Part 8

Upon Vasishtha's representing this, king Dacaratha himself with a complacent countenance, summoned unto him Rama and Lakshmana. And when the auspicious rites had been performed by both Rama's father and mother, and when the priest Vasishtha had uttered mantras, king Dacaratha, smelling his son's crown, with a glad heart, made him over unto the descendant of Kucika. Then there blew a Breeze free from dust and of delicious feel, on witnessing the lotus-eyed Rama at the hands of Vicwamitra. And as the high-souled one was about to set out, blossoms began to shower down copiously, accompanied with the sounds of celestial kettle-drums and the loud blares of conchs. Vicwamitra went first, and next the highly famous Rama with the side-locks, holding the bow. And him followed Sumitra's son. And equipped with quivers, and with bows in hand, gracing the ten cardinal points and resembling three-hooded serpents, they followed the high-souled Vicwamitra, like the two stalwart Aswins following the Grand-sire. And those effulgent ones of faultless limbs went in the wake of the ascetic, illumining him with their grace. And like unto those sons of his, Skanda and Bisakha following the incomprehensible deity, Sthanu, those youthful brothers of comely persons and faultless limbs, Rama and Lakshmana, highly effulgent, carrying bows in hand, adorned with ornaments, and equipped with scimitars, with their fingers encased in _Guana_ skin, flamingly followed Kucika's son, beautifying him with their splendour. And having proceeded over half a _Yojana_, and arriving at the right bank of the Sarayu, Vicwamitra addressed these sweet words unto Rama,--"O Rama! do thou, O child, take of this water: let no delay occur. Do thou receive the _mantras_ Vala and Ativala,--and thou wilt not feel fatigue or fever or undergo any change of look, and whether asleep or heedless, the Rakshasas will not be able to surprise thee. And, O Rama, the might of thy arms will be unequalled in this world,--nay, in all the three worlds. There shall be none--thy equal. Do thou, O Raghava, recite Vala and Ativala, O child! And, O sinless one, when thou hast secured these two kinds of knowledge, none in this world will equal thee in good fortune, or in talent, or in philosophic wisdom or in subtle apprehension, or in the capacity of answering a controversialist; for Vala and Ativala are the nurses of all knowledge. And, O Rama, O foremost of men, if thou recitest Vala and Ativala on the way. neither hunger nor thirst will exercise thee, O descendant of Raghu! And if thou recitest these, thou wilt attain fame on earth. Those sciences fraught with energy are the daughters of the Grandsire. I intend to confer them upon thee, O Kakutstha; and, O lord of earth, they are worthy to be conferred upon thee as thou art possessed of various virtues. Thou need not entertain any doubt about it. And if thou learn them like unto the exercise of asceticism they will prove of manifold good unto thee." Thereat Rama with a cheerful countenance sipping water, with a purified body received those sciences from the _Maharshi_ of subdued soul. And furnished with the sciences, Rama of dreadful prowess appeared resplendent, even like the adorable autumnal Sun invested with a thousand rays. Then Rama having rendered unto Kucika's son all the duties appertaining to a spiritual guide, the three happily spent that night on the banks of the Sarayu. And although those excellent sons of Dacaratha lay down on an unbeseeming bed of grass, yet in consequence of the sweet converse of Kucika's son, the night seemed to pass pleasantly away.

SECTION XXIII.

And when the night had passed away, the mighty ascetic spoke unto Kakutstha, lying down on a bed of leaves, --"O Rama, the best son of Kaucalya, the first Sandhya[34] should now be performed. Do thou, O foremost of men, arise! Thou shouldst perform the purificatory rites and contemplate the gods." Hearing those proper words of the ascetic, those foremost of men, endowed with heroism, bathed, and, offering _Arghya_, began to recite the Gayatri.[35] And having performed these daily duties, those exceedingly powerful ones, greeting Vicwamitra having asceticism for wealth, stood before him, with the object of starting on their journey. And as those ones endowed with exceeding prowess were proceeding, at the shining confluence of the Sarayu and the Ganga they beheld a noble river flowing in three branches. And there lay a holy hermitage, belonging to ascetics of subdued souls, where they had been carrying on their high austerities for thousands of years. Beholding that sacred asylum, those descendants of Raghu, exceedingly delighted, spake unto the high-souled Vicwamitra, these words,--"Whose is this sacred hermitage? And what man liveth here? O worshipful one, we are desirous of hearing this. Surely, great is our curiosity." At those words of theirs, that foremost of ascetics, smiling, said,--"Hear, O Rama, as to whom the asylum belonged in time past. Kandarpa, called Kama by the wise, was once incarnate (on earth.) And it came to pass that as that lord of the deities, Sthanu, having performed here his austerities in accordance with the prescribed restrictions, was wending his way in company with the Maruts, that fool-hardy wight dared disturb the equanimity of his mind. Thereupon, descendant of Raghu, uttering a roar, the high-souled Rudra eyed him steadfastly. And thereat all the limbs of that perverse-hearted one became blasted. On his body being consumed by that high- souled one, Kama was deprived of his person in consequence of the ire of that foremost among the deities; and, O Raghava, from that time forth, he hath become known as Ananga.[36] And the place where he was deprived of his body is the lovely land of Anga. This sacred hermitage belongs to Siva; and these ascetics engaged in pious acts, O hero, have been from father to son his disciples. And no sin toucheth them. Here, O Rama, in the midst of the sacred streams, will we spend the night, O thou of gracious presence, crossing over on the morrow. Let us then, having purified ourselves, enter the holy hermitage! It is highly desirable for us to sojourn here,--here will we happily spend the night, having bathed, and recited the _mantras_, and offered oblation unto the sacrificial fire, O best of men!"

