Part 9

Having passed that night, the illustrious Vicwamitra, smiling complacently sweetly spake unto Raghava, saying,-- Pleased am I with thee. Good betide thee, O highly famous prince! With supreme pleasure, do I confer upon thee all the weapons by means of which subduing such antagonists as celestials and _Asuras_ backed on earth by Gandharbas and Uragas, thou wilt in battle be crowned with victory. And all those celestial weapons, good betide thee, I will confer upon thee. And I will confer upon thee, O Raghava, the celestial and mighty Dandachakra,[47] and Dharmachakra, and also Kalachakra. And O foremost of men, I will confer upon thee the fierce Vishnu Chakra,--and Indra Chakra, and the Vajra, and Siva's Sulavata, and the weapon Brahmaciras, and Aishika, O mighty-armed descendant of Raghu! And, O best of men, I will, O king's son, bestow upon thee the matchless Brahma weapon, and, O Kakutstha, the two excellent maces, the flaming Modaki and Cikhari. And, O Rama, I will confer upon thee Dharmapaca,[48] and Kalapaca, and the excellent Varunapaca. And, O descendant of Raghu, I will bestow upon thee the two _Ashanis_,--Sushka and Ardra, and the Pinaka weapon, and the Narayana, and the Agneya weapon called Sikhara, and the Vayavya, called Prathama, O sinless one! And, O Raghava, I will confer upon thee the weapon called Hayaciras, and the Krauncha weapon, and,0 Kakutstha, a couple of darts, And I will confer upon the Kankala, and the dreadful Mashaia, and Kapala, and Kinkini--all those that are intended for slaughtering Rakshasas. And, O mighty-armed one, son of the best of men, I will confer upon thee the mighty weapon Vidyadhara, and that excellent scimitar named Nandana, and the favorite Gandharba weapon, Mohana, and Praswapana, and Pasamana, and Saumya, O Raghava! And O best of men, do thou accept Varshana, and Soshana, and Santapana, and Vilapana, and Madana hard to repress, beloved of Kandarpa, and that favorite Gandharba weapon, Manava, and the favorite Pichasa weapon, O highly famous prince. And do thou, O mighty- armed Rama, speedily accept the Tamasa, O best of men, and the exceedingly powerful Saumana,and the irrepressible Samvarta and Maushala, O son of the king, and the Satya weapon, and the supreme Mayamaya, and the Saura. Tejaprabha, capable of depriving foes of energy, and the Soma, and the Sisira, and the Tashtra, and the terrible Daruna belonging unto Bhaga, and Sileshu, and Madana-- all assuming forms at will, and endowed with exceeding prowess, and highly exalted." Then with his face turned towards the east, that foremost of ascetics having purified himself, gladly conferred the _mantras_ upon Rama. And the Vipra also bestowed upon Raghava those weapons, of which even he celestials are incapable of holding all. As that intelligent ascetic, Vicwamitra, recited _mantras_, all those invaluable weapons appeared before that descendant of Raghu. And, with clasped hands, they well-pleased, addressed Rama, --"These, O highly generous one, are thy servants, O Raghava. And whatever thou wishest, good betide thee, shall by all means be accomplished by us." Thus addressed by those highly powerful weapons, Kakutstha Rama, with a delighted soul, accepting them, touched them with his hand, and said,--"Do ye appear before me as I remember you!" Then the exceedingly energetic Rama, well pleased, paying everence unto the mighty ascetic, Vicwamitra, prepared to set out.

[47] Chakra means discus. These enumerations specify different kinds of the discus.--T.

[48] