devahuti and according to some\n an incarnanation of Vishnu.\n\n \u2076\u2079 Lit\u2014victorious, or triumphant, a name of Vishnu.\n\n \u2077\u2070 _Narasinha_\u2014a. name of Vishnu. When prayed for by Prahlada to\n appear from a pillar Vishnu came out in the shape of man-lion and\n slew Hiranya-Kasipu\u2014the king of Daityas and father of Prahlada.\n\n \u2077\u00b9 Protector of sacrifices\u2014a name of Vishnu.\n\n \u2077\u00b2 Here it is evidently one of the names of Vishnu. In Vishnu Purana,\n Book I, Chapter X. we find another account, Vireyas, married to\n Gauri, had Sudaman, a Loka pala, or ruler of the east quarter, as\n his son.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXV.\n\n\n\"Thereupon meditating for sometime the lord of Lank\u0101 went to the region\nof the sun and spent the night upon the picturesque summit of the mount\nMeru. And ascending the car Pushpaka having the velocity of the sun\u2019s\nsteeds, he, by various courses, went on and beheld the glorious sun,\ngifted with all radiance, purifying all, wearing golden _Keyuras_ and\nclothes crested with jewels. His beautiful countenance was adorned with\na pair of excellent _Kundalas_; and his person was embellished with\n_Keyuras_, _Nishkas_ and garlands of red lotuses. His body was annointed\nwith red sandal and was radiant with a thousand rays. And beholding that\nforemost of gods\u2014the sun\u2014that primeval deity, without end or middle,\nhaving Uchaisravas as his carrier, the witness of the world and the lord\nof the universe, the foremost of R\u0101kshasas, being overwhelmed with his\nrays, said to Prahasta\u2014\u2019O minister, do thou proceed at my behest and\ncommunicate unto him my orders\u2014\"R\u0101vana hath arrived here for battle\u2014do\nthou offer him fight.\" Or say \"I have been defeated.\" Do thou follow one\nof these extremes.\u2019 Hearing those words that R\u0101kshasa proceeded towards\nthe sun and beheld two gate-keepers\u2014Pingala and Dandi by name. And\ncommunicating unto them the resolution of R\u0101vana he stood there silent,\nbeing over-powered with the rays of the sun. And approaching the sun,\nDandi communicated unto him all this. Hearing of R\u0101vana\u2019s intention from\nDandi the intelligent sun\u2014the enemy of night\u2014wisely said to him\u2014\u2019Do thou\nproceed, O Dandi; either defeat R\u0101vana or tell him \"I have been\ndefeated.\" Do whatever thou wishest.\u2019 Hearing those words he approached\nthe high-souled R\u0101kshasa and communicated unto him what the sun had\nsaid. Hearing the words of Dandi the lord of R\u0101kshasas trumpeted his own\nvictory and went away.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVI.\n\n\n\"Having spent the night on the picturesque summit of the mount Meru and\nthinking (for some time) the powerful lord of Lank\u0101 went to the region\nof the moon. (And he saw a person) proceeding, seated on a car,\nsprinkled with heavenly unguents and attended upon by Apsar\u0101s. And worn\nout with the satisfaction of desire he was being kissed there. Seeing\nsuch a person his curiosity was greatly excited. And beholding a Rishi\nthere he said to him\u2014\u2019Welcome thou art, O celestial saint. Indeed thou\nhast come at a proper season. Who is this shameless wight that is going\nseated on a car and attended by Apsar\u0101s? Does he not perceive his object\nof fear?\u2019 Being thus addressed by R\u0101vana, Parvata said\u2014\u2019O my child, O\nthou gifted with great intellect\u2014Hear I shall describe to thee the\ntruth. By him all the worlds have been conquered and Brahm\u0101 hath been\npropitiated And he is now proceeding to that excellent region full of\nbliss for obtaining final liberation. As all the worlds have been\nconquered by thee by virtue of thy asceticism, O lord of R\u0101kshasas, so\nis he going, undoubtedly performing many pious actions and drinking Soma\njuice. O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, thou art heroic, and hast truth for thy\nprowess. The powerful are never offended with the pious.\u2019 Thereupon he\nespied an excellent, huge car, filled with all radiance and effulgence\nand the sound of musical instruments and singing. (And R\u0101vana said)\u2014\u2019O\ngreat Rishi, who is that person, gifted with great effulgence, who goeth\nsurrounded by charming songsters, dancing-girls and Kinnaras?\u2019 Hearing\nhis words Parvata, the foremost of saints, again said\u2014\u2019He is heroic and\na great warrior\u2014he never returneth unsuccessful from a battle-field.\nHaving performed many heroic feats in battle, and slain many enemies, he\nhath been assailed with many wounds in fighting and hath renounced his\nlife for his master. Having destroyed many in battle, he hath at last\nbeen slain by his enemies and is perhaps now going either to the region\nof Indra or to some such place. This best of men is now being\nentertained by these well-versed in the art of singing and dancing.\u2019\n\n\"R\u0101vana again said\u2014\u2019Who goeth there effulgent like unto the sun?\u2019\nHearing the words of R\u0101vana, Parvata said\u2014\u2019The person, resembling the\nfull moon and wearing diverse ornaments and cloths, whom thou beholdest,\nO great king, in the golden car abounding in Apasaras, distributed gold.\nHe, gifted with great effulgence, is now going in a swift-coursing car.\u2019\nHearing the words of Parvata, R\u0101vana said\u2014\u2019O foremost of Rishis, do thou\ntell me, who, of these kings going, if prayed for, may offer me the\nhospitality of a battle? For sooth thou art my father; do thou point out\n(such a man to me) O thou conversant with piety.\u2019 Being thus addressed,\nParvata again said to R\u0101vana\u2014\u2019O great king, all these kings wish for\nheaven not for battle. I shall point out such a man, O great one, as\nshall enter into conflict with thee. There is a highly powerful king\u2014the\nlord of seven islands, well known by the name of M\u0101ndh\u0101ta; he shall\nenter into an encounter with thee.\u2019 Hearing the words of Parvata, R\u0101vana\nagain said\u2014\u2019Do thou tell me, O thou of great devotion, where this king\nresides. I shall go where lives this foremost of men.\u2019 Hearing the words\nof R\u0101vana, the sage again said\u2014\u2019The son of Yuvanaswha hath conquered the\nworld consisting of seven islands begining with the sea; M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, the\nforemost of kings, is just coming to meet him.\u2019 Thereupon (R\u0101vana)\nhaving long arms, proud of the boon conferred upon him in the three\nworlds, beheld the heroic M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, the lord of Ayodhy\u0101 and the foremost\nof kings. The king of seven islands proceeded in a golden and\nwell-painted car resplendant like that of Mahendra, shining in his\nbeauty and sprinkled with celestial unguents. The Ten-necked demon said\nto him\u2014\u2019Do thou give me battle.\u2019 Being thus addressed, he, laughing,\nsaid to the ten-necked demon\u2014\u2019If thy life is not dear unto thee, do thou\nfight with me, O R\u0101kshasa.\u2019 Hearing the words of M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, R\u0101vana\nsaid\u2014\u2019R\u0101vana did not experience any affliction from Varuna Kuvera or\nYama; why should he experience fear from thee, who art a man?\u2019 Having\nsaid this, the lord of R\u0101kshasas as if burning in ire, ordered the\nR\u0101kshasas irrepressible in battle. Thereupon the ministers of the\nvicious-souled R\u0101vana, highly enraged and well-skilled in warfare, began\nto make a downpour of arrows. Thereupon the highly powerful king\nM\u0101ndh\u0101ta, with sharpened shafts, assailed Prahasta, Suka, S\u0101rana,\nMahodara, Birupaksha, Akampana and other foremost heroes. Prahasta\ncovered the king with his arrows\u2014but before they had approached him,\nthat foremost of men shattered them into pieces. Like unto fire burning\ndown grass, the host of R\u0101kshasas were burnt down by the king M\u0101ndh\u0101ta\nby means of hundreds of _Bhushundis_, _Vallas_, _Vindip\u0101l\u0101s_ and\n_Tomaras_. As Kartikeya, the son of fire, sundered the mount Krauncha\nwith his shafts so M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, enraged, pierced Prahasta with five\n_Tomaras_ gifted with great velocity. Then hurling his mace again and\nagain resembling that of Yama, he struck, vehemently, R\u0101vana\u2019s car\ntherewith. That club, resembling the lightning, vehemently descended\n(upon R\u0101vana\u2019s car) and R\u0101vana, like Sakra\u2019s banner, was speedily upset\nby that. Like unto the rising of the waters of the salt ocean on the\nfull moon, the king M\u0101ndh\u0101ta\u2019s joy and strength were greatly increased.\nThereupon the entire R\u0101kshasa host, emitting loud cries, stood\nencircling on all sides the lord of R\u0101kshasas. Thereat speedily\nregaining his sense, R\u0101vana, a terror unto all people, the lord of\nLank\u0101, greatly assailed the person of M\u0101ndh\u0101ta. And beholding that king\nin a swoon, the highly powerful night-rangers were greatly delighted and\nemitted leonine roars. Regaining his sense in a moment the king of\nAyodhy\u0101 beheld his enemy worshipped by the courtiers and night-rangers.\nHe was instantly worked up with ire; and assuming a person resplendant\nlike that of the sun and the moon he began to slay the R\u0101kshasa host\nwith a dreadful downpour of shafts. With his arrows and the noise\nthereof the entire R\u0101kshasa army were overwhelmed like the agitated\ndeep. Thereupon there arose a dreadful conflict between men and demons.\nAnd those two heroic, high-souled and foremost of men and R\u0101kshasas\nseated on warriors\u2019 seats and holding bow and daggers entered (the\nfield). And possessed by great anger they began to assail one another\nwith shafts\u2014M\u0101ndh\u0101ta R\u0101vana and he again the king. They, being assailed\nby one another, were both wounded. And setting the Raudra shaft upon his\nbow R\u0101vana discharged it and M\u0101ndh\u0101ta baffled it by means of his fiery\nshafts. The Ten-necked demon took up the Gandharva weapon and the king\nM\u0101ndh\u0101ta the Brahm\u0101-weapon striking terror unto all. R\u0101vana then took up\nthe celestial P\u0101supata weapon, dreadful and increasing the fright of the\nthree worlds, obtained by him from Rudra by virtue of his rigid\npenances. Seeing this all animals, mobile and immobile, were stricken\nwith terror. Thereupon trembled all the three worlds consisting of\nmobile and immobile beings\u2014the celestials and all the serpents became\ninert. Being apprised (of this conflict) by virtue of meditation the two\nforemost of ascetics Pulastya and G\u0101lava remonstrated with them in many\na way and prevented the king (M\u0101ndh\u0101ta) and the foremost of R\u0101kshasas.\nThereupon that man and demon being reconciled with one another went back\nby the ways they had respectively come.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVII.\n\n\n\"Those two brahmans having departed, R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas,\nproceeded, at first, by the aerial way, ten thousand leagues, He then\nwent lo the excellent upper aerial region where live perpetually ganders\ngifted with many accomplishments. The extent thereof is also counted by\nten thousand leagues and there are stationed closely three classes of\nclouds\u2077\u00b3 namely Agneya, Pakshaja and Brahma. He, then proceeded to the\nthird excellent aerial region where perpetually reside the high-minded\nSiddhas and Charanas and the extent whereof is also ten thousand\nleagues. O slayer of enemies, he then speedily proceeded to the fourth\naerial region where perpetually dwelt the goblins and Vinayakas, He\nquickly went to the fifth aerial region which also extends over ten\nthousand _yojanas_ where exist Ganga, the foremost of rivers, and the\nelephants headed by Kumuda, who pour down waters. They sport in the\nwaters of the Ganges and pour down her holy waters. And those waters,\nparched by the rays of the sun and softened by the wind, pour down holy\nwaters and dews, O R\u0101ghava, Thereupon that R\u0101kshasa went to the sixth\naerial region, O thou gifted with high radiance, which also extends over\nten thousand _yojanas_ and where dwells Garuda perpetually respected of\nhis kinsmen and friends. He then went to the seventh aerial region which\nis ten thousand leagues above and where dwell the seven Rishis. And\nagain going up ten thousand leagues he reached the eighth aerial region\nwhere Ganga, known as the Ganges of the sky, having strong currents and\nsending high roars, and upheld by air, is situated on the sun\u2019s way. I\nshall now describe the region higher than that where resides the moon,\nand the extent whereof is counted by eighty thousand leagues. There\ndwells the moon encircled by stars and planets from whom proceed\nhundreds and thousands of rays which light up the worlds and conduce to\nthe pleasure of all animals. Thereupon beholding the Ten-necked demon\nthe moon as if burnt (him) down speedily with his cold fiery rays. And\nstricken with the fear of those rays his councillors could not stand\nthem. Thereupon exclaiming his victory Prahasta said to R\u0101vana\u2014\u2019O king,\nwe are destroyed by cold, so we must go away from here. The R\u0101kshasas\nhave been terrified by the rays of the moon; O foremost of kings, the\ncold rays of the moon have the natural property of fire in them.\u2019\nHearing the words of Prahasta, R\u0101vana, beside himself with wrath, having\nuplifted his bow and twanged it, began to assail him with _Narachas_.\nThereupon Brahm\u0101 came speedily to the region of the moon and said\u2014\u2019O\nTen-necked one, O thou having mighty arms, O direct son of Visravas, O\ngentle one, do thou repair hence speedily\u2014do not oppress the moon\u2014(for)\nthis highly effulgent king of twice-born ones wisheth well-being unto\nall. I shall communicate to thee a mystical incantation; He who\nrecollects it at the time of death, does not come by it.\u2019 Being thus\naddressed the ten-necked demon, with folded hands, said\u2014\u2019If thou art\npleased with me O god! O lord of the worlds, O thou of great penances,\nif dost thou wish to communicate that incantation, do thou impart it\nupon me, O thou of great piety; reciting which, O great one, I may be\nreleased of the fear of the celestials. Forsooth, by thy favour, O lord\nof the celestials, I shall be invincible by all the Asuras, D\u0101navas and\nbirds.\u2019 Being thus accosted Brahm\u0101 said to the ten-necked demon\u2014\u2019O lord\nof R\u0101kshasas, do thou recite it at the time of death and not every day.\nTaking a string of beads, thou shouldst recite this holy incantation, on\nwhich, thou, O lord of Rashasas, shalt be invincible, And if dost thou\nnot recite it thou shalt not meet with success. Hear, I shall\ncommunicate to thee the incantation, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, reciting\nwhich thou shalt obtain victory in the encounter, \"Salutation unto thee,\ngod, O lord of gods, O thou worshipped of the celestials and Asuras, O\nthou identical with past and future, great god, O thou having red\neyes\u2014thou art a boy at thou assumest the form of an old man; thou\nwearest tiger skin. O god, thou art worthy of being worshipped, and the\nlord of the three worlds. Thou art Hara, Haritanemi, Yugantadahaka and\nValadeva. Thou art Ganesha, Loka-Sambhu, Lokapala, and of huge arms;\nthou art great, the holder of a huge dart, having dreadful teeth, and\nthe greatest of gods. Thou art time, the strength and hast blue neck and\na large belly; thou art the destroyer of the celestials\u2014the foremost of\nthe ascetics and the lord of all created beings. Thou art the holder of\na dart and hast the bull as thy emblem, art the leader, protector, the\ndestroyer and the preserver; thou hast beared locks, art Mundi,\nSikhandi, hast a crown, and art greatly illustrious. Thou art the lord\nof sprites and goblins, the soul of all, the protector of all,\nomniscient, the destroyer of all, the creator and the eternal preceptor.\nThou art lord, carriest a _kamandalu_\u2077\u2074 in thy hand, art the holder of a\nPinaka\u2077\u2075 and Dhurjati\u2077\u2076 thou art, worthy of veneration, the most\nexcellent OM, the first chanter of Saman, the death, the element of\ndeath, Parij\u0101tra\u2077\u2077 and observant of penances. Thou art an ascetic,\nlivest in a cave and carriest a Vin\u0101,\u2077\u2078 Panava,\u2077\u2079 and quiver in thy\nhands; thou art immortal and art like the newly-risen sun to behold.\nThou livest in a cremation ground, art the illustrious lord of Um\u0101, and\nabove all blemishes Thou didst uproot-the eyes of Vagadeva and teeth of\nPush\u0101. Thou art the destroyer of fever, holdest mace in thy hand and art\n(the very) dissolution and time. Thou hast got a fire-brand in thy\nmouth, hast fire as thy emblem, art highly resplendent and lord of men.\nThou art mad, makest people tremble, art the fourth, and most respected\nof men; thou art a dwarf, V\u0101manadeva and the dwarf who circumambulates\nthe east. Thou art a beggar, wearest the semblance of a beggar and art\nby nature crooked; thou didst assail Indra\u2019s hands and the Vasus. Thou\nart the season, the maker of seasons, time, honey and hast honeyed eyes.\nThou art a tree bearing fruits and blossoms, hast arrows as thy seat and\nworshipped by people of all conditions perpetually. Thou art the\nprotector and the creator of the universe, the Purusha, eternal and\ncertain; the lord of all religions, Virup\u0101ksha, the three qualities and\nthe protector of all beings. Thou art three-eyed, assumest many forms\nand brilliant as the _Ajuta_ suns; thou art the lord of all celestials,\nthe foremost deity and wearest bearded locks having the impressions of\nthe moon; thou art connected with Brahman, worthy of being resorted to\nand identical with all created beings. Thou blowest all bugles, severest\nall ties; thou dost charm and bind (all) and dost always bring about\ndeath. Thou hast flowery teeth, art a division, the foremost and the\ndestroyer of all; thou hast dreadful beards, holdest a bow, art fearful\nand gifted with dreadful might.\" These eight hundred holy and excellent\nnames have been uttered by me which remove all iniquities, are holy and\nafford shelter to those who seek for it; if do thou recite them, O\nten-necked one, thou shalt be able to destroy thy enemies.\u2019\"\n\n \u2077\u00b3 The three classes are (1) _Agnija_ or produced from fire (2)\n _Pakshaja_ or produced in a fortnight (3) _Br\u0101hma_ or produced\n from Brahma.\n\n \u2077\u2074 An earthen or wooden water pot used by the ascetic and religious\n student.\n\n \u2077\u2075 The bow of Siva, A trident or three-pronged spear.\n\n \u2077\u2076 A name of Siva from _dhur_, a burden and _Jati_, a collection; who\n collects or bears the burthen of the three worlds.\n\n \u2077\u2077 The name of a mountain, apparently the central or western portion\n of the _Vindhya_ chain.\n\n \u2077\u2078 A kind of stringed musical instrument.\n\n \u2077\u2079 A sort of musical instrument; a small drum or tabor.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXVIII.\n\n\n\"Having conferred this boon upon R\u0101vana the father, sprung from lotus,\nspeedily returned to the region of Brahman. And having obtained the boon\nR\u0101vana too came back. After a few days that R\u0101kshasa R\u0101vana, the dread\nof all people, arrived at the banks of the western Ocean with his\ncouncillors. And on the island a person was seen bright as fire under\nthe name of Mahajambunada, seated there alone. He had a dreadful figure\nand was like unto the fire at dissolution. And beholding that highly\npowerful person amongst men like unto the chief of gods amongst the\ncelestials, the moon amongst the planets, the lion amongst the\nSarabhas,\u2078\u2070 the Airavata amongst the elephants, the Meru amongst the\nmountains, and the P\u0101rij\u0101ta amongst the trees, the ten-necked demon\nsaid\u2014\u2019Give me battle.\u2019 Thereat his eyes became agitated like unto\nplanets and from the clashing of his teeth there arose a sound like the\nclapping of thunder-bolts. And the highly powerful Das\u0101nana too roared\nwith his councillors. And with darts, _Saktis_, _Rishtis_ and _Patticas_\nhe again and again assailed that highly effulgent person, having long\narms, a dreadful appearance, huge teeth, a grim figure, a conch-like\nneck, spacious breast, a belly like that of a frog, a countenance like\nthat of a lion, legs like the mount Kail\u0101sa, red palms, red hands,\nemitting dreadful roars, huge-bodied, gifted with the velocity of mind\nand air, dreadful, carrying quiver, bells and chowries, encircled by a\nburning flame and emitting a sweet note as a net-work of _Kinkini_ does,\nhaving a garland of golden lotuses hung round his neck, appearing\ngraceful like unto the Rig-Veda, be-decked with lotus garlands,\nresembling the Anjana and golden mountains. As the lion is not moved by\nthe attack of a wolf, the elephant by that of a bull, the Sumeru by the\nking of serpents and the great Ocean by the current of a river, so that\ngreat person was not agitated and said to the ten-necked demon\u2014\u2019O\nvicious-minded night-ranger, I shall soon remove they desire for a\nbattle.\u2019 O R\u0101ma, the might of that person was a thousand times greater\nthan that of R\u0101vana which was dreadful unto all the worlds. Piety and\nasceticism, which are at the root of attaining to every thing in the\nworld, are at his thighs; Cupid is his male organ, the Viswadevas are at\nhis waist and the Maruts are at the sides of his _Basti_; the Vasus are\nin the middle portion of his body, the oceans are in his belly, the\nquarters are on his sides, the Maruts are at his joints\u2014the manes are\none his back and the grand-father has taken shelter in his heart; the\npious acts of making gifts of kine, gold and lands are his downs; the\nmounts Himalaya, Hemkuta, Mandara, and Meru are his bones; the\nthunder-bolt is his palm, the sky his body; the evening and watery\nclouds are on his neck, the creator, the preserver and the Vidyadharas\nare on his two arms. Ananta, Vasuki, Visalaksha Iravat, Kamvala,\nAswatara, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya the venomous Takshaka, and Upatakshaka,\nhave taken shelter under the nails of his hands, in order to vomit forth\ntheir venom. The fire is in his mouth, the Rudras are on his shoulders,\nthe fortnights, months, years and seasons are on the rows of his teeth;\nthe lunar half and the dark half of the month are in his nostrils\u2014and\nthe airy currents are in pores of his body. Saraswati, the goddess of\nwords, is his neck, the two Aswins are his ears, the sun and the moon\nare his two eyes, O R\u0101ma, all the divisions of the Vedas, Yagmas, the\nwhole host of stars, good words, energy, asceticism\u2014all these are being\nsupported by his body, assuming the shape of a man. Thereupon that\nPurusha easily struck R\u0101vana with his hands hard as thunder. Being\nassailed thereby R\u0101vana immediately fell on the ground. Beholding that\nR\u0101kshasa fallen and having distressed others that huge person, like unto\nthe Rig-Veda, resembling a mountain and be-decked with lotus garlands,\nentered the region under the earth. R\u0101vana addressed his councillors\nthus\u2014\u2019O Prahasta, O Sukas\u0101rana and other ministers, where hath that\nperson suddenly gone? Do ye tell me this.\u2019 Hearing those words of R\u0101vana\nthe night-rangers said\u2014\u2019That man, who crusheth down the pride of the\ncelestials and demons, hath entered hither.\u2019\n\n\"As Garuda goes speedily taking a serpent so that vicious-minded R\u0101vana\narrived quickly at the entrance of the den. And R\u0101vana, having no fear,\nentered therein. And having entered there he saw males resembling the\nred collyrium, wearing _keyuras_,\u2078\u00b9 heroic, be-decked with red garlands,\npasted with red sandal and adorned with diverse golden ornaments and\njewels. He saw there three millions of such high-minded persons, devoid\nof fear, pure, radiant like fire, dancing being mad after festivities.\nBeholding them the Ten-necked demon, of dreadful prowess, was not the\nleast terrified, and rather saw their dance, standing at the gate. They\nwere all like the male being he had seen before. They were all of the\nsame colour, same dress, same figure and equally gifted with great\nenergy. They were all gifted with four arms and great energy. Beholding\nthem the down of the Ten-necked demon stood erect though a boon had been\nconferred upon him by the Self-born and he speedily issued out of that\nplace. And he again saw another huge person lying down on a bed. His\nhouse, seat and bed were all white and valuable and he was sleeping\nenveloped by fire. And there sat gracefully with a fan in her lotus\nhands, the goddess Laksmi\u2014most beautiful in the three worlds\u2014(as if) the\nornament thereof, chaste, adorned with celestial garlands, sprinkled\nwith excellent sandal paste, be-decked with rich ornaments and clad in a\nprecious raiment. Having entered there with out any councillor the\nvicious R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, on beholding that chaste damsel\nwith sweet smiles seated on a royal seat, being possessed by desire,\ngrew anxious to hold her by the hand, as one, under the influence of\ndeath, catches a sleeping serpent. Beholding that lord of R\u0101kshasas with\nloose cloth and understanding him as desirous of holding (her) the\ndeity, having huge arms, asleep and enveloped with flames, laughed\naloud. And scorched suddenly by his energy, R\u0101vana, the dread of all\npeople, fell down on earth like unto an up-rooted tree. Beholding that\nR\u0101kshasa fallen he said the following words:\u2014\u2019Rise up, O foremost of\nR\u0101kshasas, thou shalt not meet with death today; thou shalt live and be\nprotected, O R\u0101kshasa, by the great Patriarch\u2019s boon. Do thou therefore\ngo away, O R\u0101vana, with confidence\u2014thou shalt not experience death just\nnow.\u2019 Regaining his sense instantly R\u0101vana was stricken with fear. And\nbeing thus addressed, that enemy, of the celestials, stood up and with\nhis down erect, said to that highly resplendant deity\u2014\u2019Who art thou\ngifted with great energy and like unto the fire of dissolution? Tell me,\nwho art thou, O deity and whence thou hast come hither.\u2019 Being thus\naccosted by the vicious-souled R\u0101vana, the deity, smiling, replied in\nwords deep as the muttering of clouds, saying\u2014\u2019What shalt thou do with\nme O ten-necked demon? Thou art not to be slain by me now.\u2019 Being thus\naddressed the Ten-necked demon, with folded palms said\u2014\u2019By the words of\nthe Patriarch (Brahm\u0101) I shall not tread the path of death; there is\nnone born amongst men, or the celestials who can equal me, and\ndisregard; by virtue of his prowess, the great Patriarch\u2019s boon. His\nwords can never be falsified\u2014every great exertion is weak before them; I\ndo not behold any such man in the three worlds who can render that boon\nuseless. O foremost of the deities, I am immortal\u2014I do not fear thee;\nand even if I meet with death, I may have it from thee and no one else,\nO Lord. My death from thee is both glorious and praise-worthy.\u2019\nThereupon R\u0101vana, gifted with dreadful prowess, beheld within the body\nof that deity, all the three worlds with mobile and immobile creations.\nThe Adityas, the Maruts, the Sidhas, the two Aswins, Rudras, the manes,\nYama, Kuvera, the oceans, mountains, rivers, all the divisions of the\nVeda and knowledge, fire, planets, stars, sky, Siddhas, Gandharvas,\nCh\u0101ranas, the ascetics conversant with the knowledge of Vedas, Garuda\nand the serpents, the other deities, Yakshas, Daityas and R\u0101kshasas,\nwere all seen in their incorporeal forms, on the person of that great\nPurusha, lying down.\" Thereupon the virtuous-souled R\u0101ma said to\nAgastya, the foremost of Munis\u2014\"Who is that male being stationed in the\nisland? Who are those three _kotis_ male beings? And who is this person\nwho crusheth down the pride of the Daity\u0101s and D\u0101navas?\" Hearing R\u0101ma\u2019s\nwords Agastya said\u2014\"O thou existing eternally, O god of gods, hearken, I\nshall relate (it) unto thee. The person stationed in the island is the\nillustrious Kapila. All those dancing persons are the deities equalling\nthat intelligent Kapila in energy and power. And that R\u0101kshasa, bent on\nsin, was not seen by him with angry looks, and therefore, R\u0101ma, R\u0101vana,\nwas not there and then reduced to ashes. And he, resembling a mountain,\nwith his person pierced, fell on the ground. As a wily wight goes\nthrough a secret so he pierced (R\u0101vana\u2019s person) with his shaft-like\nwords. Having regained his sense, however, after a long time, that\nR\u0101kshasa, of great prowess, returned where his councillors were.\"\n\n \u2078\u2070 A fabulous animal supposed to have eight legs.\n\n \u2078\u00b9 A kind of ornament used on arms.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXIX.\n\n\n\"While thus returning the vicious-souled R\u0101vana, with delight, carried\naway stealthily, on his way, the daughters of the royal saints,\ncelestials and D\u0101navas. And whatever beautiful damsel he saw, married or\nunmarried, that demon held them captive in his car, having slain all\ntheir friends and relatives. In this wise he got on his chariot many a\nfemale of the Nagas, Rakshas, Asuras, Yakshas, D\u0101navas and of men. And\nthey, all afflicted, shed tears, hot as firey flames, caused by fear and\nfire of grief. As the ocean is filled with the currents of the rivers so\nthat car was flooded with their tears originating from fear and sorrow.\nAnd wept there in the chariot, hundreds of the females of Nagas,\nGandharvas, of great ascetics, Daityas and of D\u0101navas. They had long\nairs, graceful persons, countenances resembling the full-moon, rising\nbreast, slender waist like that of a black-bee and were graceful with\nback like the pole of a car. They were like the females of the\ncelestials and the burning gold and were all afflicted by grief, sorrow\nand terror and were young. And the car was ablaze on all sides with the\nsighings of those damsels and Pushpaka looked like the chamber where\nfire is kept perpetually. The countenance and eyes, of those beautiful\ndamsels, brought under the subjection of the ten-necked demon, and\nafflicted with sorrow, looked poorly like a hind attacked by a lion.\nSome thought\u2014\u2019Will he eat me up?\u2019 and another, stricken with sorrow,\nthought\u2014\u2019Will he destroy me?\u2019 Thus remembering their mothers, fathers,\nhusbands and brothers, all those females, overwhelmed with grief and\nsorrow, bewailed, some exclaiming\u2014\u2019What shall befall my son in my\nabsence? Alas! into what ocean of grief my mother or brother is sunk?\nAlas! what shall my husband do in my absence? Therefore, O death, I\npropitiate thee, do thou take me, who am subject to miseries. Alas! what\nan iniquity did I perpetrate in my former birth in another body?\nTherefore, we all, overwhelmed with grief, are sunk in the ocean of\nsorrow\u2014and I do not behold the end of my miseries. Oh! fie upon\nhumanity; there is none more vile than a man for they are weak. As the\nstars disappear with the rising of the sun in time, so our husbands have\nbeen destroyed by the powerful R\u0101vana. Oh! highly powerful is this\nRaksha and he is mad after devising the means of destruction. Alas!\nbeing engaged in such vile actions, he does not consider himself cursed;\nhe is as powerful as he is vicious. And though the ravishment of\nanother\u2019s wife is a greats sin, still that vile R\u0101kshasa is enjoying us\nwho belong to others. Therefore this vicious-minded one shall meet with\ndeath, by his own actions.\u2019 As soon as these words were uttered by those\nchaste damsels, bugles were sounded in heaven and flowery showers fell\non earth. Being thus imprecated by those chaste females, devoted to\ntheir husbands, he became shorn of energy and effulgence and appeared\nlike one divested of mind. Hearing their lamentations thus and being\nhonored by the night-rangers that foremost of R\u0101kshasas entered his city\nLank\u0101. In the interval, R\u0101vana\u2019s sister, a dreadful and grim-visaged\nshe-demon, suddenly fell down on the ground. And having raised up his\nsister and consoled her R\u0101vana said\u2014\u2019Tell me speedily, O good sister,\nwhat you wish to say.\u2019 Thereat that she-demon, having blood-red eyes,\nclosed with tears, said:\u2014\u2019O king, by thee, powerful as thou art, I have\nforcibly been made a widow. Fourteen thousand demons, under the name of\nKalakeyas, have been destroyed by thee, O king, in the battle and\namongst them was my highly powerful husband\u2014dearer than my life. He has\nbeen slain by thee, O dear one, an enemy\u2014a brother only in name. I have\nbeen killed by thee, O king, who art my brother. For thee, king, I shall\nenjoy the word \u2019widow\u2019!\u2078\u00b2 My husband\u2078\u00b3 should have been saved by thee in\nthe battle. But he was slain by thy ownself in the battle; art thou not\nashamed of this?\u2019 Being thus addressed by his bewailing sister, the\nTen-necked demon, consoling her in sweet words, said:\u2014\u2019Of no avail is\nthy lamentation, dear sister; thou needst not be afraid of any of thy\nrelatives. I shall please thee studiously by gifts, honors and favours.\nBeing mad after war-fare and desirous of acquiring victory, I was\ncontinually making a downpour of shafts, so I could not distinguish in\nthe conflict between my own men and enemies,\u2014and thus unwittingly I did\nhurt thy husband. And thus, sister, thy husband was slain by me in the\nconflict; I shall now do whatever shall conduce to thy well-being. Do\nthou ever reside by the side of thy rich brother Khara and he shall be\nthe lord of fourteen thousand R\u0101kshasas. That highly powerful one shall\ngive food and clothes to all those R\u0101kshasas. He is thy cousin and that\nnight-ranger shall always carry out thy orders. Let that hero now\nspeedily go to protect the Dandaka forest and the highly powerful\nDushana shall be the commander of his forces. And the heroic Khara shall\nalways obey thy words and be the lord of R\u0101kshasas assuming shapes at\nwill.\u2019 Having said this the Ten-necked demon issued orders to his\narmy\u2014fourteen thousand highly powerful R\u0101kshasas. Being encircled by\nthose grim-visaged R\u0101kshasas, Khara, undaunted, speedily came to the\nDandaka forest. There he governed without thorns and Surpanakha too also\nresided in the forest of Dandaka.\"\n\n \u2078\u00b2 This is the literal translation of the passage\u2014_i.e._ for thee, I\n shall for ever be known as widow.\n\n \u2078\u00b3 The word in the text is _J\u0101mata_, which literally means\n _son-in-law_\u2014but here perhaps it must mean husband for she was his\n sister.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXX.\n\n\n\"Having thus given the command of a huge and dreadful army to Khara and\nconsoled his sister the Ten-necked demon was satisfied and freed from\nanxiety. Thereupon that highly powerful lord of R\u0101kshasas with his\nfollowers entered an excellent garden in Lank\u0101 named Nikumbhil\u0101. And\nthere, he saw, filled with hundreds of sacrificial posts and altars, a\nsacrifice being celebrated, as if burning in its lustre. And he beheld\nhis fearful son Meghn\u0101da too, clad in an antelope skin and holding\n_Sikh\u0101_ and _Kamandalu_. Having seen him (there) and embraced him by his\narms the lord of Lank\u0101 said:\u2014\u2019What are you after, O my child? Tell me\nthe truth.\u2019 Thereupon that foremost of twice-born ones Usanas\u2078\u2074 of\naustere penances, wishing the prosperity of the sacrifice, said to\nR\u0101vana\u2014the R\u0101kshasa chief:\u2014\u2019Hear, I shall relate to thee everything, O\nking; thy son hath met with the fruits of many a sacrifice\u2014Agnistoma,\u2078\u2075\nAsvamedha,\u2078\u2076 Bahusubarnaka,\u2078\u2077 Rajsuya,\u2078\u2078 Goinedha,\u2078\u2079 and Baisnaba.\u2079\u2070 And\nbeing engaged in this Mahesvvara sacrifice, which is incapable of being\ncelebrated by men, thy son hath obtained boon from Pasupati\u2079\u00b9 himself.\n\n\"\u2019He has also obtained illusory powers\u2014which create darkness or\nignorance\u2014namely of ranging in the sky, of being eternal, of ascending a\ncelestial car which courses at will and of creating darkness. O lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, these illusory powers being used in a conflict, even the\ncelestials and Asuras shall not be able to perceive his course. Besides\nhe has obtained a quiver, the arrows whereof shall never be exhausted, a\nbow, which is hard of being got by and a dreadful weapon which destroys\nenemies in a conflict. Having obtained these boons thy son, O thou\nhaving ten faces, and myself, the sacrifice being finished, have been\nwaiting to behold thee.\u2019 Whereto the Ten-necked demon replied\u2014\u2019You have\nnot done well as you have worshipped, with diverse articles my\nenemies\u2014Indra and others. However, what is done is done; there is virtue\nin this\u2014no doubt; come, O gentle one, we shall go to our house.\u2019\nThereupon going there with his son and Bibhishana, the Ten-necked demon\ngot down all those damsels, speechless with tears, gifted with\nauspicious marks, the precious females of the celestials, D\u0101navas and\nRaskshasas. Perceiving his vicious desire for those damsels, the\nvirtuous-souled (Bibhishana) said:\u2014\u2019Thou dost (still) follow thy own\nwhims, knowing that people are injured by these actions which destroy\npiety, wealth and fame. Having slain their kinsmen thou hast brought\nthese beautiful damsels hither, but disregarding thee, O king, Madhu\nhath carried away Kumbhanasi.\u2019 R\u0101vana said:\u2014\u2019I do not understand all\nthis. Who is that Madhu, who has been named by thee?\u2019 Worked up with ire\nBibhishana said to his brother:\u2014\u2019Hear, the fruit of thy vicious actions\nhath arrived. There was an old R\u0101kshasa, celebrated for his wisdom,\nnamed Malyav\u0101n, the elder brother of Sum\u0101lin, our maternal grandfather.\nHis grand-daughter is Kumbhanashi and is born of our maternal aunt\nAnal\u0101; so she is virtually our sister. Thy son being engaged in the\nsacrifice and myself being under waters she was stolen away, O king, by\nthe powerful R\u0101kshasa Madhu. Kumbhakarna, O great king, was then asleep.\nHaving slain all the powerful R\u0101kshasas and thy councillors, he had\nstolen her away, O king, who was in thy inner apartments. Hearing this\neven, O great king, we have pardoned and not slain him: an unmarried\ngirl should be given away to her husband by her brothers, but that has\nnot been the case\u2014this is merely the result of thy vicious\nactions\u2014wicked-minded as thou art, And this thou hast met with\ninstantly\u2014so the people say.\u2019 Hearing the words of Bibhishana, R\u0101vana,\nthe lord of R\u0101kshasas, became agitated like an ocean, by the\nrecollection of his vicious deeds. And enraged, with blood-red eyes the\nten-necked demon said\u2014\u2019Get my chariot ready soon and let all the heroes\nof our party be prepared. Let my brother Kumbhakarna and other leading\nnight-rangers, armed with various weapons, ascend their conveyances.\nHaving slain today in the encounter that Madhu, who is not afraid of\nR\u0101vana, I shall, encircled by my friends, and desirous of battle,\nproceed to the region of the celestials.\u2019 Thereupon issued out for\nbattle leading R\u0101kshasas four thousand Akshauhini strong taking various\nweapons. Commanding them Indrajit preceded the army, R\u0101vana went in the\nmiddle and Kumbhakarna was in the rear; the virtuous-souled Bibhisana\nremained in Lank\u0101, being engaged in pious observances. And the rest of\nthe leading R\u0101kshasas proceeded towards the city of Madhu. And all the\nR\u0101kshasas went covering the sky, some on asses, some on camels, some on\nhorses, some on quick-coursing porpoises and some on huge serpents. And\nbeholding R\u0101vana proceed, hundreds of Daityas, inimical to the\ncelestials, followed him. Having arrived at the city Of Madhu and\nentered there the ten-necked demon did not behold Madhu but espied his\nsister. Thereupon being afraid of the king of R\u0101kshasas, Kumbheenashi,\nwith folded palms, touched his feet with her crown. Having raised her up\nthe R\u0101kshasa-chief R\u0101vana said \u2019No fear, what can I do for you?\u2019 Whereto\nshe replied\u2014\u2019O king, O thou having long arms,\u2014if thou art pleased with\nme, do not slay my husband to-day, O conferrer of honours. It is said\nthere is no other fear like this for damsels of high pedigree. The\ngreatest of fears is that of being a widow. Be thou truthful, O king of\nkings\u2014do thou look towards me, who am thus begging; Thou hast thyself\nsaid, O king; \"No fear.\"\u2019 Being thus addressed R\u0101vana said to his sister\nthere:\u2014\u2019Do thou tell me speedily where is thy husband. I shall go with\nhim for conquests to the region of the celestials. Out of pity and love\nfor thee I refrain from slaying Madhu.\u2019 Being thus accosted; that\nR\u0101kshasi, being pleased, got her sleeping husband, the night-ranger, up\nand said:\u2014\u2019Here is my brother, the highly power Da\u00e7agriva. Being\ndesirous of conquering the region of the celestials he prays for thy\nhelp. Do thou therefore proceed to his help, O R\u0101kshasa, with all they\nfriends; It behoves thee to help him, who out of affection for me, hath\nprayed for thy help.\u2019 Hearing those words Madhu said:\u2014\u2019So be it.\u2019 And\napproaching a little he beheld that foremost of R\u0101kshasas and duly\nwelcomed R\u0101vana. Being thus honoured the highly power Da\u00e7agriva spent\none night in Madhu\u2019s house and then, addressed himself for departure.\nThereupon reaching the hill Kail\u0101\u00e7a, the abode of Baisravan, the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, resembling Mahendra, encamped his army.\"\n\n \u2078\u2074 Another name of Sukra. Indrajit took the vow of silence so he\n thought it improper to disturb him.\n\n \u2078\u2075 A sacrifice or rather a series of offerings to fire for five days\n to be celebrated in the spring.\n\n \u2078\u2076 The actual or emblematic sacrifice of a horse, this sacrifice is\n one of the highest order, and performed a hundred times, entitles\n the sacrificer to the dominion of Swarga or _paradise_.\n\n \u2078\u2077 A sacrifice in which profuse gifts of gold are made.\n\n \u2078\u2078 A sacrifice in which all the tributary chiefs pay homage to the\n Lord Paramount.\n\n \u2078\u2079 The offering or sacrifice of a cow.\n\n \u2079\u2070 A sacrifice relating to Vishnu.\n\n \u2079\u00b9 A name of Siva.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXI.\n\n\n\"After sunset the highly power R\u0101vana encamped his army there. And the\nclear moon, brilliant as the mountain, having risen, that huge army,\narmed with diverse weapons, became asleep. And lying down on the summit\nof the mountain, the highly powerful R\u0101vana espied the caves beautified\nwith the rays of the moon and the trees. And the interior of the forest\nwas beautified with the brilliant groves of Karnikar, with Kadamba and\nVakula trees, groves of full blown lotuses, the waters of Mand\u0101kini,\nwith Champaka, Asoka, Punnaga, Mand\u0101ra, mangoe, P\u0101tala, Lodra, Pryangu,\nArjuna, Ketaka, Tagara, Coconut, Py\u0101la, Panasa and various other trees.\nAnd there sang the Kinnaras, possessed by desire, and having sweet\nvoice, enhancing the delight of the mind. And there danced mirthfully,\nwith their damsels, the Vidyadharas, inebriete and having their eyes\nreddened with drink. There was audible in the house of the lord of\nriches, the sweet music of the assembled Apsar\u0101s like unto the sound of\nthe bell. And being shaken by the wind the nectar-smelling trees made\nthe hill fragrance with the shower of flowers. And carrying the\nfragrance rendered salutary with honey and filaments of flowers, the\nexcellent wind blew enhancing R\u0101vana\u2019s desire. Being possessed by desire\nthrough songs, richness of flowers, coldness of air, beauty of the\nhills, and the rising of the moon in night, the highly powerful R\u0101vana\nespied again and again the moon with heavy sighs. At this time passed by\nthat way the foremost of Apsar\u0101s, Rambh\u0101, adorned with excellent\nornaments and having a countenance like the full moon. Her person was\nsprinkled with excellent sandal paste\u2014her hairs were decked with Mand\u0101ra\nflowers\u2014her body was beautified with other flowers and her movements\ntended to increase desire. Her eyes were beautiful and her waist was\nhigh, adorned with Mekhala\u2079\u00b2 and was as if the refuge of Rati\u2079\u00b3. Her\nforehead and other parts of the countenance were painted with the marks\nof red sandal and adorned with ornaments of flowers growing in six\nseasons. Rambh\u0101 appeared like second Sree, in grace and beauty, natural\nand artificial. She wore green clothes resembling the clouds; her face\nwas like the moon, eye brows like excellent bows, thighs like the trunks\nof elephants and palms soft as leaves. She was seen by R\u0101vana as\nproceeding in the midst of soldiers. Having got up and been influenced\nby lust he took her, shameful as she was, by the hand and smiling\nsaid:\u2014\u2019Where art thou going, O beautiful damsel? Whom art thou going of\nthy own accord to satisfy? Whose prosperous time hath appeared, with\nwhom thou shalt enjoy? Who shall be satisfied with drinking the nectar\nof thy mouth smelling like lotus? Whose breast, O fair damsel, thy\nrising breast beautiful like two golden pots closely placed, shall\ntouch? Who is there so beautiful as I\u2014Indra, Vishnu, or two Aswins that\nthou art passing by me? Do thou take rest upon this excellent rock, O\nthou having charming waist. There is no other lord, save me, in the\nthree worlds. And Da\u00e7\u0101nana, the lord of the lords of the three worlds,\nthus begs thee, with folded palms. Do thou therefore seek me.\u2019 Being\nthus addressed, Rambh\u0101, trembling, with folded palms, said:\u2014\u2019Be thou\npropitiated; it doth not behove thee to speak thus, who art my superior.\nRather shouldst thou protect me if any body else trieth to oppress me.\nVirtually I am thy daughter-in-law. I speak to thee the truth.\u2019\nThereupon the Ten-necked demon said to her, standing with her face\ndownwards, and her down standing erect at his very sight. \u2019Hadst thou\nbeen the wife of my son, thou wouldst have been my daughter-in-law.\u2019\nWhereto Rambh\u0101 replied:\u2014\u2019Truely it is; I am, by virtue, the wife of thy\nson, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas. Thy brother Vaisrabana hath a son, dearer\nthan his life, celebrated in the three worlds under the name of\nNalakuvara, In virtue he is unto a Brahmin, in prowess he equals a\nKshatriya, in anger he is very fire and in patience he is like the\nearth. I been thus directed by that Lokap\u0101la\u2019s son. For him I have\nadorned my person with these ornaments. I am not attached to any body\nelse but him. O king, O slayer of foes, by virtue of (this relation) it\nbehoveth thee to save me. And that virtuous-souled one is anxiously\nexpecting me. Thou shouldst not put obstacle in that; it behoveth thee\nto let me go; do thou, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas, wend the way treaded by\nthe pious. Thou art worthy of being revered by me and I am an object of\nthy protection.\u2019 Being thus addressed Da\u00e7agriva humbly replied:\u2014\u2019\"I am\ndaughter-in-law,\" as thou hast said, is worthy of being said by one who\nis the only wife. This is the everlasting law of the celestials that the\nApsar\u0101s have no husband; they cannot be the wife of one husband.\u2019 Having\nsaid this, the Raksha ravished her. Being released from his grasp Rambh\u0101\nbecame divested of her ornaments and garland and became like the river\nagitated by the elephants. Her hairs were dishevelled and her hands were\ntrembling. Like unto a blossoming creeper shaken by the wind, she,\ntrembling and bashful and with folded hands, went to Nalakuvara and fell\ndown at his feet. Having seen her in that plight the high-souled\nNalakuvara said\u2014\u2019O fair one, what is this? Why hast thou placed thyself\nat my feet?\u2019 Sighing heavily and trembling she, with folded palms,\nrelated to him everything from the beginning to the end. \u2019O lord, on his\nway to heaven, Da\u00e7agriva hath arrived here and hath spent the night with\nhis army. While I was coming to thee, O slayer of foes, I was seen by\nhim. Then holding me he said\u2014\"Where art thou going?\" I related to him\neverything truly. But being possessed by lust he did not pay heed to my\nwords. He was again prayed by me, O lord, saying \"I am thy\ndaughter-in-law.