Thereupon having bowed unto Agastya the foremost of ascetics, the highly
effulgent Rāma again surprisingly said:—"O Brahman, O foremost of
twice-born ones, when that cruel Rāvana journeyed over the earth, was it
void of people? Was there no king, or prince on earth to administer
punishment unto him? Were all the kings then shorn of their strength and
prowess? And many kings I (hear) were vanquished and driven out by him
with various excellent weapons." Hearing the words of Rāghava, the
ascetic Agastya, having six sorts of wealth, laughing said, like unto
Brahmā, speaking to Rudra—"O Rāma, O lord of earth, traversing the
earth, Rāvana arrived at the city of Mahismati, resembling the city of
the celestials, where lived perpetually the deity of fire. There reigned
a king named Arjuna, effulgent like fire which was kept perpetually in a
well covered with _Sara_. One day the highly powerful Arjuna, the king
of _Haihayas_, repaired to the river Nerbuda, with his wives to sport.
At the very same day, Rāvana, the lord of Rākshasas, arrived there and
asked his councillors saying. ’Where is the king Arjuna? Do ye speedily
tell me; I am Rāvana, I have come to fight with your king. Do ye, at
first, communicate unto him the news of my arrival.’ Being thus
addressed by Rāvana, the learned ministers informed the lord of
Rākshasas, of the absence of the king. Hearing of the absence of the
king from the citizens Visrasraba’s son came out of the city and reached
the Vindhya mountain resembling the Himalayas. He espied the mountain
extending over the welkin like unto clouds and rising up as if riving
the earth and obstructing the sky. The mountain had a thousand summits
and the lions were residing in the caves and hundreds of fountains were
falling from it; the mountain was as if laughing aloud and the
celestials, Gandharvas, Apsarās and Kinsaras were sporting there with
their females; and it appeared (in consequence thereof) like the region
of celestials; and rivers, with waters transparent like crystal, were
flowing. And it therefore appeared like a thousand serpents having
trembling tongues. And casting his looks upon Vindhya mountain,
resembling the Himalayas and having huge caves, Rāvana, the king of
Rākshasas, reached the river Nerbuda, of holy waters and going rapidly
to the western ocean. Her waters were being agitated by buffaloes, deer,
tigers, lions, bears and elephants distressed by heat. Having covered
her, Chakrabakas, Kārandavas, swans, water-cocks and Sārasas, maddened,
were emitting notes. The charming Nerbuda appeared like a beautiful
damsel—having blossoming trees for her ornaments, Chakrabakas for her
breast, wide spread forest for her waist, the row of swans for Mekhala,
filaments of flowers for paste, watery foams for white silken cloth, the
pleasure of descending into water for the pleasure of touch and
full-blown lotuses for white eyes. Having descended from his car and
bathed in the waters of Nerbuda, the foremost of streams, resembling a
fair one, Rāvana, the lord of Rākshasas, with this councilors, sat on
her coast resided by many an ascetic. Delighted at her beauty and having
spoken highly of Nerbuda like unto Ganges he addressed his ministers
Suka and Sārana with gestures, saying:—’Behold, having rendered the
earth pale, with his many rays, the sun, emitting parching heat, is in
the sky. But seeing me here seated, his rays have become cool like those
of the moon. At my fear, even the wind is blowing carefully, being cold
and fragrant by the touch of the waters of the Nerbuda and removing our
toil. This charming Nerbuda, abounding in crocodiles, fishes and birds,
though a natural stream, is standing still like a terrified damsel.
Being wounded in conflicts with many a king your persons have been
pasted with blood. Therefore like unto Sarvabhauma and other infuriated
elephants going down into the water of the Ganges, do ye descend into
the water of Nerbuda conferring auspiciousness and health. Bathing in
this stream you shall be cleansed from sins. I shall, also on the coast
of this river, like the rays of the autumnal moon, reverentially worship
with flowers Mahādeva, holding Pināka in his hands.’ Hearing the words
of Rāvana, Prahasta, Suka, Sārana, Mahodara, Dhrumākshya and other
councillors descended into the waters of Nerbuda. And she was agitated
by those elephant-like leading Rākshasas like unto the Ganges by Vamana,
Anjana, Padma and other elephants, Thereupon having got up from the
waters the highly powerful Rākshasas culled flowers for Rāvana’s
offerings. And in a moment the Rākshasas collected heaps of flowers on
the picturesque banks of Nerbuda, resembling the white clouds. Flowers
being thus collected, Rāvana, the king of Rākshasas descended, into the
Nerbuda for bathing like a huge elephant into the Ganges. And having
bathed he got up, reciting excellent incantations. Thereupon having left
off his wet cloth he put on a white one. And to find out place for
worshipping, he, with folded hands, proceeded towards the banks. And the
Rākshasas too, like unto so many moving mountains, followed him. And
wherever Rāvana went the golden _Siva Linga_ was brought. Thereupon
Rāvana placed that upon a heap of sands and began to worship it with
various nectar-smelling flowers and sandal. And having finished the
worship of Siva, the foremost of deities, having the moon on his crown,
the conferrer of boons and the remover of miseries, the night-ranger
danced with uplifted hands and sang before it."