"And again journeyed in the city of Açma (the followers of Rāvana)
dreadful in fight. There the Ten-necked demon beheld a highly
picturesque house—adorned with networks of pearls, having gateways
crested with Vaidurjas, golden pillars and abounding in pavements. And
the stairs, of that picturesque house resembling the abode of Mahendra,
covered with girdles, were made of crystal. Beholding that excellent
boost the highly powerful Rāvana thought within himself—’Whose is this
beautiful house, resembling the summit of Meru? Go O Prahasta, and learn
quickly whose house is this.’ Thus ordered, Prahasta entered that
excellent house—and finding none in one appartment he entered another
and thus entering seven apartments he at last saw a flame of fire. There
was a man in that flame, who, when seen, laughed aloud. Hearing that
dreadful laughter Prahasta’s down stood on their end. There was another
man in that flame, as if in a swoon, engarlanded with golden lotuses,
incapable of being looked at, like the sun, and resembling the Yama’s
self. Beholding that the night-ranger speedily issued out of the house
and communicated it unto Rāvana. Thereupon, O Rāma, having descended
from Pushpaka, the Ten-necked demon, black as collyrium, entered that
house. (Immediately) obstructing the door there stood a huge-bodied man,
dreadful like Siva—his tongue was all flame, his eyes were red, rows of
teeth beautiful, lips like _Bimba_, his form was handsome, nose
dreadful, neck like a shell marked with three lines, jaws were spacious,
beards thick, bone fleshy, teeth huge and his appearance was all
dreadful. And taking up an iron mace he stood at the gate. Beholding
him, Daçānana’s hairs stood on their end—his heart and body trembled.
And seeing these bad omens, O Rāma, he began to think within himself. He
thus meditating that man said—’What art thou thinking, O Rākshasa? Tell
me all in confidence. I shall confer upon thee the hospitality of
fighting, O hero, O night-ranger.’ Having said this he again spoke unto
Rāvana, saying—’Dost thou wish to enter into conflict with Bali, or what
else is thy intention?’ Rāvana was so overwhelmed that his hairs stood
on their end; but resorting to calmness he said—’O thou foremost of
those skilled in speech, who residest in this house? I shall fight with
him; speak out what thou wishest.’ He again said (to Rāvana)—’The lord
of Dānavas lives here—he is highly generous, heroic, and hath truth for
his prowess. He is gifted with many qualities, resplendent like unto
Yama with mace in his hand or the newly risen sun and incapable of being
defeated in conflict, impetuous, invincible, victorious, powerful, a
veritable ocean of accomplishments, sweet-speeched, supporter of the
dependants, fond of preceptor and Brahmans, always waiting for opportune
hours, gifted with high powers, truthful, of a handsome person, skilful,
gifted with all accomplishments, heroic and engaged in the study of the
Vedas. He sometimes walks on foot and moves about like the wind—he
shines like fire and spreads heat like the sun. He travels with the
gods, spirits, serpents and birds. He does not know fear; dost thou wish
to fight with him? If thou dost wish to fight with Bali, O lord of
Rākshasas, O thou gifted with great energy, do thou speedily enter (this
house) and engage in the encounter.’ Being thus addressed the Ten-necked
demon entered where Bali was. Beholding the lord of Lankā, the foremost
of Dānavas, resembling the flaming fire, and hard to look at like the
sun, laughed. And taking that Rākshasa by the hand and placing him on
his lap he said. ’O Ten-necked lord of Rākshasas, O thou having long
arms, what desire of thine may I satisfy? Do thou tell me what for thou
hast come hither.’ Being thus addressed by Bali Rāvana said—’I have
heard, O illustrious sir, that formerly thou wast bound by Vishnu.
Forsooth I am capable of releasing thee from the bonds.’ Hearing that
Bali laughed and said—’Hear, I shall relate to thee what thou hast
asked, O Rāvana. The red-hued man, who stands always at the door—by him
formerly all the leading Dānavas and other powerful lords were brought
into subjection—by him I was also bound. He is invincible like unto
death; who is there on this earth that can deceive him? He, who stands
at the door, is the destroyer of all beings, creator and preserver and
the lord of the three worlds. Thou dost not know him nor do I. He is
identical with past, future and present and is the lord. He is Kali and
he is Time—the destroyer of all beings. He is the destroyer and the
creator of the three worlds—and he slays all beings mobile and immobile.
And that lord of all gods again creates the universe without beginning
or end. O night-ranger, he governs and preserves all sacrifices, gifts
and oblations to fire. Forsooth he is the creator and the preserver of
the universe—there is none so wonderful in the three worlds. O son of
Pulasta, He hath been guiding the former Dānavas, myself, yourself like
so many beasts bound with ropes. Vitra, Danu, Suka, Sambhu, Nishumbha,
Sumbha, Kālanemi, Prahlada and others, Kuta, Vairochana, Mridu, Jamala,
Arjuna, Kansa, Kaitabha, and Madhu used to impart heat like the sun,
appear resplendant like the rays, move about like air and pour showers
like Indra. All of them celebrated many a sacrifice and were engaged in
austere penances. All of them were high-souled and considered the
practice of Yoga as a great virtue. Having got by an immense accession
of wealth they enjoyed many pleasures, made many gifts, celebrated many
sacrifices, studied (many lores) and governed their subjects. They were
all protectors of their own kith and kin and slayers of enemies; and in
battle, there was none equal to them in the three worlds. They were all
heroic, of a high pedigree, versed in all sacred writings, proficient in
all branches of learning and indomitable in warfare. Having defeated
thousands of celestials in conflict, the high-souled ones conquered the
regions. They were always engaged in those works which were not liked by
the celestials and used to maintain their own men. They were all
inflated with pride and haughtiness and effulgent like the newly-risen
sun. The glorious Hari, the lord Vishnu, knoweth only how to bring about
their destruction who perpetually assail the celestials. He creates all
these and He, bringing about their destruction, existeth in Himself at
the time of dissolution. These highly powerful and high-souled Danava
chiefs, assuming shapes at will, have been destroyed by the glorious
God. Besides, all these heroes, who have been heard of as being
irrepressible and invincible in warfare, have been discomfitted by the
wondrous power of Kritānta.’ Having said this the lord of Dānavas again
spoke unto the lord of Rākshsas—’O hero, O thou gifted with great
strength, take that flaming discus which thou beholdest and come to my
side. I shall then relate to thee the means of eternal liberation. Do
what I have told thee, O thou having long arms. Delay not Rāvana.’
Hearing this the highly powerful Raksha proceeded, laughing, O
descendant of Raghu, where that celestial _kundala_ was. Rāvana, proud
of his prowess, easily took it up but could not move it by any means.
And being ashamed that highly powerful one again attempted. As soon as
it was uplifted the Rākshasa dropped down on ground, bathed in a pool of
blood, like unto an uprooted Sāla tree. In the meantime there arose a
sound from Pushpaka, and the councillors of that lord of Rākshasas cried
aloud. Regaining his sense that Raksha rose up in a moment and lowered
his head in shame. Bali said to him—’Do thou come, O foremost of
Rākshasas and hear my words. O hero, the _kundala_, crested with jewels,
which thou didst assay to take up, is an ornament for the ear of one of
my forefathers. This fell here on the ground, O thou gifted with great
strength; another _kundala_ was thrown on the summit of the mountain.
Besides these _kundalas_ his crown was also cast off on the ground
before the altar during the encounter. Formerly none bore enmity towards
my ancestor Hiranya Kasipu—Time death, or illness. He had no death
during the day, night, evening or morning. O foremost of Rākshasas, he
did not experience death from any weapon whatsoever. He created a
dreadful enmity with Prahlada. This conflict having taken place with the
high-souled and heroic Prahlada there rose up a dreadful figure of
man-lion—a terror unto all, O foremost of Rākshasas. And that terrible
figure casting his looks about, all the worlds were over-whelmed.
"’Thereupon taking him up with his arms he destroyed him with his nails.
The person, who is standing at the door, is this supreme Yasudeva, void
of passion. I shall now relate to thee the words of that supreme God; do
thou hear, if thy heart is filled with spiritual thoughts. The person,
who is standing at the door, hath brought into subjection, in thousands
of years, a thousand of Indras, an Ayuta of gods and hundreds of great
Rishis.’ Hearing these words Rāvana said—’(I have seen) Kritānta, the
lord of spirits with Death himself, with hairs standing erect. Serpents
and scorpions are his hairs—his tongue is hard as the lightning, his
teeth are dreadful—his eyes are red and he is gifted with great velocity
and a terror unto all beings. He is incapable of being looked at like
unto the sun, unconquerable in battle and is the chastiser of the
sinners. He even was defeated by me in conflict. There I did not feel
the least pain or fear, O lord of Dānavas. I do not know (this
person)—it behoveth thee to give me an account.’
"Hearing the words of Rāvana Bali said—’He is the lord Hari—Nārāyana—the
protector of the three worlds. He is Ananta,⁶⁷ Kapila,⁶⁸ Jishnu,⁶⁹ and
the highly effulgent Man-lion.⁷⁰ He is Kratudhāma,⁷¹ Sudhāma,⁷² and hath
the dreadful mace in his hand. He is like unto the twelve Adityas,
Purana and the excellent Purusha; he is like unto the red clouds—the
lord of gods and the best god. O thou having long arms, he is encircled
by flames, a great devotee and fond of devotees; this lord preserveth
the universe and hath created it. And he, gifted with great strength,
brought about destruction in the form of Time; and this Hari, with a
discus in his hand, is sacrifice and is being worshipped in sacrifices.
He is at one with all gods—all beings, all worlds and all knowledge. He
is all forms, the great form, Baladeva and hath long arms; he slayeth
heroes, hath heroic eyes, is imperishable and the preceptor of the three
worlds. All these sages, who long for final liberation, meditate upon
him—he, who can know this Purusha, is not sullied with sins. By
remembering him, hearing of him and worshipping him, every thing can be
obtained.’ Hearing these words of Bali, the highly powerful Rāvana,
having his eyes reddened with ire, issued out with uplifted weapon.
Beholding him thus excited, the lord Hari, with a club in his hand,
thought within himself, O Rāma, ’I shall not slay this sinner for the
satisfaction of Brahmā’ and assuming his own shape disappeared. And not
beholding that Purusha there, the night-ranger issued out of the abode
of Varuna, shouting with joy. He went away by the way he had come."
⁶⁷ Lit, eternal, endless. Here it is the name of Vishnu.
⁶⁸ A celebrated Muni or saint, the founder of the _Sankhya_ system of
philosophy; the son of Kardama by Devahuti and according to some
an incarnanation of Vishnu.
⁶⁹ Lit—victorious, or triumphant, a name of Vishnu.
⁷⁰ _Narasinha_—a. name of Vishnu. When prayed for by Prahlada to
appear from a pillar Vishnu came out in the shape of man-lion and
slew Hiranya-Kasipu—the king of Daityas and father of Prahlada.
⁷¹ Protector of sacrifices—a name of Vishnu.
⁷² Here it is evidently one of the names of Vishnu. In Vishnu Purana,
Book I, Chapter X. we find another account, Vireyas, married to
Gauri, had Sudaman, a Loka pala, or ruler of the east quarter, as
his son.