\" But neglecting that he ravished me. O thou of firm\nvows, it behoveh thee to forgive me for this folly. O gentle one, a\nwoman\u2019s strength can never equal that of a man.\u2019 Hearing of this\nravishment Vaisravana\u2019s son was greatly enraged and entered into\nmeditation. Having ascertained the truth within a moment Vaisravana\u2019s\nson, with eyes reddened with ire, took water in his palms. Having taken\nthis and rinsed his mouth duly, he imprecated a dreadful curse upon that\nlord of R\u0101kshasas. \u2019O fair one, since thou hast been ravished by him\ndespite thy unwillingness he shall never be able to get by an unwilling\ndamsel. Whenever he shall, stricken by lust, ravish a reluctant damsel,\nhis head shall be sundered into seven pieces\u2019. As soon as this curse,\nlike unto a burning flame, was uttered, the celestial bugles were\nsounded and a shower of flowers fell from heavens. Being apprised of the\nplight of people (brought about by him) and of the death of that\nR\u0101kshasa the patriarch Brahm\u0101 and other gods were greatly delighted.\nHearing of that curse capable of making the down erect, Da\u00e7agriva\nabstained from entertaining lust for unwilling females. And hearing of\nthe curse imprecated by Nalakuvara all the chaste damsels, that were\nkept captive, attained to great delight.\"\n\n \u2079\u00b2 A kind of ornament used on the waist.\n\n \u2079\u00b3 Wife of Kama\u2014the god of love in Hindu mythlogy.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXII.\n\n\n\"Having crossed the mount Kail\u0101\u00e7a, the highly powerful Ten-necked demon,\nwith his army, reached the region of Indra. And there arose in the\nregion of celestials an uproar from the R\u0101kshasa army, like unto the\nsound of the agitated deep. Hearing of the arrival of R\u0101vana, Indra\nshook on his throne and said to the assembled gods, Adityas, Vasus,\nRudras, Sadhyas and Maruts\u2014\u2019Prepare yourselves, for fighting with the\nvicious-souled R\u0101vana.\u2019 Being thus addressed by Sakra, the celestials,\nhis equals in the encounter and gifted with great prowess, armed\nthemselves for fight. And Mahendra, afraid of R\u0101vana, poorly went to\nVishnu and gave vent to the following accents:\u2014\u2019How shall I, O Vishnu,\nwithstand, the R\u0101kshasa R\u0101vana? The highly powerful R\u0101kshasa hath come\nhere for battle. It is by virtue of the boon that he is powerful, not\nfor anything else. It is proper to make the words uttered by Brahm\u0101,\ntruthful. As resorting to thy prowess I destroyed Namuchi, Yitra, Bali,\nN\u0101nrin and Samvara, so do thou make some arrangements (for his\ndestruction). There is no other excellent refuge but thee in the three\nworlds, mobile and immobile, O lord, O god of gods, O slayer of Madhu.\nThou art the graceful, ever-existing N\u0101r\u0101yana, having a lotus navel. By\nthee the worlds have been settled and myself and Sakra, the lord of the\ncelestials. Thou hast created the three worlds, the mobile and immobile\nand in thee all these shall, O glorious deity, end at the time of\ndissolution. Do thou tell me, the truth, O god of gods, that I may\nmyself fight; or do thou, with thy sword and discus, vanquish R\u0101vana.\u2019\nBeing thus addressed by Sakra the lord N\u0101r\u0101yana; said:\u2014\u2019Do not fear,\nhear what I say. He is invincible by virtue of the boon, and that\nvicious-souled one is incapable of being vanquished even by the\ncelestials and Asuras. Irrepressible by virtue of his prowess, that\nR\u0101kshasa, with his son, shall accomplish a mighty object. O lord of\ncelestials, even if I am requested by thee, I shall not withstand the\nR\u0101kshasa, R\u0101vana in the conflict. Without slaying the enemies in the\nencounter, Vishnu doth never go back\u2014but it is hard to fulfill my desire\nfrom R\u0101vana, well protected by the boon. However I do promise before\nthee, O lord of the celestials, O performer of hundred sacrifices, I\nshall, soon become the cause of this R\u0101kshasa\u2019s death. I shall soon\ndestroy R\u0101vana with his family in due time and afford delight unto the\ncelestials. I speak the truth unto thee, O king of the celestials, O\nlord of Sachi; do thou divested of fear, fight, O thou gifted with great\nstrength, along with the celestials.\u2019 Thereupon having issued out of the\ncity, Rudras, Adityas, Vusus, Maruts and Aswins well-armed with mails,\nappeared before the R\u0101kshasas. Meanwhile at the latter part of the night\nthere was audible the uproar of R\u0101vana\u2019s army fighting on all sides.\nHaving got up and cast their looks upon one another the highly powerful\nR\u0101kshasas waited there for the battle, delighted. Thereupon beholding\nthat inexhaustible huge army at the commencement of the battle the\ncelestial host lost heart. Thereupon there ensued a conflict, setting up\na terrible sound, with various weapons between the R\u0101kshasas and gods.\nIn the interval issued out for encounter the heroic and grim-visaged\nR\u0101kshasas\u2014R\u0101vana\u2019s councillors. And encircled by M\u0101richa, Prahasta,\nMah\u0101parswa, Mahodara, Akampana, Nikumbha, Suka, S\u0101rana, Sanghr\u0101da,\nDhumaketu, Mah\u0101dangstra, Gathodara, J\u0101mbum\u0101li, Mah\u0101hrada, Virup\u0101ksha,\nSuptaghna, Yajnakopa, Durmukha, Khara, Trisir\u0101, Karaveer\u0101ksha,\nSuryyasatru Mah\u0101k\u0101ya, Atik\u0101ya, Dev\u0101ntaka, Nar\u0101ntaka,\u2014all those gifted\nwith great prowess, there entered the battle-field, the highly powerful\nSum\u0101lin, R\u0101vana\u2019s maternal grandfather. And with various sharp-pointed\nweapons, he, highly angered, began to assail the celestial host like\nunto the winds scattering clouds. Being thus distressed by the\nnight-rangers the host of the gods fled away into diverse directions\nlike a herd of deer attacked by a lion. In the meantime, entered the\nbattle-field, the heroic and brave Savitra, the eighth Vasu, encircled\nby soldiers and striking terror into the hearts of the enemies. And the\ntwo Adityas, the highly powerful Tushth\u0101, and Push\u0101 united and\nundaunted, entered the arena. Thereupon there arose with R\u0101kshasas a\nterrible encounter of the celestials unable to bear their fame in\nbattle. Then the R\u0101kshasas, with thousands of terrible weapons, began to\nbelabour the deities in the encounter. And the celestials, as well,\nbegan to send the redoubtable, powerful and terrific R\u0101kshasas, with the\nstroke of blameless weapons, to the abode of Death. In the interim, O\nR\u0101ma, a R\u0101kshasa, Sum\u0101lin, by name, getting enraged and with diverse\nweapons, ran amock of the soldiery. As the winds scatter clouds, so, he,\nunder the influence of rage, with various sharpened weapons, committed a\nhavoc amongst the celestial soldiers. Thereupon being assailed by a\ndownpour of huge shafts, maces, Pr\u0101sas and diverse dreadful weapons, the\ncelestials could not keep their ground upon the field of warfare. The\ncelestials being thus distressed by Sum\u0101lin the eighth Vasu S\u0101vitra\nstood there enraged. And encircled by his own car-warriors that highly\npowerful one, with his prowess, repulsed the striking night-rangers.\nThereupon there arose a terrible encounter, capable of making down\nerect, between Sum\u0101lin and the Vasu, who did not retire from the field\nof battle. His chariot drawn by serpents was pulled down and destroyed\nby the high-souled Vasu by means of his huge shafts. Having taken up\nthat car in the warfare with hundreds of arrows Vasu took up mace in his\nhands for his destruction. Having taken up that mace having a burning\nhead and resembling the rod of Death S\u0101vitra struck Sum\u0101lin on his head\ntherewith. Having failed on his head that mace shone like a fire-brand\nas the thunderbolt, discharged by Indra, falls roaring on the summit of\na mountain. By the stroke of that mace his person was reduced to ashes\nand therefore there was not seen in the battle field either his bone,\nhead or flesh. Having beheld him slain in the warfare the R\u0101kshasas\nbewailing ran about on all sides and being distressed by Vasu they could\nnot stay in the battle field.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIII.\n\n\n\"Beholding Sum\u0101lin slain and reduced to ashes by Vasu and being assailed\nby the deities the R\u0101kshasa host fled into diverse directions. And\ncollecting all the R\u0101kshasas stood there the highly powerful Meghan\u0101da,\nenraged, the son of R\u0101vana. Like unto flaming fire approaching towards\nforest that great car-warrior encountered the enemies in a precious car\ncoursing at will. And as soon as he, armed with various weapons, entered\nthe field the celestials, at his very sight, fled away to all\ndirections. None could stand before him, well-versed in war-fare.\nThereupon beholding the deities terrified and pierced with shafts,\nIndra, the king of gods, said\u2014\u2019Be not afraid, O ye celestials; do not\nfly away; come back to the battle; this my son, who has never been\nvanquished, goes to battle.\u2019 Thereupon Sakra\u2019s son, known as divine\nJayanta, proceeded towards the field of action in a wondrous car. And\nhaving encircled Sachi\u2019s son and encountered R\u0101vana\u2019s son the deities\nbegan to assail him. And the encounter between Mahendra\u2019s son Jayanta\nand R\u0101vana\u2019s son Meghan\u0101da, and that between the deities and Rakshas was\nlike one between gods and demons. Thereupon R\u0101vana\u2019s son began to\nassail, with shafts feathered in gold, his (Jayanta\u2019s) charioteer\nGomukha, M\u0101tali\u2019s son. Sachis\u2019 son too, enraged, assailed on all sides,\nR\u0101vana\u2019s son and his charioteer. And the powerful R\u0101vani, stricken with\nire and with eyes expanded, covered Sakra\u2019s son with arrows. Thereupon\nR\u0101vana\u2019s son struck the celestial host with thousands of huge mountain\nsummits, Sataghnis, maces, Prasas, clubs, daggers, Parashus and various\nother sharp pointed weapons, R\u0101vana\u2019s son thus striking Indra\u2019s army the\nquarters were enshrouded with darkness by his illusory power. Being\noverpowered with arrows on all sides the celestial army, leaving aside\nJayanta, became restless. The deities or the R\u0101kshasa\u2014they could not\nrecognize one another\u2014and being distressed they ran about on all sides.\nBeing enveloped with darkness and having their senses bewildered the\ncelestials killed their own kith and the R\u0101kshasas their own men\u2014and\nothers fled away. In the interim a heroic and powerful\nDaitya-chief\u2014Pulom\u0101 by name, taking Sachi\u2019s son disappeared. And taking\nhis own grand-son he entered into the ocean\u2014Pulom\u0101 was his grand-father\nfor by him Sachi was begotten. And thinking that Jayanta was slain all\nthe deities greatly sorry and distressed fled away on all sides.\nThereupon R\u0101vana\u2019s son, enraged and encircled by his own powerful\nfollowers, pursued the celestials emitting loud cries. Not beholding his\nson and observing the flight of the deities the king of the celestials\nsaid to M\u0101tali\u2014\u2019Bring my car.\u2019 By M\u0101tali was brought, the celestial,\nhighly dreadful, huge and quick-coursing chariot, that was ready. (And\nhe having) ascended the car, the huge clouds, with lightnings, being\ndriven by winds, began to emit forth loud mutterings before the chariot.\nAnd the Gandharvas began to play on various instruments and the Apsar\u0101s\nbegan to dance. And taking up various weapons, Indra, the king of\ndivinities, set out for the field of action, in the company of Rudras,\nVasus, Adityas, the two Aswins and Maruts. He, having set out for\nbattle, the wind began to blow high, the sun was divested of its\nbrilliance and the huge fire-brands began to send out flames. In the\ninterval the heroic and the highly powerful Da\u00e7agriva ascended the\ncelestial car, constructed by the Architect of the deities, encircled by\nthe huge-bodied serpents capable of making down erect and by whose\nbreath the battle-field was ablaze. Surrounded by demons and\nnight-rangers and with the celestial car he encountered Mahendra in the\nbattle-field. And having desisted his son he himself stood there. And\nhaving come out from the field of action R\u0101vana\u2019s son too stood silent.\nThereupon there arose an encounter between the R\u0101kshasas and the deities\nand there began a downpour of weapons in the conflict like clouds. And\nthe vicious-souled Kumbhakarna armed with various weapons came there\u2014but\nhe did not know,\u2079\u2074 O king, with whom the conflict was going on. And by\nhim enraged, the celestials were assailed with his teeth, feet, arms,\nhands, Saktis, Tomaras and clubs or any weapon whatsoever. Thereupon the\nnight-ranger engaged with the highly powerful Rudras and was wounded, in\nthe conflict, with incessant strokes of weapons. Thereupon the R\u0101kshasa\narmy began to fight with Maruts and they were overwhelmed in the\nencounter with the stroke of various weapons. Some fell down on earth\nslain and torn and others became insensible on the back of their\ncarriers in the battle. And they all stood there in a half-sensible\nmood, some holding the car, some elephants, some asses, some camels,\nsome serpents, some horses, some porpoises, some boars, some\nPisaca-mouthed animals and some embracing the Pannagas. And other\nnight-rangers, having their bodies sundered by the deities gave up their\nbeing. The R\u0101kshasas being slain and lying down on earth the action\nappeared wondrous like a painting. And there issued out in the\nbattle-field a river from weapons having blood for its silent waters and\ninfested with crows and vultures. Having beheld his own army slain by\nthe deities the highly powerful Da\u00e7\u0101nana, enraged, entered the ocean of\ncelestial army and slaying the deities in the conflict confronted Sakra.\nThereupon Sakra took up his huge bow by the twang where-of the ten\nquarters Were filled. Having unstrung his huge bow Indra struck R\u0101vana,\non his head, with arrows resembling the flame of fire and the rays of\nthe sun. And the R\u0101kshasa-chief Da\u00e7\u0101nana, having long arms, also\nassailed Indra with hundreds of shafts discharged off his bow. They\nhaving been thus engaged with each other with the downpour of dreadful\nshafts, all the quarters were filled with darkness and in consequence\nthereof nothing was visible.\"\n\n \u2079\u2074 For he was asleep till then so he was not acquainted with the\n particulars of war-fare. He used to sleep for six months at a\n time.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIV.\n\n\n\"Whereupon darkness having set in all the celestials and R\u0101kshasas,\nmaddened with their strength, began to fight crushing one another. And\nin that darkness\u2014Indra, R\u0101vana and Meghan\u0101da\u2014these three were not\npossessed by the influence of illusion. Beholding his whole army slain\nin a moment, R\u0101vana, worked up with dreadful ire, sent out terrible\nroars. And in anger, that irrepressible one said to the charioteer,\nstationed on the car\u2014\u2019Do thou take me to the other end of the enemies\u2019\nhost. I shall soon with the stroke of various weapons despatch the\ndeities to the abode of Death. I shall slay Indra, Kuvera, Varuna and\nYama\u2014what to speak of more\u2014I shall soon destroy all the deities and\nplace myself above them. Be not sorry; do thou soon drive my chariot.\nTo-day I have told you twice to take me to the end of the enemy\u2019s army.\nWe are now waiting near the Nandana grove\u2014do thou take me to the hill\nwhence the sun rises.\u2019 Hearing his words the charioteer drove the\nsteeds, coursing at will through the enemies\u2019 host. Thereupon being\napprised of his intention, Sakra, the king of the celestials, stationed\non car, said to the deities, in the field of battle\u2014\u2019O ye deities\u2014hear\nmy words, what appear to me best. This Ten-necked demon must be\nvanquished by us while alive. Ascending his car, gifted with the\nvelocity of the wind, the highly powerful one is proceeding amongst the\narmy like unto the deep with waves rising during Parva. It is not\npossible to slay him now\u2014for he shall not meet with death in consequence\nof the boon. So let us make him captive\u2014and we should all exert to that\nend. Bali being held captive I am enjoying the three worlds\u2014and I think\nproper to obstruct the course of this vicious-souled one.\u2019 Having said\nthis and left aside R\u0101vana, Sakra went to another side, O King, and\nfought terrifying the R\u0101kshasas in the conflict. Dacagriva, incapable of\nbeing thwarted, entered by the northern route and the performer of\nhundred sacrifices by the southern. Thereupon having entered into the\narmy up to a hundred leagues\u2014the lord of R\u0101kshasas overpowered the\ncelestial host with a downpour of shafts. Thereupon beholding his own\narmy slain, Sakra returned fearlessly and obstructed the Ten-necked\ndemon. In the interim beholding R\u0101vana brought under his grasp by Sakra\nthe demons and R\u0101kshasas cried aloud. \u2019Alas we are slain.\u2019 Thereupon\nascending his car R\u0101vana\u2019s son, beside himself with rage, entered the\ndreadful flank. And having resorted to the illusory powers, conferred\nupon him in yore by Pa\u00e7upati he entered into the enemies\u2019 camp and\nbelaboured them. Having left behind all other deities he pursued Indra\nand the highly effulgent Mahendra too espied his enemy\u2019s son. And albeit\nassailed by the highly powerful deities, R\u0101vana\u2019s son, divested of mail,\nentertained no fear. Having overpowered the approaching charioteer with\nmany excellent arrows he covered Mahendra with a downpour of shafts.\nThereat having left his car and charioteer Indra mounted his elephant\nAiravat and ran about in search of R\u0101vana\u2019s son. Being invisible in the\nwelkin by virtue of his illusory powers and having brought Indra under\nthe influence thereof he struck him with hundreds of arrows. When\nR\u0101vana\u2019s son came to know that Indra was exhausted he, having bound him\nup by virtue of illusion, proceeded towards his army. And having seen\nMahendra carried away by force from the battle field the deities thought\n\u2019What is this?\u2019 That conqueror of Sakra and subduer of enemies,\nconversant with illusory powers, was not visible, by whom, Indra,\nalthough master of many illusions, was carried away by force. In the\nmeantime, the celestials, all enraged, covered R\u0101vana with a downpour of\nshafts and belaboured him. And being worn out in the encounter with the\nAdityas and Vasus he was not capable of fighting any more. Beholding his\nfather thus distressed and assailed in warfare with strokes, R\u0101vana\u2019s\nson, although invisible, said\u2014\u2019Do thou come O father, our work in the\nbattle field is finished; know, we have achieved victory; be thou\nconsoled and divested of agonies. By virtue of my illusory powers I have\nmade Mahendra captive\u2014the lord of the three worlds and of the celestial\nhost and have crushed down the pride of the deities. Having subdued thy\nenemy by virtue of thy prowess do thou enjoy the three worlds at thy\npleasure. What is the use of labouring again? And useless it is to fight\nagain.\u2019 Hearing the words of R\u0101vana\u2019s son the deities retired from the\nbattle field, and went away without Sakra. And hearing the sweet words\nof his son, the lord of the night-rangers, the enemy of the celestials,\nhaving great prowess and wide spread fame, desisted from fighting and\naffectionately said to his son\u2014\u2019Thou hast enhanced the glory of our race\ndisplaying thy prowess like a highly powerful man. Thou hast vanquished\nthe celestials and their king of unequalled might. Do thou set out hence\nfor the city, taking Indra on thy chariot and surrounded by soldiers. I\nshall, soon, delighted, follow thee with my councillors.\u2019 Thereupon\nhaving returned home with his army and chariots and taking the king of\nthe celestials, the powerful son of R\u0101vana dismissed the victorious\nwarriors.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXV.\n\n\n\"The highly powerful Mahendra being thus defeated by R\u0101vana\u2019s son, all\nthe celestials, taking the patriarch Brahm\u0101 before them, went to Lank\u0101.\nHaving obtained R\u0101vana encircled by his sons and brothers the Patriarch,\nstationed in the welkin, calmly said\u2014\u2019My son, R\u0101vana, I have been\npleased with thy son in the conflict. Oh! what wonderful prowess, what\nstrength\u2014equal or greater than thine. Thou hast, by thy own prowess,\nconquered the three worlds\u2014thy promise hath borne fruits\u2014I have been\npleased with you\u2014both the father and son. O R\u0101vana, this thy son is\nhighly powerful and gifted with great strength and he shall be\ncelebrated in the world under the appellation of \u2019Indrajit\u2019 or the\nconqueror of Indra. And that R\u0101kshasa shall be powerful and\nirrepressible, by whose help, O king, the celestials have been brought\nunder thy subjection. Do thou therefore, O thou having long arms,\nrelease Mahendra, the chastiser of Paka and for setting him free what do\nthou want from the celestials?\u2019 Thereupon the highly powerful\nIndrajit\u2014the subduer of enemies, said:\u2014\u2019If dost thou say so, O god, I\npray for immortality.\u2019 Thereat the highly powerful patriarch said to\nMeghanada\u2014\u2019There is none perfectly immortal on earth amongst created\nbeings\u2014birds, quadrupeds and other highly powerful beings.\u2019 Hearing the\nwords uttered by the grand-father\u2014the highly powerful Meghan\u0101da said to\nthe eternal lord\u2014\u2019Hear, then, what I want in exchange for releasing\nSakra. May a chariot with horses rise up from fire when I shall offer\nsacrifices unto it, being desirous of vanquishing my enemies in the\nconflict. And may I be immortal as long as I shall remain on that car.\nThis is the boon I have resolved upon praying for. May I meet with\ndestruction, O deity, whenever I shall engage in fight without finishing\nmy offerings unto fire. All others, O god, attain to immortality by\nvirtue of devout penances but I shall acquire that by dint of my own\nprowess.\u2019 Whereto the grand-father replied saying \u2019So be it.\u2019 Thereupon\nMeghan\u0101da released Indra and the celestials returned to their own abode.\nIn the interval, O R\u0101ma, Indra became poorly, divested of his immortal\nbrilliance, stricken with anxiety and pensive. Beholding him in that\nplight the grand-father of the deities said:\u2014\u2019O performer of hundred\nsacrifices, why didst thou formerly perpetrate that mighty iniquity? O\nChief of the immortals! O lord! Some creatures were created by me by\ndint of my understanding\u2014they were all of the same colour, same speech,\nand same appearance. There was no difference visible in their appearance\nor marks. Thereupon, with whole-minded-ness, I began to think of these\ncreated beings. And I created a female distinct from them. Collecting\nall those limbs that were most excellent amongst the created, I made a\nfemale under the name of Ahaly\u0101. _Hal_ means ugliness\u2014one born from\n_Hal_ is called _Halya_. That female was known as _Ahaly\u0101_ because she\nhad nothing blameable in her. I gave her that name. Having created that\nfemale I was thinking, O king of the celestials! O foremost of the\ndeities! On whom I should confer her. Being proud of dignity, O Sakra, O\nlord, O Purandara thou didst regard her in thy mind as thy spouse. I\nplaced her under the care of the high-souled Gautama and he rendered her\nback after many long years. Thereupon considering the patience and\naccomplished asceticism of Gautama I married her with him. And that\nvirtuous-souled, great ascetic enjoyed her company; and for my thus\nconferring her upon Gautama all the celestials were disappointed. But\nbeing enraged and possessed by lust thou didst repair to the hermitage\nof the ascetic and see her resplendant like the flaming fire. Maddened\nwith lust and ire thou didst ravish her and thou wast seen in that\nhermitage by the great ascetic. Thou wast then imprecated by him,\nenraged and gifted with great effulgence saying, \"O lord of the\ncelestials, thou hast attained to a change of circumstances\u2014for which, O\nVasava, thou hast fearlessly ravished my spouse. Thou shalt, therefore,\nO Sakra, go under the arms of the enemies, in conflict. And this vile\ndesire, O thou having a vicious intellect, which thou hast first\ncreated, shall undoubtedly spread in the world of mortals. Whoever shall\ncommit this crime, shall be half responsible for it and the other half\nshall descend upon thee; and forsooth thy position shall not be\npermanent. And whoever shall be the lord of the celestials, shall not\nhave his position secure. This is the curse I give, which I have\ncommunicated to thee.\" And having remonstrated with his wife that one of\ndevout penances said to her\u2014\"O vicious one, let thy beauty be spoiled in\nthe vicinity of the hermitage. Thou art gifted with beauty and youth but\nthy mind is fickle; so thou shalt not continue as the single beautiful\ndamsel in the world. All created beings shall participate thy beauty;\nthy matchless beauty has brought about this mischief.\" Thenceforward all\ncreated beings were gifted with beauty. Thereupon she propitiated the\nascetic Gautama saying, \"O twice-born one, I was unwittingly ravished by\nIndra, assuming thy form. I have not committed this willingly, O\nascetic\u2014so do thou be propitiated with me.\" Ahaly\u0101 having said this,\nGautama replied:\u2014\"In the race of Ikshw\u0101kus, there shall be born a highly\neffulgent and mighty car-warrior, known in the world as R\u0101ma; for\nperforming the rites of a Brahman, the mighty-armed Vishnu, assuming a\nhuman form, shall repair to the forest. Thou shalt be purified when thou\nshalt behold him, O fair damsel. He shall be able to purify thee from\nthe iniquity perpetrated. Having treated him as a guest when thou shalt\ncome to me again, thou shalt live with me, O thou having a fair\ncountenance.\" Having said this that ascetic returned to his hermitage.\nAnd thenceforward the wife, of that ascetic chanting the themes of\nBrahman, engaged in austere penances. Thou hast met with all this in\nconsequence of the imprecation of that ascetic. Therefore, O thou having\nlong arms, do thou think of thy past iniquity. For that curse and\nnothing else, O Vasava, thou hast been brought under the grasp of\nenemies. Having controlled thy senses, do thou soon undertake a\nsacrifice in honor of Vishnu. Thou shalt be purified by that sacrifice\nand go to heaven; and thy son, O lord of celestials, hath not been\ndestroyed in the conflict. He hath been taken into the ocean by his\ngrand father.\u2019 Hearing this and having celebrated the sacrifice in honor\nof Vishnu he again went to the region of celestials and reigned there as\ntheir king. I have thus described to thee the strength of Indrajit\u2014what\nto speak of others he vanquished even Indra\u2014the king of the celestials.\"\nHearing the words of Agastya, R\u0101ma, Lakshmana, V\u0101naras and R\u0101kshasas all\nsaid \"Wonderful it is,\" and Bibhishana, who was by the side of R\u0101ma,\nsaid:\u2014\"After a long time, the old recollections have come to my mind.\"\nThereupon R\u0101ma said to Agastya\u2014\"All, thou hast said, is true.\" And\nAgastya said \"R\u0101ma, R\u0101vana, the thorn of people, then grew in power, by\nwhom, in the company of his son, Indra, the lord of the celestials, was\ndefeated.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVI.\n\n\nThereupon having bowed unto Agastya the foremost of ascetics, the highly\neffulgent R\u0101ma again surprisingly said:\u2014\"O Brahman, O foremost of\ntwice-born ones, when that cruel R\u0101vana journeyed over the earth, was it\nvoid of people? Was there no king, or prince on earth to administer\npunishment unto him? Were all the kings then shorn of their strength and\nprowess? And many kings I (hear) were vanquished and driven out by him\nwith various excellent weapons.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ghava, the\nascetic Agastya, having six sorts of wealth, laughing said, like unto\nBrahm\u0101, speaking to Rudra\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, O lord of earth, traversing the\nearth, R\u0101vana arrived at the city of Mahismati, resembling the city of\nthe celestials, where lived perpetually the deity of fire. There reigned\na king named Arjuna, effulgent like fire which was kept perpetually in a\nwell covered with _Sara_. One day the highly powerful Arjuna, the king\nof _Haihayas_, repaired to the river Nerbuda, with his wives to sport.\nAt the very same day, R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, arrived there and\nasked his councillors saying. \u2019Where is the king Arjuna? Do ye speedily\ntell me; I am R\u0101vana, I have come to fight with your king. Do ye, at\nfirst, communicate unto him the news of my arrival.\u2019 Being thus\naddressed by R\u0101vana, the learned ministers informed the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, of the absence of the king. Hearing of the absence of the\nking from the citizens Visrasraba\u2019s son came out of the city and reached\nthe Vindhya mountain resembling the Himalayas. He espied the mountain\nextending over the welkin like unto clouds and rising up as if riving\nthe earth and obstructing the sky. The mountain had a thousand summits\nand the lions were residing in the caves and hundreds of fountains were\nfalling from it; the mountain was as if laughing aloud and the\ncelestials, Gandharvas, Apsar\u0101s and Kinsaras were sporting there with\ntheir females; and it appeared (in consequence thereof) like the region\nof celestials; and rivers, with waters transparent like crystal, were\nflowing. And it therefore appeared like a thousand serpents having\ntrembling tongues. And casting his looks upon Vindhya mountain,\nresembling the Himalayas and having huge caves, R\u0101vana, the king of\nR\u0101kshasas, reached the river Nerbuda, of holy waters and going rapidly\nto the western ocean. Her waters were being agitated by buffaloes, deer,\ntigers, lions, bears and elephants distressed by heat. Having covered\nher, Chakrabakas, K\u0101randavas, swans, water-cocks and S\u0101rasas, maddened,\nwere emitting notes. The charming Nerbuda appeared like a beautiful\ndamsel\u2014having blossoming trees for her ornaments, Chakrabakas for her\nbreast, wide spread forest for her waist, the row of swans for Mekhala,\nfilaments of flowers for paste, watery foams for white silken cloth, the\npleasure of descending into water for the pleasure of touch and\nfull-blown lotuses for white eyes. Having descended from his car and\nbathed in the waters of Nerbuda, the foremost of streams, resembling a\nfair one, R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, with this councilors, sat on\nher coast resided by many an ascetic. Delighted at her beauty and having\nspoken highly of Nerbuda like unto Ganges he addressed his ministers\nSuka and S\u0101rana with gestures, saying:\u2014\u2019Behold, having rendered the\nearth pale, with his many rays, the sun, emitting parching heat, is in\nthe sky. But seeing me here seated, his rays have become cool like those\nof the moon. At my fear, even the wind is blowing carefully, being cold\nand fragrant by the touch of the waters of the Nerbuda and removing our\ntoil. This charming Nerbuda, abounding in crocodiles, fishes and birds,\nthough a natural stream, is standing still like a terrified damsel.\nBeing wounded in conflicts with many a king your persons have been\npasted with blood. Therefore like unto Sarvabhauma and other infuriated\nelephants going down into the water of the Ganges, do ye descend into\nthe water of Nerbuda conferring auspiciousness and health. Bathing in\nthis stream you shall be cleansed from sins. I shall, also on the coast\nof this river, like the rays of the autumnal moon, reverentially worship\nwith flowers Mah\u0101deva, holding Pin\u0101ka in his hands.\u2019 Hearing the words\nof R\u0101vana, Prahasta, Suka, S\u0101rana, Mahodara, Dhrum\u0101kshya and other\ncouncillors descended into the waters of Nerbuda. And she was agitated\nby those elephant-like leading R\u0101kshasas like unto the Ganges by Vamana,\nAnjana, Padma and other elephants, Thereupon having got up from the\nwaters the highly powerful R\u0101kshasas culled flowers for R\u0101vana\u2019s\nofferings. And in a moment the R\u0101kshasas collected heaps of flowers on\nthe picturesque banks of Nerbuda, resembling the white clouds. Flowers\nbeing thus collected, R\u0101vana, the king of R\u0101kshasas descended, into the\nNerbuda for bathing like a huge elephant into the Ganges. And having\nbathed he got up, reciting excellent incantations. Thereupon having left\noff his wet cloth he put on a white one. And to find out place for\nworshipping, he, with folded hands, proceeded towards the banks. And the\nR\u0101kshasas too, like unto so many moving mountains, followed him. And\nwherever R\u0101vana went the golden _Siva Linga_ was brought. Thereupon\nR\u0101vana placed that upon a heap of sands and began to worship it with\nvarious nectar-smelling flowers and sandal. And having finished the\nworship of Siva, the foremost of deities, having the moon on his crown,\nthe conferrer of boons and the remover of miseries, the night-ranger\ndanced with uplifted hands and sang before it.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVII.\n\n\n\"At no distance from where on the banks of the river Nerbuda, that\ndreadful lord of R\u0101kshasas collected the flowers, Arjuna, the King of\nMahismati, and the foremost of the victorous, was sporting with his\nwives in the water. And being encircled by them the king Arjuna appeared\nlike a leading elephant surrounded by a thousands of she elephants. In\norder to measure the strength of his thousand arms the King of\n_Haihayas_ obstructed the course of Nerbuda. Being obstructed by the\narms of K\u0101rtavirjarjuna and having flooded the banks with her pure\nwaters, Nerbuda flowed in an opposite direction. And the currents,\nrising high as during the rainy season flowed with fishes, and\ncrocodiles. And that stream, as if driven against R\u0101vana by\nK\u0101rtavirjarjuna, carried away his collection of flowers. And having\ngiven up his worship which was half-finished R\u0101vana looked towards\nNerbuda looking like an unwilling damsel and saw that she, with rising\ncurrents, was flowing towards the east from the west and the waters\nbeyond that were in a natural state like a quiet lady and the birds were\nseated there without any anxiety. Thereupon being anxious to learn the\ncause of the rise of the river, the Ten-necked demon, with his right\nfinger, hinted Suka and S\u0101rana. Being commanded by R\u0101vana, the two\nbrothers, the heroic Suka and S\u0101rana proceeded towards the west by the\naerial way. And going half a league, the two night-rangers espied a man\nsporting in the waters with some females. He was huge as a S\u0101la tree,\nhis hairs were floating on the water, he was inebriete and his eyes were\nreddened in consequence thereof. Like unto Sumeru holding the earth with\nhis thousand feet he obstructed the current of the river with his\nthousand arms. And he was surrounded by a thousands of beautiful damsels\nlike an elephant by a thousands of she-elephants. Beholding that\ndreadful spectacle, the R\u0101kshasas Suka and S\u0101rana came back and\napproaching R\u0101vana communicated (all) unto him. \u2019O lord of R\u0101kshasas, an\nunknown person, huge as a S\u0101la tree, is sporting with females\nobstructing the course of Nerbuda like unto a dam. And being withheld by\nthe thousand arms of that man the waters of Nerbuda were continually\nthrowing up high waves.\u2019 Hearing the words of Suka and S\u0101rana, R\u0101vana\nexclaimed \u2019This is Arjuna\u2019 and proceeded to fight with him. R\u0101vana, the\nlord of R\u0101kshasas, having set out with a hostile intention against\nK\u0101rtavirjarjuna, the wind mixed with dust began to blow high with\ntumultuous sound. And the clouds began to mutter with a downpour of\nrain. And the lord of R\u0101kshasas proceeded against Arjuna with Mahodara,\nMahaparswa, Dhrum\u0101kshya, Suka and Sairana. Within a short time the\ndreadful R\u0101kshasa, powerful as the elephant Arjuna, reached the banks of\nNerbuda and espied there Arjuna encircled by females as an elephant\nsurrounded by she-elephants. At the very sight the eyes of the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, proud of his prowess, grew red and addressing the councillors\nof the king Arjuna he said \u2019Do ye communicate unto the king of\n_Haihayas_ that R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, hath come to fight with\nhim.\u2019 Hearing the words of R\u0101vana, the ministers of Arjuna stood up with\narms and said \u2019O good R\u0101vana, thou art well cognizant of the proper time\nfor fighting. Now our king is drunk and is sporting with the females in\nthe waters. And now dost thou wish to fight with him. Therefore, O\nTen-necked one, do thou spend the night here, if thou art bent upon\nfighting. Or even if thou art anxious to enter speedily into conflict\nwith Arjuna do thou slay us all at first, and then fight with the king.\u2019\nThereupon the hungry councillors of R\u0101vana slew some of the ministers of\nthe king and devoured some. There arose a dreadful uproar on the banks\nof Nerbuda, of the councillors of R\u0101vana and Arjuna. The warriors of\nArjuna assailed R\u0101vana and his ministers with hundreds of arrows,\nPra\u00e7as, darts, Tomaras, thunder-bolts and Karpanas. The warriors of\nArjijna became dreadfully furious and emitted cries like the roaring of\nthe deep infested with crocodiles, fishes and other marine monsters.\nThereupon being enraged and displaying their own prowess Suka, S\u0101rana\nand other ministers of R\u0101vana began to destroy Arjuna\u2019s soldiers.\nThereupon the emissaries, stricken with fear, went to the sporting king\nand communicated unto him the proceedings of R\u0101vana and his ministers.\nHearing those words and saying unto the females \u2019Do not fear\u2019 he rose up\nfrom the waters like an elephant. The eyes of that fire-like Arjuna were\nreddened with ire and he shone dreadfully like the fire of dissolution.\nAnd taking up speedily his club, that one, always using golden clubs,\npursued the R\u0101kshasas like unto darkness following the sun. Holding up\nthe huge club and hurling it with his arms, Arjuna, resorting to the\nvelocity of Garuda, went on. Thereupon stood there obstructing his\ncourse the R\u0101kshasa, worked up with anger and with a mace in his hand,\nlike unto the Vindhya range standing in the way of the sun. And throwing\ndown off his hand the iron mace, he, in anger, began to roar, like Yama.\nAnd the top of the mace was ablaze like the tips of Asoka flowers. Not\nthe least agitated on beholding that mace, the king Arjuna, by his club,\nbaffled its action. Thereupon uplifting the huge club, five hundred\nhands long, the king of _Haihayas_ pursued Prahasta. And within a short\ntime being struck down by that club gifted with great velocity Prahasta\nfell down on earth like unto the summit of a mountain clapped down by\nthe thunder-bolt of Indra. Beholding Prahasta fallen, M\u0101richa, Suka,\nS\u0101rana, Mahodara and Dhrum\u0101kshya fled away from the battle-field. All\nthe councillors having thus fled away and Prahasta being slain R\u0101vana\nspeedily proceeded towards Arjuna, the foremost of kings. Thereupon\nthere ensued a terrible encounter capable of making down erect between\nthe thousand-armed Arjuna, the king of men, and the twenty-armed R\u0101vana,\nthe king of R\u0101kshasas. And taking up their clubs Arjuna and R\u0101vana began\nto fight with one another emitting cries like the mutterings of clouds,\nlike unto two huge bulls fighting for a cow, two agitated oceans, two\nmoving mountains, two effulgent Adityas, two burning flames, two proud\nelephants, two proud lions and like the very Rudra and K\u0101la. As the\nmountains suffer many clappings of thunder-bolts so did they bear many\nstrokes. And all the quarters were resounded with the sound proceeding\nfrom the stroke of their clubs like unto the sound of thunder-bolts.\nBeing placed against the breast of R\u0101vana Arjuna\u2019s club rendered, for a\nmoment, the welkin look like the burning gold as does the lightning. And\nstriking again and again against Arjuna\u2019s breast R\u0101vana\u2019s club looked\nlike a huge fire-brand. Arjuna was not worn out nor was R\u0101vana. And the\nconflict went on between them like the encounter between Bala and Vasava\nin the days of yore. The King of men and the King of Rakshasas assailed\nand wounded one another with their clubs like unto two bulls striking\none another with their horns and two elephants with their tusks.\nThereupon worked up with rage, Arjuna, with his full might, smote R\u0101vana\non his breast, with his club. But R\u0101vana was well protected by the boon\nof the celestial, so the club fell on earth sundered into two pieces\nlike one hurled by a weak wight. Still wounded by the mace of Arjuna,\nR\u0101vana, shedding tears, ran away at a distance of four feet and sat\nthere. Beholding R\u0101vana thus over-whelmed Arjuna sprang up and caught\nhim like Garuda holding a serpent and Vishnu binding Bali. Da\u00e7agriva\nbeing thus bound, the Siddhas, Charanas and the celestials exclaiming\n\u2019Well done! Well done!!\u2019 showered flowers upon Arjuna. And the king\nemitted leonine roars again and again as a tiger joyous roars like a\ncloud, holding a deer under his grasp. Regaining his sense and beholding\nR\u0101vana bound, Prahasta, in great anger, pursued the King of _Haihayas_.\nAnd the Rakshasa force grew tempestuous like unto the rising of the\nocean during rains. Thereupon exclaiming repeatedly \u2019Leave him off!\nLeave him off!! Wait! Wait!!\u2019 The R\u0101kshasa host hurled hundreds of\nMusalas and darts in the battle-field. Not the least moved thereby the\nking Arjuna, the slayer of enemies, bore those weapons of the enemies of\nthe celestials. Thereupon baffling the weapons of the R\u0101kshasas by means\nof many a dreadful and excellent one, Arjuna, the king of _Haihayas_,\ndrove them away like winds scattering the clouds. Having thus struck\nterror unto the night-rangers, he, encircled by his own kinsmen,\nrepaired to his own city with R\u0101vana, carrying him bound like unto Indra\ncarrying Bali bound. Thereupon flowers and fried paddy were showered\nupon him by the Br\u0101hmanas and citizens.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXVIII.\n\n\n\"Thereupon Pulastya heard from the celestials of the capture of R\u0101vana\nlike unto the holding of the wind.\u2079\u2075 And having been moved by the love\nfor his son, the highly effulgent, great ascetic, proceeded to see the\nking of Mahishmati. Proceeding by the aerial way, that twice-born one,\ngifted with the velocity of wind and the flight of mind, reached the\ncity of Mahishmati. Like unto Brahm\u0101 entering Indra\u2019s Amaravati, he\nentered the city resembling the capital of Indra and filled with\ndelighted and plump citizens. And beholding that dreadful Rishi approach\nlike unto Adity\u0101 walking on foot, the warders communicated the\nintelligence unto the king Arjuna. Understanding from their words that\nPulastya was coming, the king of _Haihayas_, placing his folded palms on\nhis crown, proceeded to welcome him. Like, unto Vrihaspati preceeding\nPurandara, the royal priests went before him carrying _Maduparka_ and\nwater to wash feet. And beholding the ascetic resembling the rising sun\narrived, the king Arjuna bowed unto him reverentially like Indra\nsaluting Mahideva. Thereupon offering him Maduparka, cow and water to\nwash feet, the king of _Haihayas_ in accents obstructed with delight,\naddressed the ascetic saying:\u2014\u2019Reverend Sir, thine visit, it is hard to\nobtain. On beholding thee my city Mahishmati hath been turned into\nAmaravati. To-day have I obtained all auspiciousness, O lord; to-day\nhath my religious observance been fruitful; to-day hath my birth proved\nblessed and to-day hath my devout penance been crowned with success, for\nI bow unto thy feet, which have been worshipped by the celestials. This\nmy kingdom, these my sons, this my wife and myself are all at thy\ndisposal\u2014do thou order me, O Brahman, what I may do for thee.\u2019 Thereupon\nhaving enquired of the king about his piety, offerings and the\nwell-being of his sons, Pulastya said to Arjuna, the king of\nHaihayas:\u2014\u2019O foremost of kings, O thou having eyes like lotus-petals! O\nthou having a countenance like the full moon! When thou hast vanquished\nR\u0101vana, thy prowess is matchless in the triple world. Thou hast bound up\nmy invincible son in the conflict at whose fear the wind and the ocean\nstand still. Having drunk up the glories of my son thou hast announced\nthine own; so I do say, O my son, do thou release Da\u00e7\u0101nana.\u2019 Hearing\nthis command of Pulastya, the king Arjuna did not utter a single word\nand set, most delightedly the king of R\u0101kshasas, free. Having released\nthat foe of the celestials, worshipped him with celestial ornaments and\ngarlands and established friendship removing all enmities with R\u0101vana\nbefore fire, and bowed unto Pulastya, the son of Brahm\u0101, he repaired to\nhis own house. And being released by the influence of Pulastya, the\nhighly powerful Da\u00e7\u0101nana, the king of R\u0101kshasas, accepted his\nhospitality and being embraced by him, returned home ashamed. And having\nset Da\u00e7agriva at liberty Pulastya, the son of Brahm\u0101 and the foremost of\nMunis repaired to the celestial region. O R\u0101ma, in this wise, the highly\npowerful R\u0101vana was defeated by Arjuna and released by Pulastya. Observe\ntherefore, O descendant of Raghu, there is a mightier man than the\nmighty; therefore, one, desirous of his own well-being, should not\ndisregard another. Having acquired friendship with the thousand-armed\nArjuna, Dac\u0101nana, the king of R\u0101kshasas, began again to journey over the\nworld distressing the kings.\"\n\n \u2079\u2075 As it is impossible to hold the wind in a short compass so it was\n impossible to bind R\u0101vana and lead him captive.\n\n\n\nSECTION XXXIX.\n\n\n\"Released by Arjuna, and yet not conceiving any shame, R\u0101vana, the king\nof R\u0101kshasas again began to traverse the earth. R\u0101kshasas or men, of\nwhom the proud R\u0101vana heard to be powerful he used to approach and\nsummon them for fight. After some time he arrived at the city of\nKishkindh\u0101 reared by V\u0101li and invited him, wearing golden garland, to\nfight. Thereat, T\u0101ra, her father Sushena and the Prince Sugriva said to\nthe king of R\u0101kshasas\u2014\u2019O lord of R\u0101kshasas, he is not present here, who\nshall be able to withstand thee. What monkey else is capable of standing\nbefore thee? However, O R\u0101vana, V\u0101li shall soon return after performing\nthe Sandhy\u0101 rites at the confluence of the four oceans; therefore wait\nhere for a moment. Behold, O Da\u00e7\u0101nana, there lie the bones of all those,\nlike conch, who came ere this to fight with the powerful king of\nmonkeys. O R\u0101vana, O R\u0101kshasa, even if thou hast drunk nectar, thou\nshalt at this very moment loose thy life, when the encounter with V\u0101li\nshall take place. O Vaisravana, do thou observe the variegated universe\nnow\u2014wait for a moment after which it will be hard for thee to keep thy\nlife. Or if thou dost wish to meet with death do thou speedily repair to\nthe southern ocean and thou shalt behold there V\u0101li like unto fire\nplaced on earth.\u2019 Hearing those words, R\u0101vana, the aggrandiser of the\ntriple world, remonstrated with T\u0101r\u0101 and ascending his flowery car went\nto the southern ocean and espied V\u0101li, having red countenance like the\nrising sun, engaged in Sandhy\u0101 rites with whole-mindedness. Thereupon\nhaving descended from his Pushpaka car he with silent steps approached\nV\u0101li to bring him under his grasp. Casting his looks at pleasure, V\u0101li\nsaw him. Albeit apprised of his evil intention, he was not the least\nmoved. And he did not care for him as a lion is not moved on beholding a\nhare and Garuda on beholding a serpent. He then thought within\nhimself\u2014\u2019This vicious-souled R\u0101vana is approaching to catch me; holding\nhim under my arm pit I shall journey over the three great oceans.\nEveryone will behold the enemy R\u0101vana, under my arm pit as a serpent\npossessed by Garuda, with his thighs, arms and clothes loosened.