Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 22 Aug 2011 12:17 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 11:26
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 9
After a while the Rakshasa named Sumali, coming up from the nether regions, began to range all over the earth. And resembling dark clouds, that lord of Rakshasas decked in ear rings of burnished gold, taking his daughter like unto Sree herself without her lotus, and wandering over the earth, saw the lord of riches journeying in his Pushpaka, going to see his sire that lord, the son of Pulastya. And seeing that one resembling an immotal and like unto fire, journeyng on, Sumali() struck with amazement, entered the nether regions from the earth.
And that mighty minded one relected thus, By adopting what measure may the welfare of the Rakshasas be brought about, and how can we increase (in power) And that great minded lord of Rakshasas, resembling dark clouds, decked in burnished ear rings of gold, then began to reflect. And then the Raksha addressed his daughter, named Kaikasi, saying, O daughter, the time hath come when I should give thee away. Thy youth is about to be passed.
(Kept back) by the fear of refusal, no suiter hath sought thee (up to this time). But desirous of acquiring religious merit, we are striving our best in thy interests. My daughter, thou art furnished with every perfection like unto Sree herself.
Being father to a daughter is misery to every one that seeketh honor. O daughter, one doth not know who shall ask for one s daughter. Wherever may a daughter be conferred, a daughter stayeth, placing in uncertainty the three races to which she is related.
Do thou, my daughter, seek for thy husband that best and foremost of ascetics sprung in the line of Prajapati Pulastya s son, Visrava, and of thyself accept him (for thy lord). And then, O daughter, even as is this lord of riches, so thou wilt, without doubt, have sons resembling the Sun himself in energy. Hearing that speech of his, the daughter for the sake of the dignity of her sire, going to where Visrava was practising penances, stood there.
In the meanwhile.O Rama,that twice born one Pulastya s son was performing the Agnihotra, like the fourth Fire itself. And without minding that terrific time, Kaikasi(), having regard to the dignity of her sire, coming up before him, stood (there) hanging her head down towards his feet and throwing up the earth with her great foe.
And seeing that one of shapely hips, having a face fair as the full Moon, (that exceedingly high minded ascetic) flaming in energy accosted her thus, O gentle on, whose daughter art thou ?And whence dost thou come hither ?And what is thy errand ?And for whom(dost thou come) ?O beauteous(damsel), truly tell me this. Thus addressed, the girl,with joined hands, said, O ascetic, thou art competent to get at my intent by virtue of thy own power. Yet, O Brahmarshi, know me as having come here at the mandate of my sire.
My name is Kaikasi. The rest do thou read thyself. And thereupon, the ascetic, entering into contemplation, said these words, O gentle lady, I have learnt the purpose that is in thy heart.
O thou having the gait of a mad elephant, there reigns a powerful desire in thee for having ofspring. Inasmuch as thou hast come to me at this fierce hour, hearken, thou amiable one, as to the kind of ofspring that thou shalt bring forth. Thou shalt, O thou of graceful hips, bring forth terrible and grim visaged Rakshasas delighting in frightful friends, and of cruel deeds.
Hearing his speech, she, bowing down, said, O reverend (ascetic), such sons of terrific ways seek I not from thee that followest the Veda. Therefore it behoveth thee to favor me. On being thus besought by the girl, Visrava, best of ascetics, again addressed Kaikasi, like the full Moon addressing Rohini, O fair faced one, the son that thou bringest forth last, shall be like unto my line, he shall, without doubt be righteous souled.
Having been thus accosted, the girl, O Rama, after a length of time brought forth a very terrible and hideous ofspring having the form of a Raksha, having ten necks, furnished with large teeth, and resembling a heap of collyrium, with coppery lips, twenty arms, huge faces, and flaming hair. On his having been born, jackals with flaming mouths and other ferocious beasts began to gyrate on the left. And that god showered down blood ;and the clouds uttered forth harsh sounds.
And the Sun was deprived of his splendour ;and meteors began to dart to the earth. And the earth shook ;and the wind swept away violently. And that lord of streams the ocean, which was calm before, became agitated.
And his sire resembling his grand father named him,(saying), As this one hath been born with ten necks,he shall be called Ten necked. After him was bornKumbhakarna endowed with prodigious strength, than whose proportions there are none other s on earth. Then was born she that, having a frightful visage, goeth under the name of Surpanakha ;the righteous Vibhishana is the youngest son of Kaikasi.
On that one endowed with great strength having been born, blossoms were showered down from heaven ;and celestial kettle drums were sounded in the heavenly regions. And then there arose the sounds of Excellent Excellent And in that extensive forest those exceedingly energetic ones, Kumbhakarna and the Ten necked one grew up, and became the sources of anxiety to people. And Kumbhakarna, maddened to the height, devouring mighty saints devoted to religion, constantly ranged the triune world in a dissatisfied spirit.
But the righteous Vibhishana, ever intent on piety, dwelt there, studying the Veda, restraining his fare, and controlling his senses. And it came to pass that after a length of time the god, Vaisravana lord of riches came to see his sire, mounted on Pushpaka. Seeing him, the Rakshasi Kaikasi flaming up in energy, coming to the Ten necked one, represented to him, O son, behold thy brother, Vaisravana, enfolded in efulgence ;and, albeit of equal fratenity, behold thee in this plight I Therefore, O Ten necked one, O thou of measureless prowess, do thou so strive that thou also, my son, may be like Vaisravana himself.
Hearing that speech of his mother, the powerful Ten necked one was wrought up with exceeding great ill will,and he vowed then, I truly promise unto thee that I will be equal to my brother (in energy), or excell him in it. Therefore do thou cast of this sorrow that is in thy heart. And influenced by that passion, the Ten necked one with his younger brother began to perform rigid acts, with his mind fixed on asceticism.
I must through austerities have my wish, thus fixed and resolved, he for compassing his end, came to the sacred asylum of Gokarna. And there the Rakshasa of unrivalled prowess along with his younger brother carried on austeities and thus gratified that lord the great father. And being; gratified (with him), he conferred on him boons bringing on victory.
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