As they were conversing thus, the ascetics were highly delighted on discovering them by means of their far-reaching spiritual vision,--and they rejoiced greatly. Then giving Kucika's son water to wash his feet and _Arghya_, and extending unto him also the rites of hospitality, they next entertained Rama and Lakshmana. And having experienced their hospitality, they (the guests) delighted them with their talk. And then the saints with collected minds recited their evening prayers. And having been shown their destined place of rest along with ascetics of excellent vows, they happily passed that night in that hermitage affording every comfort. And that foremost of ascetics, the righteous- souled son of Kucika, by means of his excellent converse, charmed the prepossessing sons of the monarch.

[34] Brahmanas have to perform their daily devotions thrice,--in the morning, at noon, and in the evening.--T.

[35] The solar hymn of the Veda--T.

[36] Lit. the bodiless.--T.

SECTION XXIV.

Then next morning which happened to be fine, those repressors of their foes, with Vicwamitra who had performed morning rites at their head, came to the banks of the river.[37] And those high-souled ascetics observing vows, having brought an elegant bark addressed Vicwamitra, saying,--"Do thou ascend the bark with the princes at thy head! May thy journey be auspicious: let no delay occur!" Thereupon saying,--"So be it!", and having paid homage unto those ascetics, Vicwamitra set about crossing that river with them, which had replenished the ocean.[38] And it came to pass that while thus engaged, they heard a sound augmented by the dashing of the waves.[39] And having come to the middle of the stream, the highly energetic Rama with his younger brother, became curious to ascertain the cause of that sound. And reaching the middle of the river, Rama asked that best of ascetics,--"What is this loud uproar that seemeth to come riving the water?" Hearing Raghava's words dictated by curiosity, that righteous-souled one spake, unfolding the true cause of the noise,--"O Rama, there is in the Kailaca mountain an exceedingly beautiful pool, created mentally by Brahma, O foremost of men,--and hence this watery expanse goeth by the name of _Manasa Pool_, And the stream that issues from that liquid lapse, flows through Ayodhya: the sacred Sarayu issues from that pool of Brahma. And as the Sarayu meets the Jahnavi, this tremendous uproar is heard, being produced by the clashing of the waters. Do thou, O Rama, bow down to them with a concentrated mind." Thereupon, both of these exceedingly righteous ones, bowed down unto those streams; and betaking themselves to the right bank, began to proceed with fleet vigour. And beholding a dreadful trackless forest, that son of the foremost of men, Ikshhwaku's descendant, asked that best of ascetics, saying,-- "Ah! deep is this forest abounding in crickets; and filled with terrible ferocious beasts,and various birds possessed of shocking voices and screaming frightfully; and graced by lions, and tigers, and boars, and elephants; and crowded with _Dhavas_[40] and _Acwas_ and _Karnas_[41] and _Kukubhas_ and _Vilmas_[42] and _Tindukas_[43] and _Patalas_[44] and _Badaris_.[45] Whence is this dreadful forest?" Him answered thus the mighty asetic Vicwamitra endowed with high energy,--"Do thou listen, O Kakutshtha, as to whom belongeth this dreadful forest! Here were formerly, O foremost of men, two flourishing provinces, named Malada, and Karusha, built by celestial architects. In days of yore, O Rama, on the occasion of the destruction of Vritra, the thousand-eyed one came to have hunger, to be besmeared with excreta, and to slay a Brahmana. And when Indra had been thus besmeared, the deities, and the saints having asceticism for wealth, washed him here, and cleansed his person from the dirt. And the deities, having renounced here the filth that had clung unto the person of the mighty Indra, as well as his hunger, attained exceeding delight. And thereat Indra becoming purified, attained his former brightness, and became devoid of hunger. And mightily pleased with this region, he conferred on it an excellent boon, saying,--"Since these two places have held excreta from my body, they going by the names of Malada and Karusha, shall attain exceeding prosperity and fame among men." And beholding the land thus honored by the intelligent Sacra, the deities said unto the subduer of Paka,--'Well!" "Well!" And, O repressor of foes, these two places, Malada and Karusha, enjoyed prosperity for a long lime and were blessed with corn and wealth. Then after a space of time, was born a Yakshini capable of assuming forms at will, and endowed with the strength of a thousand elephants. Her name, good betide thee! was Taraka, and she was the spouse of the intelligent Sunda--she whose son is the Rakshasa, Maricha possessed of the prowess of Sacra; having round arms, with a huge head, a capacious mouth and a cyclopean body. And that Rakshasa of dreadful form daily frightens people. And, O descendant of Raghu, Taraka of wicked deeds, daily commits havoc upon these countries, Malada and Karusha . And now at the distance of over half a Yojana, she stayeth, obstructing the way. And since this forest belongeth unto Taraka, thou shouldst repair thither and, resorting to the might of thy own arms, slay this one of wicked deeds. And by my direction, do thou again rid this region of its thorn; for no one dareth to approach such a place, infested, O Rama, by the dreadful and unbearable Yakshini. And now I have related unto thee all about this fearful forest. And to this day that Yakshini hath not desisted from committing ravages right and left."