\u2019 Having\nthought thus V\u0101li remained silent for sometime and reciting incantations\nhe waited there like a mountain. Thereupon the king of monkeys and the\nlord of Rakshasas, proud of strength, essayed to catch one another. V\u0101li\nwas seated with his back (towards R\u0101vana); still from his footsteps he\nperceived that he had come within the grasp of R\u0101vana\u2019s army and he at\nonce caught hold of him like unto Garuda holding a serpent. Getting hold\nof R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, desirous of catching him, (V\u0101li) and\nplacing him under his arm-pit V\u0101li vehemently rose high up in the\nwelkin. And he went away carrying him, scratching him again and again\nwith his nails like unto winds scattering clouds. The Ten-necked demon\nbeing thus carried away, his councillors, to release him, pursued,\nexclaiming, V\u0101li, in the welkin. They thus following him, V\u0101li, appeared\nin the sky like the sun in the midst of clouds. The R\u0101kshasas could not\ncatch V\u0101li but were rather exhausted by the stroke of his arms and\nthighs. What to speak of animals made of flesh and blood anxious for\ntheir lives even the mountains make way when V\u0101li goes. Rising high up\ninto the sky where even the birds cannot reach, V\u0101li, the lord of\nmonkeys and gifted with great velocity, by and by finished his Sandhy\u0101\nrites above the oceans. Being worshipped by the aerials their lord, with\nR\u0101vana, first proceeded to the western ocean. And having finished there\nSandhy\u0101 prayers and recited incantations he, with Da\u00e7\u0101nana, went to the\nnorthern ocean. And having journeyed over many thousand leagues that\nhuge monkey, with his enemy, finished his prayers there and then\nproceeded to the eastern ocean. And having recited his prayers there\nalso, V\u0101li, the son of Indra, and the king of monkeys, carrying R\u0101vana,\nreturned to the city of Kishkindh\u0101. Having gone through his Sandhy\u0101\nrites at the four oceans and carrying R\u0101vana, that monkey-chief was\ngreatly exhausted and (therefore) descended into the gardens of\nKishkindh\u0101. Having got out R\u0101vana from his arm-pit, the foremost of\nmonkeys, laughing again and again said:\u2014\u2019Whence art thou coming?\u2019\nThereupon being surprised greatly, Da\u00e7\u0101nana, the king of R\u0101kshasas, with\neyes shaking with exhaustion, said to the king of monkeys:\u2014\u2019O king of\nmonkeys, resembling Mahendra, I am R\u0101vana, the king of R\u0101kshasas; I came\nhere to fight: but I have been defeated by thee. Alas! What strength is\nthine! what prowess!! What gravity!!! Holding me like a beast thou hast\njourneyed over the four oceans. O hero! What heroic wight is there who\nis not exhausted by carrying me so vehemently? O monkey, mind, wind and\nGaruda\u2014these three are gifted with the velocity. Undoubtedly thou hast\ngot the same velocity. Thy prowess hath been sufficiently displayed. But\nnow I wish, O king of monkeys, to make friends with thee for ever before\nfire. O king of monkeys, from to-day, wife, sons, city, kingdom,\nenjoyment, cloth and food shall be our common.\u2019 Thereupon having lighted\nup fire the king of monkeys and the king of Rakshasas, embracing each\nother, became friends. Thereupon holding each other by the arms they\nentered the city of Kishkindh\u0101 like unto two lions, entering delightedly\na cave. There like Sugriva R\u0101vana spent a month. Afterwards his\ncouncillors, desirous of destroying the triple world, took him away. O\nlord R\u0101ma, I have thus related to thee the previous history. Having thus\nbelaboured R\u0101vana V\u0101li at last made friends with before fire. O R\u0101ma,\nV\u0101li had unequalled and great strength, Like unto fire burning down\nlocusts thou didst burn down V\u0101li.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XL.\n\n\nThereupon R\u0101ma, being stricken with curiosity, with folded palms and\nhumbly accosted Agastya, residing in the southern quarter, with pregnant\naccents, saying;\u2014\"Thou sayest that R\u0101vana and V\u0101li had unequalled\nstrength but methinks theirs can not equal that of Hanum\u0101n. Heroism,\nliberality, strength, patience, intellect, knowledge of laws and means,\nprowess and energy all exist together in Hanum\u0101n. When the monkey host\nlost heart on beholding the ocean, Hanum\u0101n, consoling crossed over the\ndeep extending over a hundred leagues. Having desecrated the presiding\ngoddess of Lank\u0101 and on beholding Sit\u0101 there, he consoled her. What to\nspeak of more, Hanum\u0101n, single-handed, slew R\u0101vana\u2019s commander-in-chief,\nthe minister\u2019s son, his servants and his one son. Being released from\nthe Brahma weapon Hanum\u0101n remonstrated with R\u0101vana, and reduced Lank\u0101\ninto ashes like unto fire burning down earth. What I have seen myself\nperformed by Hanum\u0101n in the conflict is above the power of K\u0101la, V\u0101sava\nand even the lord of riches. It is by the strength of the arms of that\nWind-god\u2019s son I have obtained Lank\u0101, Sit\u0101, Lakshrnana, Victory, kingdom\nand my friends. What more, had not Hanum\u0101n, the friend of the king of\nmonkeys\u2014Sugriva, been in my company who could have brought Sit\u0101\u2019s\nintelligence? Why did not Hanum\u0101n, although wishing welfare unto\nSugriva, reduce V\u0101li to ashes like so many creepers on the occasion of\nhis quarrel with Sugriva? Methinks, Hanum\u0101n was not cognisant of his own\nprowess then? And therefore he did stoop to witness the miseries of\nSugriva\u2014the king of monkeys who was dearer than his life. O thou\nworshipped of the immortals, do thou truly describe unto me this action\nof Hanum\u0101n.\" Hearing those well-meaning words of R\u0101ghava, the ascetic\nAgastya said to him in the presence of Hanum\u0101n. \"O foremost of Raghus,\nwhat thou hast said regarding Hanum\u0101n is all true. As regards, strength,\nvelocity and intellect there is none who can equal Hanum\u0101n. O represser\nof enemies, in the days of yore Hanum\u0101n was imprecated by the ascetics,\nwhose curses never become fruitless, to the effect that he would never\nbe conscious of his whole strength. I am not capable of describing to\nthee the wondrous childish feat which Hanum\u0101n did perform in his\nboyhood. But if thou art, O R\u0101ghava, greatly anxious to hear it, I shall\nrelate\u2014do thou hear with a quiescent mind. Hanum\u0101n\u2019s father Keshari\nreigned in the mountain Sumeru which resembles gold by the influence of\nthe sun. Keshari had a well-known wife by the name of Anjan\u0101 to whom he\nwas greatly attached. The deity Wind begot on Anjan\u0101 an excellent son.\nRepairing to a dense forest for collecting fruits, the excellent damsel\ngave birth to Hanum\u0101n resembling the tip of a S\u0101la tree and went away.\nBeing distressed with hunger on account of the absence of the mother,\nHanum\u0101n, just born, cried like Kartikeya, the commander-in-chief of the\ncelestials, in the forest of _Saras_. At this time the sun resembling\n_Yav\u0101_ flowers, having risen, Hanum\u0101n, to get a fruit, sprang up. Being\ndesirous of holding the newly risen sun, Hanum\u0101n, resembling it, began\nto leap in the middle of the welkin. The child Hanum\u0101n having thus\nascended the sky, celestials, D\u0101navas and Yakshas surprisingly exclaimed\n\u2019The velocity, with which Marut\u2019s son is going, is not possessed even by\nthe Wind, Garuda and mind. If he has got such vehemence in his boyhood\nwhat great strength he shall have in his youth.\u2019 His own son thus\nleaping, the wind, becoming cool by the touch of snow, began to follow\nhim proceeding in the sky lest the rays of the sun might scorch him.\nRising high up in the sky on account of childish freaks and traversed\nmany thousand leagues by the help of his father Hanum\u0101n neared the sun.\nConsidering that he was a mere child and therefore not tarnished by any\nsin and that a great divine work would be accomplished by him in future\nthe sun did not burn Hanum\u0101n. At the every day when Hanum\u0101n sprang up to\nhold the sun, Rahu too essayed to possess him. Having reached the top of\nthe sun\u2019s car Hanum\u0101n touched Rahu; so he, the represser of the moon\u2019s\nrays, accordingly went back on beholding the sun thus possessed. And\nrepairing to the house of Indra, Sinhika\u2019s son, in wrath and with\nfrowns, said to him encircled by the celestials:\u2014\u2019O Vasava! O slayer of\nBala and Vitra\u2014to remove my hunger thou didst give me both the sun and\nmoon; why thou hast then given them to another? On account of the\n_Parva_ I came to devour the sun but another Rahu came and possessed\nhim.\u2019 Hearing the words of Rahu, the King of the deities, wearing a\ngolden garland, having his understanding bewildered, proceeded, on the\nback of his elephant-chief Airavat, huge like the summit of the Kailasa\nhill, with temporal juice always trickling, having four tusks, roaring,\nand adorned with golden bells, towards Hanum\u0101n and the sun with Rahu\nbefore him. Having left behind Indra, Rahu quickly went there but fled\naway on beholding the huge-bodied Hanum\u0101n resembling a mountain summit.\nThereupon leaving aside the sun and being desirous of holding R\u0101hu, the\nson of Sinhik\u0101 considering him as a fruit, Hanum\u0101n again sprang up into\nthe sky. Beholding Hanum\u0101n approach renouncing the sun, Rahu with his\ncountenance only visible, desisted and went back. And considering Indra\nas the saviour he again and again cried aloud \u2019Indra! Indra!!\u2019\nUnderstanding everything by the piteous accents of Rahu Indra said, \u2019No\nfear, I shall soon slay him.\u2019 Thereupon beholding the huge-bodied\nAiravat and considering him as a bigger fruit M\u0101ruti ran towards him.\nProceeding thus tempestuously when he rose above the head of Indra,\nHanum\u0101n, looked in a moment dreadful like the fire of dissolution. But\nnot greatly enraged the thousand-eyed lord of Sachi, with the\nthunder-bolt in his hand, struck the running Hanum\u0101n. Belaboured by the\nthunder-bolt of Indra Hanum\u0101n fell down and broke his left jaw. He being\nthus overwhelmed by the stroke of Indra\u2019s thunder-bolt, the Wind-god\nbecame displeased with the king of celestials and was determined upon\nbringing about mischief unto all created beings. The all-comprehending\nwind, not spreading himself, entered into a cave with his son. Like unto\nV\u0101sava distressing all creatures by putting a stop to the showers, the\nwind too put all animals into unbearable suffering by obstructing all\nexecrations. On account of the anger of the Wind-god their breath was\ncompletely obstructed, and the joints\u2014as if pierced, became hard as\nwood. _S\u0101dhya_ _Vasatk\u0101r_ and all the religious observances of the\ntriple world were put a stop to by the anger of the Wind-god. So the\nthree worlds appeared as if stricken with sorrow. Thereupon the\nafflicted celestials, Gandharvas, Asuras and men repaired to the\nPatriarch Brahm\u0101 with a view to bring about the well-being of created\nbeings. And with their bellies swollen for the obstruction of the wind\nthe celestials with folded hands said:\u2014\u2019O lord of created beings, thou\nhast created four classes of beings and thou hast given us wind to\npreserve our lives. But we do not know, why the wind, the lord of our\nbeings, is distressing us, by obstructing our movements like unto\nfemales confined in an inner apartment. Being thus distressed by the\nwind we have come to seek thy shelter, O thou the remover of miseries\u2014do\nthou remove our afflictions consequent upon the obstruction of the\nwind.\u2019 Hearing those words of the created beings, their lord (the\nPatriarch Brahm\u0101) again said \u2019Hear, why the wind, being enraged, has\nobstructed the course of all beings. Hearing the words of Rahu, Indra,\nthe king of the celestials, hath belaboured the Wind-god\u2019s son. It is\nfor this that he hath been offended. Preserving the bodied, the wind,\nhaving no person, passes through them all. Without wind the body becomes\nlike wood. Therefore the wind constitutes the life, the happiness and\nthe whole universe. Renouncing the wind the world cannot attain to\nhappiness. Being cast off by the wind and having their breaths\nobstructed, behold, the world, to-day appeareth like dried wood. Let us\ntherefore go there where the wind, the giver of our afflictions,\nwaiteth. If we do not please the son of Aditi we shall all meet with\ndestruction.\u2019 Thereupon the Patriarch Brahm\u0101, the celestials,\nGandharvas, serpents, Guhyakas and other created beings went where the\nwind was waiting with his own son belaboured by the king of the\ncelestials. Thereupon beholding that boy, on the lap of the Wind-God,\nresembling gold and Baisvanar, the four-mouthed Brahm\u0101, the celestials,\nGandharvas, Rishis, Yakshas and R\u0101kshasas were all moved with pity.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XLI.\n\n\nHearing the whole history, R\u0101ma, the descendant of Raghu, said to\nAgastya \"O Reverend Sir, Riksharaja is the name of the father of V\u0101li\nand Sugriva but thou hast not told me the name of their mother. However\nI am curious to learn who was their mother, where was their residence,\nand how they had been named so\u2014do thou favour me with the account.\" R\u0101ma\nhaving said this Agastya said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, I shall relate to thee\neverything in short of what I had heard from N\u0101rada when he came to my\nhermitage. Once on a time whilst travelling that highly pious ascetic\narrived at my hermitage; I duly worshipped and welcomed him; and when I\nasked him out of curiosity, he, seated at pleasure, said:\u2014\u2019Hear, O great\nascetic, the foremost of the pious; there is a mountain named Meru,\nhighly picturesque, made of gold and greatly charming. The middle peak\nis much liked by the celestials, on which is situate the beautiful\nassemblage hall of Brahm\u0101 extending over a hundred leagues. The\nfour-mouthed deity, sprung from lotus, always resideth there. And from\nhis eyes while going through the _Yoga_ practices tears trickled down.\nNo sooner the Patriarch Brahm\u0101, with his hands, wiped them off into the\nground than a monkey originated from those tears. O foremost of men, as\nsoon as that monkey was produced, the high-souled Brahm\u0101 consoled him in\nsweet accents and said\u2014\"Do thou proceed to that leading mountain where\nthe celestials perpetually reside. O foremost of monkeys, living upon\nmany a fruit and root in that picturesque mountain thou shouldst always\nlive by me. And while thou shall live in this wise for some time thou\nshalt be crowned with auspiciousness.\" Brahm\u0101 having said this, O\nR\u0101ghava, the foremost of monkeys saluted that god of gods, placing his\nhead at his feet and said to that Primaeval deity, the creator of beings\nand the lord of the universe. \"O god, thou art placing me under thy\nbehests\u2014verily I shall follow them.\" Having said this to Patriarch that\nmonkey immediately went to a forest abounding in fruits and flowers.\nThere living on fruits and collecting honey and various flowers, he,\nevery day, used to come to Brahm\u0101 in the evening. O R\u0101ma, in this wise\nhe used to make an offering of excellent fruits and flowers at the feet\nof Brahm\u0101, the god of gods. Journeying in this way over the mountain he\nspent many long years. Some time having elapsed in this way, O R\u0101ghava,\nRiksharaja, the foremost of monkeys, being distressed with thirst,\nrepaired to the excellent mountain Meru. There is a pond of pure water,\nresonant with the notes of various birds. Having shaken his manes with a\ndelighted heart, Riksharaja saw his reflection in the waters. Beholding\nhis own image there that monkey-chief, stricken with anger and anxiety\nthought\u2014\"What arch-enemy of mine is living in the waters? I shall\ndestroy the excellent abode of the vicious-souled one.\" Thinking thus\nwithin himself, that monkey, out of fickleness, jumped down into the\nlake. And he again sprang up therefrom. And at the time of rising, O\nR\u0101ma, that leading monkey found himself metamorphosed into a female\nform, which was highly charming, graceful and beautiful. Her waist was\nspacious, eye-brows beautiful and hairs were black and curling; her\ncountenance was beautiful and smiling, breast high and beauty matchless.\nAnd there appeared charming on the banks of the lake, lighting up all\nquarters that female, agitating the mind of all, and beautiful in the\ntriple world like unto simple _Sastilat\u0101_, Ram\u0101, without lotus, pure\nrays of the moon, Parvati more beautiful than even Lakshmi. At this time\nwas returning by that way, Indra, the leader of the celestials after\nhaving worshipped the feet of Brahm\u0101. And the sun too journeying arrived\nthere. They both simultaneously espied that female form and were\npossessed by desire. What more, their whole body, as soon as they saw\nher, was moved and the firmness of the mind shaken. Thereupon Indra\nbegot on her a son named V\u0101li for he originated from her hairs and the\nsun begot on her another son, who was named Sugriva for he originated\nfrom her neck. Thus the two highly powerful monkeys being born, Indra\nwent back to his region having conferred upon V\u0101li an un-ending garland\nof gold. And having engaged Hanum\u0101n, the Wind-god\u2019s son in the service\nof Sugriva, the sun too went back to the sky. O king, the sun having\nrisen after, that night Riksharaja again obtained his own real monkey\nshape. Having thus regained his monkey form he made his two highly\npowerful sons,\u2014leading monkeys, assuming shapes at will and having tawny\neyes, drink honey, like nectar. Thereupon taking them, he came to the\nabode of Brahm\u0101. Beholding his son Riksharaja with his sons, Brahm\u0101, the\ngrand-father of the celestials, consoled him in diverse ways. Then he\nordered the celestial messenger saying\u2014\"At my behest, O emissary, do\nthou proceed to the highly picturesque city of Kishkindh\u0101. That golden,\nbig and charming city is worthy of Riksharaj\u0101. There live many thousand\nmonkeys besides others assuming shapes at will. It abounds in various\njewels, invincible, is inhabited by four _Varnas_, holy and sacred. At\nmy command Visvvakarm\u0101 has constructed the celestial and picturesque\ncity of Kishkindh\u0101. Do thou place there Rikshar\u0101ja, the foremost of\nmonkeys, with his sons; and having invited the leading monkeys and\nothers and received them courteously do thou install him on the throne.\nOn beholding this monkey-chief, gifted with intelligence they shall be\nall subject to him.\" Brahm\u0101, having said this, the celestial emissary,\nwith Rikshar\u0101ja before him, proceeded to the highly picturesque city of\nKishkindh\u0101. And having entered there with the velocity of the wind, he,\nat the command of the Patriarch, crowned the leading monkey Rikshar\u0101ja\nas king. And being sprinkled according to the ceremonies of\ninstallation, and adorned with a crown and various other ornaments he,\nwith a delighted heart, engaged in governing the monkeys. All the\nmonkeys, residing on earth consisting of seven insular continents and\nbounded by ocean, came under his subjection. Thus Rikshar\u0101ja was both\nthe father and mother of V\u0101li and Sugriva. May good betide thee. The\nlearned who listen to and make others hear this story, conducing to the\nenhancement of their delight, get all their desires and objects\naccomplished. I have duty described to thee at length all events and\nhave recounted the stories relating to the birth of the Kings of monkeys\nand R\u0101kahsasas.\u2019\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIII.\n\n\nHearing this excellent Paur\u0101nic theme in the company of his brothers,\nR\u0101ghava was greatly surprised. Thereupon hearing the words of the Rishi\nhe said:\u2014\"By thy favour I have listened to the highly sacred theme. O\nforemost of Munis. I was greatly worked up with curiosity in this\nmatter. I am not the least surprised to learn, O twice-born one, that\nthose two sons of the celestials would be two highly powerful leading\nmonkeys since their origin is divine.\" R\u0101ma having said this Agastya\nsaid:\u2014\"O thou having long arms, thus in the days of yore the birth of\nV\u0101li and Sugriva was brought about. O king, I shall now again relate to\nthee another divine theme. O R\u0101ma I shall now describe to thee why did\nR\u0101vana steal Sit\u0101. Do thou hear it attentively. O R\u0101ma, in the golden\nage, having bowed unto the Patriarch\u2019s son, the truthful Rishi\nSanatkumar, highly effulgent, resplendent like unto the sun, shining in\nhis native brilliance and seated at his own place, R\u0101vana, the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, said:\u2014\u2019Who is now amongst the celestials brave and powerful,\nby whose help the celestials can vanquish their enemies and whom the\ntwice-born ones daily worship and the devotees meditate upon. O thou\nhaving piety for wealth, O thou gifted with six sorts of wealth, do thou\ndescribe this to me kindly.\u2019 Being apprised of R\u0101vana\u2019s intention, the\nsaint Sanatkumar, who saw every thing through his devotion, said to him\nout of love\u2014\u2019Hear my son. The learned duly, in their sacrifices, worship\nthat Hari, respected of people and drinking nectar, who is the lord of\nthe universe, whoso origin we do not know, who is daily worshipped by\nthe celestials and Asuras, who is highly powerful N\u0101r\u0101yana from whose\nnavel has sprung Brahm\u0101, the creator of the world, and who has created\nthe universe consisting of mobile and immobile beings. The Yogis\nmeditate upon him and celebrate sacrifices in his honor according to the\nPur\u0101nas, Vedas, _Panchar\u0101tra_ and other rituals. He always vanquisheth\nin encounter Daityas Danavas, Rakshasas and all other enemies of the\ncelestials and every one of them worships him.\u2019 Hearing those words of\nthe great ascetic Sanatkumar, R\u0101vana, the lord of R\u0101kshasas, bowing,\nreplied:\u2014\u2019Being slain by Hari to what station do the Daityas, Danavas\nand R\u0101kshasas attain? And why doth Hari destroy them?\u2019 Whereto\nSanatkumar replied:\u2014\u2019Whoever are slain by the celestials do eternally\nreside in their region. And being banished therefrom, they again take\ntheir birth on earth. Thus by the misery and happiness acquired in their\npristine existence, they go through births and deaths. O king, all the\nmonarchs, slain by Janarddana, holding discus and the lord of the triple\nworld, attained to his own region; even his anger becometh like a boon.\u2019\nHearing those words given vent to by the great ascetic Sanatkumar the\nnight-ranger R\u0101vana, being worked up with delight and surprise, began to\nmeditate how he should enter into conflict with Hari.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIV.\n\n\n\"The vicious-souled R\u0101vana thinking thus the great ascetic again gave\nvent to accents. \u2019O thou having long arms, what thou hast desired in thy\nmind shall be encompassed in the great encounter. Be thou happy and wait\nfor some time.\u2019 Hearing this the long-armed (R\u0101vana) again said to the\nascetic\u2014\u2019Do thou tell me at length what are his marks.\u2019 Hearing the\nwords of the lord of R\u0101kshasas, the ascetic replied:\u2014\u2019Hearken, I shall\nrelate to thee every thing, O foremost of R\u0101kshasas. That great deity\npervadeth all, is minute, invisible ever-existing, and manifest over the\nuniverse consisting of mobile and immobile creations. He is present in\nthe celestial region, in the earth, in the region underneath the earth,\non the mountains, in the forests, in all stationary objects, in all\nrivers and in all cities. He is Om, truth, S\u0101bitri and earth. He is\nknown as the deity Dhar\u0101dhara (holder of earth) and Ananta. He is day,\nnight, morning and evening, Yama, the moon, K\u0101la, the wind, Brahm\u0101,\nRudra, Indra and water. He makes the world manifest and shine; he\ncreates them, destroys them and governs them. He sporteth, is eternal,\nthe lord of men, Vishnu, Purana and the only destroyer of the world.\nWhat is the use of speaking more, O Das\u0101nana, He comprehends the three\nworlds, the mobile and immobile. Wearing a yellow raiment like unto the\nfilaments of lotus, N\u0101r\u0101yana, resembling dark-blue lotus in colour, is\nresplendant like unto clouds in the welkin accompanied by lightning. And\ncovering his person, Lakshmi, in the shape of warfare, lies stationed in\nhis body like unto lightning in the clouds. The celestials, Asuras or\nN\u0101gas\u2014none is capable of casting his looks upon him. He alone can see\nhim with whom he is pleased, O my son; neither by the fruits of\nsacrifices, asceticism, self-control, gifts, sacrifices, nor by anything\nelse can one behold the Illustrious Deity. Those alone can see Him, who\nhave devoted themselves, their life and being, unto Him and who, by\nvirtue of discriminative knowledge, have got their sins burnt. If thou\nart willing to behold him, hear, if thou dost like, I shall describe\neverything at length. At the end of the golden age and the beginning of\nTret\u0101 Yuga the deity N\u0101r\u0101yana shall assume a human form for the benefit\nof men and celestials. A son by the name of R\u0101ma shall be born unto\nDasaratha, of the Ikshw\u0101ku race who shall govern earth. R\u0101ma shall be\nhighly effulgent, highly powerful and in patience like unto earth\u2014and\nthe enemies in the encounter shall not be able to eye him as they cannot\nthe sun. In this wise the lord N\u0101r\u0101yana shall appear in a human form. At\nthe behest of his sire, the pious and the high-minded R\u0101ma shall sojourn\nin the forest of Dandaka in the company of his brother. His spouse the\ngracious Lakshmi, shall be celebrated under the appellation of Sit\u0101. She\nwill be born as the daughter of Janaka, the king of Mithil\u0101 and will\ncome out of earth. In beauty she shall be matchless on earth and be\ngifted with auspicious marks and shall always follow R\u0101ma like a shadow\nas the rays follow the moon. She will be graced with a good conduct,\nchaste and patient; and Sit\u0101 and R\u0101ma shall always appear together like\nthe rays of the sun. R\u0101vana, I have thus related to you everything about\nthe N\u0101r\u0101yana, the great Brahman, eternal and incomprehensible.\u2019 O\nR\u0101ghava, hearing those words, the highly powerful lord of R\u0101kshasas\nbegan to concert plans for entering into conflict with thee. Meditating\nagain and again over Sanatkum\u0101r\u2019s words and delighted he began to\njourney for battle.\" Hearing those words, R\u0101ma, with his eyes expanded\nin surprise, was greatly wondered. And being delighted he again said to\nAgastya, the foremost of the wise:\u2014\"Do thou recount the ancient\nstories.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XLV.\n\n\nThe highly effulgent and illustrious Agastya, sprung from a vessel,\nagain addressed the humble R\u0101ma as the great Patriarch sprung from lotus\nspoke unto the Great Deity, he said to R\u0101ma, having truth for his\nprowess:\u2014\"Do thou hear.\" Saying this, the highly effulgent Agastya began\nto narrate the last portion of the story. The high-minded saint, with a\ndelighted heart, described unto R\u0101ma all he had heard and narrated. \"O\nhigh-minded R\u0101ma, having long arms, it is for this reason that the\nvicious-souled R\u0101vana stole away Janaki, the daughter of king Janaka. O\nthou having long arms! O thou of many glories! O thou invincible! N\u0101rada\nrecounted this story unto me on the summit of the mountain-chief Meru. O\nR\u0101ghava, the highly effulgent one narrated unto me the last portion of\nthis story in the presence of the celestials, Gandharvas, Siddhas,\nascetics and other great men. O lord of kings, O conferrer of honors, do\nthou listen to that story which removeth monstrous iniquity. Hearing\nthis, O thou having long arms, the Rishis, and the celestials with\ndelighted hearts, said to the ascetic N\u0101rada He who shall reverentially\nlisten to this story every day, shall be blessed with sons and grandsons\nand be honored in the region of the celestials.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVI.\n\n\n\"Thereupon being desirous of achieving victories, R\u0101vana, the lord of\nR\u0101kshasas, proud of his strength, began to journey over the earth in the\ncompany of the heroic R\u0101kshasas. Whoever, amongst the Daityas, D\u0101navas\nand R\u0101kshasis was reported to him as being powerful he used to invite\nfor battle. O king of earth, having thus traversed the whole world, the\nten-necked demon saw the saint N\u0101rada returning to his own region from\nBrahmaloka. Like the second sun he was proceeding through the clouds.\nR\u0101vana, with a delighted heart, neared him and addressed the celestial\nsaint N\u0101rada with folded palms, saying:\u2014\u2019O thou gifted with six sorts of\nwealth, thou hast seen many a time all creations from Brahm\u0101 down to an\ninsect. Do thou tell me, O great one, the inhabitants of which world are\nmore powerful? I wish to fight with them according to my desire.\u2019\nWhereto, thinking for a moment, the celestial saint N\u0101rada replied:\u2014\u2019O\nking, there is an insular continent near the milky ocean. All the\ninhabitants that live there are gifted with strength\u2014effulgent like the\nrays of the moon, huge-bodied, highly powerful and have a voice deep as\nthe muttering of the clouds. They are all greatly beautiful, patient and\nhave huge arms. O king of R\u0101kshasas, I have seen in Swetadwipa such\npowerful men, as thou dost want to see on this earth.\u2019 Hearing the words\nof N\u0101rada, R\u0101vana said:\u2014\u2019O celestial saint, why are the inhabitants of\nSwetadwipa powerful? And how did those high-souled ones come to live\nthere? O lord, do thou relate to me everything at length. Thou dost\nobserve the whole universe like a myrobalam in thy palms.\u2019 Hearing the\nwords of R\u0101vana, the celestial saint said:\u2014\u2019O lord of R\u0101kshasas, the\ninhabitants of Swetadwipa are perpetually devoted unto N\u0101r\u0101yana with\nwhole-mindedness and earnestly worship Him. They have always their\nhearts and minds devoted unto Him and are all high-souled. Having\nrendered their lives and souls unto N\u0101r\u0101yana, they have been blessed\nwith their abode in Swetadwipa. Those, who are slain in the encounter\nwith his bow bent by Vishnu\u2014the holder of discus and the preserver of\nthe world, attain to the celestial region. Neither by sacrifice, devout\npenance, self-control nor excellent gifts may be obtained the celestial\nregion full of bliss.\u2019 Hearing the words of N\u0101rada, the Ten necked demon\nwas worked up with surprise and meditating for some time said \u2019I shall\nenter into conflict with him.\u2019 Thereupon inviting N\u0101rada he proceeded to\nSwetadwipa. Thinking for a long time and being curious to witness that\nwondrous encounter, N\u0101rada speedily went there. He was ever fond of\nsport and warfare. Filling all the quarters with dreadful leonine roars\nR\u0101vana with all the R\u0101kshasas moved towards the Swetadwipa. After N\u0101rada\nhad reached there, the illustrious Da\u00e7\u0101nana went to that insular\ncontinent beyond even the reach of the celestials. Being struck by the\nradiant heat of that insular continent, the Puspaka car, of the mighty\nR\u0101vana, could not stand there like clouds scattered by the wind. Having\narrived at that dreadful insular continent the councillors of the lord\nof R\u0101kshasas, fearfully said to R\u0101vana. \u2019O lord, we are all stupified\nand beside ourselves with fear. We cannot anyhow stand here; how shall\nwe fight?\u2019 Saying this the R\u0101kshasas fled away into all directions. And\nDa\u00e7\u0101nana too sent away his golden car Pushpaka with them. Having thus\nsent away his chariot and assuming a dreadful figure he alone entered\nSwetadwipa. At the time of his entering he was seen by the females\nthere. One of them holding him by the hand and smiling said \u2019Why hast\nthou come hither? Who art thou? Who is thy father? and what for hast\nthou come here? Do thou definitely say.\u2019 Hearing those words, O king,\nR\u0101vana, in anger said:\u2014\u2019I am the son of the ascetic Visrava, I am R\u0101vana\nby name; I have come hither being desirous of fighting; but I do not\nbehold anyone here.\u2019 The vicious-souled R\u0101vana having said this all the\nyoung damsels laughed gently. But one of them, being enraged, took up\nR\u0101vana, like a child, as if in sport and hurled him amongst her\ncompanions. And addressing another she said:\u2014\u2019Behold, I have caught this\nblack R\u0101vana, having twenty arms and ten faces, like a small insect.\u2019\nThereupon R\u0101vana, being worn out with hurling, passed from one one hand\nto another. Being thus hurled the learned and powerful R\u0101vana, in anger,\nseverely bit the palms of that fair one. Being overwhelmed with pain\nthat damsel let him off. Thereupon, another, taking that R\u0101kshasa-chief,\nrose up in the welkin. R\u0101vana, again waxing wroth tore her with his\nnails. And being left off by that damsel, the terrified night-ranger\nfell down into the waters of the deep. The females, inhabiting that\ninsular continent again and again in this wise hurled R\u0101vana. Beholding\nhim thus distressed the highly effulgent N\u0101rada danced in joy and\nsurprise. O thou having long arms, being apprised of this, the\nvicious-souled R\u0101vana stole away Sit\u0101 with a view to meet death at thy\nhands. Thou art N\u0101r\u0101yana, holding discus, conch and club; thou hast in\nthy hands the bow, a lotus, thunder-bolt and other weapons; thou art\nworshipped of all deities; thou art graced with the mystic mark\nSribatsa, adored by all celestials, hast a lotus navel, art a great\nascetic, and Hrishikesha declaring fearlessness unto all devotees. Thou\nhast assumed a human form to bring about the destruction of R\u0101vana. Dost\nthou not recognise thyself as N\u0101r\u0101yana? O great one, do not forget\nthyself; do thou recollect thy real self. The Patriarch Brahm\u0101 said that\nthou art subtler than the subtle. Thou art the the three qualities, the\nthree Vedas and the regions\u2014that of the celestials, of the mortals and\nthe region under the earth. Thy work is manifest in time, past, present\nand future; thou art the observer of three Vedas and the destroyer of\nthe enemies of the celestials. With thy three steps, thou didst, in the\ndays of yore, traverse the three worlds. Thou wert born of Aditi, as the\nyoungest brother of Indra for binding Bali. Thou art the eternal Vishnu.\nTo extend thy favours unto humanity thou hast been born as man. O\nforemost of the celestials, the work of the deities hath been\naccomplished. The vicious R\u0101vana, with his sons and relatives, hath been\nslain. The Rishis, having piety for their wealth and all the deities\nhave been pleased. O foremost of gods\u2014all this hath been brought about\nby thy favours; and the whole universe hath been pacified. Sit\u0101 is the\nvery personation of Lakshmi, sprung from earth. It is for thee that she\nhath been born in the race of Janaka. Bringing her into Lank\u0101 R\u0101vana\nprotected her with care like his mother. R\u0101ma, I have thus related to\nthee the entire story. Hearing this from the Rishi Sanatkumar, the\nlong-lived N\u0101rada described this unto me. Da\u00e7\u0101nana, to a letter I\nfollowed the instructions of Sanatkumar. Who ever listens to this story\nat the time of Sraddha, the rice, offered by him, becoming\ninexhaustible, reaches his manes.\" Hearing this celestial theme, the\nlotus-eyed R\u0101ma along with his brothers was greatly surprised. And\nhaving their eyes expanded with delight the monkeys, with Sugriva, the\nR\u0101kshasas with Bibhishana, the kings with their councillors, and all\nother assembled pious Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras,\ndelightedly espied R\u0101ma. Thereupon the highly effulgent Agastya said to\nR\u0101ma:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, we have all seen thee and been honoured; now we shall\ndepart.\" Saying this, they, being honored, repaired to their respective\nhabitations. The sun set, R\u0101ma, the foremost of men, gave farewell to\nmonkeys and their king and duly went through the Sandhya rite. Gradually\nnight set in and he entered the inner appartment.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVII.\n\n\nKakutstha, knowing himself, being thus duly installed, the first night,\nenhancing the delight of the citizens, was spent. At dawn, the\nprisoners, to wake up the king, arrived at the palace. And those\nsongsters, well trained and having a musical voice like the Kinnaras,\nbegan to eulogize the heroic king, to the increase of his joy. \"Awake, O\ngentle hero, increasing Kausaly\u0101\u2019s joy, O foremost of men. Thyself being\nasleep the whole universe will be laid up with sleep. In prowess thou\nart like Vishnu, in beauty thou art like two Aswins, in intellect thou\nart like Vrihaspati and in the capacity of governing thou art like the\nPatriarch Brahm\u0101. Thy patience equals that of earth, thy effulgence\nequals that of the sun, thy velocity equals the wind and thy gravity\nresembles the deep. Thou art stable like a stake, gentle like the moon.\nNo king like thee had flourished before\u2014no other shall follow. O\nforemost of men, thou art irrepressible, ever pious and engaged in\nbringing about welfare unto thy subjects. Fame and wealth shall never\nrenounce thee. O K\u0101kutstha, in thee are perpetually stationed grace and\nwealth.\" Thus did the panegyrists eulogise him in various sweet accents\nand R\u0101ghava got up. Like unto Hari rising up from the bed of serpents\nR\u0101ma, thus eulogized, rose up from his bed covered with a a white\ncoverlet. Taking white vessels full of water, thousands of well-trained\nsurvitors stood waiting before the high-souled (R\u0101ma). Washing his\nmouth, being purified and offering oblation unto fire, he entered the\nholy room of the tutelary deity much honored by the Ikshw\u0101kus. And there\nhaving worshipped duly the celestials, manes and the Brahmins, he,\nencircled by men, came to the outer apartment And there arrived the\nleading priests headed by Vasishtha and ministers all resplendant like\nunto fire. And there sat around R\u0101ma the Kashatrya kings hailing from\nvarious provinces as the celestials sit encircling their lord Indra. The\nillustrious Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna began to worship him and he\nappeared like a sacrifice conducted by Vedic hymns. And the servants,\nwith their eyes shut, sat around him. The twenty heroic monkeys headed\nby the highly powerful Sugriva also began to worship him. As the\nGuhyakas worship Kuvera so Bibhishana, accompanied by four R\u0101kshasas,\nwaited upon him. All those who were advanced in the study of Vedas, born\nin respectable families, and learned, bowed unto the king lowering their\nbeads. Like unto the celestial-king Indra worshipped by the saints the\nking R\u0101ma was being perpetually honored by the effulgent saints, kings,\nmonkeys, and R\u0101kshasas. He appeared more beautiful than Indra at that\ntime. And religious themes were recited in that assembly by persons\nconversant with the knowledge of Puranas.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLVIII.\n\n\nThus did the long-armed R\u0101ma spend his days looking into all\nadministrative works relating to the city and provinces. Some days\nhaving elapsed, he, with folded hands, said to Janaka, the king of\nMithil\u0101, \"Thou art our only refuge\u2014we have been reared by thee and by\nthe help of thy dreadful prowess we have been able to destroy R\u0101vana. O\nking, the relation between the families of Ikshw\u0101ku and Mithil\u0101, is\nunequalled and delightful. Taking the jewel, do thou proceed to thy own\ncity and Bharata as a help shall follow thee.\" Saying \"So be it,\" the\nking Janaka bespoke R\u0101ma \"O king, I have been delighted with seeing thee\nand thy courteous manners. The jewels collected for me, I do confer upon\nmy two daughters.\" The royal saint Janaka having gone away, R\u0101ma, with\nfolded hands and humbly said to his maternal uncle Kaikeya\u2014\"O king, this\nkingdom, myself, Bharat and Lakshmana are all at thy disposal. The old\nking might have been grieved for thy long absence. It therefore behoveth\nthee, O king, to go there to-day. With immense wealth and various jewels\nlet Lakshmana follow thee.\" Agreeing with his request Yudh\u0101jit said, \"O\nR\u0101ghava, let jewels and wealth be be inexhaustible with thee.\"\nThereupon, R\u0101ma, at first saluted and went round him and then Yudh\u0101jit,\nthe son of Kekaya, went away to his kingdom in the company of Lakshmana\nlike unto Indra (leaving for home) in the company of Vishnu on the\ndestruction of the Asura Vitra. Having bade adieu unto his maternal\nuncle R\u0101ma embraced his friend Pratardana, the undaunted king of Kashi\nand said:\u2014\"Thou hast displayed thy brotherly feelings and delight by\nmaking arrangements for my installation in the company of Bharata. O\nking, do thou now leave for thy city Baranushi, highly picturesque,\nwell-guarded, girt by strong walls on all sides and having\nwell-decorated gate-ways.\" Saying this, R\u0101ma, the descendant of\nK\u0101kutstha rose up from his seat and embraced him cordially. Having taken\nfarewell from R\u0101ma enhancing Kausalya\u2019s delight, the king of Kashi, with\nhis followers, fearlessly and speedily proceeded to his own city. Having\nbade adieu to the king of Kashi, R\u0101ma, with a smiling countenance and\nsweet accents, said to the three hundred assembled kings: \"Being well\nprotected by your own prowess, you have all displayed your great love\nfor me. By your piety, truthfulness, sagacity and strength, the\nvicious-souled R\u0101vana hath been slain. Forsooth, I am merely the\ninstrument in the destruction of R\u0101vana\u2014he hath been slain by your\nstrength. Hearing that Sit\u0101, the daughter of Janaka, had been stolen\naway from the forest the high-minded Bharata did bring you all\u2014but\nfortunately you were not constrained to go through miseries. High-minded\nas you are, you were all prepared for this work. Long since you have\ncome here. I think it better that you should proceed to your respective\nhabitations.\" Whereto the kings, greatly delighted, replied: \"O R\u0101ma, it\nis by thy good fortune that thou hast come off victorious and been\ninstalled on the throne; it is by thy good luck that thou hast got back\nSit\u0101 and the enemy Da\u00e7\u0101nana hath been vanquished. That we behold thee, O\nR\u0101ma, victorious and freed from all enemies, is our great benefit and\ndelight. The encomiums, thou hast showered upon us, are natural with\nthee. Thou art R\u0101ma, who always pleases people. Thou art worthy of being\npraised but we do not know how to praise thee. With thy permission we\nshall now leave for our respective provinces but thou shalt always\nreside in our hearts. O thou having long arms, O great king, mayst thou\nhave that love for us perpetually that we may find place in thy heart.\"\nWhereto R\u0101ma replied saying \"So be it.\" Thereupon the kings, highly\ndelighted and desirous of going, bade farewell unto R\u0101ma, with folded\npalms and being honored by him, left for their respective kingdoms.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLIX.\n\n\nHaving agitated the earth with thousands of elephants and horses the\nkings proceeded to various quarters. And being prepared to help R\u0101ma\nmany Akshauhini soldiers with many steeds waited at Ayodhy\u0101 at the\ncommand of Bharata. Those kings, proud and powerful, spoke to one\nanother\u2014\"We did not face R\u0101vana\u2014the enemy of R\u0101ma; Bharata did uselessly\ninvite us after the destruction of R\u0101vana. Had they brought us earlier,\nwe would, forsooth, have slain him. We would have, on the other side of\nthe ocean, well protected by the prowess of R\u0101ma and Lakshmana, and\nfreed from all disturbances, fought at pleasure.\" Being thus delighted,\nall those assembled princes proceeded to their respective kingdoms,\ndwelling on these and various other topics. And having arrived at their\ncelebrated cities, unscathed, abounding in delighted people, wealth,\ncrops and jewels they sent various presents of jems to R\u0101ma for his\nsatisfaction. Besides this they made over to him innumerable horses,\nconveyances, infuriated elephants, sandal, excellent ornamants, jewels,\npearls, corals, beautiful female servants and various cars. And taking\nall those jewels, the highly powerful Bharata, Lakshmana and Satrughna\nreturned to their own city. Having arrived at the picturesque city\nAyodhy\u0101 those foremost of men, made presents of various jewels unto\nR\u0101ma. Having delightedly accepted those gifts R\u0101ma in return made\npresents of them unto the successful king Sugriva, Bibhishana and other\nR\u0101kshasas and monkeys by whose help he had achieved victory. And those\nhighly powerful monkeys and night-rangers wore on their heads and arms\nthose jewels conferred on them by R\u0101ma. Having placed on his lap the\nlong-armed Angada and Hanum\u0101n, the mighty car-warrior\u2014the lotus-eyed\nR\u0101ma said to Sugriva \"Angada is thy good son and Hanum\u0101n is thy wise\ncouncillor. O Sugriva, these are always engaged in my well-being and in\ngiving me good counsels. For thee, therefore, O king of monkeys, I\nshould honor them in various ways.\" Having said this, the illustrious\nR\u0101ma took off from his arms valuable ornaments and adorned Angada and\nHanum\u0101n therewith. Thereupon having welcomed and casting loving looks\nupon the highly powerful and leading monkeys such as Neela, Kesarin,\nKumuda, Gandham\u0101dana, Sushena, Panasa, Mainda, Dwivida, J\u0101mbav\u0101n,\nGab\u0101ksha, Dhumra, Baleemukha, Prajaghna, Saun\u0101da, Dareemukha, Dadbimuka,\nIndraj\u0101nu and others, he addressed them all in sweet accents,\nsaying:\u2014\"You are all my friends like unto my limbs and brothers. O ye\ninhabitants of forests, you have saved me from the ocean of danger.\nBlessed is the king Sugriva and blessed are the friends like\nyourselves.\" Saying this R\u0101ma, the foremost of men, conferred upon them\nduly many precious clothes and ornaments and embraced them all. The\nmonkeys lived there all happily feasting on fragrant honey, well-cooked\nmeat and various fruits and roots. In this way they spent more than a\nmonth\u2014but it appeared to them as a moment on account of their devotion\nunto R\u0101ma. He, too also spent his time happily with monkeys assuming\nshapes at will, the highly powerful R\u0101kshasas and the mighty bears. In\nthis way the delighted monkeys and R\u0101kshasas spent the second winter\nmonth. Enjoying delight they thus spent their days happily in the city\nof Ayodhy\u0101 working to the welfare of R\u0101ma.\n\n\n\nSECTION XLX.\n\n\nIn this wise, the monkeys, bears and R\u0101kshasas spent their days in\nAyodhy\u0101. Thereupon the highly effulgent R\u0101ma, the descendant of Raghu\nsaid to Sugriva:\u2014\"O gentle one, proceeding to the city of Kishkindh\u0101,\nhard to be got at by the celestials and Asuras, do thou reign there\nundisturbed with thy councillors. O thou having long arms, always look\ntowards Angada, with loving eyes. Do thou, O Sugriva, protect lovingly\nthe highly powerful Hanum\u0101n, Nala, thy father-in-law Sushena, the mighty\nT\u0101ra, irrepressible Kumada, the powerful Neela, the heroic Satabali,\nMainda, Dwivida, Gaya, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarava, the irrepressible and\npowerful king of bears Jamvaban, Gandham\u0101dana, valiant Rishava,\nSupatala, Keshan, Sarabha and Sumbha\u2014these and other heroic monkeys who\ndedicated their lives to my service. Do thou never act to their\ndispleasure.\" Having said this and embraced Sugriva again and again R\u0101ma\naddressed Bibhishana with sweet accents. \"I know thou art cognizant of\npiety; the citizens, thy councillors and thy brother Kuvera also love\nthee; do thou therefore go and govern Lank\u0101 piously, O king; never\ncherish any vile intention; the honest kings always enjoy the earth. And\nmy only request to thee, O king, is that thou mayst with love remember\nme and Sugriva. Do thou now proceed, divested of sorrow.\" Hearing the\nwords of R\u0101ma, the bears, monkeys and R\u0101kshasas repeatedly exclaimed\nglory unto R\u0101ma and said \"O R\u0101ma, having long arms, thy understanding\nresembleth that of the Self-Sprung, thy prowess is equally wonderful and\nthy beauty is also _par excellence_.\" The monkeys and R\u0101kshasas having\nsaid this, Hanum\u0101n bowing, said unto R\u0101ma \"May my loving reverence be\nalways in thee, O king; may my devotion unto thee remain unshaken, O\nhero; and may my mind be not attached unto any other thing. May my life\nremain in my body as long as the stories of R\u0101ma shall be in currency on\nearth. Let not this prove otherwise. O foremost of men, O descendant of\nRaghu, may the Apsar\u0101s make me always hear of thy themes. O hero, as the\nwinds scatter the clouds so I shall remove my anxiety by listening to\nthy nectar-like themes.