"Those two brahmans having departed, Rāvana, the lord of Rākshasas,
proceeded, at first, by the aerial way, ten thousand leagues, He then
went lo the excellent upper aerial region where live perpetually ganders
gifted with many accomplishments. The extent thereof is also counted by
ten thousand leagues and there are stationed closely three classes of
clouds⁷³ namely Agneya, Pakshaja and Brahma. He, then proceeded to the
third excellent aerial region where perpetually reside the high-minded
Siddhas and Charanas and the extent whereof is also ten thousand
leagues. O slayer of enemies, he then speedily proceeded to the fourth
aerial region where perpetually dwelt the goblins and Vinayakas, He
quickly went to the fifth aerial region which also extends over ten
thousand _yojanas_ where exist Ganga, the foremost of rivers, and the
elephants headed by Kumuda, who pour down waters. They sport in the
waters of the Ganges and pour down her holy waters. And those waters,
parched by the rays of the sun and softened by the wind, pour down holy
waters and dews, O Rāghava, Thereupon that Rākshasa went to the sixth
aerial region, O thou gifted with high radiance, which also extends over
ten thousand _yojanas_ and where dwells Garuda perpetually respected of
his kinsmen and friends. He then went to the seventh aerial region which
is ten thousand leagues above and where dwell the seven Rishis. And
again going up ten thousand leagues he reached the eighth aerial region
where Ganga, known as the Ganges of the sky, having strong currents and
sending high roars, and upheld by air, is situated on the sun’s way. I
shall now describe the region higher than that where resides the moon,
and the extent whereof is counted by eighty thousand leagues. There
dwells the moon encircled by stars and planets from whom proceed
hundreds and thousands of rays which light up the worlds and conduce to
the pleasure of all animals. Thereupon beholding the Ten-necked demon
the moon as if burnt (him) down speedily with his cold fiery rays. And
stricken with the fear of those rays his councillors could not stand
them. Thereupon exclaiming his victory Prahasta said to Rāvana—’O king,
we are destroyed by cold, so we must go away from here. The Rākshasas
have been terrified by the rays of the moon; O foremost of kings, the
cold rays of the moon have the natural property of fire in them.’
Hearing the words of Prahasta, Rāvana, beside himself with wrath, having
uplifted his bow and twanged it, began to assail him with _Narachas_.
Thereupon Brahmā came speedily to the region of the moon and said—’O
Ten-necked one, O thou having mighty arms, O direct son of Visravas, O
gentle one, do thou repair hence speedily—do not oppress the moon—(for)
this highly effulgent king of twice-born ones wisheth well-being unto
all. I shall communicate to thee a mystical incantation; He who
recollects it at the time of death, does not come by it.’ Being thus
addressed the ten-necked demon, with folded hands, said—’If thou art
pleased with me O god! O lord of the worlds, O thou of great penances,
if dost thou wish to communicate that incantation, do thou impart it
upon me, O thou of great piety; reciting which, O great one, I may be
released of the fear of the celestials. Forsooth, by thy favour, O lord
of the celestials, I shall be invincible by all the Asuras, Dānavas and
birds.’ Being thus accosted Brahmā said to the ten-necked demon—’O lord
of Rākshasas, do thou recite it at the time of death and not every day.
Taking a string of beads, thou shouldst recite this holy incantation, on
which, thou, O lord of Rashasas, shalt be invincible, And if dost thou
not recite it thou shalt not meet with success. Hear, I shall
communicate to thee the incantation, O foremost of Rākshasas, reciting
which thou shalt obtain victory in the encounter, "Salutation unto thee,
god, O lord of gods, O thou worshipped of the celestials and Asuras, O
thou identical with past and future, great god, O thou having red
eyes—thou art a boy at thou assumest the form of an old man; thou
wearest tiger skin. O god, thou art worthy of being worshipped, and the
lord of the three worlds. Thou art Hara, Haritanemi, Yugantadahaka and
Valadeva. Thou art Ganesha, Loka-Sambhu, Lokapala, and of huge arms;
thou art great, the holder of a huge dart, having dreadful teeth, and
the greatest of gods. Thou art time, the strength and hast blue neck and
a large belly; thou art the destroyer of the celestials—the foremost of
the ascetics and the lord of all created beings. Thou art the holder of
a dart and hast the bull as thy emblem, art the leader, protector, the
destroyer and the preserver; thou hast beared locks, art Mundi,
Sikhandi, hast a crown, and art greatly illustrious. Thou art the lord
of sprites and goblins, the soul of all, the protector of all,
omniscient, the destroyer of all, the creator and the eternal preceptor.
Thou art lord, carriest a _kamandalu_⁷⁴ in thy hand, art the holder of a
Pinaka⁷⁵ and Dhurjati⁷⁶ thou art, worthy of veneration, the most
excellent OM, the first chanter of Saman, the death, the element of
death, Parijātra⁷⁷ and observant of penances. Thou art an ascetic,
livest in a cave and carriest a Vinā,⁷⁸ Panava,⁷⁹ and quiver in thy
hands; thou art immortal and art like the newly-risen sun to behold.
Thou livest in a cremation ground, art the illustrious lord of Umā, and
above all blemishes Thou didst uproot-the eyes of Vagadeva and teeth of
Pushā. Thou art the destroyer of fever, holdest mace in thy hand and art
(the very) dissolution and time. Thou hast got a fire-brand in thy
mouth, hast fire as thy emblem, art highly resplendent and lord of men.
Thou art mad, makest people tremble, art the fourth, and most respected
of men; thou art a dwarf, Vāmanadeva and the dwarf who circumambulates
the east. Thou art a beggar, wearest the semblance of a beggar and art
by nature crooked; thou didst assail Indra’s hands and the Vasus. Thou
art the season, the maker of seasons, time, honey and hast honeyed eyes.
Thou art a tree bearing fruits and blossoms, hast arrows as thy seat and
worshipped by people of all conditions perpetually. Thou art the
protector and the creator of the universe, the Purusha, eternal and
certain; the lord of all religions, Virupāksha, the three qualities and
the protector of all beings. Thou art three-eyed, assumest many forms
and brilliant as the _Ajuta_ suns; thou art the lord of all celestials,
the foremost deity and wearest bearded locks having the impressions of
the moon; thou art connected with Brahman, worthy of being resorted to
and identical with all created beings. Thou blowest all bugles, severest
all ties; thou dost charm and bind (all) and dost always bring about
death. Thou hast flowery teeth, art a division, the foremost and the
destroyer of all; thou hast dreadful beards, holdest a bow, art fearful
and gifted with dreadful might." These eight hundred holy and excellent
names have been uttered by me which remove all iniquities, are holy and
afford shelter to those who seek for it; if do thou recite them, O
ten-necked one, thou shalt be able to destroy thy enemies.’"
⁷³ The three classes are (1) _Agnija_ or produced from fire (2)
_Pakshaja_ or produced in a fortnight (3) _Brāhma_ or produced
from Brahma.
⁷⁴ An earthen or wooden water pot used by the ascetic and religious
student.
⁷⁵ The bow of Siva, A trident or three-pronged spear.
⁷⁶ A name of Siva from _dhur_, a burden and _Jati_, a collection; who
collects or bears the burthen of the three worlds.
⁷⁷ The name of a mountain, apparently the central or western portion
of the _Vindhya_ chain.
⁷⁸ A kind of stringed musical instrument.
⁷⁹ A sort of musical instrument; a small drum or tabor.