NARRATIVE OF DÁMA, VYÁLA AND KATA.
Argument. The demon Sambara defeated by the deities, and his production
of other demons by magic and sorcery.
Vasishtha said:—O intelligent Ráma! that dost shine as the delight of
mankind in this world, and endeavourest after the attainment of thy
chief good, by the accomplishment of thy best objects.
2. Do not let the instance of the demons Dáma and Vyála or the snare
and snake, apply to thy case; but try to extricate thyself from vain
sorrowing (at the miseries of the world), by the lesson of fortitude as
given in the story of Bhíma and Bhása.
3. Ráma asked:—What is that parable of the snare and snake, which thou
sayest must not apply to my case? Please relate it in full, to remove
the sorrows of my mind and of all mankind.
4. And how is that fortitude which thou pointest out for my imitation,
from the instance of Bhíma and Bhása, in order to get rid from all
earthly sorrow?
5. Kindly relate the whole, and enlighten me with thy purifying words,
as the roaring of the rainy clouds, serves to alleviate the summer heat
of peacocks.
6. Vasishtha replied:—Hear me Ráma! relate to you both these anecdotes,
that you may derive the benefit of aping according the same.
7. There lived one Sambara—the chief of demons, and a profound sorcerer
in a subterraneous cell, filled with enchanting wonders like a sea of
gems.
8. He constructed a magic city in the sky, with gardens and temples of
gods in it; and artificial suns and moons emblazoning its vault.
9. It was beset with rich stones, resembling the gems of the Sumeru
mountain; and the palace of the demon was full with opulence and
treasures of every kind.
10. The beauties in his seraglio, vied with the celestial dames in
their charming strains; and the arbors of his pleasure garden, were
shaded by an awning of bright moon-beams on high.
11. The blue lotuses blooming in his bed room, put to blush the blue
eyed maids of his court; and the gemming swans in the lakes, cackled
about the beds of golden lotuses in them.
12. The high branches of aureate plants, bore the blossoms of
artificial lotuses on them; and the rows of _Karanga_ arbours dropped
down showers of _mandára_ flowers on the ground.
13. His garden-house consisted both of cold and hot baths, and
refrigeratories and fire-places for the hot and cold seasons; and the
_tarku_ (?) weapons of the demons, had baffled the arms of Indra
himself.
14. The flower-gardens on all sides, had surpassed the _mandara_ groves
of paradise; and the magical skill of the demon, had set rows of sandal
trees, with their encircling snakes all around.
15. The inner compound which was strewn over with gold dust, vanquished
the glory of heaven; and the court-yard of the palace, was filled with
heaps of flowers upto the knee.
16. The earthen figure of Siva which was exposed for show, had
surpassed the image of Hari holding his discus and the mace; and the
gems sparkling as fire-flies in the inside apartment, resembled the
twinkling stars in the arena of heaven.
17. The dark night of the subterrene dwelling, was lightened by a
hundred moon-lights like the starry heaven, and he chaunted his martial
songs before his idol deity.
18. His magical elephant, drove away the Airávata of Indra; and his
inward apartment was hoarded with the precious treasures of the three
worlds.
19. All wealth and prosperity and grandeur and dignity, paid their
homage to him; and the whole host of demons, honoured him as their
commander.
20. The umbrage of his arms, gave shelter to the whole body of demons;
and he was the receptacle of all sagacity, and reservoir of every kind
of treasure.
21. This destroyer of the _devas_ (gods), had a gigantic and terrific
appearance; and commanded a large army of Asura—demons to defeat the
Sura—deities.
22. The gods also sought every opportunity of harassing the demoniac
force, whenever this exorcist demigod, went to sleep or somewhere out
of his city.
23. This enraged Sambara to a degree, that he broke the trees in his
rage, and employed his generals for protection of his legions.
24. The devas finding their fit opportunities, killed the demons one by
one; as the aerial hawks pounce upon and kill the feeble and timid
sparrows.
25. The king of the demons then appointed other generals over his army,
and they were as swift-footed and hoarse sounding as the waves of the
sea.
26. The Devas destroyed these also in a short time; when the leader of
the demon band pursued his enemies to their station above the heavens.
27. The gods fled from their heavenly abode for fear of them, as the
timorous deer fly from before the sight of Siva’s and Gaurí’s bull into
the thick thickets.
28. The gods were weakened with weeping, and the faces of Apsaras were
suffused in tears. The demon saw the heavenly abode abandoned by the
celestials, as it was the desolation of the world.
29. He wandered about in his rage, and plundered and took away all the
valuables of the place. He burnt down the cities of the regents of
heaven, and then returned to his own abode.
30. The enmity between the deities and demons, was so inveterate on
both sides, that it forced the Devas to quit their heavenly abodes, and
hide themselves in distant parts of the world.
31. But the enraged gods, succeeded at last by their perseverance, to
defeat and slay all the generals and combatants, that were set against
them by Sambara.
32. The discomfited demon, then gave vent to his fury, and began to
breathe out living fire from his nostrils like a burning mountain.
33. He after much search in the three worlds, found out the hiding
place of the gods, as a wicked man succeeds in his purpose by his best
endeavours.
34. Then he produced by his sorcery three very strong and fearful
Asuras for the protection of his army, with their hideous appearances
as that of death.
35. These horrible leaders of his army, being produced in his magic,
flew upward with their enormous bodies, resembling the flying mountains
of old.
36. They had the names of Dáma—the snare, Vyála—the snake, and Kata—the
mat given them for their entrapping, enfolding and enwrapping the
enemy, according to the demon’s wish.
37. They were preadamite beings and devoid of changing desires; and the
want of their prior acts (like those of the human kind), made them move
about as free as spiritual beings in one uniform tenor of their course.
38. These were not born as men from the seeds of their previous acts,
with solid and substantial bodies; but mere artificial forces and airy
forms, as facsimiles of the images in the demon’s mind.