"Having conferred this boon upon Rāvana the father, sprung from lotus,
speedily returned to the region of Brahman. And having obtained the boon
Rāvana too came back. After a few days that Rākshasa Rāvana, the dread
of all people, arrived at the banks of the western Ocean with his
councillors. And on the island a person was seen bright as fire under
the name of Mahajambunada, seated there alone. He had a dreadful figure
and was like unto the fire at dissolution. And beholding that highly
powerful person amongst men like unto the chief of gods amongst the
celestials, the moon amongst the planets, the lion amongst the
Sarabhas,⁸⁰ the Airavata amongst the elephants, the Meru amongst the
mountains, and the Pārijāta amongst the trees, the ten-necked demon
said—’Give me battle.’ Thereat his eyes became agitated like unto
planets and from the clashing of his teeth there arose a sound like the
clapping of thunder-bolts. And the highly powerful Dasānana too roared
with his councillors. And with darts, _Saktis_, _Rishtis_ and _Patticas_
he again and again assailed that highly effulgent person, having long
arms, a dreadful appearance, huge teeth, a grim figure, a conch-like
neck, spacious breast, a belly like that of a frog, a countenance like
that of a lion, legs like the mount Kailāsa, red palms, red hands,
emitting dreadful roars, huge-bodied, gifted with the velocity of mind
and air, dreadful, carrying quiver, bells and chowries, encircled by a
burning flame and emitting a sweet note as a net-work of _Kinkini_ does,
having a garland of golden lotuses hung round his neck, appearing
graceful like unto the Rig-Veda, be-decked with lotus garlands,
resembling the Anjana and golden mountains. As the lion is not moved by
the attack of a wolf, the elephant by that of a bull, the Sumeru by the
king of serpents and the great Ocean by the current of a river, so that
great person was not agitated and said to the ten-necked demon—’O
vicious-minded night-ranger, I shall soon remove they desire for a
battle.’ O Rāma, the might of that person was a thousand times greater
than that of Rāvana which was dreadful unto all the worlds. Piety and
asceticism, which are at the root of attaining to every thing in the
world, are at his thighs; Cupid is his male organ, the Viswadevas are at
his waist and the Maruts are at the sides of his _Basti_; the Vasus are
in the middle portion of his body, the oceans are in his belly, the
quarters are on his sides, the Maruts are at his joints—the manes are
one his back and the grand-father has taken shelter in his heart; the
pious acts of making gifts of kine, gold and lands are his downs; the
mounts Himalaya, Hemkuta, Mandara, and Meru are his bones; the
thunder-bolt is his palm, the sky his body; the evening and watery
clouds are on his neck, the creator, the preserver and the Vidyadharas
are on his two arms. Ananta, Vasuki, Visalaksha Iravat, Kamvala,
Aswatara, Karkotaka, Dhananjaya the venomous Takshaka, and Upatakshaka,
have taken shelter under the nails of his hands, in order to vomit forth
their venom. The fire is in his mouth, the Rudras are on his shoulders,
the fortnights, months, years and seasons are on the rows of his teeth;
the lunar half and the dark half of the month are in his nostrils—and
the airy currents are in pores of his body. Saraswati, the goddess of
words, is his neck, the two Aswins are his ears, the sun and the moon
are his two eyes, O Rāma, all the divisions of the Vedas, Yagmas, the
whole host of stars, good words, energy, asceticism—all these are being
supported by his body, assuming the shape of a man. Thereupon that
Purusha easily struck Rāvana with his hands hard as thunder. Being
assailed thereby Rāvana immediately fell on the ground. Beholding that
Rākshasa fallen and having distressed others that huge person, like unto
the Rig-Veda, resembling a mountain and be-decked with lotus garlands,
entered the region under the earth. Rāvana addressed his councillors
thus—’O Prahasta, O Sukasārana and other ministers, where hath that
person suddenly gone? Do ye tell me this.’ Hearing those words of Rāvana
the night-rangers said—’That man, who crusheth down the pride of the
celestials and demons, hath entered hither.’
"As Garuda goes speedily taking a serpent so that vicious-minded Rāvana
arrived quickly at the entrance of the den. And Rāvana, having no fear,
entered therein. And having entered there he saw males resembling the
red collyrium, wearing _keyuras_,⁸¹ heroic, be-decked with red garlands,
pasted with red sandal and adorned with diverse golden ornaments and
jewels. He saw there three millions of such high-minded persons, devoid
of fear, pure, radiant like fire, dancing being mad after festivities.