\" After Hanum\u0101n had said this, R\u0101ma rose up from\nhis throne and having embraced Hanum\u0101n affectionately said, \"O foremost\nof monkeys, what thou hast said, shall undoubtedly be carried out into\naction. As long as my stories shall be current on earth thy fame shall\nexist and life shall be in thy body. And as long as the world shall\nexist my themes shall be related. I cannot, even at the sacrifice of my\nlife, release myself from the debts of one good service out of the many,\nthou hast done for me, monkey; and I shall for ever remain indebted to\nthee for thy last benefaction. Or let them wear out in me, for men, at\nthe time of danger, become worthy of having their benefits returned.\"\nHaving said this, R\u0101ma took off from his neck a chain set with sapphires\nbrilliant as the rays of the moon and placed it round the neck of\nHanum\u0101n. Like unto the mountain Sumeru beautified by the rising of the\nmoon on its summit, Hanum\u0101n, the foremost of monkeys, appeared graceful\nwith the chain placed on his breast. And hearing the words of R\u0101ghava,\nthe highly powerful monkeys, one by one, saluted R\u0101ma, touching his feet\nand went away. Both Sugriva and the virtuous-souled Bibhishana embraced\nR\u0101ma and three of them were beside themselves with tears. And other\nmonkeys and R\u0101kshasas were all moved with tears and sorrow to take leave\nof R\u0101ma. Having received favours thus from the high-souled R\u0101ghava the\nmonkeys went away to their own houses like-unto bodied creatures leaving\noff their bodies. Thereupon the R\u0101kshasas, bears, monkeys, having bowed\nunto R\u0101ma, the glory of the Raghu family and with their eyes full of\ntears consequent upon his separation, went away to the countries from\nwhich they had hailed.\n\n\n\nSECTION LI.\n\n\nHaving bade adieu unto bears, monkeys and R\u0101kshasas the long-armed R\u0101ma\nbegan to live happily in the company of his brothers. Thereupon he and\nhis brothers heard from the air the following sweet accents:\u2014\"O gentle\nR\u0101ma, do thou with a delighted countenance behold me. O lord, know me as\nPushpaka coming from the abode of Kuvera. O foremost of men, at thy\ncommand I did go there to carry him. But he said to me:\u2014\u2019Having slain\nthe irrepressible R\u0101vana in battle the high-souled R\u0101ma, the foremost of\nmen, hath conquered thee. I have greatly been delighted on the\ndestruction of the vicious-souled R\u0101vana, with his relatives, sons and\nfriends. O gentle one, the great R\u0101ma hath conquered thee in Lank\u0101; I\npermit thee, therefore to convey him. Thou art the fit conveyance for\ntraversing all regions. But my earnest desire is that thou shouldst take\nR\u0101ma, the descendant of Raghu. Do, thou therefore go there at pleasure\nwithout any sorrow.\u2019 Hearing this command of the high-souled Kuvera I\nhave come to thee. Do thou fearlessly accept me. I am above the conquest\nof all the worlds. At the command of Kuvera I shall valiantly traverse\nall regions carrying out your behests.\" Hearing the words of Pushpaka,\nthe highly powerful R\u0101ma said to the returning car stationed in the\nwelkin:\u2014\"O foremost of cars, Pushpaka, if such be the case, do thou come\nhere; while the lord of wealth hath commanded thus, I will not be\nblameable for bad character.\" Having said this and worshipped it with\ndried paddy, fragrant flowers and incense, R\u0101ma, having long arms,\naddressed Pushpaka\u2014\"Do thou go now and come here whenever I shall\nremember thee. While proceeding by the welkin, O gentle one, be not\nsorry for our separation. And be not obstructed in thy course whilst\ntraversing all the quarters.\" Having been adored by R\u0101ma and saving \u2019So\nbe it\u2019 Pushpaka proceeded towards its wished-for direction. And the holy\nPushpaka car having thus vanished, Bharata, with folded palms, said to\nR\u0101ma, the delight of Raghus\u2014\"O hero, during thy divine administration,\nwe have seen many inhuman creatures and objects speak like men. During\nall these months since thy installation subjects have not suffered from\nany disease. Even the most aged animals have not met with death. The\nfemale, without any risk, have been giving birth to children and all\npeople are plump and delighted. The delight of the citizens hath been\ngreatly increased, O king. Indra hath been pouring nectar-like showers\nin due time. The wind is always delightful and wholesome. O king of men,\nthe inhabitants of the city and provinces are all saying \u2019We may have\nfor ever such a king.\u2019\" Hearing those sweet accents given vent to by\nBharata, R\u0101ma, the foremost of kings was greatly delighted.\n\n\n\nSECTION LII.\n\n\nHaving sent away the golden Pushpaka, the highly powerful R\u0101ma entered\nthe Asoka forest beautified by sandal, Aguru, Mangoe, dark sandal and\nDebadaru trees, and covered with Champaka, Aguru, N\u0101ga, Kesara, Madhuka,\nPanasa, Sarja, P\u0101rij\u0101ta, resembling smokeless fire, Sodhra, Neepa,\nArjuna, N\u0101ga, Saptaparna, Muktaka, Mand\u0101ra, Kadalee and various\ncreepers, abounding in Priyanga, Kadamba, Vakula, Jambu, pomegranate,\nand Kadali trees, containing various flowers, picturesque, having many\nfruits, fragrant, decorated with new leaves and adorned with various\nother trees. There were many a tree, having profuse foliage and flowers\nand covered with maddened black bees as if constructed by architects.\nThe forest-land was variegated and beautified by cuckoos, the ornaments\nof mangoe trees, black-bees and various birds of various colours.\nAmongst the trees beautifying the forest some were gold-hued, some were\nradiant as the flame of fire and some were like red collyrium. There\nwere various flowers, spreading fragrance and making garlands. And there\nwere various ponds filled with pure water. The stairs of those ponds\nwere made of corals and the ground was of crystal. And they were all\nfilled with lotuses and lilies. They were beautified with Chakrabakas\nand the banks were graced with variegated trees and flowers. And the\nforest was encompassed by stone walls and in the inside were dwelling\nmany a S\u0101rdula bird resembling _Vaiduryas_. All the trees in the forest\nwere filled with flowers. And the rocks there, covered with flowers\nfalling down from trees, appeared like welkin beautified with stars. And\nR\u0101ma\u2019s Asoka forest was like unto Indra\u2019s Nandana and Kuvera\u2019s\nChitraratha made by Brahm\u0101. Having entered the rich Asoka forest\nabounding in many seats and houses and creepers R\u0101ma sat on an excellent\nseat, covered with a beautiful coverlet and well constructed. Like unto\nPurandara with Sachi he took Sit\u0101 by the hand, made her sit and drink\nthe wine distilled in the province of Mira. And in no time the servants\nbrought for him well-cooked meat and various fruits. Being inebriete the\nbeautiful Apsar\u0101s, well-skilled in the art of singing and dancing, began\nto dance before R\u0101ma in the company of Kinnaris. The virtuous-souled\nR\u0101ma, the foremost of those who know how to please, satisfied those\nbeautiful damsels adorned with various ornaments. And Sit\u0101 sitting by\nhim, he appeared like the effulgent Vasishtha in the company of\nArundhati. Being greatly delighted the celestial-like R\u0101ma pleased every\nday Sit\u0101 resembling a celestial damsel. Sit\u0101 and R\u0101ghava thus spent\ntheir days happily. And thus was spent the delightful winter giving all\nenjoyments. Enjoying various things the high-souled R\u0101ma and Sit\u0101 spent\nten thousand years. Once on a time, having performed all the religious\nceremonies, in the fore part of the day, R\u0101ma, to spend the evening,\nentered the inner apartment. Sit\u0101, too, having performed all religious\nceremonies, at first attended to the service of her mothers-in-law.\nThereupon wearing a beautifully coloured cloth and being adorned with\nvarious ornaments Sit\u0101 appeared before R\u0101ma like unto Sachi approaching\nthe king of celestials in heaven. And beholding the auspicious signs of\npregnancy in his spouse R\u0101ma attained to excessive delight. Thereupon he\nsaid to the beautiful Sit\u0101 resembling a celestial damsel:\u2014\"O\nVaidehi\u2014signs of pregnancy are manifest in thee. What desires of thine\ncan we satisfy?\" Smiling a little the daughter of Janaka said:\u2014\"O\nR\u0101ghava, I wish to behold the holy hermitages. I wish to salute the\ngreatly effulgent Rishis living on fruits and roots and residing on the\nbanks of the Ganges. I greatly desire, O R\u0101ma, that I may spend even one\nnight in the hermitage of the Rishis living on fruits and roots.\"\nWhereto replied R\u0101ma of unwearied actions, saying \"So be it. Believe me,\nO Vaidehi, that thou shalt undoubtedly go there to-morrow.\" Having thus\naddressed Maithili, the daughter of Janaka, R\u0101ma, the descendant of\nK\u0101kutstha, then issued out of the inner apartment and entered the middle\none filled with his friends.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIII.\n\n\nR\u0101ma having taken his seat there, the experienced councillors encircling\nhim began to dwell upon many amusing stories. Bijoya, Madhumatta,\nKasyapa, Mangala, Kula, Surajni, Kalya, Vadra Dantavakta, Sumagadha\u2014all\ndelightedly began to introduce many amusings talks before the\nhigh-souled R\u0101ma. Thereupon R\u0101ma incidentally addressed them saying\u2014\"O\nVadra, how do the inhabitants of the city and provinces talk about Sit\u0101,\nBharata, Lakshmana, Satrughna and the mother Kaikeyi? The kings, when\nthey deviate from the paths of justice, become objects of censure in the\nhouses of men and even in the forests as well.\" R\u0101ma having said this,\nVadra with folded hands replied:\u2014\"O king, the citizens speak many good\nthings about thee; besides they dilate upon many things in their own\nhouses regarding thine conquest acquired by the destruction of the\nTen-necked demon.\" Hearing the words of Vadra, R\u0101ma said:\u2014\"Without\nhiding any thing, do thou relate every thing from the beginning as they\nare; what good and bad things have been given vent to by the citizens.\nHearing the good and bad opinions of the citizens I shall desist from\nbad actions and engage in good ones. Whatever vicious actions of mine\nare talked of by subjects in cities and provinces do thou relate unto me\nconfidently and fearlessly.\" Hearing the sweet accents of R\u0101ma, Vadra,\nwith a quiescent mind and folded palms, said:\u2014\"Hear, O king, I shall\nrelate to thee all those unpleasant things frequently dwelt upon by\npeople in court-yards, markets, public roads, forests and, gardens.\nIndeed R\u0101ma hath accomplished a wonderfully hard work; our ancestors,\nthe celestials, the D\u0101navas\u2014none heard of constructing a bridge over the\nocean? R\u0101ma hath slain the irrepressible R\u0101vana with his army and\nbrought over the monkeys, bears and Rakhasas to his own side. Having\ndiscomfitted R\u0101vana, in the encounter R\u0101ma hath released Sit\u0101, but not\nbeing the least enraged on account of her being touched by R\u0101vana he\nhath brought her to his own city. R\u0101vana did forcibly place Sit\u0101 on his\nlap; how can then R\u0101ma enjoy delight in her company? Having taken her to\nthe city of Lank\u0101, R\u0101vana did keep her in the Asoka forest and Sit\u0101 was\nbrought under the control of R\u0101kshashes. Still R\u0101ma hath not been worked\nup with hatred by Sit\u0101. From now we shall also brooke the bad conduct of\nour wives\u2014for the subjects always tread the footsteps of their King. O\nKing, the subjects thus talk of many things in cities and provinces.\"\nHearing those words of Vadra, R\u0101ghava was greatly sorry and asked his\nfriends saying \"Do the subjects thus talk about me?\" Thereupon lowering\ntheir heads and saluting him they all said to R\u0101ghava, of a depressed\nmind\u2014\"For sooth, the subjects thus talk about.\" Thereupon K\u0101kutstha, the\nslayer of enemies, hearing all those words, dismissed his friends.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIV.\n\n\nHaving sent away his friends and determined what to do, R\u0101ma, the\ndelight of the R\u0101ghus, commanded the warder, who was seated hard by,\nsaying:\u2014\"Do thou speedily bring here, Lakshmana the son of Sumitra and\ngifted with auspicious marks, the great Bharata and the irrepressible\nSatrughna.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma and placing his folded palms on\nhis head the warder reached the house of Lakshmana and unobstructed\nentered therein. And having saluted him, with folded palms he said to\nthe high-souled Lakshmana:\u2014\"The King wishes to behold thee\u2014do thou soon\ngo there.\" Thereupon being apprised of R\u0101ghava\u2019s command and saying \"So\nbe it,\" Saumitri ascended his car and went speedily towards R\u0101ma\u2019s\nabode. Having beheld Lakshmana\u2019s departure the warder humbly went to\nBharata and having blessed him with folded hands said:\u2014\"The King wishes\nto see thee.\" Hearing of the command of R\u0101ma from the warder, the highly\npowerful Bharata at once got up from his seat and proceeded on foot.\nSeeing Bharata\u2019s departure the warder speedily went to Satrughna and\nwith folded hands said:\u2014\"Do thou come, O foremost Raghus, the King\nwisheth to behold thee.\" Hearing the words of the warder Satrughna\nlowered his head and rising up speedily proceeded to R\u0101ma. Thereupon\nreturning, the warder, with folded hands, communicated unto R\u0101ma, the\narrivals of his brothers. So long R\u0101ma was engaged poorly in anxious\nmeditation with his crown bent downwards. Informed of the princes\u2019\narrival he commanded the warder, \"Do thou soon bring the princes here.\nMy life depends upon them. They are my dearest life.\" Having obtained\nR\u0101ma\u2019s command, the princes, clothed in white raiment, entered there,\nwith folded palms and quiescent mind. Having entered there they saw that\nR\u0101ma\u2019s countenance was shorn of beauty like unto the moon possessed by\nR\u0101hu, the setting sun and the withered lotus and his eyes were full of\ntears. Having approached him quickly, and saluted his feet they\nanxiously sat there. Thereupon having wiped off his tears and embraced\nthem with his arms he raised up the princes and pressed them to take\ntheir seats. Thereupon he said\u2014\"You are mine all; you constitute my\nlife; O princes, I am governing the kingdom gained by you; you are all\nlearned, pious and intelligent. Do ye follow the duties I point out.\"\nR\u0101ma, the descendant of K\u0101kustha having said this, they, with anxiety\nand attention, awaited the orders of the king.\n\n\n\nSECTION LV.\n\n\nThe princes were all waiting with a poorly heart when R\u0101ma, with a dried\ncountenance, addressed them, saying:\u2014\"May good betide you\u2014do not act\nagainst my desire. Hear, what the citizens have been talking about me\nand Sit\u0101. The citizens as well as the inhabitants of provinces have been\nshowering censures upon me. I have been pierced to the very vitals by\nthose accusations. I have been born in the illustrious family of the\nhigh-souled Ikshw\u0101kus. Sit\u0101 hath been born also in the holy family of\nthe great Janaka; gentle Lakshmana, thou knowest how in the solitary\nforest of Dandaka, Sit\u0101 was stolen away by R\u0101vana and how have I slain\nhim. At that time even I was stricken with anxiety regarding Sit\u0101 that\nhow I could take her home since she had resided in the house of the\nR\u0101kshasas. To secure my confidence, Sit\u0101, in your very presence, entered\nfire. At that time, O Saumitri, fire, carrying sacrificial oblations and\nthe wind of the sky declared Sit\u0101\u2019s innocence before the celestials. In\nthe presence of all the Rishis and gods, the Sun and Moon announced the\ninnocence of the daughter of Janaka. Indra, the king of the celestials,\nhimself handed over the chaste Sit\u0101 unto me in the island of Lank\u0101. My\nmind knoweth Sit\u0101 as chaste for ever. So, at that time I came back to\nAyodhy\u0101 with Sit\u0101. But now a great sorrow consequent upon the censure of\nthe citizens and villagers hath pierced my heart. He, who is notorious\non this earth and as long as that notoriety remains current, is classed\namongst the vile. Even the celestials speak ill of bad name\u2014whereas fame\nis adored in all the regions. Therefore the high-souled exert their best\nto acquire reputation. O foremost of men, what to speak of the daughter\nof Janaka\u2014I can even renounce my life and yourselves in fear of a bad\nname. Do ye therefore perceive into what great abyss of sorrow and\nill-fame I have fallen. Up to this time I have never experienced such a\nmighty grief. Do thou, O Lakshmana, next morning, ascending the car\ndriven by Sumantra, take away Sit\u0101 to another country. There is a\npicturesque hermitage of the high-souled V\u0101lmiki situate on the Tamas\u0101\non the Other side of the river Ganges. Do thou, O delight of Raghus,\nsoon come back, leaving behind Sit\u0101 in that lovely place; Do thou carry\nout my words. Do thou not speak anything regarding Sit\u0101\u2019s banishment, O\nSaumitri, if dost thou request me to desist from this, it shall be the\nmore unpleasant unto me. For my life and arms, do ye not proffer any\nrequest unto me regarding this, If so, you shall only endanger my\nwell-being and I shall ever regard you as my enemies. If you obey my\nbehests, do ye honor my words now. Do ye take away Sit\u0101 from here. Ere\nthis Sit\u0101 had communicated her intention of beholding the hermitages of\nascetics on the banks of the Ganges. Let that desire of hers be now\nsatisfied.\" While saying this, the eyes of the virtuous-souled R\u0101ma were\ncovered with tears. Sighing hard like unto an elephant, he, with a heart\nstricken with grief, departed to his own quarter in the company of his\nbrothers.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVI.\n\n\nThe night being over, Lakshmana, with a poor heart and dried\ncountenance, addressed Sumantra, saying:\u2014\"O charioteer, do thou soon\nyoke quick-coursing steeds to an excellent chariot, and for Sit\u0101 place\nan excellent seat on the car. At the command of the King, I shall take\nSit\u0101 to the hermitage of the ascetics ever engaged in pious actions. Do\nthou soon bring the chariot here.\" Obeying the mandate, and bringing a\nbeautiful and holy car drawn by first-rate steeds and having excellent\nseats, he said to Saumitri, the enhancer of friends\u2019 honor \"O lord, here\nis the chariot ready\u2014do thou now satisfy thine desire.\" Hearing the\nwords of Sumantra, Lakshmana, the foremost of men, approached Sit\u0101 in\nthe inner apartment and said:\u2014\"O queen, thou didst request the king to\nshow thee the hermitage\u2014the king too did promise\u2014he hath now commanded\nme to take thee there. Do thou therefore follow me, at the command of\nthe king. I shall, at his behest, take thee to the forest where dwell\nmany an ascetic.\" Hearing the words of the high-souled Lakshmana, J\u0101naki\nattained to excessive delight and became anxious to go. Taking various\njewels and costly clothes she said to Lakshmana on the eve of her\ndeparture\u2014\"I shall confer these ornaments, these costly clothes and\nriches on the female ascetics.\" Saying \"We shall do the same,\" he made\nSit\u0101 ascend the car and remembering R\u0101ma\u2019s command proceeded, being\ncarried by quick-coursing steeds. Thereupon Sit\u0101 said to Lakshmana, the\nenhancer of prosperity:\u2014\"O descendent of Raghu, I behold many\ninauspicious omens. My right eye and body are trembling. My mind is\ngrowing depressed. It is stricken with anxiety and I have accordingly\ngrown restless. I behold the earth as void of all happiness. O thou fond\nof brothers\u2014hath thy brother met with any calamity? Are all my\nmothers-in-law and subjects well?\" Saying this Sit\u0101, with folded hands,\nbegan to pray unto gods. Hearing this Lakshmana bowed unto her touching\nthe ground with his crown, and though greatly sorry, said as if\ndelighted \"All well.\" Thereupon having arrived at the hermitage situate\non the banks of Gomati Lakshmana spent the night there. Thereupon at\ndawn he rose up and asked the charioteer to get the chariot ready,\nsaying, \"Like unto the powerful Mah\u0101deva we shall hold the waters of the\nBh\u0101girathi on our head.\" Thereupon Sumantra yoked the horses, gifted\nwith the fleet course of the mind, to the chariot and with folded hands\nsaid to Sit\u0101. \"Do thou ascend the car.\" According to the request of the\nintelligent charioteer, Sit\u0101, with Lakshmana, ascended that excellent\nconveyance. In no time the daughter of Janaka, having expansive eyes,\narrived at the banks of the Ganges removing all sins, Reaching the\ncurrents of Bh\u0101girathi before noon Lakshmana, on beholding her, cried\naloud. Thereupon beholding Lakshmana thus distressed, Sit\u0101, conversant\nwith piety, waxing anxious said. \"Why art thou weeping, Lakshmana? I\nhave reached the banks of Janhavi, for which I have so long desired. So\nthis is the time for rejoicing and do not give me pain at this time. O\nforemost of men, thou dost spend thine days and nights in the company of\nR\u0101ma, Thou hast left him for two days only\u2014art thou sorry for this?\nLakshmana\u2014R\u0101ma is also dearer than my life\u2014but I am not so sorry\u2014do thou\nnot be therefore overwhelmed with grief. Do thou take me to the other\nside of the Ganges so that I may behold the ascetics and confer upon\nthem clothes and ornaments. Thereupon saluting them duly and spending a\nnight we shall return to the capital. I am also anxious to sec R\u0101ma,\nhaving eyes like lotus petals, breast like that of a lion and foremost\nof men.\" Hearing the words of Sit\u0101 and wiping his beautiful eyes,\nLakshmana, the slayer of enemies, sent for boatmen. As soon as they were\ncalled, with folded hands they said. \"The boat is ready.\" Having then\nbrought a boat to cross the holy Ganges Lakshmana, with a quiescent\nmind, took her to the other side.\n\n\n\nSECTION LVII.\n\n\nHaving at first conducted Sit\u0101 to the spacious and well decorated boat\nplied by fishermen Lakshmana himself got up. Thereupon he ordered\nSumantra to wait there with the chariot, and being beside himself with\nsorrow ordered the sailors to move on. Thereupon having reached the\nother side of Bh\u0101girathi, Lakshmana, with subdued voice and folded\npalms, said to Sit\u0101\u2014\"O daughter of the king of Videha, this hath pierced\nmy heart like a dart, that my brother, by making me the instrumental of\nthis action hath made me the object of censure in the world. The death\nand the pain consequent upon it are better than the action I am engaged\nin. Be thou propitiated, O beautiful damsel, do not hold me responsible\nfor this.\" Saying this, the humble Lakshmana began to weep and pray for\ndeath. Beholding him thus overwhelmed, Sit\u0101 said \"What is the matter,\nLakshmana? I do not understand anything, Do thou speak out everything\nplainly unto me. I find thee beside thyself (with grief); is it all well\nwith the kingdom? In the name of the king, do thou give out unto me, the\ncause of thy sorrow.\" Sit\u0101 having addressed him thus, Lakshmana, with a\npoorly heart and suppressed tone, said \"O worshipful queen, I have kept\nwithin my heart all those words, which the king said, before he entered\nhis palace, rendered sorry and impatient on hearing in the assembly the\nreport of censure regarding thee, O daughter of king Janaka. All those\nwords are indeed above description and so I desist. I only say so much,\nthat afraid of the calumny of the citizens he hath renounced thee\nalthough thy purity was sufficiently proved before me. But for that, do\nnot consider thyself in any way guilty. R\u0101ma hath commanded me to leave\nthee near the hermitage on the pretext of satisfying thine desire as\nthou art big with a child. Do not uselessly give vent to sorrow any\nmore. There is the holy hermitage of the saints on the banks of J\u0101nhavi.\nThere lives V\u0101lmiki, the foremost of saints, a great friend of our sire\nDa\u00e7aratha. O daughter of Janaka, approaching that high-souled saint, do\nthou spend thy days happily keeping R\u0101ma always in thy mind. Do thou\nsatisfy the deities, O chaste damsel. This shall crown thee with\nauspiciousness.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LVIII.\n\n\nHearing the ruthless words of Lakshmana, the daughter of Janaka, greatly\nsorry, fell down on earth. And remaining senseless for some time, Sit\u0101,\nwith her eyes full of tears said to Lakshmana:\u2014\"Forsooth, O Lakshmana,\nthe great Dispenser hath created this body to suffer miseries; and all\nmy afflictions are manifest in form to-day. Methinks; I committed a\nmighty iniquity in my pristine existence or brought about separation\nbetween a husband and wife and for that R\u0101ma hath renounced me albeit I\nam pure and chaste. O son of Sumitr\u0101, the affliction of residing in the\nforest appeared to me as pleasure ere this for I knew that I would be\nable to serve R\u0101ma\u2019s feet. But how shall I, O gentle one, live in the\nhermitage being divorced from all my kith and kin? And being afflicted\nto whom shall I express my sorrow? What reply shall I offer unto the\nascetics when they shall ask me \u2019Child; why hath the high-souled R\u0101ghava\nrenounced thee? What sin hast thou committed?\u2019 O Saumitri, shall I just\nrenounce my life in the waters of J\u0101hnavi? But I desist from this for it\nshall bring about the termination of my husband\u2019s race. O Saumitri, do\nthou carry out the orders thou hast received. By renouncing this\nwretched wight do thou satisfy the King\u2019s orders. But hear, what I say.\nWithout making any distinction, do thou, in my name, with folded hands,\nbow unto my mothers-in-law and then ask the well-being of the kingdom.\nThereupon saluting the pious King do thou address him, in my name,\nsaying:\u2014\u2019Thou knowest, O R\u0101ghava, that Sit\u0101 is pure, ever devoted unto\nthee and engaged in thy well-being. She knows it full well, that afraid\nof a bad name thou hast renounced her. It is her duty to put a stop to\nthy ill-name and censure; for thou art her excellent refuge.\u2019 Do thou\ntell further-more that king established in righteousness to treat the\ncitizens as his brothers, to acquire piety by protecting his subjects\nduly\u2014for this is the greatest morality and by this may be acquired\nexcellent fame. Tell him that I am not sorry for my person\u2014my greatest\nsorrow is that the citizens have vilified me. Husband is a woman\u2019s\ngod\u2014her friend and spiritual guide. It is proper therefore to work out\nhusband\u2019s well-being even at the sacrifice of life. Do thou, O\nLakshmana, communicate it in short unto R\u0101ma, in my name; Do thou go now\nand behold the signs of pregnancy are manifest in me.\" Sit\u0101 having said\nthis, Lakshmana, with a bewildered heart, saluted her touching the\nground with his head, he could not speak more. Thereupon bewailing aloud\nand circumambulating her, he, meditating a little, said. \"What art thou\nspeaking unto me, O worshipful dame? O thou having no sin, up to this\ntime I have not seen any portion of thy beautiful person but feet. This\nis a solitary forest and besides the worshipful R\u0101ma, is not present\nhere\u2014under these circumstances how can I cast looks upon thee?\" Having\naddressed Sit\u0101 in this wise Lakshmana again sent for a boat and\nascending it ordered the boatmen to go. Thereupon having reached the\nother side and being beside himself with sorrow and grief he speedily\nascended the car. And casting his looks behind while proceeding he\nespied that Sit\u0101, on the other side of the Ganges, was roving wildly\nlike one having none to look after her. Looking again and again when\nSit\u0101 saw that Lakshmana and the chariot have gone beyond the range of\nher vision, she became overwhelmed with anxiety and grief. Being sunk in\ngrief and pressed down with the weight of sorrow on not beholding R\u0101ma,\nthe foremost of the illustrious, the chaste Sit\u0101 began to cry aloud in\nthe forest resounded with the notes of peacocks.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIX.\n\n\nBeholding Sit\u0101 thus wailing, the sons of the Rishis there speedily\napproached the great V\u0101lmiki, well-established in asceticism. And\nsaluting him they all communicated unto him Sit\u0101\u2019s bewailings and said,\n\"O great sir, we do not know the wife of what great man, beautiful like\nthe very Lakshmi, and not seen before, is crying aloud very poorly? It\nis better that thou shouldst see her once. That beautiful damsel, like a\ngoddess falling from heaven being bewildered, is waiting on the banks of\nthe river. We saw her alone crying aloud being overwhelmed with sorrow\nand grief as if she had none to look after her. A damsel like her should\nnot be subject to such a condition. She did not appear to us to be a\nwoman. Do thou receive her duly. She is near the hermitage and so hath\ncome to seek thy shelter. O illustrious Sir, she is on the look out for\na protector\u2014do thou protect her.\" The pious V\u0101lmiki could perceive every\nthing by virtue of his asceticism; and ascertaining the truth of the\nwords of the Rishi boys by the power of his understanding, he, with\nquick steps, approached Sit\u0101. And the disciples followed that\nhigh-minded ascetic. Thereupon proceeding a little on foot with Arghya\nin his hands, the wise V\u0101lmiki reached the banks of the river and saw\nthat R\u0101ghava\u2019s spouse was bewailing like a helpless woman. Having\ngladdened a little the aggrieved Sit\u0101 by virtue of his own effulgence\nthe great ascetic V\u0101lmiki addressed her in following sweet accents. \"O\nchaste damsel, thou art the daughter-in-law of Da\u00e7aratha, the beloved\nwife of R\u0101ma and the daughter of Janaka; thy coming here is auspicious.\nI am apprized, by virtue of asceticism and meditation, of the object of\nthy coming here. O great lady, I am also fully aware that thou art by\nall means chaste. In fact I am conscious of all the incidents in the\nthree worlds. By the eyes of asceticism, I perceive, O daughter of\nJanaka, that thou art innocent. Thou hast come under my shelter, O\nVaidehi\u2014be thou consoled. O child, the pious ascetics live around my\nhermitage. They shall daily take care of thee as their daughter. Do thou\naccept this Arghya now, and confiding in me do thou remove thy grief. Be\nnot sorry for anything; consider that thou hast come to thy own home.\"\nHearing the wonderful words of the great ascetic, Sit\u0101 humbly touched\nhis feet and said \"Thy desire shall be fulfilled.\" Saying this, she,\nwith folded hands, followed the ascetic. Beholding the great ascetic and\nSit\u0101 approach, the wives of the Rishis, delighted neared them and\nsaid:\u2014\" Do thou come, O foremost of Rishis, thou hast arrived here after\na long time. We all bow unto thee\u2014do thou order what we shall do.\"\nHearing their words the great V\u0101lmiki replied in worthy accents\u2014\"This\nSit\u0101 is the wife of the intelligent R\u0101ma, the daughter-in-law of\nDa\u00e7aratha and the daughter of Janaka. She has now come to our hermitage.\nShe is chaste and innocent, still her husband hath renounced her. So we\nshould all protect her. She is worthy of your reverence\u2014specially while\nsuch is the order of mine\u2014your preceptor. So, do ye all take care of her\nwith great affection.\" Having consigned the charge of Sit\u0101 unto the\nhands of the female ascetics, the great and illustrious ascetic V\u0101lmiki,\nfollowed by his disciples, speedily proceeded towards his holy\nhermitage.\n\n\n\nSECTION LX.\n\n\nBeholding the great ascetic V\u0101lmiki thus conducting Sit\u0101 into his own\nhermitage Lakshmana\u2019s heart was bewildered with grief. Thereupon he said\nto the expert charioteer Sumantra. \"Do thou perceive R\u0101ma\u2019s grief\nconsequent upon the separation from Sit\u0101. His spouse\u2014the daughter of\nJanaka, is perfectly pure; what can be more painful than that R\u0101ma is\nliving alone having renounced her? It is clear unto me, O Sumantra, that\nthis separation of R\u0101ma, hath been brought about by the influence of\ndestiny\u2014for it is hard to get over accident. Even that R\u0101ma, who, when\nenraged, is capable of slaying the celestials, Gandharvas, Asuras and\nR\u0101kshasas, hath been engaged in the worship of destiny. Formerly did\nR\u0101ma go through miseries, residing in the forest of Dandaka, at the\ncommand of his sire for fourteen years. But this banishment of Sit\u0101\nappears to me as exceedingly painful and most ruthless. O charioteer,\nthe opinion of the citizens is by no means just; consequently what shall\nwe gain by performing such a bad action for fame as the exile of Sit\u0101?\"\nHearing those words of Lakshmana, the wise Sumantra reverentially\nreplied:\u2014\"Be not aggrieved for Sit\u0101, O Saumitri. Formerly in the\npresence of thy sire the Brahmananas related this account of Sit\u0101\u2019s\nexile. R\u0101ma shall be deprived of all happiness and be separated from his\ndear wife; what more, the virtuous-souled R\u0101ma, having long arms, shall,\nunder the influence of time, renounce thee, Sit\u0101, Satrughna and Bharata.\nO Lakshmana, when Durbasa was addressed by the king Da\u00e7aratha as to thy\nfuture he replied in the above way. I have told thee the same. Do thou\nnot communicate this unto Satrughna, Bharata or any body. O foremost of\nmen, Durbasa said this unto Da\u00e7aratha before me, Vasishtha and other\ngreat men. Hearing the words of Rishi, Da\u00e7aratha, the foremost of men,\nsaid unto me, \u2019O charioteer, do not reveal this secret to any body.\u2019 O\ngentle one, it is not proper by any means to falsify the words of the\nking Da\u00e7aratha. I shall always, very carefully, carry out his orders. It\nis not proper to reveal this mystery before thee. Still I do so for thy\ncuriosity hath been greatly excited. Though this mystery was\ncommunicated formerly by the king Da\u00e7aratha and though it is not proper\nto reveal it to any body, still I express it before thee that thou mayst\nnot, on hearing it, be worked up with sorrow; for destiny is hard to be\ngot over. And it is by the influence of that destiny that thou hast met\nwith such a sorrow and grief. However, do thou not reveal this secret\nunto Satrughna and Bharata.\" Hearing these grave and important words of\nSumantra, Lakshmana ordered him to relate.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXI.\n\n\nBeing thus requested by the high-souled Lakshmana, Sumantra began to\nreveal the mystery of Durb\u0101s\u0101\u2019s account \"In the days of yore the great\nascetic Durb\u0101s\u0101, the son of Atri, resided for a year in the holy\nhermitage of Vasishtha. At that time thy sire, the highly effulgent and\nillustrious Da\u00e7aratha, with a view to see his high-souled priest\nVasishtha, repaired there. He saw the great ascetic Durb\u0101s\u0101, burning\nlike the sun in his effulgence, seated on the right hand side of\nVasishtha. Thereupon he humbly saluted those two leading ascetics. And\nthey too, welcoming him, received him duly with seat, water to wash\nfeet, Arghya, fruits and roots. Then he lived there in the company of\nthe ascetics. Thereupon during the noon, all those ascetics, seated\nthere, began to dwell upon various pleasant topics. During an interval\nDa\u00e7aratha, with folded hands and uplifted arms, said to the high-souled\nson of Atri\u2014Durb\u0101s\u0101, having asceticism for his wealth. \u2019O illustrious\nSir, how long shall my family remain in existence? What is the extent of\nthe lease of life granted to R\u0101ma and my other sons? How long shall the\ndescendants of R\u0101ma live? And what shall be the end of my race? Do thou\nrelate all this unto me.\u2019 Hearing the words of the king Da\u00e7aratha the\nhighly effulgent Durb\u0101s\u0101, replied:\u2014\u2019Hear, the early history, O king.\nDuring the encounter between the celestials and Asuras, the demons,\nbeing remonstrated with by the celestials sought shelter of the wife of\nVrigu\u2014thy priest. Vrigu\u2019s wife having promised them help they lived\nthere fearlessly. Having beheld the demons thus helped by Vriju\u2019s wife,\nHari, the king of the celestials, enraged, chopped off her head with his\nsharp discus. And angry on beholding his wife slain, Vrigu, imprecated a\ncurse on Vishnu, the slayer of enemies\u2019 race, saying\u2014\"Being beside\nthyself with anger thou hast slain my wife, not worthy of being killed;\ntherefore, O Jan\u0101rddana, thou shalt be born in the region of mortals.\nAnd there thou shalt remain separated from thy spouse for many long\nyears.\" Having imprecated this curse, Vrigu was greatly pained and being\npropitiated by his adoration, Vishnu, fond of disciples, said: \"Having\nslain R\u0101vana and others, I shall be, for the behoof of mankind, subject\nto this imprecation.\" O bestower of kings, the highly effulgent Vishnu,\nthus imprecated by Vrigu in the days of yore, hath been born as thy son\nin this birth and hath been celebrated under the appellation of R\u0101ma. O\nconferrer of honors, for sooth shall R\u0101ma partake of the fruits of\nVrigu\u2019s curse. He shall reign in Ayodhy\u0101 for a long time. All his\nfollowers shall be happy and prosperous. Having reigned for eleven\nthousand years R\u0101ma shall repair to the region of Brahm\u0101. None shall be\nable to vanquish him. He shall celebrate many a horse-sacrifice with\nprofuse gifts and shall establish many royal families. He shall beget on\nSit\u0101 two sons.\u2019 Having thus related unto Da\u00e7aratha the past and future\nof his family the highly effulgent great ascetic Durb\u0101s\u0101 became silent.\nHe being silent\u2014the great King Da\u00e7aratha, having bowed unto the two\nhigh-souled ascetics, again returned to his city Ayodhy\u0101. I had heard\nthere all these words of the great ascetic Durb\u0101s\u0101. Up to this time they\nare lying in my heart. Rishis\u2019 words shall never prove fruitless.\nAccording to the words of Rishi R\u0101ma shall install two sons of Sit\u0101 in\nAyodhy\u0101, not anywhere else. Under these circumstances, O Lakshmana, thou\nshouldst not grieve for Sit\u0101 or R\u0101ma; in their interest do thou become\npatient.\" Hearing those wonderous words of the charioteer Sumantra,\nLakshmana became greatly happy and eulogised him again and again. They\nthus conversing with one another on their way back, the sun set. They\naccordingly spent that night on the banks of Kesini.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXII.\n\n\nHaving spent the night on the banks of Kesini, the mighty car-warrior\nLakshmana got up early in the morning and again proceeded on his journey\n(home). And reached in the noon the city of Ayodhy\u0101, filled with various\njewels and delighted and plump citizens. But the high-souled Lakshmana\nbecame greatly sorry stricken with the thought as to what he should\nrelate on approaching the feet of R\u0101ma. Whilst proceeding with this\nthought he saw the highly picturesque palace of R\u0101ma resembling the rays\nof the moon. Having descended from his car at the palace-gate,\nLakshmana, the foremost of men, with his face downwards and a distressed\nheart, unobstructed, entered the palace. Having entered there he saw his\nelder brother R\u0101ma seated poorly on an excellent seat with his eyes full\nof tears. Being greatly pained at the sight, Saumitri touched his feet\nand with folded palms said:\u2014\"O worshipful sir, having obeyed thy behests\nI have left the daughter of Janaka at the holy hermitage of V\u0101lmiki near\nthe banks of the Ganges. Having left that illustrious pure lady at the\nskirt of the hermitage I have again dome to serve thy feet. Do thou not\ngrieve, O foremost of men, for such is the course of time. The\nintelligent people like thee do not grieve. Where there is growth there\nis decay, where there is prosperity there is ruin, and where there is\nbirth there is death. Therefore attachment unto wife, sons, friends and\nriches is not proper, for surely shall be brought about separation with\nthem. Whilst thou canst control thyself and thy mind, shouldst thou not\nbe able to bear this trifling pain of separation? Leading men like\nthyself are never overwhelmed by all these things. O R\u0101ghava, thou shalt\nagain be blamed by the people. In fear of this calumny, O sing that thou\nhast renounced Maithili. And if dost thou grieve for that spouse thy\ncalumny shall undoubtedly be deep-rooted in the kingdom. Therefore do\nthou restore thyself patiently, O foremost of men. Do thou give up this\nweakness and be not sorry.\" The intelligent Lakshmana, the son of\nSumitr\u0101, having said this, R\u0101ma, the descendant of K\u0101kutstha and fond of\nfriends, with great delight said:\u2014\"Thou hast spoken the truth, O\nLakshmana, O foremost of men. I have been greatly delighted, O hero for\nthy carrying out my orders. O gentle Saumitri, my grief and sorrow have\nbeen removed for those pleasant words of thine.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIII.\n\n\nHearing those wondrous words of Lakshmana R\u0101ma was greatly delighted and\nsaid \"O thou having an auspicious look, thou art gifted with great\nintellect and after my heart; a friend like thee is rare at such a time.\nBut O beautiful Saumitri, do thou, apprised of my intention, carry out\nmy words. O gentle son of Sumitr\u0101, for not looking to state business for\nthese four days I have been pierced to the very vitals. Do thou\ntherefore call here men, or women, priests or councillors who have come\nfor business. For sooth do a king falls into the dreadful hell where the\nwind doth not blow, who does not daily look into his state affairs. I\nhave heard, O foremost of men, that there lived in the days of yore a\nhighly illustrious, truthful and pure-minded king, ever devoted unto the\nBr\u0101hmanas, by the name of Nriga. Once on a time at the sacred pilgrimage\nof Pushpaka that king conferred upon the Br\u0101hmanas one _Koti_ of kine\nwith calves adorned with golden ornaments. Accidentally on that\noccasion, a cow with calf belonging to a poor Brahman, living upon low\nmeans, was given away along with other kine. Undergoing hunger and\nthirst, the master of that lost cow travelled for a long time in many\nplaces in search of it. Thereupon having reached the province of\nKanakhal he espied his own cow in the house of a Br\u0101hmana. The cow was\nwell kept and the young one was grown up. Thereupon the Brahman called\nthe cow by the name given by him saying \u2019Saval\u0101, come.\u2019 The cow heard\nthat and recognizing the voice of the Brahman followed him. And he\npreceded her burning like fire. And the Br\u0101hmana, in whose house the cow\nso long remained, speedily pursued her and approaching the ascetic said.\n\u2019This cow is mine. The king Nriga conferred this upon me.\u2019 So there\narose a great quarrel between the two learned Br\u0101hmanas. And thus\nquarreling they both approached him who had given away the cow. And\nthough they waited for a long time at the gate they did not obtain\npermission to enter the palace. Thereat both of them were greatly\nengraged and imprecated dreadful curses, saying \u2019Since thou hast not\ngranted us an interview though we have been waiting here for a long\ntime, thou shalt, by our curse, remain invisible, being a lizard. Thou\nshalt in this state live in a den for many hundred and thousand years.\nWhen Vishnu assuming a human person shall be born in the Vasudeva family\nof Yadavas and enhance their glory he shall liberate thee from the\ncurse. Immediately before the advent of the Kali Yuga the Rishi Nara\nN\u0101r\u0101yana gifted with great prowess shall descend upon earth to relieve\nher of the burden.\u2019 Having thus imprecated the curse upon the king the\nRishis became silent. The cow was old and weak so they both, with mutual\nconsent, conferred that upon another Brahman. O Lakshmana, the king\nNriga is still suffering from that dreadful curse. It is the king\u2019s\nfolly that is manifest from the mutual disagreement of the workers. Do\nthou bring them all speedily to me who have come for business. For,\nsooth shall the kings profit by the just administration. Do thou\ntherefore go in person, O Lakshmana and see who hath come for business.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIV.\n\n\nHearing the words of the highly effulgent R\u0101ma, Lakshmana, conversant\nwith discriminative knowledge, replied with folded hands, saying \"O\nK\u0101kutstha, it is for a very simple folly that the two Br\u0101hmanas\nimprecated that Curse upon the king Nriga, dreadful as the rod of Yama.\nMay I ask thee, O foremost of men, what did that King say unto the\nBrahmans when he was thus imprecated?\" Whereto R\u0101ma replied saying:\u2014\"O\ngentle one, hear, what the king Nriga said when imprecated. Hearing of\nthe departure of the Br\u0101hmanas he sent for his priest, minister, the\ncitizens and subjects and filled with sorrow said:\u2014\u2019Do ye all hear\nattentively my words. Having imprecated a dreadful curse upon me the\njolly saint N\u0101rada and the ascetic Parvata have speedily, like the wind,\nrepaired to the region of Brahm\u0101. Do ye therefore, even today, place the\nprince Vasu on the throne, and let the architects prepare a pleasant den\nfor me. Living therein I shall waste the curse of the Brahmans. Let the\narchitects dig one den to protect me against the rains, one against the\naffliction of the winter and one against the distresses of summer. Let\nthem enhance the picturesqueness of those dens by planting many trees\nhaving profuse branches and fruits and flowers. As long as time shall\nnot change so long I shall spend my days happily in the den. For half a\nleague on all sides around me let flower trees be planted.\u2019 Having made\nthose arrangements and placed Vasu on the throne the king Nriga\nsaid:\u2014\u2019Do not swerve from the path of morality, O my son, and do thou\nduly govern the subjects according to the custom of the Kshatryas. Thou\nhast seen, with thine own eyes, the curse that the Br\u0101hmanas have given\nme being enraged for a very trifling folly of mine. Do thou not repent\nfor me. My son, time is the lord of happiness and sorrow; it is by the\ninfluence of time that I have fallen into such a disaster. Creatures\nmust meet with what is kept in store by destiny; they must go where they\nare bound for and they must acquire what is set apart for them. Pristine\nactions are the root of all these; so, be not sorry, O my son.\u2019 O\nforemost of men, having given this advice unto his son, the highly\nillustrious king Nriga proceeded to live in the sweet fragrant den.\nHaving entered the den filled with many jewels the high-souled king\nbegan to spend his days in the satisfaction of the curse imprecated by\nthe two Br\u0101hmanas.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXV.\n\n\n\"I have thus given unto thee an account of the curse imprecated on\nNriga. Listen, if dost thou wish to hear of any other theme.\" R\u0101ma\nhaving said this Lakshmana replied:\u2014\"I am not satiated with the account\nof those wonderful stories, O king.\" Hearing the reply of Laksmana,\nR\u0101ma, the descendant of Ikshw\u0101ku, began again with themes instinct with\nmorality:\u2014\"There lived a highly pious and powerful king by the name of\nNimi. He was the twelfth of Ikshw\u0101ku\u2019s sons. That powerful king made a\npicturesque city like that of the celestials near the hermitage of\nGautama. The name of that beautiful city was Vaijayanta and the highly\nillustrious royal saint used to live there. Having thus reared a highly\npicturesque city he thought of worshipping the deity by celebrating a\nsacrifice for the satisfaction of his sire. Having thus resolved and\ninvited his sire Ikshw\u0101ku the son of Manu, he first welcomed the\ncelestial saint. Nimi the descendant of Ikshw\u0101ku, then welcomed the\nsaints Atri, Angiras and Vrigu having asceticism for their wealth.\nThereupon Vasishtha said to Nimi, the foremost of royal saints\u2014\u2019I have\nalready been engaged by Indra. Do thou therefore wait as long as his\nsacrifice is not finished there.\u2019 After the departure of Vasishtha the\ngreat Gautama engaged in the satisfaction of Vasistha\u2019s duties. And the\nhigh-souled Vasishtha too engaged in Indra\u2019s sacrifice. On the other\nhand having united all the Brahmans the great king began to celebrate\nthe sacrifice extending over five thousand years near his city by the\nside of the Himalaya. Thereupon having finished the sacrifice of Indra\nthere came to the King, the blameless and the illustrious Rishi\nVashishtha. Finding Gautama engaged in his room he was exceedingly\nenraged. Thereupon he waited there for some time to see the King. On\nthat day the royal saint Nimi was deeply asleep. And not beholding the\nKing the high-souled Vasishtha was greatly angry and said:\u2014\u2019Since thou\nhast, O King, engaged another neglecting me, thy body shall remain\nsenseless.\u2019 Thereupon hearing the curse of Vasishtha, the king got up.\nThere beside himself with ire he said\u2014\u2019I was unconscious in sleep\u2014still\nsoiled with anger thou hast hurled the fiery curse against me like the\nsecond rod of Yama. Therefore, O ascetic, thy person shall remain\nsenseless for a long time.\u2019 That king and the ascetic having thus\nimprecated one another under the influence of anger, they immediately\nwere deprived of their bodies.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVI.\n\n\nHearing the words of the effulgent R\u0101ma, Lakshmana, the slayer of\nenemies, said with folded hands:\u2014\"Having thus cast off their bodies how\ndid that Brahman worshipped of the celestials and the king regain them?\"\nHaving been thus accosted by Lakshmana, R\u0101ma, the descendant of\nIkshw\u0101kus and the foremost of men, replied:\u2014\"Having renounced their\npersons both Nimi and the pious Vasishtha, having asceticism for their\nwealth, were metamorphosed into air. Thereupon being thus deprived of\nhis body the highly effulgent and great ascetic Vasishtha went to the\nPatriarch Brahm\u0101 with the object of acquiring from him another. Being\nmerged in the air, he, conversant with religion, bowed unto his father\nand said:\u2014\u2019O illustrious god of gods! O thou lotus-sprung! By the\nimprecation of Nimi I have been now deprived of my body and been\nconverted into air. O lord, the state of being bodiless is highly\npainful to all. The bodiless cannot perform any work; do thou,\ntherefore, by thy favour, grant me another body.\u2019 Whereto the\nself-sprung Brahm\u0101, of unmitigated prowess, replied. \u2019O great one, do\nthou enter into the vital energy of Mitra and Varuna; and even then, O\nforemost of twice-born ones, thou shalt not be born of a woman and being\ngreatly pious shalt attain to the rank of a patriarch.\u2019 The Patriarch\nBrahm\u0101 having said this, Vasishtha, saluting and circumambulating him,\nrepaired to the region of Varuna. At that time Mitra in conjunction with\nVaruna was reigning in Varuna\u2019s kingdom being worshipped by all\ncelestials. Meanwhile encircled by her mates the leading Apsar\u0101 arrived\nthere at her pleasure. Beholding the frolicsome and beautiful Urvasi,\nVaruna attained to an excess of delight. Thereupon he expressed his\nintention of living with that queen of Apsar\u0101s, having a moon-like\ncountenance and lotus-eyes. Thereat Urvasi, with folded hands, said\u2014\u2019O\nlord of celestials, Mitra himself has already invited me for the same.\u2019\nBeing stricken by desire Varuna said to Urvasi \u2019I shall discharge my\nvital energy into this pot if thou dost not wish to live with me.\u2019\nHearing those sweet words of the Patriarch Varuna, Urvasi was highly\npleased and said:\u2014\u2019Do what thou hast said. Now my body is under the\npossession of Mitra\u2014but my mind is attached unto thine and thou art\nequally attached unto me.\u2019 Urvasi having said this, Varuna discharged\nhis vital energy into the pot. Thereupon Urvasi approached Mitra. And\nthereat highly enraged he said to her \u2019I invited thee first; O thou of\nvicious actions, why hast thou, renouncing me, secured another. For this\nvile action, thou shalt, by my curse live in the land of mortals for\nsome time. The royal saint Puruvar\u0101, the king of Kasi, is the son of\nBudha. Do thou go to him, thou of a vicious intellect; he shall be thy\nhusband.\u2019 Thereupon being thus placed under the influence of curse\nUrvasi went to Puruvar\u0101, The king Puruvar\u0101 was the begotten son of\nBudha. He reigned in the foremost of cities Pratishtaro. He begot on\nUrvasi a highly powerful and beautiful son by the name of Ayu. Nahusha,\npowerful as Indra, was the son of Ayu. When Indra, the king of the\ncelestials, was assailed with thunderbolt by the Asura Vitra, Nahusha\ngoverned his kingdom for a hundred thousand years. In this wise Urvasi,\nhaving beautiful teeth, eyes and brow, remained on earth for many years\nand then returned to the region of Indra after the period of curse had\nbeen over.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVII.\n\n\nHearing this wonderful and heavenly theme Lakshmana was highly gratified\nand said to R\u0101ma \"O K\u0101kuthstha, how did that twice-born one worshipped\nby the celestials and the king regain their bodies, after being\nbodiless?\" Hearing the words of Lakshmana, R\u0101ma, having truth for his\nprowess, began to relate the story of Vasishtha. \"O foremost of Raghus,\nthere sprang up two foremost Brahmin saints, from the vital energy\ndischarged by the high-souled Mitra and Varuna into the pot. At first\ntherefrom rose up the illustrious Rishi Agastya and saying \u2019I am not\nthine son\u2019 went away leaving Mitra. Before the vital energy of Varuna\nwas thrown into the pot Mitra discharged his own on Urvasi\u2019s account\nwhich was the source of Agastya\u2019s birth. Into the pot in which Mitra\u2019s\nenergy was discharged Varuna also put his own, and both the energies\nwere mixed up. Thereupon after some time from the energies of both Mitra\nand Varuna sprang up the effulgent Vasishtha\u2014the priest of Ikshw\u0101ku. O\ngentle one, the highly effulgent Ikshw\u0101ku appointed that blameless Rishi\nas the priest of out family as soon as he was born. I have thus\ndescribed to you the story of Vasishtha\u2019s birth possessing a wonderful\nbody. Hear now what befell the king Nimi. And beholding the king Nimi\nbodiless the intelligent Rishi initiated him into the rites of\nsacrifice. And those leading twice-born ones, with assembled citizens\nand servants, began to protect that body with unguents, garlands and\nclothes. Thereupon at the end of the sacrifice Vrigu said \u2019O king, I am\npropitiated with thee; I shall restore thee to senses.\u2019 Thereupon the\ncelestials, highly pleased, addressed the consciousness of Nimi saying\n\u2019O royal saint, do thou accept boons; where shall we place thy\nconsciousness?\u2019 Thereupon being addressed by the celestials the\nconsciousness said \u2019I may live in the eyes of the celestials.\u2019 They\nagreed to it and said \u2019O lord of earth, for thee, their eyes shall be\ninfluenced within a moment, The exhaustion that their eyes shall\nexperience on account of thy moving about as the air, shall be removed\nwithin this moment.\u2019 Having said this the celestials repaired to their\nrespective quarters and the high-souled Rishis having conveyed Nimi\u2019s\nbody to the sacrificial ground and dedicated it as an eddy began to\nchurn it with great energy accompanied by incantations. They being thus\nengaged in churning the eddy for the purpose of having a son of Nimi\nthere sprang up a son of devout austerities. He was called Mithi for he\noriginated from _Manthana_; he was called Janma for his having sprung up\nfrom _Janan_ and _Vaideha_ from having been born from Videha. In this\nwise Janaka, the first king of Videhas, was born. His other name was\nMithi and his family were celebrated as Maithilas. O gentle one, I have\nthus related unto thee the wondrous births, in consequence of the curse,\nof the great ascetic Vasishtha and the royal saint Nimi.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXVIII.\n\n\nR\u0101ma having said this, Lakshmana, the slayer of enemies, burning in his\nnative effulgence, said:\u2014\"O foremost of kings, this ancient account of\nthe ascetic Vasishtha and the king Nimi is highly surprising and\nwonderful. But Nimi is a Kshatriya king and a hero\u2014besides although\ninitiated he did not forgive the high-souled Vasishtha.\" Being thus\naccosted R\u0101ma, the Kshatriya-chief, said to the effulgent Lakshmana\nconversant with all Sastras\u2014\"O hero, forgiveness is not to be seen in\nall men. O Sauinitri, do thou hear attentively, the unbearable anger\nwhich was forgiven by the king Yay\u0101ti resorting to the quality of\ngoodness. Yay\u0101ti, the enhancer or the prosperity of cities, was the son\nof Nahusha. He had two beautiful wives, one of whom was Sarmishth\u0101,\ngrand daughter of Aditi, the daughter of Brishaparva. She was the more\nbeloved of the two; his other spouse was Devaj\u0101ni, grand daughter of\nUsanas. She was not liked by her husband. Both of them gave birth to a\nson each and both the sons were beautiful and attentive. Puru was born\nof Sarmishtha and Yadu of Devaj\u0101ni. Puru was the favourite son of the\nking, both on account of his mother and of his personal graces. Thereat\nYadu, greatly sorry, said to his mother:\u2014\u2019Born in the race of the\nillustrious Vargava of unwearied actions, thou art going through mental\nafflictions and unbearable insults; therefore, O mother, let us both\nenter into fire. Let the king spend many nights with Sarmishth\u0101\u2014the\ndaughter of a demon. Thou mayst withstand the insults but I shall never\nbrooke them. Permit me, I shall, in sooth, renounce my life.\u2019 The son\nhaving, weepingly and distressingly, said this, Devaj\u0101ni was greatly\nenraged and thought of her father. As soon as he was thought of by his\ndaughter Vargava speedily came there and beholding her senseless and\ndeprived from joy said \u2019Daughter, what is the matter?\u2019 The effulgent\nfather having addressed his daughter repeatedly in this wise, Devaj\u0101ni,\nenraged, replied:\u2014\u2019O foremost of ascetics, I shall either enter into\nfire, water, or drink poison\u2014by no means I shall preserve this life of\nmine. Thou dost not know of the miseries and insults I have been subject\nto. Brahman, when a tree is neglected, those who live thereon are also\ndistressed. The king having disregarded me, forsooth thou hast also been\nneglected.\u2019 Hearing the words of his daughter, Vargava, enraged said to\nthe king Yay\u0101ti \u2019Thou art vicious-minded, O son of Nahusha; thou hast\ndishonored me and therefore in thy youth thou shalt be subject to\ndecrepitude and infirmities of age.\u2019 Having thus imprecated the curse\nand consoled his sorrowful daughter the highly illustrious rishi Vargava\nrepaired to his own habitation. Having thus conferred solace unto his\ndaughter, that leading Brahman, effulgent as the sun, returned\ntherefrom.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXIX.\n\n\n\"Yay\u0101ti, the son of Nahusha, was greatly distressed on hearing of the\nire of the preceptor Sukra. Thereupon meeting with the infirmities of\nage by the imprecation of the saint he said to his son Yadu:\u2014\u2019O Yadu,\nthou art cognizant of religion, do thou therefore take this decrepitude\nfor me; I shall satisfy myself with various enjoyments. O foremost of\nmen, I have not been yet satiated with worldly enjoyments\u2014I shall\ntherefore again take upon myself this decrepitude after having enjoyed\nall objects of sense.\u2019 Hearing those words of Yay\u0101ti, the foremost of\nmen, Yadu replied:\u2014\u2019Let thy most favourite son Puru take upon himself\nthis decrepitude. O king, thou hast deprived me from all things\u2014what\nmore, thou dost not allow me to come near thee. Let that Puru take this,\nwith whom thou dost eat and live.\u2019 Hearing the words of Yadu, Yay\u0101ti\nsaid to Puru:\u2014\u2019O thou having large arms, do thou take the decrepitude\nfor me.\u2019 Hearing the words of Yay\u0101ti, Puru, with folded hands, said:\u2014\u2019I\nam always ready to satisfy thy commands; and I have been favoured and\nhonored by this command of thine.\u2019 Hearing those words of Puru Yay\u0101ti\nwas highly pleased and attained to an excess of delight and then\ntransferred his own decrepitude to him. Thereupon regaining his youth\nthe king reigned in earth for many thousand years celebrating thousands\nof sacrifices. Thereupon after a long time Yay\u0101ti said to Puru \u2019O my\nson, do thou bring the decrepitude I have kept as deposit with thee\u2014let\nit now assail me. I transferred it to you as a deposit. For this I shall\ntake it back; be not sorry for this. I have been greatly pleased that\nthou hast satisfied my behests. I shall, now pleased, install thee on\nthe royal throne.\u2019 Having thus addressed his son Puru, the king Yay\u0101ti\nangrily said to Yadu, the son of Devayani:\u2014\u2019Thou, vicious R\u0101kshasa, art\nborn of me in the shape of a Kshatriya, or else why shouldst thou\ndisobey my orders? For this thou shalt never be a king. I am thy father\nand preceptor and still thou hast disregarded me. Thou shalt be the\nfather of dreadful R\u0101kshasas, O vicious minded; thy descendants shall be\ndegraded from the lunar race and thy children shall be equally\nvicious-minded like thee.\u2019 Having thus imprecated Yadu, the royal saint\nYay\u0101ti honored Puru, the enhancer of the prosperity of the kingdom, with\ninstallation and then retired to woods. Thereupon after a long time he\nbreathed his last and went to the abode of the celestials. The highly\nillustrious Puru reigned piously in the foremost of cities Prathishtan.\nYadu begot thousands and thousands of R\u0101khasas and being degraded from\nthe royal family reigned in a city named Kraunchavana, hard to be got\nat. In this wise, according to the custom of the Kshatryas the king\nYay\u0101ti took upon himself the imprecation of the preceptor Sukra, but he\ndid not forgive him. I have thus related unto thee everything. O gentle\none, we shall follow the examples of these illustrious men. And in that\ncase we shall not be degraded like the king Nriga.\" While R\u0101ma, having a\nmoon-like countenance, was speaking thus, the stars became fewer in the\nwelkin, and east, stricken with the early rays of the sun, appeared like\ndamsel, clothed in a raiment coloured with the dye of flowers.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXX.\n\n\nThereupon having performed the morning rites the lotus-eyed R\u0101ma, in the\nearly morning, sat on his royal throne and in the company of Br\u0101hmanas\nand citizens engaged in looking into state affairs. The assembly\nconsisted of the priest Vasishtha, the saint Kashyapa, ministers well\nversed in politics, other religious preceptors, moralists, members and\nkings. The assembly of R\u0101ma, of unwearied, actions appeared like that of\nMahendra, Yama and Varuna. R\u0101ma said to Lakshmana, gifted with\nauspicious marks \"O Saumitri having long arms, do thou proceed to the\ncity-gate to receive those who have come here for business.\" According\nto R\u0101ma\u2019s command Lakshmana, gifted with auspicious mark, arrived at the\ngate and called those who had come there for business. But none said\nthat he had been brought there by any business. For there was neither\ndisease nor poverty in the kingdom. During R\u0101ma\u2019s regime the earth was\nfilled with corns and _Asadhis_. Children young men and middle-aged\npeople did not meet with death. The earth was governed piously so there\nwas no obstacle. Thus during the administration of R\u0101ma none was seen\nwho wanted justice. Lakshmana, with folded hands, said to R\u0101ma, \"None\nhas come for business.\" Thereat, R\u0101ma, with a delighted heart,\nreplied\u2014\"Do thou go, O Saumitri, and see if any one has come for\nbusiness. Royal policy if properly adopted, impiety can stand nowhere.\nIt is for the fear of the king that people protect one another. And\nalthough laws, instituted by me are protecting the subjects like so many\narrows, still, O thou having long arms, do thou be engaged in governing\nthe subjects.\" Being thus addressed Lakshmana issued out of the house\nand saw that a dog was waiting at the gate. Casting its looks around it\nwas again and again barking. Beholding it in that plight the valiant\nLakshmana said \"O generous sir, what business has brought thee hither\u2014do\nthou relate it confidentially.\" Hearing the words of Lakshmana the dog\nreplied\u2014\"I wish to relate it unto R\u0101ma, of unwearied actions, who is the\nrefuge of all creatures and who declares fearlessness unto all.\" Hearing\nthe words of the dog Lakshmana entered the beautiful palace to relate it\nunto R\u0101ma. And having communicated it unto R\u0101ma he issued out and said\nto the dog:\u2014\"If thou hast anything true to speak thou mayst come and\ncommunicate it unto the king.\" Hearing the words of Lakshmana the dog\nsaid\u2014\"We cannot enter into the houses of divinities, kings and Br\u0101hmanas\nnor can we go there where is fire, Indra, the sun or the wind, for we\nare the vilest born; so I cannot enter there. For king is the\npersonification of virtue and specially the king R\u0101ma is truthful, well\nversed in the science of fighting and ever engaged in the welfare of all\nbeings. He is perfectly cognizant of where the six qualities are to be\napplied\u2014master of morality, knoweth all, seeth all and the best of\nbeautiful. He is the moon, death, Yama, Kuvera, the giver of riches,\nfire, Indra, the sun and Varuna. O Saumitri, do thou go and communicate\nunto the king protecting his subjects that without his permission I do\nnot wish to go there.\" Thereupon the highly effulgent and noble-minded\nLakshmana entered the palace and said to R\u0101ma:\u2014\"O thou having long arms,\nO thou the enhancer of Kausaly\u0101\u2019s joy\u2014I have communicated thine orders\u2014I\nshall relate shortly everything regarding that; do thou hear. That dog,\nas a beggar, is waiting at the gate for thy commands.\" Whereto R\u0101ma\nreplied:\u2014\"Bring him speedily here who is waiting at the gate for\nbusiness.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXI.\n\n\nHearing the words of R\u0101ma the intelligent Lakshmana immediately sent for\nthe dog and informed R\u0101ma, who, on beholding it, said\u2014\"Do thou\ncommunicate thy desire unto me; be not afraid.\" Thereupon beholding the\nking R\u0101ma, the dog, having his head cut off, said \"The king is the\nprotector of animals and their lord. The king is awake when the subjects\nare asleep and he protects them. By administering the laws properly the\nking protects piety. Without his shelter the subjects meet with\ndestruction. The king is the lord and father of the whole universe. He\nis time, he is Yuga and he is the creation, mobile and immobile. He is\ncalled _Dharma_ because he holdeth all. It is _Dharma_ (virtue) that\nupholdeth all mankind. It is by Dharma that the three worlds are being\npreserved. It is _Dharma_ or virtue that thwarts the enemies. It is\nvirtue that governs the subjects duly. It is for this that virtue is\ncalled _Dh\u0101rana_ or the holder. The virtue of preservation is the\ngreatest and confers fruits in after life. There is nothing like virtue\nhard to acquire in this world. Charity, kindness, honoring the pious and\ninnocent conduct constitute the chief virtues; for by those the\nwell-being of this life and the next is brought about. O R\u0101ghava, O thou\nof firms vows\u2014thou art an example of examples. Thou art cognizant of the\nconduct of the pious. Thou art like an ocean, the refuge of all virtues.\nO foremost of kings, out of ignorance, I have spoken unto thee so many\nthings. With my head downwards, I beg for thy satisfaction. Be not\noffended with me.\" Hearing those wise words of the dog, R\u0101ma said\u2014\"What\nshall I do for thee? Do thou mention it confidentially.\" Whereto the dog\nreplied, saying:\u2014\"It is by piety that a king governs his kingdom\u2014it is\nby virtue that a king protects his subjects, becomes a refuge unto all\nand removes the fear of his men. Keeping an eye on this, O R\u0101ma do thou\nhear, what I say. In the house of a certain Brahman there lives a beggar\nby the name of _Sarvarthasiddha_ (_i.e._, who has got all his desires\nsatisfied). And although I am innocent, he has for nothing hurt me.\"\nHearing those words R\u0101ma sent his messenger who brought\n_Sarvarthasiddha_, master of all subjects. Thereupon beholding R\u0101ma in\nthe assembly that effulgent and leading twice-born one said:\u2014\"O\nblameless R\u0101ma, tell me what I shall do for thee.\" Whereto R\u0101ma said\u2014\"O\ntwice-born one, thou hast hurt this dog. What offence did it commit by\nthee that thou didst strike it severely with a rod. Anger is an enemy\nwhich taketh away life. Anger is a sweet-speeched enemy in the garb of a\nfriend. It is the foremost of passions and like unto a sharp dagger. And\nit is anger that stealeth away every thing. It pilfers all that is\nacquired by asceticism, sacrifices and gifts. It is proper therefore by\nevery means to kill anger. Passions are running amock on all sides like\nso many exceedingly wicked steeds. Being satiated with of all objects of\nenjoyments it is better to govern them by patience. By mind, actions,\nwords and eyes a man should engage in the well being of people. He\nshould not injure any body and be not addicted to any thing. The harm,\nthat a mind not under control, can accomplish, is beyond the range of a\nsharp dagger, trodden serpent and of an enemy always enraged. Even the\nnature of one, who has learnt humility, cannot be trusted. He, who hides\nhis nature, himself reveals his true self.\" R\u0101ma, of unwearied actions,\nhaving said this, _Sarvarthasiddha_, the foremost of twice-born ones,\nsaid:\u2014\"Knocking about the whole day for alms I was highly enraged and\nstruck this dog. It was sitting in the mid-way and I asked it again and\nagain to move away. Thereupon, moving away and standing with reluctance,\nit stood fearfully on the road-side. O descendant of Raghu, I was at\nthat time stricken with hunger, and struck it for its vicious conduct. O\nking of kings, I am guilty in this, and thou must punish me. O lord of\nkings, do thou administer punishment unto me,\u2014I shall then be released\nfrom the fear of hell.\" Thereupon, R\u0101ma asked all the ministers,\nsaying:\u2014\"What is to be done now? What punishment is to be inflicted on\nhim? We can protect subjects, if we can administer punishment\nproportionate to crime.\" Thereat, Vrigu, Angiras, Kutsa, Vasishtha,\nKashya and other ascetics, the leading preachers, the ministers, the\ncitizens, and other sages conversant with Sastras, present there,\nsaid:\u2014\"A Br\u0101hmana should not be punished with death.\" The sages\nconversant with laws having said this, the ascetics addressed R\u0101ma,\nsaying:\u2014\"O R\u0101ghava, a king is the governor of all\u2014specially thyself.\nThou art the chastiser of the three worlds, the eternal Vishnu.\" They\nall having said this, the dog began:\u2014\"Thou didst solemnly say \u2019What\nshall I do for thee?\u2019 Therefore, if thou art gratified with me, and if\nthou dost wish to confer boons on me, do thou appoint this Br\u0101hmana as\nthe head of family.\" Thereupon, having been thus honored and pleased and\nascending an elephant, he proceeded to occupy his new dignified station.\nAt this, the councillors of R\u0101ma, surprised, said:\u2014\"O thou of great\neffulgence, he has not been punished. Rather thou hast conferred on him\na boon.\" Hearing the words of ministers, R\u0101ma said:\u2014\"You do not know the\nreal truth of the whole thing\u2014the dog knows it well.\" Being accosted by\nR\u0101ma, the dog said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ghava, I was the head of the family of\nK\u0101lanjava. After the worship of the deities and Br\u0101hmana and the\nfeasting of the servants, male, and female, I used to take my food. I\nused to parcel out things duly, and my mind was not in the least\nattached to sin. I used to preserve with great care the articles\nbelonging to the tutelary deities, was humble, good-natured and engaged\nin the well-being of all animals. Still I have fallen into this dreadful\nand wretched condition. O R\u0101ghava, this Br\u0101hmana is angry by nature, and\nimpious, injures others, and is impatient, cruel, harsh in words and\nignorant, and therefore shall degrade his seven generations up and down.\nHe will by no means be able to discharge the duties of a head of a\nfamily. He, whom thou wishest to take to hell with her son, beasts and\nfriends, should be engaged in the serving the Br\u0101hmans and kine. For all\nhis good actions, he is slain who steals the wealth of a Br\u0101hmana, a\ndeity, a woman, and a boy, and the riches given away by him. O R\u0101ghava,\none who pilfers the riches of a Br\u0101hmana or a deity falls into a hell\ncalled Vichi. Even he who thinks in his mind of stealing it, goes once\nand again into hell.\" Hearing the words of the dog, the eyes of the\neffulgent R\u0101ma were expanded with surprise. The dog went back from where\nit had come. In its pristine birth the dog was high-minded\u2014it is now\ncursed for being born in a degraded state of existence. Thereupon,\nrepairing at last to V\u0101r\u0101nasi the dog took the vow of fasting.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXII.\n\n\nThere lived for a long time a vulture and an owl on a mountain extending\nover the banks of a river, resonant with the notes of cuckoos and filled\nwith lions, tigers and various birds, situated in a pleasant forest\nabounding in trees near the city of Ayodhy\u0101. Once on a time the vicious\nvulture alleging that the nest of the owl was his own, began to quarrel\nwith him. O worshipful Sir, thereupon they both said:\u2014\"The lotus-eyed\nR\u0101ma is the king of all people; let us go to him and he will decide to\nwhom the nest belongs.\" Having thus settled the vulture and the owl,\nbeing impatient with rage, quarrelling with one another, appeared before\nR\u0101ma and touched his feet. Beholding that lord of men, the vulture said:\n\"O preserver of humanity, thou art the foremost of celestials and\nAsuras. O thou of great effulgence, thou art gifted with intelligence\nand learning more than Vrihaspati and Sukrach\u0101rya. Thou art cognisant of\nthe good and bad conditions of creatures. In beauty thou art like the\nMoon and art irrepressible like the Sun. In glory thou art like\nHimalaya, in gravity like the Ocean, in prowess like the Patriarch, in\npatience like the Earth, and in velocity like the Wind. O R\u0101ghava, thou\nart the preceptor of the mobile and immobile creation, gifted with all\nsorts of wealth, illustrious, devoid of a revengeful spirit,\nunconquerable, victorious, and master of all Sastras and laws. O\nforemost of men, hear. I have an application to thee. O R\u0101ghava, I had\nbuilt a nest for myself; this owl is now occupying it as his own;\ntherefore, O king, do thou save me.\" The vulture having said this, the\nowl began:\u2014\"True, it is, O king, that in him are the portions of the\nMoon, Indra, the Sun, Kuvera and Yama, but there is in him also a\nportion of man. But thou art thyself the omnipresent deity, N\u0101r\u0101yana.\nThou, impelled by thine own self, dost judge all creatures impartially;\ntherefore, a portion of gentleness is well manifest in thee and\ntherefore do people call thee, a portion of the Moon. O patriarch, in\nanger, punishment, gift and fear, thou art our giver, destroyer and\nprotector,\u2014it is for this that thou art called Indra. In energy thou art\nlike fire irrepressible unto all creatures, and because thou dost spread\nthy lusture upon all creatures, that thou art called the Sun. Thou art\nthe very lord of riches or art even superior to Kuvera; like Padm\u0101 unto\nthe lord of riches, Sri is always by thee. Because thou dost discharge\nthe functions of Kuvera, thou art the giver of wealth unto us. O\nR\u0101ghava, thou lookest upon all creatures, mobile and immobile, with an\nimpartial eye\u2014thou dost regard thy friends and foes with impartiality,\nand thou art duly protecting thy subjects. O R\u0101ghava, death pursues him\nwith whom thou art offended\u2014and it is for this reason that thou art\nstyled by people \u2019the highly powerful Yama.\u2019 O foremost of kings,\nbecause thou art forgiving unto all creatures and a kind king that\npeople sing thy glories as of a man on earth. The king is the strength\nof the weak and helpless and he is the eye of the blind and the refuge\nof those who have no shelter. Thou art also our king; therefore do thou\nlisten to our petition. O king, entering into my nest, this vulture is\noppressing me. Thou only, O foremost of men, art the divine chastiser of\nmankind.\" Hearing those words, R\u0101ma sent for his councillors. The\nministers of Da\u00e7aratha and R\u0101ma, Vrishthi, Yayanta, Vijaya, Siddh\u0101rtha,\nR\u0101shtravarddhana, Asoka, Darmap\u0101la the highly powerful Sumantra and\nothers were well versed in laws, high-minded, conversant with all the\nSastras, intelligent, born in respectable families, and adepts in\ncounsel. Having invited them all and ascending his Pushpaka car, he went\nto the place in question, and, descending there, asked the vulture, \"How\nlong has this nest been made? Tell me, if thou remember it.\" Whereto the\nvulture replied:\u2014\"From the time mankind were first born and spread over\nthe four quarters of the globe have I been living in this nest.\" The owl\nsaid:\u2014\"At the time when the earth was (first) adorned with trees that\nthis nest of mine was constructed.\" Hearing these words, R\u0101ma said to\nthe councillors:\u2014\"That assembly is not an assembly where there are no\nfriends\u2014nor are they old men who do not dwell upon religious topics.\nThat religion is not a religion where there is no truth and that truth\nis not the truth where there is hypocrisy. Those councillors are liars\nwho do not give proper replies in time on the subjects they are\nwell-informed on. He who does give reply to a question under the\ninfluence of passion, anger or fear, binds himself with a thousand\nnooses of Varuna, and at the expiration of full one year he is released\nfrom a single sin.\" Hearing these words, the ministers said to R\u0101ma:\u2014\"O\nthou having a large mind, what the owl has said is true\u2014the vulture has\nnot spoken the truth. Thou art the evidence this, O great king\u2014for the\nking is the last refuge of all\u2014the root of the subject and the eternal\nreligion. He who is punished by the king, is not doomed to a degraded\nstate. He is, in truth, saved from the fear of hell and reaches a better\nstate.\" Hearing the words of the ministers, R\u0101ma said:\u2014\"Hear what is\nmentioned in the Puranas. Formerly the Sun, the Moon, the welkin with\nthe stars, the earth with the mountains and forests\u2014the three worlds,\nthe mobile and the immobile, were under water. At that time only\nN\u0101r\u0101yana existed as the second Sumeru. In N\u0101r\u0101yana\u2019s belly was stationed\nthe earth with Lakshmi. Having destroyed the creation and entered water,\nthe highly effulgent Vishnu, identical with the souls of creatures, lay\nasleep there for many long years. Beholding Vishnu asleep after the\ndestruction of the universe and knowing Vishnu of obstructed breath, the\ngreat ascetic Brahm\u0101 entered his abdomen. Thereupon, when a golden lotus\nsprang from Vishnu\u2019s navel. That great lord, ascetic Brahm\u0101, originated\ntherefrom and was engaged in austere penances for the purpose of\ncreating earth, air, mountains, trees, men, reptiles and all animals\nborn from womb or egg. At that time from the ears of N\u0101r\u0101yana originated\ntwo valiant and dreadful demons under the name of Madhu and Kaitabha.\nBeholding the Patriarch, there they were greatly enraged, and pursued\nhim. Thereat, the self-born cried aloud hideously. Awakened by that\nsound, N\u0101r\u0101yana engaged in fighting with Madhu and Kaitabha, and slew\nthem with his discus. And with their gore the whole earth was deluged.\nThereupon, purifying the earth again, Hari, preserver of the world,\ncovered it with trees. And various drugs were also created. And the\nearth was called _Medini_ because it was filled with _Medas_ marrow of\nMadhu and Kaitabha. It is for this that I hold, O ministers, that this\nhouse does not belong to the vulture, but to the owl. Therefore, this\nvicious vulture should be punished\u2014for this wicked, vicious-minded one,\nrobbing another\u2019s nest, is oppressing him.\" In the interval a voice was\nheard in the sky stating the true facts:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, do not slay the\nvulture,\u2014for it has already been reduced to ashes by the force of\nGautama\u2019s asceticism. O lord of men, this vulture, in its pristine\nbirth, was a heroic truthful and pure king by the name of Brahmadatta.\nOnce on a time a Br\u0101hamana, by the name of Gautama, the very\npersonification of K\u0101la, came to the house of Brahmadatta for food and\nsaid:\u2014\u2019O king, I shall feed in thy house for more than a hundred years.\u2019\nThereupon, offering that effulgent Br\u0101hmana, with his own hands, water\nto wash his feet the king Brahmadatta, made arrangements for his meal.\nAccidentally flesh was mixed with the food of the high-souled Gautama.\nBeing enraged thereat, the ascetic imprecated him with a dreadful curse\nand said:\u2014\u2019O king, thou become a vulture.\u2019 The king said:\u2014\u2019Be\npropitiated, O thou of great vows; do not imprecate me thus. I have, out\nof ignorance committed this offence. O great one, O blameless one, do\nthou act so that this curse may find termination.\u2019 Thereat understanding\nthat this offence was committed by the king unwittingly, the ascetic\nsaid\u2014\u2019O king, in the race of Ikshw\u0101kus a king shall be born under the\nname of R\u0101ma. O foremost of men, thou shalt be released from the curse\nwhen he shall touch thee.\u2019\" Hearing the voice in the sky, R\u0101ma touched\nBrahmadatta. Thereupon renouncing his vulture from and assuming a\nbeautiful body smeared with celestial perfumes, he praised R\u0101ma and\nsaid:\u2014\"O thou conversant with piety, by thy Favour have I been saved\nfrom the dreadful hell\u2014here hath ended my curse.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXIII.\n\n\nAs R\u0101ma and Lakshmana were (daily) engaged in conversing thus, the\nvernal night, neither hot nor cold, came on. And it came to pass that\none bright morning, after having performed his first diurnal rites,\nK\u0101kutstha, understanding the ways of the citizens, became anxious to\npresent himself at a spot whence he could observe the citizens. At this\ntime Sumantra, entering, addressed him, saying,\u2014\"O king, stopped at the\ngate, some ascetics stay there,\u2014_Maharshis_, led by Bh\u0101rgava and\nChyavana. And, O mighty monarch, eager for a sight of thee, those\ndwellers on the banks of the Yamun\u0101, well pleased, have despatched me\n(hither), O tiger among men.\" Hearing his words, the righteous R\u0101ma\nanswered: \"Let the exalted Dwijas enter.\" Thereat, honoring the royal\nmandate, the warder with joined hands brought those ascetics difficult\nof being approached. And numbering over an hundred, flaming up in their\nnative effulgence, those high-souled anchorets entered the royal\nresidence. And they presented R\u0101ma with various fruits in profusion and\nvessels filled with sanctified waters of all holy spots. Thereupon,\naccepting the waters of the holy places as well as the various kinds of\nfruit, that mighty-armed one spake to the mighty ascetics: \"Do ye\nagreeably to desert take these seats.\" Hearing R\u0101ma\u2019s speech, all the\nMaharshis sat down on those graceful and elegant golden seats. And\nseeing the saints seated there, that captor of hostile capitals,\nR\u0101ghava, restraining himself, with joined hands, observed: \"What is the\nreason of your visit? What shall I needfully perform for you? I am\nworthy of being commanded by the Maharshis; and I must without demur\ncompass every pleasure of theirs. And this entire monarchy, and the life\nthat is resident in my heart,\u2014all these are for the regenerate ones.\nThis I tell you in the name of truth.\" Hearing his words, the sages of\nfierce austerities inhabiting the banks of the Yamun\u0101, broke out into a\npeal of plaudits. And those high-souled ones, exceedingly rejoiced,\nsaid: \"On earth, O crown of men, this can only be expected from thee and\nnobody else. Many kings wielding great power have passed away who,\nhaving regard to the (possible) gravity of the undertaking, could not\nbring themselves to promise anything beforehand. But, without knowing he\ntask, thou hast bound thyself by a promise for the glory of the\nBr\u0101hmanas. And thou, without doubt, wilt succeed in effecting the work;\nand it behoveth thee to deliver the sages from a mighty fright.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXV.\n\n\nWhen the sages had spoken thus, Kakutstha said: \"O ascetics, tell me\nwhat is the work which I shall have to accomplish in your behalf. Your\nfear shall be removed.\" As K\u0101kutstha was speaking thus, Bhargava\nremarked: \"O lord of men, do thou hear of the origin of the fear that\nthreatens our country. O king, formerly in the Krita age, there was a\nmagnanimous offspring of Diti, the mighty Asura, Madu, eldest son of\nLot\u0101. He was well disposed towards Br\u0101hmanas, kind to those seeking his\nrefuge, and gifted with high intelligence. The exceedingly generous\ndeities delighted in him greatly. And by way of honoring him, Rudra\nconferred a wonderful boon upon Madhu endowed with prowess and ever\nintent on religion. And extracting a dart from his own, possessed of\nterrific energy, endowed with great force, and furnished with exceeding\nsplendour, that high-souled one, well pleased, made it over (to Madhu)\nand spoke to him. Thou hast practised excellent and unrivalled\nrighteousness, which hath won my good graces, and (therefore), I, highly\ngratified, bestow on thee this choice weapon. So long as thou, O mighty\nAsura, dost not assail celestials and Vipras, so long shall this be\nthine,\u2014otherwise it shall come to naught. Reducing to cinders the person\nthat shall rashly enter upon conflict with thee, this dart shall return\nto thy hand.\" Having thus obtained the boon from Rudra, the mighty\nAsura, again bowing to Mah\u0101deva, addressed him, saying: \"O reverend one,\nmay this excellent dart be the possession of my family. O god, thou art\nthe lord of the immortals.\u2019 Thereat the lord of all beings, the mighty\ndeity Siva, answered Madhu, when he had spoken thus: \u2019This will not be.\nBut in order that thy prayer may not go for nothing, I graciously say in\nthy behalf that one of thy sons shall sway this dart. So long that\ndart-handed one shall be incapable of being destroyed by any creature.\u2019\nHaving obtained this wonderful boon from the god, Madhu\u2014foremost of\nAsuras\u2014caused a splendid city to be constructed. His beloved wife the\nexalted and majestic Kumbhinasi is the offspring of Vi\u00e7wavasu by Anal\u0101.\nHer son, the highly powerful wicked, and fierce Lavana, ever since his\nboyhood, gave himself up to a sinful course of life. Seeing his son,\ncommitted to an impious course Madhu was overcome with grief, but he did\nnot say anything to him. And forsaking this world, he entered the region\nof Varuna; and making over the dart unto Lavana, communicated to him all\nabout the boon he had obtained. And by virtue of the power of the dart,\nhe oppresseth the three worlds in especial the ascetics; such is the\npower of Lavana, and such is his dart. Hearing all this O K\u0101kutstha,\nthou art capable (of righting our wrong.) Thou art our chief resource. O\nR\u0101ma many a monarch hath been already sued by the sages, O hero, to\ndeliver them from this fear,\u2014but we have not yet found a deliverer.\nHearing, O child, that R\u0101vana together with all his forces and vehicles\nhath been destroyed (by thee), we know that there breathes not another\nking on earth capable of delivering us. Therefore our prayer is that\nthou mayst deliver us afflicted with the fear of Lavana. Thus, O R\u0101ma,\nhave we acquainted thee with the occasion of fear that hath arisen. Thou\nart capable of coping with the same. Do thou of undeteriorated prowess,\ndo the needful.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXVI.\n\n\nThus accosted (by the sages), R\u0101ma answered them with joined hands:\n\"What doth he live on? What are his ways? And where doth Lavana live?\"\nHearing R\u0101ghava\u2019s words, the sages informed him of the way in which\nLavana increased in power. \"His food is every creature specially\nascetics; his manner of life is regulated by ferocity and his constant\nhome is Madhuvana. Slaying constantly thousands on thousands of lions\nand tigers and deer, and birds and human beings, he provides his daily\nfood (with their flesh.) And like the Destroyer on the occasion of the\nuniversal dissolution, that one possessed of gigantic strength feeds on\nother creatures as well.\" Hearing this, R\u0101ghava spoke to the mighty\nascetics: \"I will slay that Raksha. Let your fright depart.\" Having thus\nbound himself with that promise to the ascetics of fierce energy,\nRaghu\u2019s son along with his brothers spoke: \"What hero shall slay Lavana?\nDo you decide this. On whom shall devolve this duty? Whether the mighty\narmed Bharata or the intelligent Satrughna shall (do this work?)\" Thus\naddressed by R\u0101ghava Bharata remarked: \"I will slay this. Let this task\nbe entrusted to me.\" Hearing Bharata\u2019s speech instinct with fortitude\nand valor, the younger brother of Lakshmana stood up, leaving his golden\nseat. And Satrughna, saluting the king represented: \"The mighty-armed\nsecond son of Raghu hath already achieved a grand work: he formerly\ngoverned Ayodhy\u0101 empty of the noble one,\u2079\u2076 bearing in his heart the\ngrief connected with his return. Undergoing many a hardship, king, that\nillustrious one passed his days, lying down on a bed of sorrow, and\nliving on fruits and roots, and wearing rags. Having suffered such\nmisery, Raghu\u2019s son should not be suffered to undergo trouble, while, O\nking I his servant is by.\" On Satrughna saying this, R\u0101ghava again said:\n\"Let this be so. Do thou do my bidding. I shall install thee on the\ngraceful city of Madhu; or if thou wish without and entrust Bharata with\nthis task, O long-armed one. Heroic, and accomplished, thou art\ncompetent to found a city on the Yamun\u0101 as well as flourishing\nprovinces. He that, having people\u2019s dominion, doth not furnish it with a\nking, goeth to hell. So if thou accept my words, then slaying Madhu\u2019s\nson, the sinful Lavana, rule the kingdom righteously. O hero, thou must\nsay anything after what I have spoken. Without doubt, a youthful younger\nbrother must obey the injunctions of his elder brother. Do thou, O\nK\u0101kutstha, accept the installation which I confer on thee, preluded by\nthe prescribed religious formulae uttered by Vipras headed by\nVasishtha.\"\n\n \u2079\u2076 R\u0101ma.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXVII.\n\n\nThus accosted by R\u0101ma, the exceedingly energetic Satrughna was\npowerfully wrought up with bashfulness, and replied slowly: \"O lord of\nmen, this doth not appear to be in consonance with morality. Wherefore,\nan elder brother existing, wouldst thou install a younger one? I must, O\nbest of men, do thy behest; for, O exalted one, thy mandate can never be\npassed by me. O hero, I have heard from thee as well as from the Sruti\n(touching the morality concerned).\u2079\u2077 When my second brother had already\nvowed (that he would slay Lavana), I ought not to have returned the\nanswer I actually have. I saying,\u2014\u2018I will in battle slay the dreadful\nLavana,\u2019 I have been guilty of an unrighteous speech. And it is for this\ntransgression that, O powerful one, I shall have to undergo this\nimproper process. But, albeit this course is unrighteous and entails\nperdition, yet desired by my eldest brother, I certainly ought not to\nmake any answer. And, O K\u0101kutstha, a second answer I would not return;\nso that, O bestower of honor, I may not, by a second reply, render\nmyself liable to a fresh punishment. In this matter, O chief of men, I\nwill even do thy desire. Do thou, O descendant of Raghu, so order that\nsin may not be mine (in having obeyed thy mandate.)\" Thus addressed by\nthe heroic and high-souled Satrughna, R\u0101ma, delighted, spoke unto\nBharata and Lakshmana,\u2014\"Do you carefully provide the things necessary\nfor the coronation: this very day shall I install that foremost of men,\nthe descendant of Raghu. And by my order do you summon the Purodhasas, O\nK\u0101kutstha, and the citizens and the Ritwijas, and the councillors.\"\nHaving received the royal behest, the mighty car-warriors did\naccordingly. And the Kshatriyas and the Br\u0101hmanas entered the royal\nmansion with the priest as well as the requisite things for the\ninstallation. And then commenced the auspicious sprinkling of the\nhigh-souled Satrughna, gladdening (the hearts of all in) the palace of\nR\u0101ghava. And on being installed K\u0101kutstha resembled the Sun; and he like\nSkanda formerly installed by the celestials led by Indra. And when\nSatrughna had been installed by R\u0101ma of untiring deeds, the citizens as\nwell as the Br\u0101hmanas of vast Vedic attainments experienced excess of\njoy. And Kausaly\u0101 and Sumitra and Kaikeyi and the other wives of the\nking set up festal salutation in the palace. And on Satrughna having\nbeen installed the high-souled sages dwelling on the banks of the\nJamun\u0101, thought that Lavana had been slain. Then placing the installed\nSatrughna on his lap, R\u0101ghava, extolling his prowess, addressed him\nsweet words: \"O captor of hostile capitals, this divine arrow never\nmissing is thine. With this, O son of Raghu, thou, O placid one, wilt\nslay Lavana. O K\u0101kutstha, this shaft was forged when invisible by\ncelestials and Asuras the divine self-sprung and invincible (deity)\nreposed on the mighty main, and when creation was oppressed by Madhu and\nKaitabha as well as other R\u0101kshasas. He, overwhelmed with rage desirous\nof creating the three worlds, created this best of arrows invincible to\nall beings, for the destruction of the wicked ones; and destroyed them\nin battle by means of this very arrow. And having with this foremost of\nshafts finished Madhu and Kaitabha, they set about creating the worlds.\nWhen, O Satrughna, formerly I sought to slay R\u0101vana, I did not discharge\nthis arrow, thinking that if discharged, it would inflict great havoc on\ncreatures. Keeping in his abode that great and redoubted which had been\nbestowed on Madhu by the high-souled Tryamvaka, for the destruction of\nfoes,\u2014and worshipping the same ever, Lavana goeth about and secureth\nexcellent fare (for himself) when one challenged him, desirous of\nreducing him (his antagonist) to ashes. Therefore, O foremost of men,\nthou shouldst, before entering the city, stand at the gate obstructing\nhis course. O thou having long arms, thou shouldst invite him for battle\nwhen he shall be weaponless and in that way wouldst be able to destroy\nhim. And by no other means he is to be slain. If thou canst encompass\nthis, he shall forsooth be slain. O my son, I have thus told thee the\nway in which the dart should be thwarted. It is impossible to surpass\nthe prowess of the graceful Nilkantha.\"\n\n \u2079\u2077 _i.e._ of being installed as a king during the life of my elder\n brother.\n\n\n\nSECTION LIXVIII.\n\n\nHaving thus addressed Satrughna, R\u0101ma again and again praised him and\nsaid:\u2014\"O foremost of men, let four thousand horses, two thousand\nchariots, one hundred excellent elephants, shops with various articles\nand songsters follow thee. O foremost of men, O Satrughna, do thou\nproceed with _Nijuta_ gold and silver coins and necessary riches and\nconveyances. Do thou so act, O hero, that soldiers might be well-fed and\ndelighted and be not annoyed with thee. Do thou please them with sweet\nwords, for the servants, when they face enemies, have not with them\nfriends or wives\u2014and so they are pleased, O R\u0101ghava when they receive\nsufficient food and presents, O Satrughna, having sent before a huge and\nwell contented army do thou proceed afterwards to _Madhuvana_. Thou\nshouldst proceed so fearlessly that Madhu\u2019s son Lavana might not know\nthat thou wert going for encounter. O foremost of men, he shall not be\nslain by any other expedient than that I have acquainted thyself with.\nIf he can perceive before, whoever that enemy might be, Lavana shall\nforsooth destroy him. When rains shall set in after the expiration of\nthe present summer thou shouldst slay him for that is the proper time\nfor destroying that vicious-minded one. For he shall then fearlessly\nmove about leaving off his dart understanding that no one would come to\nfight with him during rains. Let the soldiers only now proceed with\nascetics before them; the summer hath not as yet fully expired and this\nis the time, when they shall, without any trouble, be able to cross the\nGanges. Afterwards having encamped thy army on the other side of the\nGanges thou shouldst alone proceed speedily with thy bow.\" Hearing those\nwords of R\u0101ma and summoning his highly powerful and leading warriors\nSatrughna said \"Do ye all proceed and halt at those places which are\nwell known to you. Do not oppress any body.\" Having thus ordered the\npowerful warriors the highly powerful Satrughna bowed unto Kau\u00e7aly\u0101,\nSumitr\u0101 and Kaikeyi. Thereupon having circumambulated with folded hands\nR\u0101ma, Lakshmana and Bharata he reverentially saluted the feet of the\npriests. And then with R\u0101ma\u2019s permission and having gone round him the\nhighly powerful Satrughna issued out. Having thus depatched before a\nhuge army consisting of selected elephants and horses, Satrughna, the\nenhancer of the glory of Raghu\u2019s race, took farewell from R\u0101ma. And all\nshowed him proper respect.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXVIII.\n\n\nHaving thus despatched his army and waited at Ayodhy\u0101 for a month\nSatrughna, the slayer of enemies, proceeded alone. Having spent two\nnights on his way he arrived at the holy and picturesque hermitage of\nthe great ascetic Valmiki. And having bowed unto that high-souled Muni\nhe, with folded palms, said:\u2014\"O illustrious Sir, I wish to wait here\nthis day; I have come here for some business of our master R\u0101ma.\nTo-morrow morning I shall proceed to the dreadful West.\" Hearing the\nwords of the high-souled Satrughna, V\u0101lmiki, the foremost of ascetics,\nreplied saying:\u2014\"O thou of great renown, do thou wait here without any\nhesitation. O gentle one, this hermitage belongs to the descendants of\nthe Raghu race. Do thou fearlessly take thy seat and water to wash thy\nfeet.\" Thereupon taking water to wash his feet and feeding upon fruits\nand roots Satrughna attained to great delight. And afterwards he asked\nthe great ascetic V\u0101lmiki saying:\u2014\"O great ascetic, to whom belong the\narticles of sacrifice in the cast near this hermitage?\" Whereto V\u0101lmiki\nreplied \"Satrughna, hear I shall tell thee, whose sacrificial ground was\nthis in the days of yore. There was a king by the name of Saud\u0101sa\u2014one of\nthy ancestors. His son Virjashaha was a highly powerful and pious king.\nThe heroic Saud\u0101sa was fond of hunting from his boyhood. Once on a time\nwhile a-hunting, he espied two Rakshasas in the forest. He had heard\nabout them many times before; they were in the shape of tigers and of a\ndreadful figure and were not satiated with devouring many thousand deer.\nKing Saud\u0101sa saw those two R\u0101kshasas and found the forest divested of\nall creatures. And enraged in consequence thereof he slew one of them.\nHaving slain him and been at ease, Saud\u0101sa, the foremost of men, began\nto eye that R\u0101kshasa. His mate, greatly aggrieved, said to him:\u2014\u2019O\nvicious one, thou hast, without any fault, slain my companion\u2014I shall\ntherefore mete out becoming punishment unto thee.\u2019 Having said this the\nR\u0101kshasa vanished therefrom. Thereupon in time the prince Virjashaha\nbecame king. Saud\u0101sa engaged in celebrating a mighty horse-sacrifice in\nthe vicinity of this hermitage. Vasishtha officiated as a priest at that\nsacrifice. It continued for many Ayuta years. For immense riches the\nsacrifice appeared like one performed by the celestials. Thereupon when\nthe sacrifice was about to be finished the aforesaid R\u0101kshasa,\nremembering his former enmity, assumed the shape of Vasishtha and said\nto the king Saud\u0101sa:\u2014\u2019O king, to-day the sacrifice shall end; do\ntherefore, without any delay, feed me with meat.\u2019 Hearing the words of\nthe R\u0101kshasa in the guise of a Brahman, the king ordered his expert\ncooks, saying:\u2014\u2019Do ye soon prepare such dishes of meat as may satisfy my\npreceptor Vasishtha.\u2019 Having been ordered by the king the cooks\nreverentially went away and the R\u0101kshasa assuming their shape brought\nbefore the king dishes. The king and queen offered those dishes unto the\nascetic Vasishtha, who, after being treated to them, perceived that they\nwere of human flesh and, terribly enraged, said:\u2014\u2019O king, let this be\nthy food which thou hast offered me; this shall not prove otherwise.\u2019\nBeing enraged on hearing it the king Saud\u0101sa took water in his palms and\nwas about to imprecate Vasishtha, when his queen, preventing him\nsaid:\u2014\u2019O king, the illustrious great ascetic Vasishtha is our preceptor\nand priest and so thou shouldst not imprecate him.\u2019 Hearing those words\nof his queen, the king Saud\u0101sa, threw off that powerful water on his own\nfeet which at once became dark. From that time the illustrious king\nSaud\u0101sa became also known by the name of Kalasmp\u0101da. Thereupon the king\nwith his spouse again and again bowed unto Vasishtha\u2019s feet and informed\nhim of what the R\u0101kshasa had done under the guise of a Br\u0101hmana. Hearing\nthe words of the king and being apprised that this vile act had been\ndone by the R\u0101kshasa, Vasishtha said, \u2019O king, even what I have said\nangrily shall not prove futile. However I confer upon thee this boon\nthat after twelve years thou shalt be freed from this curse, and by my\nfavour thou shalt cherish no recollection of thy condition extending\nover those twelve years.\u2019 Having thus suffered the consequences of the\ncurse, Saud\u0101sa, the slayer of enemies, again obtained his kingdom and\ngoverned his subjects. O descendant of R\u0101ghu, the sacrificial ground of\nwhich thou hast asked me, belongs to the king Saudasa.\" Having thus\nheard the dreadful story of the king Saud\u0101sa and saluted the ascetic\nV\u0101lmiki, Satrughna entered a thatched cottage.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXIX.\n\n\nOn the same night Satrughna housed himself in a thatched cottage Sit\u0101\ngave birth to twin sons. In the midnight the Muni boys came to V\u0101lmiki\nand communicated unto him this auspicious intelligence, saying \"O\nillustrious Sir, the beloved spouse of R\u0101ma hath given birth to two\nsons; do thou so protect them that evil spirits might not injure them.\"\nHearing those words the highly effulgent V\u0101lmiki went there and attained\nto great delight on beholding those two highly effulgent sons,\nresembling the newly risen sun and the celestials. Thereupon he made\narrangements against the oppression of ghosts and goblins. Thereupon\ntaking Kusa (the upper part of the grass) and Lava (the lower part) the\ngreat ascetic V\u0101lmiki made those arrangements. And giving Kusa\nsanctified by Mantras unto the hands of elderly women he said, \"Do ye\nrub the person of the elder boy with these,\" and giving them Lava he\nsaid \"Do ye rub the person of the younger brother with this. And\naccording to this I shall name the first Son Kusa and the second Lava;\nand by those names they shall be celebrated on earth.\" Thereupon\nreverentially taking from the hands of V\u0101lmiki and Kusa Lava, the means\nof protection, the elderly ladies engaged in guarding them. Hearing that\nSit\u0101 without any trouble had given birth to two sons and elderly female\nascetics had been engaged in protecting them and hearing the chanting of\nR\u0101ma\u2019s glories in the midnight, Satrughna thought within himself.\n\"Blessed it is that Sit\u0101 hath given birth to two sons.\" And with this\njoy the live long night of Sr\u0101bana passed away in no time. Having\nperformed the morning rites after the expiration of the night and taken\nfarewell from the ascetic V\u0101lmiki, Lakshmana proceeded towards the west.\nAnd having spent seven nights he at last arrived at the hermitage of the\npious Rishis living on the banks of the Yamun\u0101. Taking shelter there he\nengaged in pleasant conversation with Ch\u0101banya and other ascetics.\nHaving remained there for the night and talked with those ascetics the\nhigh-souled, heroic Raghu prince Satrughna was greatly delighted.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXX.\n\n\nThereupon when the night set in Satrughna accosted Vrigu\u2019s son Ch\u0101banya\nsaying, \"O Brahman, how powerful is Lavana? And what is the strength of\nhis dart? What persons before had been destroyed by this dart in\nconflict?\" Hearing the words of the high-souled descendant of\nRaghu,\u2014Satrughna, the highly effulgent Ch\u0101banya replied saying.\u2014\"O\ndescendant of Raghu, Lavana hath accomplished many works by this dart;\namongst them, hear what M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, born in the race of Ikshw\u0101ku, did. The\nearly king of Ayodhy\u0101 was known over the three worlds under the name of\nM\u0101ndh\u0101ta. He was the son of Yavan\u0101shwa, highly powerful and strong.\nHaving brought the whole world under his subjection the king M\u0101ndh\u0101ta\nengaged in the conquest of the celestial region. He having been engaged\nin making preparations to conquer the world of gods\u2014the celestial chief\nIndra with other immortals was greatly terrified. With this promise, the\nking M\u0101ndh\u0101ta went up into the celestial region that he would occupy the\nhalf of Indra\u2019s throne and kingdom and the celestials would adore him.\nBeing apprised of this vicious intention of his, Indra, the slayer of\nPaka, consoled him in sweet words, saying;\u2014\u2019O foremost of men, even in\nthe land of men, thou hast not been able to become the real king.\nWithout perfectly subjugating the earth how dost thou wish to lord over\nthe celestial kingdom? If the whole world is under thy subjection, O\nhero, be thou, with the whole host of thy servants and soldiers,\ninstalled on the celestial throne.\u2019 Indra having said this, the\nhigh-souled M\u0101ndh\u0101ta replied:\u2014\u2019O Sakra, who on this earth, hath\ndisobeyed my commands?\u2019 Whereto Indra replied \u2019O sinless one, the\nnight-ranger, Lavana, Madhu\u2019s son, living in Madhuvana, is not under thy\ncontrol.\u2019 Hearing those dreadful and unpleasant words from Indra, the\nking lowered his head in shame and became silent. Thereupon, having\nwelcomed Indra in that way, he left there and returned to earth. O\nslayer of enemies, with an angry heart, army and conveyance he went to\nsubjugate Madhu\u2019s son Lavana and sent an emissary inviting him to\nbattle. The ambassador, having gone there, addressed many unpleasant\nwords unto Lavana and the night-ranger devoured him. On the other hand\nfinding the delay of his return the king M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, enraged, began to\nassail the R\u0101kshasa Lavana with arrows from all sides. Laughing wildly\nLavana took up the dart in his hand and discharged it to destroy the\nking with his followers. Thereupon growing powerful the dart reduced the\nking with his servants and army into ashes and returned to Lavana. In\nthis wise the high-souled king M\u0101ndh\u0101ta, with his huge army, was slain.\nO gentle hero, incomparable and great is the strength of the dart.\nForsooth thou shalt slay Lavana next morning. Certain is thy victory if\nLavana cannot take up his dart. People shall be at ease if thou canst\nbring about the destruction of Lavana. O foremost of men, I shall then\ndescribe unto thee the incomparable and dreadful prowess of the\nvicious-souled Lavana and his dart. O king, with great exertions did\nLavana slay M\u0101ndh\u0101ta and not easily. O high-minded one, next morning\nthou shalt surely destroy Lavana. He shall issue out for flesh without\ntaking his dart. And at that time, O lord of men, thou shalt, for sooth,\nbe crowned will victory.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXI.\n\n\nThey being thus engaged in conversation regarding his achieving victory\nwithout any danger Satrughna in no time passed the night. The clear\nmorning having arrived, the heroic Lavana issued out of his city to\ncollect food. In the meantime having crossed the river Yamun\u0101, the\nheroic Satrughna, with bow in his hands, stood at the gate of Madhu\u2019s\ncity. Thereupon returning in the noon with many thousand animals, the\nnight-ranger Lavana, of dreadful actions, espied Satrughna standing at\nthe gate with a weapon in his hand. Thereupon he said:\u2014\"What shall thou\ndo with this weapon? O vile wight, enraged I have devoured many thousand\npersons holding weapons like thee. I now perceive thou hast also been\npossessed by K\u0101la. O vile man, I am fully fed. How shall thou, of thy\nown accord, enter into my mouth?\" Lavana having said this again and\nagain laughing the great hero Satrughna shed tears in anger. The\nhigh-minded Satrughna being beside himself with rage, from all his\nperson issued burning lustre. Greatly enraged he said to the\nnight-ranger \"O thou of a vicious intellect, I wish to enter into a duel\nencounter with thee. I am the son of the great king Da\u00e7aratha, brother\nof the intelligent R\u0101ma and my name is Satrughna. I slay all my enemies\nand have come here to destroy thee. I wish now to fight with thee\u2014do\nthou enter into a duel conflict. Thou art the enemy of all animals. Thou\nshall not be able to survive at my hands.\" He having said this, the\nR\u0101kshasa, laughing aloud, replied unto that foremost of men;\u2014\"Thy\nunderstanding is bewildered. By the influence of destiny thou hast come\nunder my control. The R\u0101kshasa R\u0101vana was the brother of my aunts, o\nthou of vicious understanding, O vile wight, it is for his wife that\nR\u0101ma did slay him. It is out of hatred that I have tolerated the\ndestruction of R\u0101vana\u2019s family and have pardoned you all. You are all\nvile men; I have slain and defeated all of your family that have passed\naway and shall destroy all that are living and shall come into\nexistence. O thou of vicious intellect, if thou wishest I shall fight\nwith thee. Do thou wait here so long I do not bring my weapon. Do thou\nremain here as long as I with that shall not kill thee.\" Whereto\nSatrughna immediately replied \"Where shalt thou go while I am alive? The\npractical men should never let off the enemies who come out of their own\naccord. He, who inviteth an enemy into battle under the influence of\nperverted understanding is slain like a coward. Do thou behold this\nworld of creatures to thy hearts\u2019 content for I shall by various sharp\nweapons despatch thee to Yama\u2019s abode who is the enemy of the three\nworlds and R\u0101ghava.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXII.\n\n\nHearing the words of the high-souled Satrughna Lavana was greatly\nenraged and again and again asked him to wait. And clashing his hands\nand grinding his teeth he invited that foremost of Raghus, Satrughna, to\nfight. And Satrughna, the slayer of celestial\u2019s enemies, said to the\ndreadful Lavana, giving vent to those words:\u2014\"Satrughna was not born\nwhen thou didst defeat other kings; do thou therefore proceed to Death\u2019s\nabode being assailed by shafts. O thou of a vicious soul, as did the\ncelestials behold R\u0101vana slain so shall the Rishis and learned Brahmans\nbehold thee, destroyed by me. O R\u0101kshasa, forsooth shall good crown\ncities and villages when thou shalt fall down burnt by my arrows. As the\nrays of the sun enter into lotus so shall arrows, hard as lightning,\ndischarged by my hands, shall enter into thy heart.\" Being beside\nhimself with ire on hearing those words of Satrughna, Lavana threw a\nhuge tree against his breast. And Satrughna too sundered it into a\nhundred pieces. Beholding his own action baffled the R\u0101kshasa again took\nup many trees and hurled them at Satrughna, who, with three or four\nhundred bent arrows, cut them all, one by one, into pieces. Thereupon\nwhen the powerful Satrughna assailed him with arrows the R\u0101kshasa was\nnot the least pained. Rather laughing aloud the valiant R\u0101kshasa\nuprooted a tree and struck him with that on the head. With that stroke\nhe was wounded and slain. And that hero falling there arose a terrible\nuproar amongst the Rishis, celestials, Gandharvas and Apsar\u0101s. Thereupon\nconsidering Satrughna slain the night-ranger did not enter his house\nalbeit he got the opportunity; and moreover beholding him fallen and\ndestroyed he did not take up his dart. He then began to carry his\ncollected food. Regaining his sense within a moment, Satrughna, with a\nweapon in his hand, stood at the city gate and the Rishis began to\npraise him. Thereupon, he having taken up an excellent arrow of\nunfailing aim the ten quarters were filled with its native brilliance.\nIts face was like lightning and its velocity the same and it looked like\nMeru and Mandara; its joints were all bent. None could defeat it in\nbattle. It was pasted with red sandal resembling blood and its feathers\nwere beautiful. Beholding that dart like unto the fire of dissolution,\nand dreadful like unto the lords of D\u0101navas, mountains and Asuras, the\ncreatures were greatly terrified. What more, being disturbed, the\ncelestials, Asuras, Gandharvas, saints and Apsar\u0101s and all other\ncreatures of the world approached the Great Patriarch, the conferrer of\nboons and said;\u2014\"The fear of the celestials and the destruction of the\ncreatures hath arrived.\" Hearing those words the Patriarch Brahma\nreplied \"Although it is a source of great fear still it is not dreadful\nunto the celestials.\" Thereupon with sweet accents he said:\u2014\"Hear, O ye\ncelestials, Satrughna hath taken up this arrow for the destruction of\nLavana. By the energy thereof we have all been overwhelmed. This\neffulgent, ever-existing arrow was made by the Primeval Deity Vishnu\u2014the\nlord of creatures. My children, the burning arrow, of which you are\nafraid, was made by the high-minded Vishnu for slaying the demons Madhu\nand Kaitabha. And Vishnu alone is cognizant of its energy. This\nSatrughna is the first portion of Vishnu\u2019s person; do ye all go hence\nand behold the destruction of the foremost R\u0101kshasa, Lavana, by the\nhigh-souled, heroic Satrughna, the younger brother of R\u0101ma.\" Hearing the\nwords of the Patriarch Brahm\u0101, the celestials arrived at the\nbattle-field of Satrughna and Lavana and saw that the arrow, held by\nSatrughna\u2019s hands, was burning like the fire of dissolution. Beholding\nthe welkin covered by the celestials, Satrughna, the descendant of\nRaghu, emitting leonine roars, again and again looked towards Lavana.\nAnd being again excited by the high-souled Satrughna and enraged Lavana\narrived for encounter. Thereupon expanding his bow up to ears,\nSatrughna, the most accomplished archer, discharged his arrow against\nthe spacious breast of Lavana. And piercing his heart that arrow entered\nspeedily into Ras\u0101tala And having entered Ras\u0101tala that arrow, honored\nby the celestials, again came to the descendant of Raghu. And being\npierced by that shaft the night-ranger Lavana fell down on earth like a\nmountain clapped by a thunder-bolt. The R\u0101kshasa being slain that\ncelestial, huge arrow came into the possession of Rudra before the gods.\nHaving removed the fear of the three worlds with one shaft, that heroic\nRaghu, Satrughna\u2014younger brother of Lakshmana, holding excellent bow and\narrow, appeared like the Sun of thousand rays removing darkness.\nThereupon chanting the glories of Satrughna, the celestials, Rishis,\nPannagas, Apsar\u0101s, said \"O son of Da\u00e7aratha, it is really fortunate,\nthat thou, renouncing fear, hast acquired victory and that the R\u0101kshasa\nLavana hath been vanquished like a serpent.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXIII.\n\n\nLavana being slain the celestials headed by Agni and Indra said in sweet\naccents to Satrughna the represser of enemies:\u2014\"O child, fortunate it is\nthat thou hast been crowned with success after slaying the R\u0101kshasa\nLavana. Do thou, therefore, O foremost of men, O thou of firm vows,\naccept boons. O thou having long arms, all those who can confer boons\nhave arrived here; they all wish for thy victory; seeing us doth not go\nwithout fruits.\" Hearing the words of the celestials the large-armed and\nself-controlled Satrughna placed his hands on his head and said.\u2014\"Let\nthis picturesque and charming city of Madhu, built by the celestials, be\nmy capital; this is the only excellent boon I can beg.\" The celestials,\nwith a delighted heart, said to the descendant of Raghu:\u2014\"Thy desire\nshall be fulfilled and forsooth shall thy city be turned into a\npicturesque capital under the name of Surashena.\" The high-souled\ncelestials having ascended the welkin saying this, the highly effulgent\nSatrughna brought the soldiers there, that were encamped on the banks of\nthe Ganges. When the soldiers arrived there on hearing the commands of\nSatrughna he engaged in making encampments in the month of Sr\u0101ban. In\nthis wise the fearlessness of the celestial host, taking the shape of a\ncountry, that beautiful and picturesque city was reared in the course of\ntwelve years. All the fields there were filled with crops and Indra\nbegan to pour showers in due season. And being protected by the strength\nof Satrughna\u2019s arms all men there became valiant and were freed from\ndiseases. That city on the banks of Yamun\u0101 appeared beautiful like the\nhalf moon and was filled with yards, shops, streets beautiful houses,\nmen of four orders and various articles of trade. Satrughna now engaged\nin beautifying the spacious, white houses that were made by Lavana\nbefore, with various ornamental works. Beholding the city interspersed\nwith various excellent gardens, pleasure grounds and prosperously filled\nwith celestials and men and diverse articles of trade and merchants\nhailing from various countries, Satrughna, the younger brother of\nBharata, attained to the satisfaction of desire and excess of delight.\nHaving thus reared the beautiful city he resolved within himself \"The\ntwelfth year has come. I shall now behold the feet of R\u0101ma.\" Thereupon\nhaving set up the city resembling the region of the celestials and\nfilled with various men, the king Satrughna, the enhancer of Raghu\u2019s\nrace, determined on beholding R\u0101ma\u2019s feet.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXIV.\n\n\nThereupon on the completion of the twelfth year, Satrughna, with few\nservants, soldiers and followers, desired to proceed to Ayodhy\u0101\nprotected by R\u0101ma. Having prevented his minister and leading generals he\nproceeded with one hundred chariots and cavalry. And having counted\nseven halting stations on his way, the highly illustrious descendant of\nRaghu\u2014Satrughna, arrived at the hermitage of V\u0101lmiki. And having bowed\nunto the feet of the leading Muni, that foremost of men took from his\nhands water to wash feet and _Arghya_ and accepted his hospitality. The\ngreat ascetic V\u0101lmiki addressed to the high-souled Satrughna many sweet\nwords. Having referred at first to Lavana\u2019s destruction, he\nsaid:\u2014\"Having slain Lavana thou hast performed a very hard work. O\ngentle one, O foremost of men, Lavana had slain in conflict many hundred\nhighly powerful kings with their army and conveyances. And thou hast\neasily slain that vicious-souled R\u0101kshasa, Lavana. By thy prowess the\nwhole world hath been divested of fear. With great difficulty R\u0101ma had\nslain R\u0101vana\u2014but without any trouble whatsoever thou hast accomplished\nthis mighty work. Lavana being slain, the celestials have been greatly\ndelighted\u2014what more the well-being of the whole universe and all\ncreatures has been brought about. O R\u0101ghava, O foremost of men, being\npresent in the assemblage of Vasava\u2014I duly witnessed your combat. O\nSatrughna, I too have been greatly delighted\u2014I therefore smell thy crown\nfor this is the best expression of love.\" Saying this the high-minded\nV\u0101lmiki smelled his crown and made arrangements for his reception as\nwell as that of his followers. After meals, Satrughna, the foremost of\nmen, listened to themes relating to R\u0101ma and set in musical notes. Those\nthemes were composed describing the early actions of R\u0101ma. They were\ncomposed in Sanskrit, set to the tune of a musical instrument, adorned\nwith all the marks of vocal music and arranged in accompaniment with\nnotes. Satrughna, the foremost of men, heard them from the beginning to\nthe end, pregnant with truth and composed of those words. And on hearing\nit he was beside himself with joy and his eyes were full of tears. And\nremaining stunned for some time and regaining his sense afterwards he\nbegan to breathe hard out of excess of surprise. He heard, in that song,\nof past events as things passing on. And hearing it, his followers, with\ntheir heads down and sorrowfully said:\u2014\"Wonder,\" and saying this they\nbegan to converse with one another:\u2014\"Alas! Where are we? Is this a\ndream? We have been hearing at this hermitage what we had not seen\nbefore. What wonder, that in a dream we hear such an excellent song.\"\nBeing in this wise greatly surprised they said to Satrughna:\u2014\"O foremost\nof men, do thou ask particularly, about this, V\u0101lmiki, the foremost of\nascetics.\" They being all thus struck with curiosity, Satrughna\nsaid:\u2014\"It is not proper for us, O Ye soldiers, to question him in this\nway. There are many such wonders in the hermitage of this ascetic. It is\nnot therefore becoming to ask him about this out of curiosity.\" Having\nthus addressed the soldiers and bowed unto the ascetic, Satrughna, the\ndesendant of Raghu, entered his own quarter.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXV.\n\n\nThereupon going to bed, Satrughna began to meditate upon that excellent\ntheme relating to R\u0101ma and treating of diverse subjects and did not\nenter into sleep. In sooth the high-minded Satrughna spent the night in\nno time listening to that charming song set in musical notes. The night\nbeing over, he first went through the morning rites and then with folded\nhands addressed the foremost of ascetics, V\u0101lmiki, saying:\u2014\"O\nillustrious Sir, I am anxious to see R\u0101ma, the enhancer of the delight\nof the Raghu race. And my desire is that thou mayst with other\nillustrious Rishis, grant me permission on this.\" Satrughna, the slayer\nof enemies, having said this, the great ascetic V\u0101lmiki embraced and\nbade him farewell. He was greatly anxious to behold R\u0101ma and saluting\nthe foremost of Munis he speedily proceeded to Ayodhy\u0101. Thereupon having\nentered the highly picturesque city Ayodhy\u0101, the graceful descendant of\nIkshw\u0101kus, Satrughna reached where the long-armed and the highly\neffulgent R\u0101ma was waiting. He espied there R\u0101ma in the midst of the\ncouncillors like Indra amongst the immortals burning in his own\neffulgence. And having bowed with folded hands unto R\u0101ma, having truth\nfor his prowess, Satrughna said:\u2014\"O great king, I have carried out all\nthine behests; I have slain the vicious Lavana and filled his city with\nsubjects. O descendant of Raghu, twelve years have passed away without\nthee\u2014I do not wish to live any longer separated from thee. Do thou\ntherefore, O K\u0101kuthstha of unmitigated prowess, have compassion on me.\nWithout thee, I cannot live for ever in a foreign province like a\nmotherless child.\" He having said this, R\u0101ma embraced him and said:\u2014\"Be\nnot sorry, O hero. This is not a becoming action for Kshatriyas. The\nkings, O R\u0101ghava, are never tired of living in a foreign land. According\nto the morality of the Kshatriyas, their greatest duty consists in\ngoverning the subjects. O heroic and foremost of men, do thou, at\nintervals, come to Ayodhy\u0101 to see me and return to thy own city.\nForsooth thou art dearer than my life. But it is an incumbent duty to\ngovern the kingdom. Do thou therefore, O K\u0101kutstha, live with me for\nseven nights, and afterwards return to thy city with thy servants, army\nand conveyances.\" Hearing those moral and charming words of R\u0101ma,\nSatrughna poorly replied, saying:\u2014\"Thy command shall be carried out.\"\nThereupon Satrughna, well-skilled in the use of bows, remained with R\u0101ma\nfor seven nights and then addressed himself for departure. Thereupon\nhaving invited Bharata and Lakshmana, the high-souled R\u0101ma, having truth\nfor his prowess, speedily went for his city in a huge chariot. The\nhigh-souled Lakshmana and Bharata followed him on foot for some\ndistance.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXVI.\n\n\nHaving bade adieu unto Satrughna, R\u0101ma, the descendant of Raghu, was\ngreatly delighted by governing his subjects piously in the company of\nBharata and Lakshmana. Some days having passed in this wise\u2014a villager,\nan old Brahman, arrived at the palace gate with a dead body. That\nBrahman, stricken with affection, again and again bewailed in various\npiteous accents, exclaiming \"What heinous crime had I committed in my\npristine birth that I have been constrained to witness the death of my\nson. My son, thou hast not as yet completed fourteen years. To my misery\nthou hast met with untimely death. Forsooth, for thy grief, O my son,\nmyself and thy mother shall soon be snatched away by death. I do not\nremember to have ever uttered a falsehood, or injured an animal or\nperpetrated any other crime. Therefore for some other sinful action,\nthis boy, without performing the son\u2019s duties towards his parents, has\ngone to the abode of death. Save under the regime of R\u0101ma, I have never\nseen or heard of the dreadful death of such a boy who hath not attained\nthe age. Forsooth, R\u0101ma hath perpetrated a mighty iniquity for which\nboys, during his administration, have been meeting with untimely death.\nIn other governments boys have no fear of such an untimely death.\nTherefore, O king confer life upon this dead child. Or else with my\nspouse I shall renounce my life at this gate like one having no lord. O\nR\u0101ma, soiled by the sin consequent upon the destruction of a Br\u0101hmana,\ndo thou live long happily with brothers. O thou of great prowess, up to\nthis time we have lived happily in thy kingdom. And now, O R\u0101ma, under\nthy subjection we are being troubled with the sorrow of our son\u2019s death.\nWe have been brought under the influence of K\u0101la; so in thy kingdom\nthere is not the least happiness for us. Having attained R\u0101ma as its\nlord, the kingdom, of the high-souled Ikshw\u0101kus, hath attained to the\ncondition of one having no master, where during R\u0101ma\u2019s regime the death\nof a boy hath been brought about. For being impiously governed by a\nking, for his sin, the subjects meet with calamities. And a king\nfollowing evil tracks and not governing the subjects righteously people\nmeet with untimely death. Therefore, when a king doth not suppress the\ncrimes committed by people either in cities or provinces the fear, of\nuntimely death, comes in. Evident it is therefore that undoubtedly the\nsin of the king hath appeared in cities and provinces. And for that\nreason this boy hath met with death.\" Being overwhelmed with sorrow that\nold Brahman again and again remonstrated with the king in these piteous\nwords and afterwards covered the death body (of his son).\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXVII.\n\n\nHearing those sorrowful words of the Brahman, R\u0101ma was greatly sorry and\nsent for Vasishtha, B\u0101madeva, his brothers, citizens and councillors.\nThereupon having entered the apartment in the company of Vasishtha,\neight Brahmans blessed the king R\u0101ma, resembling a celestial, saying\n\"May victory crown thee.\" M\u0101rkandeya, Maudgalya, B\u0101madeva, Kashyapa,\nK\u0101ty\u0101yana, Javali, Gautama, and Narada\u2014these eight leading Br\u0101hmanas\nhaving taken their seats, R\u0101ma, with folded hands, saluted them. And he\nshowed due civilities towards his minister, citizens, Rishis and all\nothers. Thereupon all the highly effulgent Rishis being accomodated with\nseats R\u0101ma narrated duly before them the account of the Br\u0101hmana and\nsaid. \"This Brahman is waiting at the Palace-gate.\" Hearing those words\nof the poorly king, N\u0101rada, in the presence of all other Rishis,\nreplied:\u2014\"Hear, king, why this boy hath met with untimely death. And\nhearing this, O descendant of Raghu, do thou settle what thou thinkest\nproper. O king, in the golden age, only the Brahmans used to engage in\nasceticism. At that age, save the Br\u0101hmanas no other caste used to lead\nthe life of an anchoret. And for this, the Brahmans were the highest\ncaste, effulgent in asceticism, shorn of ignorance, above death and\nconversant with three ages. Thereupon at the end of the golden age,\nBr\u0101hmana\u2019s understanding became loose and the Tret\u0101 Yuga set in. At this\nage Kshatryas, gifted with the power acquired by pristine asceticism,\nwere born. And those men, intent upon austere penances, that were born\nin the Tret\u0101 age, were more powerful and greater devotees than those in\nthe former age. In the golden age the Br\u0101hmanas were more powerful than\nthe Kshatryas. But in the Tret\u0101 age the Br\u0101hmanas and the Kshatryas were\nequally powerful. Thus in the Tret\u0101 age, not beholding prominence of the\nBr\u0101hmanas greater than that of the Kshatryas, Manu and other religious\nleaders of the time composed the Sastra describing and setting in the\nfour divisions of castes. In this wise the Tret\u0101 age was prolific with\nvirtues of the four Varnas, and many pious sacrifices and was shorn of\niniquities. But being attacked a little with iniquity, one portion of\nsin appeared on earth. And growing impious people lost their strength.\nAnd for houses and farms that were the property of the former age,\npeople of the Tret\u0101 Yuga were possessed by envy, the outcome of the\nquality of darkness. And with the fading of impiety on earth during\nTret\u0101, the soiled sin of untruth appeared. And this iniquity stretching\none footstep, the lease of people\u2019s lives, for sins, became limited. And\nthe sin of untruth descending on earth, people, to avoid the extinction\nof life in consequence thereof, became truthful and engaged in many\npious observances. During the Tret\u0101 age the Br\u0101hmanas and Kshatryas\nengaged in austere penances and the Vaisyas and Sudras engaged in\nserving them. And the greatest piety of the Vaisyas and Sudras at that\ntime consisted of serving the Br\u0101hmanas and Kshatryas and specially for\nthe Sudras the highest religion was to serve people of all Varnas. O\nforemost of kings, at the end of the Tret\u0101 age, Vaisyas and Sudras being\nfully overpowered by the sin of untruth, the Br\u0101hmanas and the Kshatryas\nalso grew feeble. And the second foot of impiety being ushered into the\nworld the Dw\u0101para age set in. O foremost of men, during this age two\nlegs of piety being cut off, impiety and untruth multiplied. And in Yuga\nnamed Dw\u0101para the Vaisyas engaged in devout penances. In this wise in\nthree ages the three Varnas gradually engaged in ascetic performances.\nThe piety of asceticism by Yugas gradually became established in three\nVarnas. But, O foremost of men, in these three Yugas the Sudras were not\nentitled to the virtues of devout penances. O foremost of men, the\ndegraded caste\u2014the Sudras, during thy regime, have engaged in austere\npenances. And in the Kali Yuga asceticism shall be established in the\nSudras. O king, even in the Dw\u0101para, devout penances for Sudras were\nconsidered as impiety, what to speak of the Tret\u0101 age. O king, one\nSudra, under the influence of vicious understanding has begun devout\npenances within thy kingdom. And for that reason this boy hath met with\ndeath. Calamity sets in that kingdom where a vicious-minded person\ncommits an iniquity and that vicious wight and the king forsooth\nspeedily repair to hell. The king, who piously governeth his subjects,\nreceiveth the sixth portion of their study, asceticism and good actions.\nWhile the king is entitled to the sixth portion of everything why should\nhe not fully protect his subjects? Therefore, O chief of men, do thou\nbring all informations of thy kingdom. And be then studious to repress\nvices wherever thou shalt find them. And by that, O foremost of men, the\npiety of the subjects shall be increased, the lease of their life shall\nbe prolonged and this boy shall regain his life.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXVIII.\n\n\nHearing the sweet words of the celestial saint N\u0101rada R\u0101ma was greatly\ndelighted and addressing Lakshmana said:\u2014\"O gentle one, do thou console\nthat foremost of twice-born ones and place the dead body of the boy in a\njar full of oil. Let this body be protected by sweet-scented oil so that\nit might not be soiled by any means. See that it is not disfigured, its\njoints are not loosened and the hairs do not fall off.\" The highly\nillustrious R\u0101ma, the descendant of Ikshw\u0101kus, thus commanded Lakshmana,\ngifted with auspicious marks, and thought of his car and desired it to\ncome soon. Understanding his intention the golden car appeared before\nhim in no time and saluting him said:\u2014\"O thou of long arms, thine\nchariot hath come.\" Hearing the sweet words of Pushpaka the king R\u0101ma\nsaluted the great ascetics, ascended the car with his burning bow,\nquiver and dagger and left Bharata and Lakshmana in charge of the city.\nAnd searching that Sudra devotee here and there R\u0101ghava proceeded\ntowards the west. And not beholding him there he went to the North\nbounded by the Himalayas. And even there he did not espy the Sudra\nascetic and even the smallest iniquity was not seen there. Thereupon\nreturning from that quarter the king journeyed the whole of east. And\nhaving sat on the Pushpaka car he saw that the eastern quarter was\ntransparent like a looking glass and there was not the best touch of\nsin. From the east R\u0101ghava proceeded towards the south and espied a big\ntank by the side of the Saivala mountain. On the banks of that pond one\nascetic was performing the most austere penances with his legs upwards\nand head downwards. Thereupon approaching him, R\u0101ma said\u2014\"O thou of good\nvows, blessed art thou; I do ask thee, now, O thou highly effulgent and\ngrown old old in asceticism, in what Varna thou art born. I put this\nquestion out of curiosity. I am the son of king Da\u00e7aratha and my name is\nR\u0101ma. For what art thou going through such hard austerities? Is it\nheaven or anything else that thou prayest for? O ascetic, I wish to hear\nof the purpose for which thou art performing such hard penances. Art\nthou a Brahman, or an irrepresible Kshatriya or the third caste Vaisya\nor a Sudra? Do thou speak the truth and thou shaft be crowned with\nauspiciousness.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma, the ascetic, whose face was\ndownwards, gave out his degraded birth and communicated unto him for\nwhat he was performing ascetic observances.\n\n\n\nSECTION LXXXV.\n\n\nHearing the words of R\u0101ma of unwearied actions, the ascetic, with his\nface downwards, said:\u2014\"O highly illustrious R\u0101ma, I am born in the race\nof Sudras; and with a view to reach the region of the celestials with my\nbody I am going through these austere penances. O K\u0101kuthstha, I shall\nnever utter a falsehood since I am willing to conquer the the region of\ngods. I am a Sudra and my name is Sambuka.\" The Sudra ascetic having\nsaid this, R\u0101ma took out of scabbard a beautiful sharp sword and chopped\noff his head therewith. And that Sudra being slain, Indra, Agni and\nother celestials praised him again and again and showered flowers. And\nbeing greatly delighted, the celestials said to R\u0101ma, having truth for\nhis prowess:\u2014\"O thou of a great mind, thou hast nicely performed this\ngod-like work. O slayer of foes, do thou now crave a boon. O descendant\nof Raghu, being slain by thee this Sudra hath been able to attain to the\nabode of the celestials.\" Hearing the words of the deities, R\u0101ma, having\ntruth for his prowess, said with folded hands to Purandara, of a\nthousand eyes:\u2014\"If the celestials are pleased, I beg for this boon that\nthe son of the twice-born one may be restored to life. Do ye confer upon\nme this boon; this is my wished-for object. It is for my iniquitous\nconduct that this only son of the Brahman hath met with untimely death.\nDo ye restore him to life. I have promised before that leading\ntwice-born one that I would restore his son to life\u2014do ye therefore,\nmake not me a liar.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma the leading celestials\ndelightedly said:\u2014\"Do thou return, O K\u0101kutstha. The Brahmin boy shall\nimmediately gain back his life and be united with his father, mother and\nfriends. O R\u0101ghava, with the death of the Sudra the boy has regained his\nlife. Be thou at ease; may good betide thee. O foremost of men, we, too,\nreturn with delighted hearts. O R\u0101ghava, we desire to behold the\nhermitage of the great saint Agastya. Having been initiated, that highly\neffulgent Brahman saint hath lived within waters for twelve years; his\nvow hath now terminated. O K\u0101kuthstha, we shall now go to welcome that\nMuni. Do thou also follow us to see that saint.\" Saying \"So be it!\" to\nthe words of the celestials that descendant of Raghu ascended his golden\ncar Pushpaka. And having ascended spacious cars the celestials proceeded\nto the hermitage of Agastya born of a _Kumbha_. R\u0101ma too also followed\nthem. Thereupon beholding the celestials present the virtuous-souled\nAgastya, the jewel of asceticism, welcomed them particularly. Having\naccepted his worship and adored in return that great Muni, the\nimmortals, delighted, proceeded to their abodes with their followers.\nThe celestials having departed R\u0101ma descended from Pushpaka and saluted\nthat effulgent and foremost of Rishis Agastya. And having received due\nhospitality he sat there. Thereupon the highly effulgent and leading\nascetic Kumbhajoni said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ghava, I have been greatly delighted with\nthy coming. By my good fortune I have seen thee to-day. O R\u0101ma, I love\nthee because thou art gifted with many qualities. O king, thou art my\nworshipful guest. I was thinking of thee. The celestials informed me\nthat thou wert coming having slain the Sudra ascetic. Thou hast observed\npiety and hast given back life unto the dead child of the Brahman. Do\nthou spend this night with me, O R\u0101ghava. Thou art the graceful\nN\u0101r\u0101yana. In thee the whole universe is established. Thou art the lord\nof all creatures and the eternal Purusha. Thou shalt go to thy city next\nmorning in thy Pushpaka car. This ornament, O gentle one, hath been made\nby the architect of the celestials; its make is very beautiful and it is\ndazzling by its own lustre. By accepting this, O K\u0101kutstha, do thou\nsatisfy my desire. It is said that one attains to best fruits if he\nmakes present unto his deity, of best articles he gets from another.\nThou art the only worthy person to use this ornament. Thou art alone\ncapable of conferring best fruits. Thou dost protect Indra and other\ncelestials. Therefore I do duly present thee with this ornament. O king,\ndo thou accept it.\" Thereupon meditating upon the duties of the\nKshatryas, the heroic R\u0101ma, the foremost of the intelligent, said:\u2014\"O\nillustrious Sir, the Br\u0101hmanas only can accept presents\u2014how can the\nKshatryas do? To take gifts is the function of the Br\u0101hmanas\u2014for\nKshatryas it is a source of censure. Besides, to receive presents from a\nBr\u0101hmana, is highly culpable. Do thou therefore tell me, how I may\naccept this ornament.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma, the great saint\nAgastya replied saying:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, O son of Da\u00e7aratha, at the beginning of\nthe golden age, people had no king; but V\u0101sava was the ruler of the\ncelestials. Therefore to obtain a king, men approached Brahm\u0101, the god\nof gods and said \u2019O deity thou hast placed Indra as ruler over the\ncelestials; therefore, O lord of creatures, do thou also confer upon us\na king who shall be foremost among men; by worshipping him we shall be\nfreed from all sins. We shall not live without the king\u2014even this is our\nfirm resolution.\u2019 Thereupon the Patriarch Brahm\u0101 sent for Indra and\nother deities and said:\u2014\u2019Do ye all give a portion of your respective\nenergies.\u2019 Thereupon the deities gave each a portion of their own\nenergies. Thereupon Brahma made a _Khshupa_ or sound and therefrom\noriginated a king under the name of _Khshupa_. And in his person Brahm\u0101\nplaced in equal proportions the energies of the deities. Thereafter he\nmade _Khshupa_ the foremost king of men. By virtue of the portion of\nIndra\u2019s energy the king _Khshupa_ brought the earth under his control;\nby that of Varuna\u2019s energy he fostered his own body; by Kuvera\u2019s portion\nhe conferred riches upon his subjects; and by that of Yama he governed\nthem. Therefore, O R\u0101ma, by virtue of Indra\u2019s portion, do thou accept\nthis ornament and confer upon me the salvation.\" Hearing the words of\nthe Muni, R\u0101ma took from him that brilliant celestial ornament burning\nlike the rays of the Sun. And having taken that excellent ornament,\nD\u0101\u00e7arathi asked the great saint Kumbhayoni, saying:\u2014\"Whence hast thou\nobtained this celestial ornament of a wondrous make? Who hast given thee\nthis? Brahman, I do accost thee thus out of curiosity. Thou art the mine\nof many wonders.\" Whereto Agastya replied, saying \"Hearken, O R\u0101ma, how\nI did obtain this ornament in the Tret\u0101 age.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XC.\n\n\n\"O R\u0101ma, in Tret\u0101 age, there was a huge forest extending over a hundred\nYojanas divested of animals and men. In that forest I used to perform my\naustere penances. Once on a time I began to roam all over the forest\nbeing willing to see well every nook and corner of it. And I saw that it\nwas impossible to ascertain how very pleasant that forest was. In every\nplace there were trees with profuse sweet fruits and roots. In the\nmiddle I espied a pond extending over a Yojana. There was no moss in\nthat deep, calm, clear and sweet water; there were lotuses and lilies\nand swans, K\u0101rand\u0101vas, Chakravakas and many other water fowls were\nplaying in the waters. O lord of creatures, at no distance from that\npond I saw an old, holy hermitage but there was no creature or animal\naround it. It was summer and I spent that night in that hermitage. Next\nmorning leaving my bed I arrived at the banks of the pond and saw a\nplump dead body in the waters. None of its limbs was pale and its beauty\nwas not spoiled. Beholding it and standing on the banks I began to\nmeditate upon it. And thought I \u2019What is this?\u2019 In a moment I espied a\nbeautiful car, swift-coursing like the mind and drawn by ganders. And I\nsaw in that chariot a celestial person. He was being attended by\nApasaras adorned with celestial ornaments and having lotus-eyes. Some of\nthem were singing, some dancing and some playing on Mridanga, Vina and\nother musical instruments and some were fanning his lotus-like\ncountenance with valuable, golden chowries, dazzling like the rays of\nthe moon. O R\u0101ma, the foremost of Raghu\u2019s race, like unto the moon\nrenouncing the summit of the Sumeru mount that celestial wight got down\nfrom his seat in the car and engaged in devouring the dead body. And\nhaving taken enough flesh he got down into waters and duly performed\nablution. And thereafter that heavenly being again addressed himself for\nascending the car. O foremost of men, beholding that heavenly being\nabout to get up I accosted him, saying \u2018Who art thou? I see, thou hast a\ncelestial form, then why hast thou taken such an abominable food? O thou\nadored of the immortals, persons like thee should not take such meals. O\ngentle one, I have been striken with great curiosity and wish to hear\nall. Thine living upon dead body doth not appear agreeable unto me.\u2019 O\nking, plainly and out of curiosity I put to him these questions. And\nhearing them, the celestial being related everything unto me.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXI.\n\n\n\"O R\u0101ma, hearing my words pregnant with sound reasoning, that heavenly\nbeing, with folded hands, said \u2019Hear, O Brahman, from what unavoidable\ncause hath proceeded this happy and again painful incident. There\nflourished in the days of yore a highly illustrious and powerful\nVidarbha king under the name of Sudeva known over three worlds. He was\nmy father. His two queens gave birth to two sons. My name is Sweta and\nthe name of my youngest brother was Suratha. After the decease of my\nsire the subjects installed me on the throne and I governed them piously\nand carefully for a thousand years. By some reason I was informed of the\nextent of my life. And when I perceived that the lease of my life had\nwell-nigh expired I entered into the life of Banaprasta. And having\nplaced my brother Suratha on the throne I entered into a dense forest\ndevoid of men and animals at no distance from this pond to perform\ndevout penances. And I performed austerities for a long time near this\npond. Having performed hard penances in this forest, for three thousand\nyears I at last attained to the region of Brahm\u0101. And albeit I had\nreached the Brahm\u0101 region I was still being assailed by hunger and\nthirst. And gradually I grew tired therewith. Thereupon approaching the\npatriarch Brahm\u0101, the lord of three worlds, I said:\u2014\"O Brahm\u0101, here\nthere is no hunger or thirst; still why have I been brought to their\ncontrol? Of what iniquity of mine is this fruit? O deity, tell me upon\nwhat I shall live?