"Hearing his mighty shouts, that lord Vaivaswata knew that his adversary
had gained the day and that his own host had been destroyed. And knowing
that his forces had been slain, he, with his eyes crimsoned with passion
hastily spoke unto his charioteer, ’Bring thou my car.’ And thereat the
charioteer brought the noble and mighty car and stood (there) and then
that exceeding energetic one mounted the car. And in front (of his car)
stood death, equipped with _praças_ and maces in his hands, who makes
nothing of this entire triune world; incapable of deterioration. And
beside (him) was the rod of Time in its native from—the divine
instrument of Yama like unto a flaming fire on account of its own
energy. And then on beholding Time, infuriated, tending to strike terror
into all creatures, was agitated the triune universe, and trembling over
took the denizens of heaven. And the charioteer urged on the steeds
possessed of graceful splendour; and arrived where the lord of Rākshasas
was posted. And in a moment those horses like unto thought (in
celerity,) and resembling the steeds themselves of Hari, took Yama where
the warfare had already begun. And seeing the frightful car in that
aspect with Death present in it, the ministers of the Rākshasa monarch
at once took to their heels. And in consequence of their being
comparatively inferior in point of strength they were deprived of their
senses, and afflicted with fear; and saying, ’Here we are not equal to
fighting’ they went their way. But seeing that car capable of striking
terror into folks, the Ten-necked did not experience any agitation, nor
did fear enter his heart. And approaching Rāvana, Yama, enraged,
discharged spears and _tomaras_, and began to pierce Rāvana’s marrow.
But Rāvana, without at all feeling any smart, began to shower arrows on
Vaivaswata’s vehicle, resembling a downpour caused by clouds. And again
at his spacious breast, that Rākshasa who had undergone slender injury,
could not resist, (Yama’s arms) with hundreds of mighty darts hurled.
And in this way that destroyer of foes—Yama fought for seven nights with
various arms; until at length his enemy was driven back and deprived of
his senses. And then, O hero, there took place mighty onset between Yama
and the Rākshasa both eager for victory and both never tiring of fight.
And celestials and Gandharvas and Siddhas, and the supreme saints,
placing Prajapati at their head, presented themselves at the fight. And
the encounter that then took place between that foremost of of Rākshasas
and the lord of the Dead was like the universal upheaval. And stretching
his bow resembling in spleandour the thunderbolt of Indra, he discharged
arrows covering up the sky. And he smote Death with four, the (Yama’s)
charioteer with seven, and swiftly struck Yama in the marrow with
hundreds and thousands of shafts. And then from forth Yama’s mouth there
issued darted flames with his teeth mixed with smoke, the fire of his
fury. And witnessing this wonder in the presence of the deities and
Dānavas, both Death and Time were fired with wrath and were filled with
delight. And the Death, growing still more wroth, addressed Vaivaswata
saying;—’Let me go. I shall slay this sinful Rākshasa. Even this is my
native might this Rākshasa will be no more. Hiranyakaçipu, the graceful
Nemuchi, and Shamvara, Nishandi and Dhumaketu and Virochana’s offspring
Vāli, and the Daitya Shamvu that mighty monarchs, Vritra and Bāna; and
Kājarshis versed in all branches of learnings and Grandharvas, and
mighty serpents, and sages, and Pannagas and Yakshas, and swarms of
Apsarās and the Earth herself containing vasty oceans and mountains and
rivers and trees, at the unrolling of a Yuga—all these, O mighty monarch
have I brought to dissolution. All these and many more endowed with
strength and incapable of being overcome, were at the very sight of me
compassed with peril,—and what is this ranger of the night? Let me go. O
thou cognizant of righteousness,—I shall slay this one. There is none
that, albeit strong, can survive after having been seen by me. Verily
this is not mine strength,—this might pertaineth to me by nature. O
Time, if seen by me, he won’t live for a moment.’ Hearing these words of
his, the puissant king of righteousness spake there unto death,—’Do thou
stay. I myself shall slay him.’ Then with his eyes reddened that lord,
Vaivaswata, wielded with his hand the infallible dart of time; while by
him lay the redoubtable noose of time and the mace in its native shape
resembling fire and the thunderbolt. He, who by his very sight draweth
away the lives of creatures,—what should be said of its touching and
being hurled at people? And touched by that powerful one, that mighty
weapon, _engist_ with flames, attained access of energy, and seemed to
consume the Rākshasa. And in the field of battle, every one afflicted
with fear, ran away from it. And beholding Yama with his rod uplifted,
the celestials were agitated. And on Yama being desirous of slaying
Rāvana, the great-father manifesting himself spake unto Yama: ’O
Vaivaswata, O mighty-armed one, O thou of immeasurable prowess, this
certainly must not be; Thou shouldst not with thy rod slay the
night-ranger; for, O foremost of celestials, I have conferred a boon on
him; and thou shouldst not render false the words that I have uttered.
Verily he, that, whether a god or a human being, shall falsify my words,
shall render this triune universe false. There is no doubt about this.
If this terrific weapon, capable of affrighting the three spheres, be
discharged alike at friends and foes, it will destroy creatures. This
rod of time, of immeasurable might and incapable of being resisted by
creatures, was created by me as having the power of compassing the death
of all beings. Therefore, O mild one, thou forsooth shouldst not bring
it down on Rāvana’s head. If this alights on any one, he doth not live
for a moment, Whether on this weapon allighting, the ten-necked does not
die, or if he does do either way falsehood is the consequence, therefore
do thou keep thy uplifted weapon off Lankā’s lord. If thou have any care
for these worlds do thou establish my truth.’ Thus addressed, Yama then
answered, ’I restrain this rod. Thou art our Lord. But as I can not slay
this one who hath obtained a boon, what then shall I do now in the
field? Therefore shall I disappear from the sight of this Raksha.’
Having said this, even there did he vanish with his car and horses. And
having vanquished him and distinguished his name, he again ascended his
Pushpaka and went out of the abode of Yama. And with a delighted heart
Vaivaswata along with the deities headed by Brahmā—as well as that
mighty ascetic-Nārada, went to the celestial regions."