Beholding them the Ten-necked demon, of dreadful prowess, was not the
least terrified, and rather saw their dance, standing at the gate. They
were all like the male being he had seen before. They were all of the
same colour, same dress, same figure and equally gifted with great
energy. They were all gifted with four arms and great energy. Beholding
them the down of the Ten-necked demon stood erect though a boon had been
conferred upon him by the Self-born and he speedily issued out of that
place. And he again saw another huge person lying down on a bed. His
house, seat and bed were all white and valuable and he was sleeping
enveloped by fire. And there sat gracefully with a fan in her lotus
hands, the goddess Laksmi—most beautiful in the three worlds—(as if) the
ornament thereof, chaste, adorned with celestial garlands, sprinkled
with excellent sandal paste, be-decked with rich ornaments and clad in a
precious raiment. Having entered there with out any councillor the
vicious Rāvana, the lord of Rākshasas, on beholding that chaste damsel
with sweet smiles seated on a royal seat, being possessed by desire,
grew anxious to hold her by the hand, as one, under the influence of
death, catches a sleeping serpent. Beholding that lord of Rākshasas with
loose cloth and understanding him as desirous of holding (her) the
deity, having huge arms, asleep and enveloped with flames, laughed
aloud. And scorched suddenly by his energy, Rāvana, the dread of all
people, fell down on earth like unto an up-rooted tree. Beholding that
Rākshasa fallen he said the following words:—’Rise up, O foremost of
Rākshasas, thou shalt not meet with death today; thou shalt live and be
protected, O Rākshasa, by the great Patriarch’s boon. Do thou therefore
go away, O Rāvana, with confidence—thou shalt not experience death just
now.’ Regaining his sense instantly Rāvana was stricken with fear. And
being thus addressed, that enemy, of the celestials, stood up and with
his down erect, said to that highly resplendant deity—’Who art thou
gifted with great energy and like unto the fire of dissolution? Tell me,
who art thou, O deity and whence thou hast come hither.’ Being thus
accosted by the vicious-souled Rāvana, the deity, smiling, replied in
words deep as the muttering of clouds, saying—’What shalt thou do with
me O ten-necked demon? Thou art not to be slain by me now.’ Being thus
addressed the Ten-necked demon, with folded palms said—’By the words of
the Patriarch (Brahmā) I shall not tread the path of death; there is
none born amongst men, or the celestials who can equal me, and
disregard; by virtue of his prowess, the great Patriarch’s boon. His
words can never be falsified—every great exertion is weak before them; I
do not behold any such man in the three worlds who can render that boon
useless. O foremost of the deities, I am immortal—I do not fear thee;
and even if I meet with death, I may have it from thee and no one else,
O Lord. My death from thee is both glorious and praise-worthy.’
Thereupon Rāvana, gifted with dreadful prowess, beheld within the body
of that deity, all the three worlds with mobile and immobile creations.
The Adityas, the Maruts, the Sidhas, the two Aswins, Rudras, the manes,
Yama, Kuvera, the oceans, mountains, rivers, all the divisions of the
Veda and knowledge, fire, planets, stars, sky, Siddhas, Gandharvas,
Chāranas, the ascetics conversant with the knowledge of Vedas, Garuda
and the serpents, the other deities, Yakshas, Daityas and Rākshasas,
were all seen in their incorporeal forms, on the person of that great
Purusha, lying down." Thereupon the virtuous-souled Rāma said to
Agastya, the foremost of Munis—"Who is that male being stationed in the
island? Who are those three _kotis_ male beings? And who is this person
who crusheth down the pride of the Daityās and Dānavas?" Hearing Rāma’s
words Agastya said—"O thou existing eternally, O god of gods, hearken, I
shall relate (it) unto thee. The person stationed in the island is the
illustrious Kapila. All those dancing persons are the deities equalling
that intelligent Kapila in energy and power. And that Rākshasa, bent on
sin, was not seen by him with angry looks, and therefore, Rāma, Rāvana,
was not there and then reduced to ashes. And he, resembling a mountain,
with his person pierced, fell on the ground. As a wily wight goes
through a secret so he pierced (Rāvana’s person) with his shaft-like
words. Having regained his sense, however, after a long time, that
Rākshasa, of great prowess, returned where his councillors were."
⁸⁰ A fabulous animal supposed to have eight legs.
⁸¹ A kind of ornament used on arms.