[37] Ganges.--T.

[38] The legend is that when the saint Agastya had sucked up the ocean, the Ganges replenished it.--T.

[39] The text has _Susrava_--he heard. Another reading is _Tatas Susruvatus Sabdam_--then they heard a sound,--which I adopt.--T.

[40] Grislea Tomentosa.--T.

[41] Cassia fistula.--T.

[42] AEgle marmalos.--T.

[43] Diospyros glutinosa.--T.

[44] Bignonia suave-olens.--T.

[45] Jujube.--T

SECTION XXV.

Hearing this excellent speech of that ascetic of immeasurable energy, that foremost of men answered him in these happy words,--"O best of ascetics, I have heard that the Yaksha race is endowed with but small prowess. How can then that one of the weaker sex possess the strength of a thousand elephants?" Hearing this speech that was uttered by Raghava of immeasurable energy, Vicwamitra, delighting with his amiable words that subduer of foes, Rama, and Lakshmana, said,--"Do thou listen as to the means whereby attaining terrible strength, that one belonging to the weaker sex hath come to possess strength and prowess by virtue of a boon. In former times there was a mighty and exceedingly powerful Yaksha, named Suketu. And he had no issue. And he was of pure practices, and used to perform rigid austerities. And, O Rama, the Grand-sire, well pleased with that lord of Yakshas, conferred upon him a gem of a daughter, by name Taraka. And the Grand-sire endowed her with the strength of a thousand elephants; yet that illustrious one did not bestow a son on that Yaksha. And when she had grown, and attained youth and beauty, he gave that famous damsel unto Jambha's son, Sunda, for wife. And after a length of time, that Yakshi gave birth to a son, named Maricha, possessed of irrepressible energy--him who became a Rakshasa in consequence of a curse. And, O Rama, when Sunda had been destroyed, Taraka along with her son, set her heart upon afflicting that excellent saint Agastya. And enraged with Agastya, she rushed at him with a roar, intending to devour him. And on seeing her thus rushing, that worshipful saint, Agastya, said unto Maricha, "Do thou become a Rakshasa!", and, in exceeding wrath, he also cursed Taraka. "And, O mighty Yakshi, ince in frightful guise with a frightful face thou hast desired to eat up a human being, do thou immediately leave this (thy original) shape, and become of a terrible form!" Thus cursed by Agastya, Taraka, overwhelmed with rage, lays waste this fair region, where Agastya carrieth on his austerities. Do thou, O descendant of Raghu, for the welfare of Brahmanas and kine, slay this exceedingly terrible Yakshi of wicked ways and vile prowess! Nor, O son of Raghu, doth any one in the three worlds, save, thee, dare to slay this Yakshi joined with a curse. Nor shouldst thou, best of men, shrink from slaying a woman; for even this should be accomplished by a prince in the interests of the four orders. And whether an act be cruel or otherwise, slightly or highly sinful, it should for protecting the subjects, be performed by a ruler. Of those engaged in the onerous task of government, even this is the eternal rule of conduct. Do thou, O Kukutstha, slay this impious one; for she knoweth no righteousness! We hear, O king, that in days of yore, Sakra slew Virochana's daughter, Manthara, who had intented to distroy the earth. And formerly, O Rama, Vishnu destroyed Kavya's mother, the devoted wife of Bhrigu, who had set her heart upon making the world, devoid of Indra. By these as well as innumerable princes--foremost of men--have wicked women been slain. Therefore, O king, renouncing antipathy, do thou, by my command, slay this one!"

