The Ten-necked one, come under the control of Time, did not brook the
beneficial speech spoken by Malyavan. Contracting his face into a frown,
he, coming under the masterdom of passion, with his eyes rolling in
wrath, addressed Malyavan, saying,--"The words which, deeming the
strength of the enemy as superior, thou hast harshly spoken, considering
it as beneficial, had never before entered my ears. A (mere) man, and
feeble, and alone, and having monkeys for his support, why dost thou
deem Rama, who hath (further) been cast off by his sire, and hath in
consequence taken refuge in the woods,--as competent (to cope with me)?
And why dost thou consider me, who am the lord of the Rakshas, and
feared even by the immortals,--as weak and reft of all power? Thou, I
suspect, speakest (thus) roughly either from jealousy of my heroism, or
for inciting me. And who that is wise and learned, ever addresseth him
roughly that is at once puissant and of (high) station, if not to spur
him on? Why, having brought Sita like a Sri shorn of her lotus, shall I
give her up, from fear of Raghava? Behold Raghava, environed by Kotis of
monkeys, with Sugriva and Lakshmana, slain one of these days! He before
whom even the gods cannot stay in the field,--how can that Ravana ever
come by fear? Better that I should be riven in twain,--but bend I never
will. This is my native fault; and nature is incapable of being
overcome. And if Rama hath at his pleasure constructed a bridge over the
ocean, what is the wonder in this that thou hast conceived such a fear?
And although Rama hath crossed the ocean along with the monkey-army, yet
I swear unto thee truly, living, he shall not back hence". When Ravana,
wrought up with passion, had spoken thus, Malyavan, knowing him wroth,
did not return a reply. And, duly tendering blessings unto the king,
Malyavan, taking his permission, went to his own abode. And the
Rakshasa, Ravana, along with his courtiers, having consulted together as
to what was fit to be done, set about the defence of Lanka. And he
commanded the Rakshasa Prahasta (to guard) the Eastern gate; and the
exceedingly powerful Mahaparcwa and Mahodara (to guard) the Southern
gate; and he ordered his son Indrajit, possessing mighty powers of
illusion, girt by innumerable Rakshasas, to guard the Western gate. And
he commanded Suka and Sarana to defend the Northern gate. But he said
unto the counsellors,--"I will myself go thither".[97] And he posted in
the middle in the garrison the Rakshasa, Virupaksha, endowed with
exceeding prowess and energy, backed by countless Rakshasas. Having
taken these measures in Lanka, the Rakshasa-chief, urged by Fate, deemed
himself as having achieved success. Having thus completely provided for
the defence of the city, he dismissed the ministers; and, honored by the
counsellors with blessings of victory, (then) entered his magnificent
and splendid inner apartment.
[97] _i.e._ to defend the Northern gate.--T.