\" Whereto the patriarch replied;\u2014\"O son of Sudeva, do\nthou live upon sweet savoured meat everyday? O Sweta, thou didst only\nlook to the growth of thy person when thou didst perform rigid penances.\nO thou of a great mind, nothing grows, when nothing is sown. Thou didst\nonly perform ascetic penances, but thou didst not make any gift of\ncharity. It is for that reason, O my son, that thou art, even in heaven,\nbeing assailed by hunger and thirst. Thereupon do thou now live upon\nthine own dead body fostered by various food. By this thou shalt keep up\nthy being. O Sweta, thou shalt be relieved from this affliction when the\nirrepressible, great Saint Agastya shall reach that forest. O gentle\none, even unto the immortals he can give salvation; what wonder it is\nthat he shall relieve thee from the miseries of hunger and thirst.\" O\nforemost of twice-born ones, from the time of hearing those words of the\ngreat Brahm\u0101, the god of gods, I have been engaged in this cursed work\nof feeding upon my own dead body. O Brahman, for many long years I have\nbeen living upon this corpse still I have not done with it. O Saint, I,\ntoo, derive satisfaction from it; I now understand that thou art the\nillustrious Agastya born of a Kumbha; for none else is capable of coming\nhere; do thou therefore save me from this pain, who am afflicted with\ngreat miseries. O foremost of twice-born ones, O gentle one, do thou\ntake this ornament; may good betide thee. Do thou be propitiated with\nme. O Brahman, I do confer upon thee, gold, riches various clothes,\neatables, excellent ornaments and diverse other objects of desire and\nenjoyment. O foremost of Munis, do thou with compassion save me.\u2019\nHearing those words of the heavenly being, exciting pity, I accepted\nthis ornament for saving him. And as soon as I took this ornament that\nhuman body of the royal saint disappeared. And the body being dissolved,\nthe royal saint Sweta, greatly delighted, happily went to the land of\nimmortals. It is for this reason, O K\u0101kutstha, that royal saint,\nresembling Indra, conferred upon me this wondrous, celestial ornament.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXII.\n\n\nHearing the wondrous words of the great saint Kumbhayoni, R\u0101ma, out of\ngreat curiosity and importance of the subject, again asked him,\nsaying:\u2014\"O Brahman, why was that dense forest, in which the king Sweta\nused to perform hard penances, divested of birds and animals? And how\ndid he proceed to that forest devoid of men and animals for undergoing\npenances? I wish to hear the truth.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma stricken\nwith curiosity, the highly effulgent saint Agastya said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma,\nformerly in the golden age, Manu was the king. His son was Ikshw\u0101ku.\nHaving installed the irrepressible Ikshw\u0101ku, Manu said: \u2019Be thou the\nlord over creatures.\u2019 Saying \u2019So be it\u2019 Ikshw\u0101ku accepted the command.\nThereupon greatly delighted Manu said to his son:\u2014\u2019I have been highly\npleased with thee. For sooth thou shalt become a very liberal prince.\nThou shalt govern the subjects meting out proper punishment unto them,\nbut do not punish them without any fault. If the punishment, which a\nking inflicts upon the guilty, be just it becomes the instrumental in\ntaking the giver to heaven. Therefore, O my son having large arms, be\nparticularly studious as regards punishment for thereby thou shalt\nacquire great piety.\u2019 Having in this wise advised Ikshw\u0101ku Manu\ndelightedly repaired to the region of Brahm\u0101. After Manu\u2019s departure,\nthe effulgent Ikshw\u0101ku thought of the means for creating progeny.\nThereupon performing many pious rites Manu\u2019s son engendered a hundred\nsons. O descendant of Raghu, the youngest of all those sons became\nstupid and ignorant and did not respect his elder brothers. And thinking\nthat he should therefore be punished he named this son \u2019Danda.\u2019\nThereupon finding no other province worthy of Danda he allotted the\nregion between Vindhya and Saivala to him. Danda became king of that\npicturesque valley. And having reared a fine city there he named it as\nMadhumanta and appointed Sukracharja of firm vows as his priest. Having\nthus established his kingdom, Danda, with his priest, began to lord over\nit filled with healthy and delighted people like unto the lord of\ncelestials in their region. O R\u0101ma, like unto Mahendra governing his\nkingdom of heaven under the guidance of Vrihaspati, the preceptor of\ncelestials, Danda, the grand-son of Manu, governed his own kingdom with\nthe help of Usan\u0101s.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XCIII.\n\n\nHaving related this story unto R\u0101ma the great saint Agastya again\nsaid:\u2014\"O K\u0101kutstha, having subdued his passions, the king Danda, reigned\nundisturbed in this wise for many long years. Thereupon during spring,\nin the month of Chaitra the king arrived at the picturesque hermitage of\nthe preceptor Sukra. At that time, Sukra\u2019s daughter, matchless in beauty\nand grace, was walking in the forest. The king saw that jewel of a girl,\nand being stricken with lust and growing restless he approached her and\nsaid:\u2014\u2019O thou having a beautiful waist, O fair lady, whose daughter art\nthou? O thou having a moonlike countenance, I have been assailed by the\narrows of Cupid and hence I do accost thee thus.\u2019 Hearing the words of\nthe vicious-souled Danda, maddened with lust, Sukra\u2019s daughter humbly\nsaid:\u2014\u2019O king of kings I am the daughter of the preceptor Sukra of\nunwearied actions and my name is Araj\u0101s. I am living in this\nhermitage\u2014king, do not touch me forcibly for I am a maid and hence under\nthe guardianship of my father. Besides my father is my preceptor, and\nthou art also his disciple. Being enraged he shall imprecate thee with a\ncurse. O foremost of men, if thou dost cherish any desire for me, do\nthou honestly and piously pray for it unto my sire. Or else thou shalt\nsuffer dreadful consequences in the long run. When worked up with ire,\nmy father can reduce even the three worlds to ashes. O thou of a\nblameless person, if thou dost pray, my father may make me over unto thy\nhands.\u2019 Araj\u0101s having said this, the king Danda, maddened with lust,\nplacing folded palms on his head, said:\u2014\u2019Be thou propitiated with me, O\nthou having a graceful person; do not tarry even for a moment. My heart\nbursts out for thee, O thou having a moon-like countenance. For\nacquiring thee I can even take upon myself my own destruction or\ndreadful iniquity. Do thou seek me, O fair lady\u2014I am beside myself for\nthee.\u2019 Having said this the king forcibly ravished her. Having\nperpetrated such a mighty iniquity he speedily returned to his own city\nMadhumanta. Araj\u0101s cried aloud in forest at no distance from the\nhermitage and waited for her sire who had been away on visiting the\ncelestials.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XCIV.\n\n\n\"Thereupon having heard everything about Araj\u0101s from a disciple, he,\nsurrounded by his pupils, arrived at his own hermitage and beheld her\nthere poorly, soiled with dust and like unto the morning rays of the\nmoon possessed by a planet. He was stricken with hunger and was greatly\nincensed on beholding his daughter in that wretched plight, as if\nburning the three worlds with rage. Addressing his pupils he said:\u2014\u2019Do\nye witness today the dreadful calamity, arising out of my flaming ire,\nof the vicious Danda treading the path of immorality. This vicious wight\nhath placed his hands in the burning flame so he shall, along with\nfollowers, meet with destruction. Since that vile being hath perpetrated\nsuch a dreadful crime he shall forsooth suffer the consequence thereof.\nWithin seven nights, the wicked and vicious Danda, with his son,\nsoldiers and retinue, shall meet with death. Showering dust Indra shall\ndestroy, to the extent of a hundred Yojana, the territory of this\nvicious king. And all creatures mobile and immobile, wherever they might\nbe, shall be destroyed with this downpour of dust. All animals as far as\nthis Dandas\u2019 territory extends, shall be destroyed within seven nights.\u2019\nHaving said this, with eyes reddened with ire, Usan\u0101s, Vrigu\u2019s son, said\nto the inmates of his hermitage:\u2014\u2019Do ye all go and wait outside this\nkingdom.\u2019 Hearing the words of the preceptor Sukra, the inmates left the\nhermitage and lived at a place beyond the limit of Danda\u2019s territories.\nHaving thus addressed the inmates of the hermitage the great saint, said\nto Arajas. \u2019O unfortunate girl, with a devoted mind do thou wait at this\nhermitage. Without any anxiety, O Araj\u0101s, do thou wait for the time at\nthe picturesque banks of this pond extending over a Yojana. Within seven\nnights whoever shall approach thee, shall be destroyed with this\ndownpour of dust.\u2019 Hearing the words of the Br\u0101hmana saint and preceptor\nSukra, Araj\u0101s sorrowfully said to her father \u2019It shall be done.\u2019\nThereupon Sukracharjya went away and lived elsewhere. According to the\nwords of the saint, the entire kingdom of Danda, with servants, army,\nand conveyances, was destroyed within seven nights. R\u0101ma, in the golden\nage, the province between the mountains Vindhya and Saivala comprising\nDanda\u2019s territories, imprecated by the Brahman saint, in consequence of\nthe iniquity of the vicious souled, was reduced into a desert. From that\ntime it passes by the name of Dandaka forest. And it is otherwise called\nJanasth\u0101na because the ascetics used to perform austerities there. O\nR\u0101ghava, I have thus related unto thee, all thou didst ask of me. O\nhero, the time for performing evening rites hath come. Behold foremost\nof men, having performed ablution, the great saints, on all sides, with\njars full of water, are worshipping the sun. Having accepted adoration\nin the shape of Vedic hymns chanted by Brahmans, well-versed in Vedas,\nthe illustrious Aditya is about to be set. Therefore, O R\u0101ma, do thou\nperform the ceremony.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XCV.\n\n\nHearing the words of the great saint, R\u0101ma, to perform the evening\nadoration, went to the pond filled with Apsar\u0101s; and having performed\nthe worship he again returned to the hermitage of the high-souled\nAgastya. Thereupon the great ascetic offered him as food many\nsubstantial Kanda, roots, Oshadis and the holy S\u0101li rice. And taking\nthat nectar-like cooked rice, R\u0101ma, the foremost of men, was greatly\ndelighted and spent the night there. Having got up in the morning and\nperformed the necessary ceremonies he approached the ascetic to bid\nfarewell, and saluting him said:\u2014\"O great Rishi, I do crave for thy\npermission to go to my own habitation. Do thou permit me. O high-souled\none, I have been highly favoured and blessed by beholding thee. I shall\ncome again some other time to free myself from sins.\" Hearing those\nwondrous words of R\u0101ma, Agastya having asceticism for his wealth,\ndelightedly said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma these words, set in charming letters, are\nhighly wonderful. O descendant of Raghu, thou art the purifier of all\ncreatures. O R\u0101ma, one, who beholds thee, even for a moment, becomes\npure and worthy of repairing to heaven. Even the leading deities worship\nhim. Those on earth, who cast dreadful looks on thee, are immediately\nbrought under the control of Yama and are constrained to go to hell. O\nforemost of Raghus, thou art the purifier of all creatures; people\nbecome perfect even if they only chant thy glories. K\u0101kutstha, do thou\nnow go with ease and fearlessly, and govern thy kingdom righteously. O\nR\u0101ma thou art the refuge of the world.\" Hearing the words of the great\nand truthful Rishi the wise R\u0101ma, with folded hands, saluted him and\nother Rishis, and with serene air ascended the golden car Pushpaka. Like\nunto the immortals welcoming the Chief of the deities, the Rishis\nshowered blessings, upon R\u0101ma from all sides while he was proceeding.\nAnd seated on car, he appeared like the moon, after the expiry of the\nrainy season. Thereupon being welcomed by the villagers on his way he\nreached Ayodhy\u0101 at noon and descended at the middle apartment. And\nhaving permitted the charming chariot coursing at will to go away he\nsaid:\u2014\"Do thou now go; may good betide thee.\" Thereupon he said to the\nwarder, \"Do thou speedily go and having communicated my arrival unto\nLakshmana and Bharata bring them here.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXVI.\n\n\nAccording to the command of R\u0101ma of unwearied actions, the warders went\nto the princes and communicated unto them (the arrival). Beholding\nBharata and Lakshmana present, R\u0101ma embraced them and said:\u2014\"I have, as\npromised, performed the work of the excellent twice-born one. I wish now\nto perform a Rajshuya sacrifice, the source of religious glory, the\ndestroyer of all sins, inexhaustible and un-ending. Therefore, with you\nlike my own self, I wish to engage in the most excellent and eternal\nRajshuya sacrifice. O slayer of foes, by celebrating Rajshuya, Mitra\nattained to the dignity of Varuna. And having celebrated the same\nsacrifice, Soma, conversant with piety, established eternal fame in the\nthree worlds. Do ye therefore consult with me even today as to what is\nproper. Do ye consider carefully and tell me what is auspicious and\nproductive of well-being in the long run.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ghava,\nBharata, well-skilled in the art of speech, with folded hands, said \"O\npious Sir in thee are established piety, earth and fame. O thou of\nunmitigated prowess, as the deities honor the patriarch so other kings\nhold thee in reverence. O king, all creatures mobile and immobile\nconsider thee as their father. O thou of great strength, thou art the\nrefuge of all animals and of the universe. Therefore of what use is such\na sacrifice unto thee? In such a sacrifice all the royal families meet\nwith ruin. All those kings, who are proud of manliness, being incensed\nwith great ire on the occasion of this sacrifice, shall bring ruin upon\nall. O foremost of men, the whole earth has been brought under thy\nsubjection so it is not proper to devastate it.\" Hearing those sweet\naccents of Bharata, R\u0101ma, having truth for his prowess, attained to\nincomparable delight, and addressed the enhancer of Kaikeyi\u2019s delight\nwith kind words, saying:\u2014\"O thou freed from sins, I have been greatly\ndelighted with thee. O foremost of men, for the preservation of earth,\nthou hast given vent to words, without any hesitation, pregnant with\nmanliness and piety. O thou conversant with piety, according to thy wise\ncounsels, I refrain from celebrating this Rajshuya sacrifice. The wise\nshould never undertake all those works which give affliction unto\npeople. O elder brother of Lakshmana, it is proper to take wise counsels\neven from a boy.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXVII.\n\n\nAfter the conversation between R\u0101ma and Bharata had been over,\nLakshmana, with reasonable words, said to the former:\u2014\"O worshipful Sir,\namongst sacrifices Aswamedha is the best and the remover of all sins; it\nis my prayer therefore that thy desire might be turned towards this\ngreat and highly purifying sacrifice. It is said in this Pur\u0101nas, that\nPurandara, sullied by the sin consequent upon slaying a Br\u0101hmana, was\nagain purified by celebrating a horse sacrifice. O thou having long\narms, formerly, during the war between gods and demons there flourished\na highly honored Asura under the name of Vitra. The breadth of his body\nwas a hundred Yojanas and the height thereof was three hundred Yojanas.\nConsidering all under his subjection he used to regard them with\naffection. He was pious, grateful and used to perform nothing without\nproper deliberation. And treading pious tracks he used to govern his\nsubjects very carefully. During his administration earth produced all\nwished-for objects; roots and fruits were tasteful and flowers were\nfragrant. Without being cultivated earth used to yield crops. In this\nwise for many long years he governed a prosperous and wonderful kingdom.\nThereupon he determined upon performing a hard penance. He considered\nasceticism as the best of all and regarded all other things as mere\nillusions. Having resolved thus and placed his son Madhureswara on the\nthrone Vitra engaged in austerities creating terror unto all deities. He\nbeing thus engaged in asceticism, Indra, greatly terrified, approached\nVishnu and said:\u2014\u2019O thou having long arms, by virtue of his asceticism\nVitra is about to conquer all the worlds. He is pious, so I cannot\nsubdue him. O illustrious Sir, if his ascetic powers grow more we shall\nbe constrained to live under his control for ever from the creation. Do\nthou therefore not neglect any longer this highly generous Asura.\nThyself being enraged, O lord of deities, Vitra shall not live even for\na moment. O Vishnu, from the time he succeeded in propitiating thee, he\nhath obtained the sovereignty of the three worlds. Do thou, therefore,\nbe propitiated now; save thee none can free this world from thorns and\nbring it at rest. O Vishnu, all the deities are waiting for thee; do\nthou help them by slaying Vitra. O thou having a large mind, thou art\nalways the help of these high-souled deities. It is impossible for any\none else to accomplish the present work. Thou art the refuge of the\nhelpless.\u2019\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XCVIII.\n\n\nHearing the words of Lakshmana, R\u0101ma, the slayer of enemies, said:\u2014\"O\nthou of firm vows, do thou at length, describe the destruction of\nVitra.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ghava, Lakshmana, the enhancer of\nSumitr\u0101\u2019s delight, again took up that theme. \"Hearing the words of Indra\nand other deities Vishnu replied:\u2014\u2019From before I am bound with the\nhigh-souled Vitra by the ties of friendship. For this, even for your\nsatisfaction, I shall not (myself) slay him. Again I am to afford\nexcellent felicity unto you. I shall myself divide you into three\nclasses and then forsooth your king shall be able to destroy Vitra. Of\nthose three portions the first shall be able to slay him.\u2019 Vishnu, the\ngod of gods, having said this, the deities replied, saying:\u2014\u2019O slayer of\ndemons, undoubtedly what thou hast said, shall prove true; may victory\ncrown thee; we proceed now to slay Vitra. O highly generous deity, do\nthou now make V\u0101sava powerly by infusing thy own energy.\u2019 Thereupon the\nhighly powerful immortals headed by Indra entered the forest where the\ngreat Asura Vitra was performing austerities. Arriving there they\nobserved that the leading Asura was spreading rays all over\u2014the outcome\nof his own effulgence, as if devouring the three worlds and burning down\nthe quarters. Beholding that foremost of Asuras, the deities were\ngreatly terrified and began to think of plans by which they would be\nable to slay him and not be defeated. While they were thus thinking,\nIndra, of thousand eyes, taking up a thunderbolt, hurled it against\nVitra\u2019s head. That dreadful burning thunderbolt, like unto the fire of\ndissolution, falling on Vitra\u2019s head, the three Worlds were agitated.\nThereupon thinking that he has perpetrated an iniquity by slaying Vitra\nengaged in asceticism, Indra, out of fear, fled to the other side of\n_Lokaloka_, perpetually enshrowded with darkness. And the sin,\nconsequent upon the destruction of a Brahman, pursuing him vehemently,\nentered into his person. In this wise Indra became subject to dreadful\nafflictions. Beholding the enemy slain and Indra fled, the deities\nheaded by fire again and again chanted the glories of Vishnu\u2014the lord of\nthree worlds, saying \u2019O great god, thou art the refuge of the three\nworlds. Thou art the first-born and the father of the universe. For\nprotecting all creatures thou hast assumed this Vishnu form. Thou hast\nslain this Vitra but the sin of slaying a Brahman has visited Indra.\nTherefore, O excellent Purusha, do thou so arrange that he may be freed\nfrom sins.\u2019 Hearing the words of the celestials Vishnu said\u2014\u2019Let your\nChief celebrate a sacrifice in my honor\u2014and by that he shall be cleansed\nof the sin. If the slayer of P\u0101ka celebrates a horse sacrifice, he shall\nagain fearlessly be installed as the chief of deities.\u2019 Having addressed\nthese nectar-like words to the deities and being glorified by them,\nVishnu, the god of gods, returned to his abode.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION XCIX.\n\n\nHaving thus described at length and finished the story of Vitra\u2019s\ndestruction Lakshmana said:\u2014\"The mighty Vitra, the terror of the\ndeities, being slain, and the slayer Indra, being assailed by the sin of\nBrahmanicide, was bewildered and at a loss to ascertain his duty. Being\nat his wit\u2019s end he repaired to the other side of the _Lokaloka_\nmountain and remained there for some time like a coiled serpent. And\nagain in consequence of Indra\u2019s separation, the whole world was\nagitated, the forests grew dried and the earth was devoid of water. On\naccount of the rivers being dried up and want of rain all creatures grew\nimpatient. In this wise, the time of the destruction of creatures having\narrived, the celestials being stricken with anxiety, according to the\nprevious command of Vishnu, engaged in celebrating the sacrifice With\nRishis and Ritwikas they fearfully approached Purandara; and beholding\nhim assailed by the sin of Brahmanicide, they with him, at their head,\nengaged in celebrating a horse-sacrifice. After the sacrifice the sin\nissued out of Indra\u2019s person and addressing the high-souled deities said\n\u2019Do ye all ascertain, where I shall go now.\u2019 Thereupon highly pleased\nthe deities replied:\u2014\u2019Do thou divide thyself into four portions.\u2019\nHearing the words of the high-souled celestials she divided herself into\nfour parts, and wishing for a separate habitation said:\u2014\u2019By one portion,\nI shall at my pleasure, live in rivers full of water during rains and\nshall obstruct people from going there. By my second portion I shall\nlive perpetually on lands as _Ushara_;\u2079\u2078 I tell you the truth. By my\nthird portion I shall for three nights every month live in youthful\nwomen proud of their youth\u2014so that men might not live with them. And by\nmy fourth portion I shall enter into the persons of those who shall slay\ninnocent Br\u0101hmanas.\u2019 Hearing those words the deities said \u2019What thou\nhast said shall be carried out. Do what thou wishest.\u2019 Thereupon the\ncelestials, delighted, adored their Chief divested of sins and crowned\nwith victory. And V\u0101sava being installed again on the throne, the whole\nuniverse was at rest. Thereupon Indra worshipped Vishnu in the shape of\nthat wonderful sacrifice. O descendant of Raghu, such is the power of a\nhorse-sacrifice.\" Hearing the charming words of Lakshmana, the energetic\nand high-souled king, R\u0101ma, powerful like Indra, was greatly delighted.\n\n \u2079\u2078 A spot with saline soil.\n\n\n\nSECTION C.\n\n\nHearing the words of Lakshmana and smiling, the highly effulgent\ndescendant of Raghu, R\u0101ma, skilled in the art of speech,\nreplied:\u2014\"Lakshmana, O foremost of men, thou hast truly related the\nstory of Vitra\u2019s destruction and the fruits of horse-sacrifice. O gentle\none, I have heard, that formerly in the province of Valheeka, the\ngraceful king Ila, the son of the patriarch Kardama, was highly pious. O\nforemost of men, having brought the entire earth under his control, the\nhighly illustrious king Ila used to govern his subjects like unto his\nown sons. O descendant of Raghu, being terrified, the generous deities,\nthe rich Daityas, the highly powerful N\u0101gas, the irrepressible\nR\u0101kshasas, Gandharvas and Yakshas used to adore him perpetually. The\nhigh-souled Ila being enraged, the three worlds used to be convulsed\nwith terror. And albeit so very powerful the highly illustrious king of\nValheeka never swerved from the path of morality nor neglected his\ndeities and rather intelligently used to administer all business. Once\non a time in the picturesque season of spring the mighty-armed Ila, with\nhis army and conveyances, entered into a charming forest, and on the\npretext of hunting, slew hundreds and thousands of deer. With slaying\ndeer only the high-souled king was not satisfied. He slew millions of\ndiverse other animals. In this way being engaged in hunting the king Ila\narrived where Kartikeya was born. At that time, in that hilly fountain\nthere was sporting in the company of his followers, the irrepressible\ngod of gods, the three-eyed deity with the daughter of the Chief of\nmountains. Being desirous of satisfying the goddess Um\u0101, her lord, whose\nemblem is bull, was sporting under the guise of a female. In that forest\nland, all male animals or trees were metamorphosed into the other sex at\nthat time. A-hunting, the king Ila, the son of Kardama, arrived at that\nplace and saw all animals and trees changed into female forms. And\nimmediately the king, and his army were changed into similar forms.\nFinding himself in that plight the king Ila was greatly sorry, and\nthinking that the misfortune was owing to the influence of the god of\ngods\u2014Um\u0101\u2019s lord, he was greatly terrified. Thereupon with his followers\nand army the king took shelter of the high-souled and red-throated\ndeity. Thereupon the great god, the conferrer of boons, with the\ngoddess, smiling said:\u2014\u2019Rise up, O son of Kardama, O thou of great\nstrength, O gentle one, do thou beg of me any other boon than that of\nobtaining thy manhood.\u2019 Being thus disappointed by the great deity, the\nking Ila, metamorposed into a female, became greatly sorry and did not\npray for any other boon. Being stricken with great sorrow, the king,\nwith whole heart, saluted the daughter of the mountain-chief and\nsaid:\u2014\u2019O goddess, thou art the protectress of all\u2014thou dost confer boons\non all; seeing thee doth not become fruitless. Do thou therefore have\ncompassion on me.\u2019 Thereupon, cognizant of that king\u2019s intention, the\ngoddess, with Hara\u2019s consent, said:\u2014\u2019Half of the boon, that thou shalt\nbeg of us both, shall be granted by Mahadeva, and the other half shall\nbe granted by me. Do thou therefore beg of me the half.\u2019 Hearing of that\nexcellent and wondrous boon the king became greatly delighted and\nsaid:\u2014\u2019If thou art pleased with me, O goddess, do thou confer upon me\nthis boon, that I may be for one month, a female gifted with wonderful\nbeauty in the three worlds and for another month I may be a male.\u2019\nThereupon understanding king\u2019s desire, the beautiful goddess P\u0101rvati,\nmercifully said:\u2014\u2019The boon, according to thy desire, shall be granted. O\nking, when thou shalt attain to the male figure, thou shalt not remember\nanything of thy female form. And when thou shalt assume the charming\nfemale figure thou shalt forget everything of thy male state.\u2019 O\nLakshmana, by virtue of this boon, the king Ila for one month used to\nbecome a man and for the next used to become a female, charming in the\nthree worlds under the name of Il\u0101.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CI.\n\n\nHaving heard of the story of the king Ila from R\u0101ma, Lakshmana and\nBharata were greatly surprised. And with folded hands they, requesting\nthe noble king R\u0101ma for further particulars, said:\u2014\"How could the king\nIla subject himself to those afflictions in the shape of a female? And\nhow did he use to behave himself in his male form?\" Hearing those words\nbegotten of curiosity, R\u0101ma engaged in relating the whole story as he\nhad heard before, saying:\u2014\"In the first month, assuming his female form\nhaving lotus-eyes and charming the three world, he used to sport in the\nforest abounding in groves, in the company of his companions\nmetamorphosed into the same form. Having sent away all his conveyances\nhe used to sport in the mountain vale. Thus roaming, Il\u0101 one day espied\nBudha, a bundle of rays, resembling the full moon in a picturesque pond\nfilled with birds at some distance from the mountain. Having compassion\nfor all creatures Budha, at that time, was performing, hard, glorious\nand wished-for austerities within waters. O son of Raghu, on beholding\nhim Il\u0101 was greatly surprised, and with her female companions began to\nagitate waters. As soon as Budha saw her he was assailed by the arrows\nof Cupid. Not being able to control himself he grew impatient within\nwaters and thought \u201cThis damsel is far more beautiful even than the\ncelestial girls. I have never seen before a like beauty amongst the\ncelestials, N\u0101gas, Asuras and Apsar\u0101s. If she has not been married\nbefore then she is my worthy spouse.\" With this resolution Budha got up\nfrom the waters, and repairing to his hermitage, sent for the fair ones.\nThey all saluted him. Thereupon the virtuous-souled Budha accosted them\nsaying:\u2014\"Whose daughter is this graceful girl amongst you and for what\nshe has come here? Do not delay\u2014tell me soon.\" Hearing those sweet words\nof his, the females said:\u2014\"This fair damsel is our supreme lady. She has\nno husband. Journeying she has come here with us.\" Hearing those plain\nwords, Budha thought of the learning by which one can perceive\neverything. And being informed of all regarding the king Ila thereby he\nsaid\u2014\"Do ye all live in this mountain being _Kimpurusas_; do ye make\nyour respective habitations here. I shall give you always fruits and\nroots. O ye females, you shall have all _Kimpurusas_ as your husbands.\"\nAccording to the words of Budha they lived in that mountain as\n_Kimpurusas_. In this wise many _Kimpurusa-Budhas_ were procreated.\n\n\n\nSECTION CII.\n\n\nHaving heard of the origin of _Kimpurushas_, both Bharata and Lakshmana\nsaid to R\u0101ma:\u2014\"This is a wonderful story.\" Thereupon the highly\nillustrious R\u0101ma, the foremost of the pious, again began with the story\nof Ila, the son of the patriarch. \"Beholding the Kinnaris repairing to a\ndistance, Budha the foremost of ascetics, smiling said, to the beautiful\nIl\u0101:\u2014\"O thou of a graceful presence, I am the most favourite son of the\nmoon; O fair one, do thou, with delight, cast looks upon me,\" Hearing\nthe words of the highly effulgent and beautiful Budha in the picturesque\nforest land divested of men and animals, Il\u0101 said:\u2014\"O gentle one, I am\nnot subject to any body; I surrender myself unto thee out of my own\naccord. O son of Soma, thou mayst command me whatever thou wishest.\"\nHearing those wondrous words, the son of moon, possessed by lust, began\nto live with her. And living in the company of Il\u0101, having a graceful\ncountenance, Budha, possessed by desire, spent the entire month of Madhu\nlike a moment. Thereupon after the expiry of a month, the graceful king\nIla, son of the pariarch, awoke from sleep and beholding Budha, the son\nof Soma, engaged in austerities with uplifted hands in the midst of\nwaters, said:\u2014\"O illustrious Sir, with my followers I entered this dense\nforest\u2014I do not see them now anywhere. Where have they gone?\" Hearing\nthe words of the royal saint, who had lost all recollection, Budha, with\nsweet words consoled him and said:\u2014\"All thy followers have been\ndestroyed by a downpour of huge rocks; thyself, being afraid of the\nstorm, was also asleep in the hermitage. Thou hast no fear now.\nTherefore, O hero, being consoled and renouncing all anxiety do thou\nlive here happily living upon fruits and roots.\" Being comforted by\nthose words, the high-minded king Ila, striken with distress in\nconsequence of the destruction of his servants, poorly replied:\u2014\"O\nBrahman, I shall renounce my own kingdom. Separated from my servants, I\nshall not be able to live, even for a moment. Do thou give me permission\nin this. O Brahman, my eldest son, the highly illustrious Sasabindu, the\nforemost of the pious, shall be the owner of my kingdom. O Brahman,\nrenouncing my servants and wives of the country I shall not be able to\nwait here. Therefore, O highly effulgent one, do thou not give me such\nan unpleasant command of remaining here.\" Hearing those wonderful words\nof the king Ila, Budha consoling him, said:\u2014\"Do thou wait here. Be not\naggrieved, O highly powerful son of Kardama. If thou dost live here for\na year, I shall render thy well-being.\" Hearing the words of Budha, of\nunwearied actions, the king Ila desired to live there. Thereupon\nbecoming a man for the next month he began to perform ascetic penances.\nThereupon in the ninth month, Il\u0101, having a beautiful waist, gave birth\nto a highly effulgent son, under the name of Pururav\u0101, born of the loins\nof Budha, and equally graceful like him. And she handed over the highly\npowerful son unto his father Budha. Thereupon after a year Ila having\nregained the male form, Budha by means of various words afforded delight\nunto him.\n\n\n\nSECTION CIII.\n\n\nR\u0101ma having thus described the wonderful birth of Pururava, the\nillustrious Bharata and Lakshmana asked him again saying:\u2014\"O foremost of\nmen, tell us what did Ila afterwards do after living in the company of\nSoma\u2019s son for a year.\" Hearing their sweet words R\u0101ma again began with\nthe story of Kardama\u2019s son and said:\u2014\"In turn, the heroic Ila, having\nregained his manhood, the highly illustrious and intelligent Budha,\nwell-informed of birth and well-skilled in the art of speech, sent for\nthe highly liberal Sangbarta, Vrigu\u2019s son Chyavana, Aristhanemi, the\nforemost of Munis, Durvasa, capable of affording delight, and other\nfriends gifted with patience and said:\u2014\u2019Ye all know well, how this\nmighty-armed Ila, Kardama\u2019s son, attained to this peculiar condition.\u2019\nThereupon while those high-souled ones were conversing upon this\nsubject, the highly effulgent Kardama arrived at the hermitage.\nPulastya, Kratu, Vashatkar and the highly effulgent Omk\u0101ra came there\nfollowing him. Being greatly delighted for their arrival they all gave\nout their individual opinion for bringing about the well-being of the\nking of V\u0101lhakee. For the welfare of his son, the patriarch Kardama\nsaid:\u2014\u2019Hear, O twice-born ones, how the well-being of the king Ila may\nbe secured. For this disease I do not find any other good medicine but\nUm\u0101\u2019s lord. And save Aswamedha there is no other sacrifice more\nfavourite unto the high-souled deity. Let us all therefore celebrate\nthat hard sacrifice on behalf of this king.\u2019 Thereupon Sambarta\u2019s\ndisciple, the royal saint Marutha, the conqueror of enemies\u2019 cities,\ncollected all articles for the sacrifice. Thereupon in the vicinity of\nBudha\u2019s hermitage that mighty sacrifice was celebrated. And by that the\nGreat Rudra attained to delight and said to the twice-born ones, in the\npresence of the king Ila:\u2014\u2019O foremost of twice-born ones, I have been\ngreatly delighted with this sacrifice and your devotion. Tell me now,\nwhat I can do for this king of Valheeka.\u2019 Hearing the words of Mah\u0101deva,\nthe Br\u0101hmanas, having propitiated him with great devotion, prayed for\nIla\u2019s manhood. Thereupon delighted the highly effulgent Mah\u0101deva, having\nconferred upon him manhood, disappeared. In this wise the\nhorse-sacrifice being finished and Mah\u0101deva having disappeared, the\nfar-seeing and leading twice-born ones repaired to their respective\nhermitages. And having placed his eldest son Sasavindu as the king of\nthe country of V\u0101lheeka, the king Ila reared another city in the middle\ncountry. In time Ila attained to the excellent Brahm\u0101 region and his son\nPurur\u0101va obtained that Pratishth\u0101na kingdom. O foremost of men, such is\nthe power of the horse-sacrifice, that the king Ila, though converted\ninto a female, regained manhood by virtue thereof.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CIV.\n\n\nHaving thus addressed his both brothers, R\u0101ma, the descendant of\nKakuthstha of unmitigated prowess, again said to Lakshmana, in words\npregnant with morality:\u2014\"O Lakshmana, having invited Vasishtha, the\nforemost of twice-born ones, conversant with all the rites of Aswamedha,\nVamadeva, Javali, and Kashyapa and consulted with them duly I shall set\nfree a horse gifted with all marks.\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma,\nLakshmana, of unmitigated prowess, invited all those Br\u0101hmanas and\napproached R\u0101ma. Seeing them, R\u0101ma saluted them touching their feet. And\nthe Br\u0101hmanas too, beholding the irrepressible celestial, like R\u0101ghava,\nwelcomed him with blessings. Thereupon R\u0101ma, with folded hands, asked of\nthose leading twice-born ones, questions regarding the Aswamedha\nsacrifice. And hearing the words of R\u0101ma, they, too, saluting the deity\nRudra, began to speak highly of the ceremony of horse-sacrifice. And\nbeing informed from the Br\u0101hmanas of many unheard of virtues of\nAshwamedha, R\u0101ma was greatly delighted. And according to their desire he\nsaid to Lakshmana:\u2014\"O thou having long arms, do thou soon send an\nemissary to the high-souled Sugriva, communicating unto him \u2019Do thou\ncome here to enjoy festivities in the company of all those highly\npowerful monkeys and bears, under thee; may good betide thee.\u2019 See that\nBhibhishana of unequalled prowess, the king of R\u0101kshasas, encircled by\nhis followers, coursing at will, may be present at the horse sacrifice.\nLet the great kings, wishing my welfare with their followers, be present\nat the sacrifice. O Lakshmana, do thou also invite carefully, for\nwitnessing the ceremony, other pious foreign kings who are friendly unto\nme. O thou having long arms, do thou also invite the Rishis, having\nasceticism for their wealth and other pious Br\u0101hmanas living in various\nprovinces. Do thou also invite actors and songsters. Do thou order that\na spacious, sacrificial ground may be made on the banks of the river\nGomoti in the Naimisha forest. O thou having long arms, that part of the\ncountry is best suited and holy. And let ceremonies, invoking peace, be\ncelebrated everywhere. O thou conversant with piety, do thou soon invite\nhundreds of subjects, so that they all, having witnessed the ceremony in\nthe Naimisha forest, may return delighted and honored. O thou having\nlong arms, let Bharata go before with a million of beasts carrying rice,\nsessamun seed, Kidneybean, Chickpea, pulse, Masha (a sort of Kidney\nbean) salt, oil, clarified butter and a hundred koti of silver and\ngolden coins. Let merchants, to set up shops on the way, actors,\ndancers, cooks, and many youthful females follow Bharata. Let soldiers\ngo before him. And let the highly illustrious Bharata, with children,\nold men, Br\u0101hmanas, citizens, servants, cashiers, mothers, wives and the\ngolden image of my wife to be initiated at the sacrifice, go before.\"\nAccording to the command of R\u0101ma, Bharata, with Satrughna, made\narrangements for highly valuable quarters, food, drink and clothes. And\nthe highly powerful monkeys with Sugriva and Br\u0101hmanas engaged in the\nwork of distribution. And Bibhishana surrounded by various Rakshas and\nfemales, engaged in service of the high-souled Rishis intent on hard\npenances.\n\n\n\nSECTION CV.\n\n\nHaving speedily despatched before all articles of sacrifice, Bharata\u2019s\nelder brother R\u0101ma set free a black horse, gifted with all marks and\nworthy of the sacrifice and placed Lakshmana with Rittwigas in charge of\nit. Thereupon the mighty-armed K\u0101kuthstha, in the company of his\nsoldiers, proceeded to the Naimisha forest and beholding the wonderful\nsacrificial ground attained to an excess of delight and said:\u2014\"It has\nbecome highly charming.\" And while he remained in the Naimisha forest,\nall the kings sent him presents and R\u0101ma also made returns. And diverse\nfood, drink and clothes were offered to the kings when they arrived\nthere with profuse presents. Bharata, with Satrughna, engaged in\nattending upon the kings. The high-souled monkeys, with Sugriva, being\nself-controlled engaged in attending upon the Br\u0101hmanas. Bibhishana, in\nthe company of many R\u0101kshasas, with a collected mind, began to serve the\nRishis, having asceticism for their wealth. And the highly powerful\nR\u0101ma, the foremost of men, set aside valuable houses for the\naccomodation of the high-souled kings. Under these proper arrangements\nthe horse-sacrifice commenced. Lakshmana engaged in looking after the\nsacrificial horse. In this wise R\u0101ma, a lion amongst the kings,\nundertook the celebration of the horse-sacrifice. And in that Ashwamedha\nof R\u0101ma presents were given unto people as long as they were not\nsatisfied. There was no other sound audible at that time save that of\n\"Give! Give!!\" In sooth at the horse-sacrifice of the high-souled R\u0101ma,\nto their fullest satisfaction, sweets and other things were distributed\nunto people. Indeed before words came out from the lips of the beggars,\nmonkeys and R\u0101kshasas satisfied them with gifts. And all the ascetics\nliving for ever and having asceticism for wealth that were present\nthere, could not think of any other sacrifice, accompanied by so profuse\npresents, they had seen before. In that sacrifice, those, who wished for\ngold, obtained it, those who wished for property got it and those, who\nlonged for jewels, received them. In this wise before all, enough of\ngold, jewels, and clothes were given away. The ascetics said:\u2014\"We have\nnever seen before a sacrifice like this, Indra\u2019s, Soma\u2019s, Yama\u2019s or\nVaruna\u2019s.\" And being present everywhere the R\u0101kshasas and V\u0101naras gave\naway enough of riches and clothes even unto them who did not want. And\nthough this sacrifice, gifted with all marks, of R\u0101ma, a lion among\nkings, continued for a year still his accumulated treasure was not\nexhausted, but rather was increased.\n\n\n\nSECTION CVI.\n\n\nThat sacrifice, the like of which was never seen before, having been\nundertaken the illustrious ascetic V\u0101lmiki, with his disciples, came\nthere. And beholding this wonderful sacrifice resembling that of the\ncelestials, his followers, the Rishis, made charming cottages in a\nsolitary corner and at no distance. Inside the highly charming cottage\nof V\u0101lmiki they placed his picturesque car full of fruits and roots.\nThereupon V\u0101lmiki said to his disciples, Lava and Kusa:\u2014\"Do ye carefully\nand delightedly sing the whole of R\u0101m\u0101yana in the highly holy\nhermitages, of the Rishis, in the homes where perpetual fire is kept up\nby the Br\u0101hmanas, in streets and palaces, at the gate of R\u0101ma\u2019s house,\nin the sacrificial arena and before all Ritwigas. And eating all those\nsweet fruits that are on the summit of the mountain near our hermitage,\ndo ye engage in chanting the sweet R\u0101m\u0101yana. If you begin singing after\ntaking all those sweet fruits you not experience exhaustion in singing\nnor you shall measure. If R\u0101ma, the lord of earth, invites you to sing\nthe R\u0101m\u0101yana, you may fearlessly sing it there in due and measures\nbefore the assembled ascetics. During the day do ye sing, in your sweet\nvoice, twenty sections out of many I have laid in the R\u0101m\u0101yana\nconsisting of many slokas. Do not cherish the least longing for riches,\nwhat avail is wealth unto ascetics living perpetually on fruits and\nroots? If R\u0101ma asks you about your father you may say, \u2019We are both\ndisciples of the high souled V\u0101lmiki.\u2019 O Kusa and Lava, in your proper\nmood do you sing the sweet song with charming Murchan\u0101 accompanied by\nthe sweet notes of Vina. Before you begin with the song, without\ndisregarding the king, do you bow unto him reverentially. Morally the\nking is the father of all. Do you therefore both, delightedly and with a\ncollected mind, early in the morning, sing the theme in a sweet voice\nand accompanied by the music of the stringed instrument.\" Having in this\nwise given counsels, the highly generous and great ascetic V\u0101lmiki, son\nof Pracheta, became silent. Being thus commanded by the ascetic,\nJanakis\u2019 sons, Lava and Kusa, the slayers of enemies, issued out\ntherefrom saying. \"So we shall do.\" Like unto the two Aswins following\nthe moral precepts of Sukra, the two princes, placing those wonderful\ncounsels of V\u0101lmiki in their minds, spent the night with a heart\nstricken with curiosity.\n\n\n\nSECTION CVII.\n\n\nThereupon the night being over, having bathed and performed the Homa,\nboth Lava and Kusa, in consonance with Rishi\u2019s command, began the song.\nThat song was composed by the first preceptor (V\u0101lmiki) never heard of\nbefore, consisting of sounds originating from six places, containing all\nmetres, many proofs and set in accompaniment with the music of a\nstringed instrument. Hearing such a song from the boys R\u0101ma was striken\nwith curiosity. Thereupon taking leave from business for some time and\ninviting the great ascetic V\u0101lmiki, kings, learned men, persons\nwell-versed in Nyaya, Puranas and science of words, all old men,\ntwice-born ones, those conversant with the signs of music, Br\u0101hmanas\ndesirous of hearing the R\u0101m\u0101yana, persons deep read in palmistry,\nGandharvas, citizens, all those who have mastered the use of words,\nletters and Samasas, those who have studied well metres, those well\ninformed in the science of music, those well-versed in astronomy, those\nwho are well up in the knowledge of rites and ceremonies, those expert\nin the patch of business, logicians whose fame has spread far and wide,\nthose well-versed in reasonings and arguments, poets, historians, Vedic\nBr\u0101hmanas, painters, and songsters R\u0101ma requested Lava and Kusa lovingly\nto sing the song before the assembly. The audience being seated there\nand engaged in conversation with one another those two Muni boys began\nwith the song enhancing the delight of all. Wondrous and charming was\ntheir song and the audience were not by any means satiated with the\nhearing thereof. Greatly delighted the highly effulgent ascetics and\nkings again and again looked towards them as if drinking them up with\ntheir eyes. And they all attentively said to one another\u2014\u201cBoth of them\ntake after R\u0101ma, like unto a bubble resembling the one it rises from.\nThere would not have been perceived the least difference between them\nand R\u0101ma had they not been clothed in bark and used clotted hair.\u201d The\ncitizens and villagers speaking thus with one another Kusa and Lava\nchanted twenty sections beginning from the first, pointed out by N\u0101rada.\nHaving heard up to twentieth section, R\u0101ma, fond of his brothers, said\nto Lakshmana in the afternoon. \u201cO K\u0101kutstha, do thou soon confer upon\nthese two high-souled ones eighteen thousand gold coins and all other\nthings they wish for.\u201d Thereupon when Lakshmana addressed himself in no\ntime to give them gold coins separately Kusa and Lava, not accepting\nthem and surprisingly said:\u2014\u201cWe are dwellers of a forest, living upon\nroots and fruits\u2014what shall we do with them (coins)? Therefore living in\nthe forest what shall we do with the gold?\u201d Hearing those words R\u0101ma and\nthe audience were greatly worked up with curiosity and surprise.\nThereupon being anxious to learn of the origin of the poem, the highly\neffulgent R\u0101ma asked the two Muni boys, saying. \"What is the proof of\nthe story of this poem? How great is his fame who has composed it? What\nleading ascetic is the author of this great poem?\" R\u0101ma having thus\nasked them those two Muni boys said:\u2014\"The illustrious V\u0101lmiki is the\nauthor of this poem. He has described in this poem thine endless story.\nHe has of late come to thy sacrifice. The great ascetic V\u0101lmiki has\ncomposed this poem consisting of a hundred stories and twenty four\nthousand slokas. O king, that high-minded ascetic is our preceptor. He\nhas described thy actions in six books beginning with the first\nconsisting of five hundred sections. All good actions performed by thee\nsince thy birth have been recorded in this, O mighty car-warrior, O\nking, if thou dost wish to hear the whole of it, do thou, at thy\nleisure, hear it delightedly in the company of thy younger brothers.\"\nSaying \"So it shall be,\" R\u0101ma bade them adieu and they too, delighted,\nrepaired to where V\u0101lmiki, the foremost of Munis was. Thereupon having\nheard that charming song in the company of ascetics and kings the\nhigh-minded R\u0101ma repaired to the place of business. He heard the\nR\u0101m\u0101yana sung by Kusa and Lava, gifted with musical characteristics,\nconsisting of sections, vowels, and consonant and enchanted in\naccompaniment with the music of a stringed instrument.\n\n\n\nSECTION CVIII.\n\n\nR\u0101ma heard that highly sacred theme for many long days in the company of\nascetics, kings and Vanaras. And understanding from the story that Kusa\nand Lava were J\u0101naki\u2019s sons, R\u0101ma mentioning her name said before the\nassembly:\u2014\"Send a good emissary unto the illustrious V\u0101lmiki and let him\ncommunicate unto the ascetics that if J\u0101naki is sinless and has lead a\npure life in the forest; let her give proof of purity by the great\nascetic\u2019s permission. Let the emissaries learn well the intention of the\nascetic in this and if Sit\u0101 is at heart willing to bring in proofs. To\nuphold her as well as mine purity, let Maithili, the daughter of J\u0101naka,\nswear before the assembly.\" Hearing those wonderful words of R\u0101ma, the\nemissaries speedily went to V\u0101lmiki and saluting the high-souled\n(ascetic) burning in his effulgence and of incomparable lustre,\ncommunicated unto him, in sweet words all what R\u0101ma had said. Hearing\nthe words of the messengers and understanding R\u0101ma\u2019s intention the\nascetic said:\u2014\"What R\u0101ma has said shall be satisfied. May good betide\nyou. Husband is the greatest god for women. So Sit\u0101 shall carry out his\nbehests.\" The great ascetic having said this, the highly powerful\nemissaries, approaching R\u0101ma, communicated unto him what the Muni had\nsaid. Hearing the words of the high-souled V\u0101lmiki, R\u0101ma was greatly\ndelighted. Having addressed the assembled Rishis and kings he said:\u2014\"The\nRishis with their disciples, and the kings with their followers and all\nothers willing shall see Sit\u0101 swear here.\" Hearing the words of the\nhigh-souled R\u0101ma, all the high-souled Rishis began to speak of him in\nhigh terms and said: \"O foremost of men, such an action becomes thee not\nany one else.\" Thereupon having settled that Sit\u0101 would swear next day,\nR\u0101ma, the slayer of enemies, dismissed them all. And having made\narrangements that Sit\u0101 would go through the trial next day, the\nhigh-minded, generous king R\u0101ma bade adieu unto all kings and Rishis.\n\n\n\nSECTION CIX.\n\n\nNext morning R\u0101ma, being present in the sacrificial ground and having\nsent for the Rishis, Vasishtha, Vamadeva Javali, Kashyapa, Viswamitra,\ncarrying on penances for a long time, Durvasa, Pulastya of hard\nausterities, Salastri, Vargava, Markandaya living long, the highly\nillustrious Madgalya, Gargya, Chyavana, Satananda, conversant with\nreligions, effulgent Varadw\u0101y\u0101, Agnis\u2019 son Vasuprava, N\u0101rada, Parvata,\nthe great Gautama and other ascetics of firm vows, assembled with minds\npossessed by curiosity. The highly powerful R\u0101kshasas and monkeys also\ncame there out of curiosity. Besides thousands and thousands of\nKshatryas, Vaisyas, Sudras and Brahmans of firm penances, also hailed\nthere from various parts to witness Sit\u0101\u2019s trial. Having arrived there\nthey all sat down motionless like mountains. Thereupon, V\u0101lmiki, the\nforemost of ascetics, speedily came there accompanied by Sit\u0101. With her\nface downwards, folded palms, eyes full of tears and meditating upon\nR\u0101ma in her mind, Sit\u0101, following the Rishi, came before the assembly.\nThere arose a great uproar of eulogy from the assembly when they saw\nSit\u0101 following V\u0101lmiki like unto Sruti following Brahm\u0101. Thereupon\nmembers, stricken with sorrow, made a tumultuous sound. Amongst the\nvisitors some praised R\u0101ma, some praised Sit\u0101 and others eulogised both\nof them. Thereupon having entered that huge assemblage in company of\nSit\u0101, the great ascetic V\u0101lmiki addressed R\u0101ma, saying:\u2014\"O son of\nDa\u00e7aratha, in fear of calumny, thou didst renounce her near my\nhermitage, albeit Sit\u0101 is pure and follows the ways of morality. O R\u0101ma\nof firm vows, thou art afraid of the censure of the people. Sit\u0101 has\nbecoming willing to give testimony (of her purity) for removing the\ncalumny of the public; do thou mercifully give her permission in this. I\ntell you the truth, O R\u0101ma, that these irrepressible twin brothers are\nyour sons, O descendant of Raghu. I am the tenth son of Pracheta, so,\nfar from speaking untruth it does not even spring up in my mind. I\ntherefore know the truth that these twins are thy sons. I have performed\naustere penances for many thousand years; I now swear before thee, that\nif this Maithili is found touched by any sin I shall not reap the fruit\nof my ascetic observances extending over many thousand years. I have\nnever perpetrated before a crime, either in my mind, body, or speech. If\nMaithili is found divested of sin I may then partake of the fruits of\npiety. O descendant of Raghu, finding Sit\u0101 pure in mind and five\nelements of body I took her near the spring in the forest. Besides this\nSit\u0101, of pure ways, divested of sins and ever considering her husband as\ndeity, shall give testimony this day. Thou hast been afraid of the\npublic calumny. O son of a king, thy mind being possessed by the fear of\npublic scandal, thou didst renounce this Sit\u0101 of a pure character and\nalways regarding her husband as a god; I came to know this by virtue of\nmy discriminative knowledge.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CX.\n\n\nAfter the great Rishi V\u0101lmiki had said this, R\u0101ma, on beholding the\ndaughter of Janaka resembling a celestial, in the midst of the assembly,\nwith folded hands, said:\u2014\"O great one, thou art conversant with piety.\nBy thy words shorn of sin, I have been convinced that J\u0101naki is of pure\nways. Still, O Brahman, what thou hast commanded shall be carried out;\nlet Sit\u0101 produce testimony of the purity of her character. Because\nVaidehi formerly underwent a trial in the city of Lanka before the\ncelestials I brought her home. O Brahman, vilification of the people is\nvery powerful. Although I know that J\u0101naki has not been touched by any\nsin still I have renounced her. Do thou therefore forgive me. I know\nthat these twin brothers Kusa and Lava are my sons. Yet if J\u0101naki gives\nevidence of her own purity before the assembly I shall be greatly\nsatisfied.\" Being apprised of R\u0101ma\u2019s intention as to Sit\u0101\u2019s trial the\ncelestials all came there on the occasion. The Adityas, Vasus, Rudras,\nViswadevas, Maruts, Sadhyas, Siddhas, Nagas and Rishis placing Brahm\u0101\nbefore them, all came there. And beholding the celestials and Rishis\nassembled there R\u0101ma again said to V\u0101lmiki:\u2014\"O foremost of Munis, the\nwords of the high-souled Rishis, are divested of sin; therefore on thy\nwords only I shall consider Sit\u0101 as having pure ways. Still all have\ncome here being anxious to witness Sit\u0101\u2019s trial. I shall therefore be\ngreatly delighted if J\u0101naki gives in before them any testimony of her\npure character.\" As soon as those words were uttered, sweet, fragrant,\ncold air, the witness of virtue and vice, blowing mildly, excited the\njoy of the assembly. People, hailing from various countries, with all\nattention began to witness this wondrous and unthought of event. In the\ngolden age only the celestial wind used to blow\u2014and it now blew even in\nthe Treta Yuga and forsooth it was a matter of exceeding surprise.\nThereupon beholding all people assembled there, Janaka\u2019s daughter,\nwearing a red cloth, with her face and looks downwards and folded palms\nsaid:\u2014\"I have never thought of any other person in my mind but R\u0101ma; by\nthe strength of this virtue let the goddess Vasundhar\u0101 give me room. I\nhave always with my mind, body and words prayed for R\u0101ma\u2019s well-being\nand by virtue hereof may the goddess Vasundhar\u0101 give me room in her\nwomb.\" As soon as Sit\u0101 swore in this wise a wonderful incident took\nplace. From inside the earth a celestial and excellent throne rose up.\nIt was carried on head by the N\u0101gas of unmitigated prowess, having\ncelestial persons and adorned with celestial jewels and ornaments.\nHaving stretched out her arms and taken Maithili, the goddess earth\nwelcomed her and placed her on the throne. And while seated on the\nthrone she was entering the earth, she was covered with the continued\nshowers of celestial flowers. Eulogising her at that time, the\ncelestials said \"Oh! highly praiseworthy is thy conduct, O Sit\u0101.\" Being\npresent in the welkin and beholding Sit\u0101 enter into the Earth, the\ncelestials again and again eulogised her in various words. The Rishis,\nkings and other leading men present in the sacrificial arena repeatedly\nexpressed their surprise. Beholding Sit\u0101\u2019s censure thus removed all\nanimals, animate or inanimate, either on earth or in the sky, were\ngreatly delighted. Some cried aloud in joy, some remained silent, and\nsome motionless espied R\u0101ma or Sit\u0101. In this wise beholding Sit\u0101\u2019s\nentrance into the Earth the ascetics were greatly delighted. They all\nattaining to the same state of mind, the whole universe, for a moment,\nwas possessed with the state of equality.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXI.\n\n\nSit\u0101 having entered Ras\u0101tala, all the monkeys and Rishis repeatedly\neulogised her before R\u0101ma. Stricken with sorrow and grief and lowering\ndown his head, R\u0101ma, with eyes full of tears, face downwards, and a\ndejected mind, sat down. And being possessed by grief and anger and\nshedding tears he wept for some time and then said:\u2014\"My mind is about to\nbe possessed by grief, which I had never experienced before, for in the\nvery presence of mine the graceful J\u0101naki, like Lakshmi herself, hath\ndisappeared from view. Formerly, in my absence, J\u0101naki was once carried\naway into the city of Lank\u0101, on the other side of the great ocean and I\nbrought her back; what wonder it is that I shall get her back from\nPat\u0101la? O goddess Vasudha, do thou soon bring Sit\u0101 in my view, or else,\nworked up with ire I shall give thee the fruits of thy negligence. Thou\nart my mother-in-law, since the royal saint Janaka obtained Sit\u0101 from\nthy womb while cultivating thee with plough share. Do thou therefore\nbring back my Sit\u0101 or give me a region of the celestials, I wish to live\nwith Sit\u0101. I am beside myself for her: do thou therefore bring back\nSit\u0101. If thou dost not render back Sit\u0101 unto me O Vasudha, I shall\ndeluge the earth with waters, having assailed, destroyed and drowned\ninto water thy huge compass with mountains and forests.\" R\u0101ma, having\ngiven vent to those accents under the influence of ire, the patriarch\nBrahm\u0101, with the consent of the celestials, said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma of firm vows,\nO slayer of enemies, thou shouldst not grieve thus. Recollect thy former\nstate of Vishnu and the counsels. I would not have reminded thee of this\nsecret but for the present necessity. Do thou now once more remember thy\nbirth from Vishnu. By nature, Sit\u0101 is pure, chaste and ever dependent\nupon thee. And by virtue of her ascetic dependance upon thee she has\ngone to the region of N\u0101gas. Thou shalt again meet her in heaven. Hear,\nwhat I communicate unto thee before the assembly. Thou shalt be informed\nof everything by listening to this excellent poem describing thy own\nactions, O hero. V\u0101lmiki has described herein all miseries and joys thou\nhast experienced since thy birth and what shall happen in future after\nSit\u0101\u2019s entrance into Patala. O R\u0101ma, this first epic poem, R\u0101mayan, has\nbeen composed describing thy works. None but thee is worthy of the fame\nof this poem. O R\u0101ghava, O highly illustrious one, do thou hear with the\nRishis, Uttarakandam, the last portion of this poem. O descendant of\nRaghu, this is not worthy of being heard by any but those who art the\nforemost of the royal saints.\" Having said this, the deity Brahm\u0101, the\nlord of the three worlds, with other deities, repaired to the region of\nimmortals. The high-souled and the highly effulgent ascetics, living in\nBrahm\u0101\u2019s region, who were present in the assembly, obtaining Brahm\u0101\u2019s\npermission, waited there, to hear R\u0101ma\u2019s future career in the\nUttarakandam. Hearing the words of the great Patriarch instinct with\nwell-being, the highly effulgent R\u0101ma said to V\u0101lmiki:\u2014\"O illustrious\nsir, the Rishis living in Brahm\u0101\u2019s region have grown desirous of hearing\nmy future history. So let it be taken up next morning.\" Having thus\nsettled and taken with him Kusa and Lava and sent away the assembled\npeople he entered his palace and spent the night mourning for Sit\u0101.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXII.\n\n\nThe night being over and having invited the leading ascetics, R\u0101ma told\nhis sons to sing the poem fearlessly. Thereupon the high-souled Rishis\nhaving taken their seats Kusa and Lava began the last portion of the\nUttarak\u0101ndam. Sit\u0101 having entered Patala by the strength of her vow, and\nthe sacrifice having terminated, R\u0101ma grew poorly in spirit. In J\u0101naki\u2019s\nabsence the whole world appeared to him as blank. Now being overwhelmed\nwith grief he lost all mental peace. Having conferred various gifts upon\nthe kings, R\u0101kshasas, monkeys, and leading Br\u0101hmanas, R\u0101ma sent them\naway and meditating upon Sit\u0101\u2019s absence entered Ayodhy\u0101. And from the\ntime of Sit\u0101\u2019s entering into Patala he did not take any other spouse.\nAnd having made a golden image of Sit\u0101 he engaged in the performance of\nvarious sacrifices. In this wise for thousand years he celebrated many\nHorse-sacrifices, many Bajpeyas with profuse gold, Agnisomas, Atir\u0101tras,\nnumberless Gomedhas and various other sacrifices, R\u0101ma being engaged in\ngoverning the kingdom and performing many pious rites long time passed\naway. And being under his subjection, bears, monkeys, R\u0101kshasas and\nkings always afforded delight unto him. On account of showers in proper\ntime there was enough of food in his kingdom. The quarters were pure and\ndelightful. The citizens and villagers were happy and healthy. None met\nwith premature death. In fact, in his regime all calamities were\nremoved. Thereupon after many years, the illustrious Kausalya, R\u0101ma\u2019s\nmother, surrounded by her sons and grand-sons, breathed her last.\nPerforming many pious observances Kakeyi followed her and obtained peace\nin the land of immortals. Those noble ladies, being united with the king\nDa\u00e7aratha, in heaven, were greatly delighted and obtained all virtues.\nBesides, having worshipped the deities and manes on the occasion of his\nfather\u2019s _Sr\u0101dha_ ceremony the high-souled R\u0101ma distributed many jewels\nand engaged in the performance of a very difficult sacrifice. In this\nwise having performed many sacrifices and multiplied pieties he spent\nmany thousand years in happiness.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXIII.\n\n\nOnce on a time Yudhajit, the king of Kekaya, sent unto the high-souled\nR\u0101ma, Gargya\u2014son of his own preceptor Angeras\u2014a Br\u0101hmin saint of\nunmitigated prowess; and with him he sent, as tokens of affections,\ngifts of ten thousand horses, numberless blankets, various jewels,\ndiverse clothes and well washed coverlets. Hearing of the arrival of the\ngreat saint Gargya with above valuable presents sent by his material\nuncle Yudhajit, the intelligent R\u0101ma, with his brothers, proceeded about\na Krosa to receive him and adored him particularly likely unto the lord\nof celestials honoring Vrihaspati. Having thus welcomed that foremost of\nRishis and accepted the valuable presents sent by his maternal uncle he\nasked the ascetic about his welfare in every thing. Thereupon the great\nRishi being seated, he said:\u2014\"Thou art the foremost of those skilled in\nthe art of speech like the very preceptor of the celestials. Since thine\nown self hath come here my uncle must have commissioned thee with a very\nimportant message.\" Hearing those words of R\u0101ma the great saint\ncommunicated unto him the object of his coming, saying.\u2014\"O thou having\nlong arms, if thou dost like, hear what loving words thy maternal uncle\nYudhajit, the foremost of men, has said. The Gandharvas, holding weapons\nand expert in warfare, guard that beautiful province abounding in fruits\nand roots on the banks of the river Sindhu. O hero, those Gandharvas are\nSailusk\u0101\u2019s sons\u2014highly powerful and three kotis in number. Having\nhoisted thy flag of victory and conquered that highly picturesque city\nof Gandharvas do thou include that kingdom within thine well-established\nterritories. None can enter there. O thou having long arms, I do not\nrequest thee for any harm of thine. Let that highly charming country be\nliked by thee.\" Hearing the words of the maternal uncle communicated by\nthe great saint, R\u0101ma, with delight, said:\u2014\"What you have commanded\nshall be satisfied.\" Saying this he looked towards Bharta and\ndelightedly and with folded hands said to the Rishi \"O Brahmarshi, these\ntwo princes are Bharata\u2019s sons and their names are Taksha and Pushkala.\nBeing well protected by uncle Yudhajit and preceded by Bharata with army\nand followers they shall subjugate the Gandharvas and divide the kingdom\nbetween them. Having established two kingdoms and installed his two sons\nthere Bharata, the foremost of the pious, shall come back to me.\"\n\nHaving thus said to the Brahmarshi, R\u0101ma commanded Bharata and welcomed\nthe two princes. Thereupon under the auspices of favourable stars,\nhaving placed Gargya before them, Bharata with the princes and army,\nissued out of the city of Ayodhy\u0101. And R\u0101ma\u2019s army unconquerable even by\nthe celestials went on for a month, from the city like a celestial host\nunder the command of Indra. Animals, living upon flesh and huge-bodied\nR\u0101kshasas longing for blood followed Bharata. Besides many thousand\nbirds, moving in the sky, lions, tigers and boars went before the army.\nThe army, consisting of delighted and healthy subjects spending half a\nmonth in the way, arrived at the Kekaya kingdom in good health.\n\n\n\nSECTION ICXIV.\n\n\nHearing of the arrival of the Bharata with the army Gargya and Yudhajit,\nthe king of Kekayas, were greatly delighted. And with a huge army they\nspeedily went out for conquering the Gandharvas. Thereupon the highly\npowerful and light-armed Bharata and Yudhajit, with the soldiers and\nfollowers, arrived at the city of Gandharvas. Having heard of the coming\nof Bharata the highly powerful Gandharvas gathered round and sent up\nleonine roars. Thereupon began the battle capable of making down erect\nand continued for a week. On neither side there was victory or defeat.\nOn all sides there flowed streams of blood and there were afloat human\nbodies. Daggers, Saktis and bows were like the banks of the river.\nThereupon enraged Bharata, R\u0101ma\u2019s younger brother, discharged a dreadful\narrow named Sangharata resembling the fire of dissolution against\nGandharvas. Having bound them all with the noose of death and sundered\nthem with Sangharata, Bharata despatched all the Gandharvas to the abode\nof death. Even the celestials could not recollect if such a dreadful\nencounter had happened before. In a moment the huge Gandharva host was\nslain. After the destruction of the Gandharvas, Kaikeyi\u2019s son Bharata\nset up two excellent and prosperous cities in the province of Gandharva.\nAnd he placed Taksha in Takshasila and Pushkala in Pushkalabati. Both\nthe cities were filled with profuse riches and jewels and covered with\nvarious gardens. As for many ornaments both of them as if vied with one\nanother. By just purchases and sales, and by the conduct of the people\nthe cities grew highly charming. Both of them were filled with gardens\nand conveyances. Rows of shops were well arranged by the streets in both\nthe cities. Both of them were adorned with many excellent fancy\narticles, picturesque houses, charming palaces and many beautiful and\nhigh T\u0101la, Tam\u0101la, Tilaka and Vakula trees. Having reared up those two\ncities within five years, R\u0101ma\u2019s younger brother, the mighty armed\nBharata, son of Kaikeyi, returned to Ayodhy\u0101. And like unto V\u0101sava\nsaluting Brahm\u0101 he adored the high-souled R\u0101ghava the very personation\nof virtue and communicated unto him duly the destruction of the\nGandharvas and the establishment of the two cities. And hearing the\nwords of Bharata, R\u0101ma attained to an excess of delight.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXV.\n\n\nHearing the wonderful words of Bharata both R\u0101ma and Lakshmana were\ngreatly delighted. And then R\u0101ma said to Lakshmana:\u2014\"O Saumitri, thy two\nsons, Angada and Chandraketu are well-versed in religions, perfectly\nqualified in governing the kingdom and highly powerful. I shall\ntherefore install them on throne. O gentle one, do thou find out such a\ncountry where these two skillful archers may unobstructed roam about.\nAnd where if a kingdom is established it might not disturb the peace and\nhappiness of other kings.\" R\u0101ma, having finished his speech Bharata\nreplied:\u2014\"The country of Karupada is highly picturesque and freed from\nall thorns. Let the city for Angada be established there. And let the\nbeautiful country of Chandradyuti be the kingdom of Chandraketu.\" R\u0101ma\napproved of the words of Bharata and having brought the country of\nKarupada under his subjection gave it to Angada. He reared a beautiful\nand well-protected city for Angada. And in the country of Mallya he\nreared a city for Chandraketu, named Chandrak\u0101nti highly picturesque and\nlike unto the city of celestials. Thereupon greatly delighted R\u0101ma,\nirrepressible in battle, Lakshmana and Bharata, having performed the\nceremony of installation ordered them to go their respective cities.\nAngada started towards the West and Chandraketu towards the North.\nSumitra\u2019s son Lakshmana went with Angada and Bharata accompanied\nChandraketu. Having spent a year in Angada\u2019s city and finding his son\nwell established in the kingdom Lakshmana returned to Ayodhy\u0101. And\nBharata, according to his desire, having spent more than a year in the\ncity of Chandrak\u0101nti, came back to Ayodhy\u0101 and saluted R\u0101ma\u2019s feet. The\npious Lakshmana and Bharata\u2014both the brothers, were greatly attached\nunto R\u0101ma; and though they spent their days in another place they did\nnot experience any pain in consequence of separation from their sons.\nObserving all virtues in this way, R\u0101ma, the foremost of the pious,\nBharata and Lakshmana governed the subjects for ten thousand years.\nHaving spent their days in the city of Ayodhy\u0101, the very city of virtue,\nthe three brothers, appearing graceful like the burning fire receiving\noblations in a great sacrifice, attained to joy in the fullness of time.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXVI.\n\n\nIn this wise the virtuous R\u0101ma having spent some time at K\u0101la, assuming\nthe shape of an ascetic, arrived at the palace gate. And beholding the\nintelligent Lakshmana at the door he said: \"Do thou communicate (unto\nR\u0101ma) that for some important business I have come here. I am the\nmessenger of the great saint Atibala of incomparable effulgence. O thou\nof great strength, for a particular business, I have come here to see\nR\u0101ma.\" Hearing the words of the great saint, Saumitri speedily went to\nR\u0101ghava and communicated unto him the arrival of the ascetic, saying:\u2014\"O\nthou of great effulgence, observing the royal duties, mayst thou acquire\nvictory in both the worlds; one ambassador radiant like the sun by\nvirtue of his asceticism, has come here to visit thee.\" Hearing the\nwords of Lakshmana R\u0101ma said:\u2014\"Do thou speedily bring here the highly\neffulgent ascetic bringing in a message.\" Thereupon saying \"So be it,\"\nSaumitri conducted the effulgent ascetic unto R\u0101ma\u2019s house. And having\napproached R\u0101ma the foremost of Raghus, the ascetic, burning in his own\nenergy, said to him, in sweet accents:\u2014\"O great king, may prosperity\ncrown thee.\" And having welcomed him with water and Argya the highly\neffulgent R\u0101ma asked him about his well-being. Being asked by R\u0101ma as to\nhis welfare, that foremost of ascetics, skilled in the art of speech,\nsat on a golden seat. Thereupon welcoming him R\u0101ma said:\u2014\"Do thou\ncommunicate unto me his words by whom thou hast been sent.\" Being thus\naddressed by R\u0101ma, a lion amongst kings, the ascetic said:\u2014\"If dost thou\nwish to bring about the well-being of the celestials, my earnest desire\nis that we may talk over it in a solitary; place. And if thou hast any\nregard for the words of that foremost of ascetics, do thou so order that\nwhoever shall hear or see us, when we shall converse in a solitary\nplace, shall be slain by thee.\" Thereupon R\u0101ma promised that it should\nbe done and said to Lakshmana:\u2014\"O thou having long arms, sending away\nthe warder do thou wait at the gate. When I shall talk with this ascetic\nin this solitary room whoever, shall hear or see us, shall be slain by\nme.\" Having thus placed Lakshmana at the gate R\u0101ma said to that\nRishi:\u2014\"O great saint, tell me what he has communicated unto thee. O\nMuni, what is thy intention and by what high-souled Rishi thou hast been\nsent here. Tell me all this without any fear. I have become anxious to\nhear it.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXVII.\n\n\nThereupon the great saint said:\u2014\"Hear, O king, O thou gifted with great\nenergy, for what I have come here. O thou of great strength, the great\nPatriarch has sent me to thee. O hero, I am thy son. Thou didst, in thy\npristine birth, beget me on M\u0101y\u0101\u2014I am K\u0101la, the destroyer of all. Lord\nBrahm\u0101, the father of all creatures, has said that thou didst promise to\npreserve the three worlds. Formerly when having slain all animals by thy\nM\u0101y\u0101 thou wert asleep in the waters of the mighty deep I was born.\nThereafter thou didst create the huge-bodied Ananta, living in the\nwaters as the king of serpents. Then thou didst create two highly\npowerful Asuras named Madhu and Kaithabha. At that time the bones of\nthose two Asuras having been scattered far and wide this earth\ncontaining many mountains was named _Medini_. Having procreated me in\nthy lotus navel, dazzling in celestial brilliance thou didst employ me\nin the work of generation. I took the charge and procreated men; but\nfinding no other means to preserve them I worshipped thee, the lord of\nthe universe and said:\u2014O lord, thou shouldst protect the creatures, for\nthou art my father and giver of energy and therefore irrepressible.\nThereupon for concerting means for the preservation of creatures, thou\ndidst renounce thy irrepressible shape and assume Vishnu form. And\ntaking thy birth from Aditi\u2019s powerful son, thou wert engaged in\nenhancing the delight of my brothers. Thou didst use to protect the\ndeities whenever they were assailed by any calamity. O lord of the\nuniverse, it is for that reason, on beholding the destruction of\ncreatures thou wert born on earth to slay the Ten-necked demon. And at\nthat time thou didst promise that thou wouldst live in the land of\nmortals for eleven thousand years. Thereupon thou didst assume a human\nform to carry out thine desire. Now that period is ripe and this is the\nproper time to inform thee of it. O great king, do thou wait in this\nland of mortals if dost thou wish to govern people for some time more.\nAnd if dost thou wish to repair to the region of immortals, do thou\nagain lord over the deities in thy Vishnu form and let them be freed\nfrom anxiety. O Hero, the Patriarch hath sent this intelligence unto\nthee.\" Hearing those unequalled words of the Patriarch from the mouth of\nK\u0101la, the destroyer of all, R\u0101ma smiling said:\u2014\"I have been greatly\npleased and happy for thy coming here, O my son. I descended on earth to\nbring about the well-being of the three worlds. May good betide thee. I\nshall now repair to from where I have come here. I was thinking of this\nwhen thou didst come here. Therefore, I have no doubt in this. O lord of\ndestruction, the immortals are dependent on me, so I shall be with them\nin all works. The Great Patriarch has said the truth.\"\n\nSECTION CXVIII.\n\nWhile R\u0101ma and K\u0101la were thus conversing with one another, the great\nascetic Durv\u0101s\u0101 arrived at the gate for seeing R\u0101ma and approaching\nLakshmana said:\u2014\"O Saumitri, do thou soon take me to R\u0101ma; my time goes\naway, so do thou take me first.\" Hearing the words of the ascetic,\nLakshmana, the slayer of enemies worshipping the feet of that\nhigh-souled one, said:\u2014\"O illustrious Sir, kindly mention thy business.\nWhat is thy object? Order me what I am to do. R\u0101ma is engaged in some\nbusiness so kindly wait here for some time.\" Hearing those words that\nforemost of Rishis, Durv\u0101s\u0101, impatient with rage, said with blood-red\neyes:\u2014\"O Saumitri, if dost thou not go even this very moment and\ncommunicate unto R\u0101ma my arrival, I shall impricate thee, R\u0101ma, Bharata,\nSutrughana, your sons and grand-sons. I shall curse also thy kingdom and\ncities. I cannot any longer restrain my growing ire.\" Hearing those\ndreadful and resolute words of the Rishi, Lakshmana thought within\nhimself:\u2014\"My own destruction is far more desirable than that of all.\"\nHaving thus resolved Lakshmana approached R\u0101ma and communicated unto him\nthe intelligence. Hearing the words of Lakshmana and having bade adieu\nunto K\u0101la, R\u0101ma soon came out and saw Atri\u2019s son. And having saluted\nthat great and powerful ascetic he with folded hands, said \"What is\nthine business?\" Hearing the words of R\u0101ma, the highly powerful Durv\u0101s\u0101,\nthe foremost of Munis, said. \"Hear, O R\u0101ma fond of virtue. For a\nthousand years I have carried on the vow of fasting. It has terminated\nto-day, so do thou give me food as much as possible.\" Hearing those\nwords R\u0101ma was greatly delighted and gave proper food unto that ascetic.\nAnd feasting on that nectar-like sweet food, Durv\u0101s\u0101, the foremost of\nRishis, thanked R\u0101ma and repaired to his own hermitage. Thereupon\nremembering the words of K\u0101la, R\u0101ma was greatly sorry. And thinking of\nthose dreadful words he was overwhelmed with grief. And with a poorly\nheart, and face downwards he remained silent for some time. Thereupon\nthinking of K\u0101la\u2019s words and determining that every calamity would\nbefall him, that highly illustrious descendant, of Raghus, summoned\npatience.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXIX.\n\n\nThereupon beholding R\u0101ma with his head downwards and poorly like unto\nthe moon possessed by R\u0101hu, Lakshmana, delightedly and with sweet words,\nsaid:\u2014\"Be not aggrieved for me, O thou having mighty arms. Such is the\ncourse of time; the movements of creatures are destined by their\npristine actions, good or bad. O gentle one, do thou satisfy thy promise\nslaying me without any hesitation. O K\u0101kuthstha, those, who cannot carry\nout their promises, repair to hell. O great king, if thou hast any love\nor affection for me, do thou satisfy thy promise by fearlessly slaying\nme.\" Hearing those words of Lakshmana R\u0101ma\u2019s mind was greatly moved.\nThereupon having invited his priests and ministers there he communicated\nunto them his promise and Durv\u0101s\u0101\u2019s arrival. Hearing it the ministers\nand priests remained silent. Thereupon Vasishtha, of unmitigated\neffulgence, said:\u2014\"O highly illustrious and mighty armed R\u0101ma, I knew\nbefore by virtue of my asceticism, of this thy present destruction and\nseparation from Lakshmana. Time is powerful; do not falsify thy promise.\nPromises not carried out bring on the destruction of virtue. And on the\nwane of virtue, forsooth, the three worlds, with celestials, saints,\nmobile and immobile creations, shall be destroyed. Therefore, O foremost\nof men, do thou protect, the universe by suffering separation from\nLakshmana, in the interest of the preservation of the three worlds.\" All\nother ministers and priests agreed with Vasishtha\u2019s words. Thereupon\nhearing their moral counsels, R\u0101ma said to Lakshmana before the\nassembly:\u2014\"O Lakshmana, it is not proper to act against morality, I do\ntherefore renounce thee; for the pious hold that destruction and\nrenounciation are all the same.\" R\u0101ma saying this, Lakshmana did not go\nto his own house, but with eyes full of tears specially repaired\ntherefrom. Having reached the banks of Saraju and rinsed his mouth he\nstood there with folded palms. And having obstructed all passages he did\nnot breathe any more. Lakshmana, the younger brother of R\u0101ma, being thus\nengaged in penances, having obstructed his breath, Apsar\u0101s, Indra and\nother deities and Rishis showered flowers on him. Thereupon beyond the\nsight of men, having taken the highly powerful Lakshmana within his\nbody, the king of celestials entered his own city. Thereupon beholding\nLakshmana, the fourth portion of Vishnu arrived at their city the\ncelestials were greatly delighted and engaged in his worship.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXX.\n\n\nHaving forsaken Lakshmana and being stricken with sorrow and grief R\u0101ma\nsaid to his citizens and ministers:\u2014\"Having placed the pious and heroic\nBharata on the throne of Ayodhy\u0101, I shall to-day repair to woods. Do ye,\nwithout any delay collect there all articles of installation. I shall\nfollow the way which has been wended by Lakshmana.\" Hearing the words of\nR\u0101ghava, the subjects with their heads downwards remained motionless\nlike so many dead bodies. Hearing R\u0101ma\u2019s words Bharata was also\nstupified and speaking ill of the kingdom, said:\u2014\"O King, I swear by\ntruth, that far from kingdom I do not wish to live in heaven even\nwithout thee: O King, of these two princes, Kusi and Lava do thou place\nKusi in Kosala and Lava in North Kosala. And let quick-moving emissaries\ngo to Satrughna and communicate unto him the intelligence of our going\nthere.\" Hearing those words of Bharata and beholding the subjects\nstricken with sorrow having their heads downwards, Vasishtha\nsaid:\u2014\"Behold, O R\u0101ma, the subjects have placed themselves on the\nground. Do thou, therefore; apprised of their intention, satisfy their\ndesire.\" Raising up the subjects according to the words of Vasishtha\nR\u0101ma said:\u2014\"What good can I do for you!\" Hearing R\u0101ma\u2019s words they\nsaid:\u2014\"O King, we shall follow thee wherever thou shalt go. If thou hast\nany love or affection for the citizens do thou permit them that they may\nfollow thy good path with their wives and children. O lord, if thou dost\nnot forsake us, let us all go wherever thou wilt,\u2014be it a forest, an\nintractable tract, a river or an ocean. O great king, by this we shall\nbe greatly delighted. We pray for this boon only. Our delight consists\nin following thee in everything.\" Observing such a firm devotion of the\ncitizens R\u0101ma agreed to that. Thereupon having gone through his duties\nhe installed Kusi in the kingdom of Kosala and Lava in the northern\ncountry. Having thus installed the high-souled and heroic Kusi and Lava\nand conferred upon each of them thousand chariots, Ajuta N\u0101gas, Ajuta\nhorses and various jewels and riches he established them in their\nrespective kingdoms. Having thus settled the princes he despatched an\nemissary to Satrughna.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXXI.\n\n\nHaving been despatched by R\u0101ma, quick-moving emissaries speedily arrived\nat Mathura. Continually travelling for three nights and days, they\narrived there and communicated unto Satrughna the intelligence. Having\ninformed him of the renouncing of Lakshmana, R\u0101ma\u2019s promise and the\nfollowing of the citizens they said:\u2014\"The intelligent R\u0101ma has reared\nfor Kusi the spacious city of Kusavati at the foot of the Vindhya range.\nThe city of Sravanti has been reared for Lava, and the mighty\ncar-warriors R\u0101ma and Bharata, making Ayodhy\u0101 void of men, have\naddressed themselves for repairing to heaven.\" Having speedily\ncommunicated unto him this intelligence the emissaries took rest.\nThereupon they asked Satrughna to proceed soon. Observing the dreadful\ndestruction of his race, Satrughna sent for his subjects and priests and\ninformed them of everything. He also communicated unto them his own\ndestruction with his brothers. Thereupon the king Satrughna determined\nupon installing his two sons in the kingdom. Suvahu was placed on the\nthrone of Mathura and Satrughati became the king of Vidisha. Having thus\nestablished Suvahu in Mathura, and Satrughati in Vidisha, the great hero\nSatrughna ascended his car and went to Ayodhy\u0101. And there he saw the\ngreat R\u0101ma, clothed in silk raiment burning like fire in the midst of\nthe ascetics. Thereupon remembering his duty he saluted R\u0101ma, conversant\nwith piety and with folded hands said:\u2014\"I have placed my two sons on the\nthrone of my kingdom. I have now resolved upon following thee, O King. O\nhero, do not command me otherwise. I pray only that I may not neglect\nthy command.\" Thereupon understanding the firm resolution of Satrughna,\nthe descendant of Raghu agreed. Immediately after R\u0101ma had said this,\nmonkeys assuming shapes at will, bears, and Rakshas began to assemble\nthere. Apprised of R\u0101ma\u2019s determination of going to heaven, monkeys,\nborn of the celestials, Rishis and Gandharvas taking Sugriva before\nthem, came there to see R\u0101ma. And they all said:\u2014\"O R\u0101ma, O foremost of\nmen, if thou dost repair to heaven forsaking us all, it will be hurling\nYama\u2019s rod upon us.\" The highly powerful Sugriva too saluting R\u0101ma\nsaid:\u2014\"O lord of men, having placed Angada on the throne I have come\nhither. I have determined upon following thee, O King.\" Hearing the\nwords of monkeys, R\u0101ma said that their desire would be fulfilled. He\nthen said to Bibhishana the king of R\u0101kshasas:\u2014\"As long as people shall\nbreathe, O Bibhishana, O highly powerful lord of R\u0101kshasas, thou shalt\npreserve thy body in Lank\u0101. As long as the moon, the sun and the earth\nshall exist and as long as my story shall remain current, thy kingdom\nshall be in existence. Thou didst, out of friendship, carry out my\nbehests and perform my works. Do thou piously govern thy subjects. I\nshould not speak any thing else. What shall I say more unto thee, O\nhighly powerful lord of R\u0101kshasas. Worship Jagannath (the lord of the\nworld), the presiding deity of the Ikshw\u0101ku race.\" Having thus addressed\nthe king of R\u0101kshasas always obeying R\u0101ghava\u2019s command, K\u0101kuthstha said\nto Hanum\u0101n:\u2014\"It is settled that thou shalt live forever, do thou, now\nobserve thy promise. As long as my history shall run current in this\nworld do thou at my command live happily.\" Being thus addressed by the\nhigh-souled R\u0101ghava Hanum\u0101n attained to great delight and said:\u2014\"As long\nas the sacred theme shall pass current in this world I shall live here\ncarrying out thy commands.\" Thereupon he said to the Jambhuvan, Brahm\u0101\u2019s\nson, Mainda, Dwivida and five others in his company:\u2014\"As long as the\nKali Yuga exists do ye all live.\" Having thus addressed them all\nK\u0101kuthstha said to bears and monkeys, \"Do ye come all with me.\"\n\n\n\nSECTION CXXII.\n\n\nAfter the night had expired the highly illustrious R\u0101ma having a\nspacious breast and eyes like lotus petals said to the priest:\u2014\"Let the\nbrilliant umbrellas Agnihotra, and B\u0101japeya go with the Br\u0101hmanas\nbefore, which look well in the great road.\" Thereupon the highly\neffulgent Vasishtha arranged duly all the ceremonies necessary for going\nto the next world. Thereupon wearing a thin cloth, holding kusa grass by\nhis fingers, and reciting Vedic hymns he proceeded to the banks of\nSaraju. Having given up all actions of senses, and suffered the pains of\ngoing on foot he issued out of the city speechless like unto the burning\nsun. On his right hand side was the lotus-handed Sree, on his left hand\nside was the goddess Earth and before him was the power of destruction.\nVarious arrows, huge bows, and daggers, assuming forms followed him. And\nalso went with him the four Vedas in the shape of the Br\u0101hmanas, the all\nprotecting Gayatri, Omk\u0101ra and Vasatk\u0101ra. The high-souled Rishis and\ngreat Asuras followed the high-souled R\u0101ma to the open gates of heaven.\nAll the female servants, old and young, the damsels of the seraglio\naccompanied by servants having no manhood, Bharata and Lakshmana\naccompanied by their wives, followed him with Agnihotra. All those\nhigh-souled ones, assembled there with Agnihotra and followed K\u0101kuthstha\nwith their wives and children. The ministers and the servants, with\ntheir sons, beasts and friends, followed R\u0101ma delightedly. Thereupon all\nthe subjects healthy and delighted went after R\u0101ghava, attracted by his\naccomplishments and cleansed of their sins. All the females and males,\nwith their beasts, birds and friends, delightedly followed R\u0101ghava.\nBathed and delighted, all the monkeys, healthy and joyous following\nR\u0101ma, created a continued tumult. There was none poorly, aggrieved or\nmiserable\u2014all of them appeared wonderfully happy and delighted. When\nR\u0101ma issued out of the city, whoever came to see him followed him being\ndesirous of going to heaven. Bears, monkeys and R\u0101kshasas and all the\ncitizens followed him with great devotion and collected minds. And all\nother animals, that were beyond the view of all in the city went after\nR\u0101ghava proceeding to heaven. All creations mobile and immobile, whoever\nbeheld K\u0101kuthstha followed him. All beings in Ayodhy\u0101, whoever breathe\nand are very minute, accompanied R\u0101ma.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXXIII.\n\n\nHaving thus gone for more than a half Yojana, the descendant of Raghu\nespied Saraju of holy waters flowing towards the west. And having\ncrossed that river of rising waves to some extent, R\u0101ma, with his\nfollowers arrived at the place where he should give up his person.\nThereupon at that moment, Brahm\u0101, the grandfather of all encircled by\nall high-souled deities and with hundred kotis of celestial cars,\narrived there where K\u0101kuthstha had addressed himself to repair to\nheaven. The aerial way was full of lustre but its brilliance was\nincreased the more by the native effulgence of the inhabitants of\nheavens, always performing pious actions. There blew the holy, fragrant\nand delightful winds and there fell profusely celestial flowers from the\nhands of the deities. The place was filled with the noise of hundreds of\nbugles sounded by Gandharvas and Apsar\u0101s. And then R\u0101ma prepared himself\nto descend to the waters of Saraju. Thereupon the Patriarch gave vent to\nthe following accents from the welkin:\u2014\u201cCome O Vishnu; may good betide\nthee; by our good fortune thou art coming here; O R\u0101ghava hear\u2014O thou\nhaving mighty arms, do thou enter here with thy brothers, resembling the\ncelestials in brilliance in whatever form thou likest\u2014either in that of\nthe sky or in thy own Vishnu form. Thou art the refuge of the\ncreatures\u2014nobody knoweth thee. Thou art above the range of thought;\ngreat immortal and imperishable; nobody knoweth thee save M\u0101y\u0101, having\nwide eyes, thy former spouse. Do thou enter here thyself in whatever\neffulgent form thou likest.\u201d Hearing the words of the Patriarch and\ndetermining everything the high-minded R\u0101ma entered there bodily with\nhis brothers in his Vishnu form. Thereupon all the celestials S\u0101dhyas\nMarutas, headed by Indra and Agni worshipped that deity, Vishnu. So did\nall the celestial Rishis, Gandharvas, Apsar\u0101s, Suparnas, N\u0101gas, Yakhas,\ndemons, D\u0101navas and R\u0101kshasas. Thereupon eulogising him the celestials\nsaid:\u2014\"Our region is now freed from sins and all here have been\ndelighted and all their desires have been fulfilled.\" Thereupon the\nhighly effulgent Vishnu said to the Patriarch Brahm\u0101:\u2014\"It behoveth thee,\nO thou of good vows, to allot to those people their proper regions.\nThese illustrious ones have followed me out of love. They are worthy of\nmy respect for they are my devotees and have renounced their persons for\nme.\" Hearing the words of Vishnu, the lord Brahm\u0101, father of all\ncreatures, said:\u2014\"All these people who have come here shall go to the\nregion named Santanaka. This region is intended even for him, who though\nborn in the most degraded state, thinks of all objects as Vishnu. There\nis no question about their attaining to this region who, out of\ndevotion, have followed thee and renounced their persons. This region\nhas all the attributes of the Brahm\u0101 region and is next to it. The\nmonkeys and bears shall enter into their respective celestial forms.\nThey shall enter into the deities from whom they had respectively\noriginated. Sugriva shall enter into the Sun\u2019s region. And they shall\nobtain their respective fathers\u2019 forms among the celestials present.\"\nThe lord of the deities having said this, all those who were present at\nthe holy pilgrimage of _Gopratra_ descended into the waters of Saraju\nwith eyes full of tears of joy. Having bathed there, given up their\nlives delightedly and renounced their human forms they ascended the\ncelestial cars. And having obtained the waters of Saraju, hundreds of\nthose that were born in the race of birds attained to the land of\nimmortals obtaining the respective celestial forms (they had before).\nAnd in those celestial forms, they looked effulgent like the deities.\nAnd going to the waters of Saraju all objects, mobile and immobile,\nhaving bathed there, repaired to the excellent celestial region. Having\nrenounced their bodies in the water thereof all the bears, monkeys, and\nRakshasas attained to the land of deities. Having thus settled in heaven\nall those arrived there the father, of creatures with the deities,\ndelighted and happy, repaired to the highest heaven.\n\n\n\nSECTION CXXIV.\n\n\nThis Story ends with the Uttara. It is held in reverence by Brahma,\ncomposed by V\u0101lmiki and passes as the foremost of all under the name of\nthe R\u0101m\u0101yana. Thereupon as before, Vishnu, who compriseth the three\nworlds and all objects, mobile and immobile, again established himself\nas before in the land of immortals. Thereupon the celestials the\nGandharvas, the great Rishis used to hear happily every day in heaven\nthis poem of R\u0101m\u0101yana. At the Sar\u0101dha ceremony the wise should chant\nthis R\u0101m\u0101yana sacred like the Vedas, removing sins and increasing life\nand prosperity. Reading even a single verse of this poem, one who hath\nno son, obtaineth him; one having no riches, gets by them\u2014and people are\nfreed from all sins. By reading even one sloka people are freed from all\nsins which they commit every day. Clothes, cows, and gold should be\nconferred upon him who chants this poem, for he being pleased all the\ndeities remain satisfied. Whoever reads this story of R\u0101m\u0101yana,\nconferring a long life is honoured in this world along with his sons and\ngrand-sons and as well as in the land of the dead. Whoever shall read\nthis R\u0101m\u0101yana either in the morning, noon, or evening, shall never be\nwearied. The picturesque city of Ayodhy\u0101 remained devoid of men for many\nlong years but was again peopled under the regime of the King Rishava,\nPracheta\u2019s son V\u0101lmiki composed this poem, conferring long life,\ntogether with the future story of the deity and the Uttara Kandam. Even\nBrahm\u0101 admitted this.\n\nTHE END.","title":"The R\u0101m\u0101yana, Volume 4. Uttara K\u0101nda","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":88594}