SECTION XXVI.

Hearing those bold words of the ascetic, the son of that foremost of men, Raghava firm in his vows, with clasped hands answered,--"In accordance with the desire of my sire, and in order to glorify it, I ought fearlessly to do even as Kucika's son sayeth. And havingbeen desired to that end while at Ayodhya by that high-souled one, my father Dacaratha, in the midst of the spiritual guides, I ought not to pass by thy words. Therefore, commanded by that upholder of the Veda, I, agreeably to my father's mandate, will, without doubt, bring about that welcome event--the death of Taraka. And in the interests of Brahmanas, kine, and celestials, I am ready to act as desired by thee of immeasurable energy." Having said this, that repressor of foes, with clenched fist, twanged his bow-string, filling the ten cardinal points with the sounds. And at those sounds, the dwellers in Taraka's forest were filled with perturbation,--and Taraka also amazed at those sounds, became exceedingly wroth. And, rendered almost insensible by anger, that Rakshasi furiously rushed in amain towards the spot whence had come the report. And beholding that frightful one of hideous visage and colossal proportions, transported with rage, Raghu's descendant spake unto Lakshmana,--"Behold, O Lakshmana, the terrible and hideous body of yonder Yakshini! The sight of her striketh terror into the hearts of even the brave. Mark! - This irrepressible one, possessing all the resources of illusion, will I oppose, and deprive her of ears and nose. But I dare not slay her, she being protected by virtue of her fcminineness. I intend only to oppose her course, and de- prive her of her prowess." As Rama was speaking thus, Taraka, deprived of sense through ire, uttering roars, with uplifted arms rushed against him. And thereat the Brahmarshi, Vicwamitra, uttering a roar, upbraided her, and said,-- "_Swasti!_"[46] May victory attend the descendants of Raghu!" And raising thick clouds of dust, Taraka instantly bewildered both the descendants of Raghu. And then by help of illusion, she began to pour upon them a mighty shower of crags. And thereat Raghu's descendant was wroth. And resisting that mighty shower of crags by vollies of shafts, Raghava with arrows cut off her hands. And with the fore-parts of her arms lopped off, as she was roaring before them, Sumitra's son waxing worth deprived her of her ears and nose. Therupon that one capable of assuming forms at will, began to assume various shapes; and to vanish from sight, bewildering her antagonists with her illusory displays. And terribly ranging the field, the Yakshi showered crags upon her antagonists. And beholding them enveloped on all sides by that craggy down-pour, the auspicious son of Gadhi spake these words,--"O Rama, renounce thy antipathy. This one of wicked ways is exceedingly impious. And this sacrifice-disturbing Yakshi will, by virtue of her power of illusion, come to increase more and more in energy. Do thou, therefore, against the arrival of dusk, slay her! The Rakshasas are incapable of being controlled when evening sets in." Thus addressed, Rama, displaying his skill in aiming by sounds, enveloped with arrows that Yakshi showering crags. Being thus hemmed in with a network cf shafts, she possessed of the powers of illusion, rushed against Kakutstha and Lakshmana, uttering terrible roars. And as that Yakshi, in prowess like unto a thunder-bolt, was rushing on, Rama pierced her chest with arrows,--and thereat she dropped down and died. And upon seeing that grim-visaged one slain, the lord of the celestials together with the celestials themselves honoring Kakutstha, exclaimed "Well!", "Well!" And exceedingly pleased, the thousand -eyed Purandara, together with the delighted deities,said unto Vicwamitra,--"O ascetic, O Kucika's son, good betide thee! all the Maruts with Indra at their head, have been gratified with this act (of Rama's). Do thou therefore show affection unto Raghava! Do thou, O Brahmana, confer upon Raghu's descendant the sons of Prajapati Kricacwa, of true prowess, and charged with ascetic energy. And ever following thee, he, O Brahmana, is fit to receive them of thee. And this son of the king is to accomplish a mighty task in the interest of the celestials." Saying this, the deities, having paid homage unto Vicwamitra, joyfully entered the celestial regions.

And now came evening on, when that best of ascetics, gratified at the destruction of Taraki, smelt Rami's crown and said these words,--"Here O Rama of gracious presence, shall we pass the night; and morrow morning wend unto that hermitage of mine." Hearing Vicwamitra's words, Dacatatha's son, glad at heart, happily passed that night in the forest of Taraka. And being thus freed from all disturbances from that day forth that forest appeared charming, even like unto the forest of Chaitraratha. Having thus slain the Yaksha's daughter, Rama, eulogized by celestials and Siddhas spent there that night with the saint, being awakened by the latter at the break of day.

[46] A particle of benediction, indeclinable.--T.

SECTION XXVII.