Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Aug 2011 11:39 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 11:39
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 28
Having conferred this boon upon Ravana the Grandfather, sprung from lotus, speedily returned to the region of Brahman. And having obtained the boon Ravana too came back. After a few days that Rakshasa Ravana, the dread of all people, arrived at the banks of the western Ocean with his councillors.
And on the island a person was seen bight 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 Devas, the moon amongst the planets, the lion amongst the Sarabhas the Airavata amongst the elephants, the Meru amongst the mountanis, and the Parijata amongst the trees, the ten nerked Rakshasa 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 Dasanana 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 Kailasa, red palms, red hands, emitting dreadful roars, huge bodied, gifted with the velocity of mind and air, dreadful, carrying quiver, bells and chowries, encircl ed by a burning flame and emitting a sweet note as a network of Kinkini does, having a garland of golden lotuses hung round his neek, appearing graceful like unto the Rigveda, 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 Nagas and the great Ocean by the current of a river, so that great person was not agitated and said to Dasagriva "O vcious minded night ranger, I shall soon remove they desire for a battle." O Rama, the might of that person was a thousand times greater than that of Ravana 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; Kamadeva 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 potion of his body, the oceans are in his belly, the quaters 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 heat ;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 the pores of his body. Sarasvati, the goddess of words, is his neck, the two Aswins are his ears, the sun and the moon are his two eyes.
O Rama, all the divisions of the Vedas, Yagnas, 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 Ravana with his hands hard as thunder.
Being assailed thereby Ravana immediately fell on the ground. Beholding that Rakshasa 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 thc earth. Ravana addressed his councillors thus "O Prahasta, O Sukasarana and other ministers, where hath that person suddenly gone ?Do ye tell me this.
Hearing those words of Ravana the night rangers said "That man, who crusheth down the pride of the Devas and Asuras, hath entered hither." As Garuda goes speedily taking a serpent so that vicious minded Ravana arrived quickly at the entrance of the den. And Ravana, having no fear, entered therein.
And having entered there he saw males resembling the red collyium, wearing Keyuras, 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 Dasagriva, 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 Dasagriva 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 Lakshmi 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 Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, 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 Rakshasas 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, Ravana, the dread of all people, fell down on earth like unto an up rooted tree. Beholding that Rakshasa fallen he said the following words "Rise up, O foremost of Rakshasas, thou shalt not meet with death today ;thou shalt live and be protected, O Rakshasa, by the great Patriarch s boon. Do thou therefore go away, O Ravana, with confidence thou shalt not experience death just now.
Regaining his sense instantly Ravana was stricken with fear. And being thus addressed, that enemy, of the Devas, 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 Ravana, the deity, smiling, replied in words deep as the muttering of clouds, saying What shalt thou do with me O Dasagriva ?Thou art not to be slain by me now" Being thus addressed the Dasagriva, with folded palms said By the words of the Patriarch Brahma() I shall not tread the path of death; there is none born amongst men,or the Devas who can equal me, and disregard; by virtue of his prowess, the great Patriarch s boon.
His words can never be falsiied 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 Devas, 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 Ravana, 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 Siddhas, the two Aswins, Rudras, the mines, Yama, Kubera, the oceans, mountains, rivers, all the divisions of the Veda and knowledge, ie, Planets, stars, sky, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Charanas, the ascetics conversant with the knowledge of Vedas, Garudas and the Nagas, the other Devas, Yakshas, Daityas and Rakshasas, were all seen in their incorporeal forms, on the person of that great Purusha, lying down. Thereupon the virtuous souled Rama 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 Daityas and Danavas?" Hearing Rama 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 Devas equalling that intelligent Kapila in energy and power. And that Rakshasa, bent on sin, was not seen by him with angry looks, and there fore, 0 Rama, Ravana, 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 Ravana( s person) with his shaft like words. Having regained his sense, however, after a long time, that Rakshasa, of great prowess, returned where his councillors were.
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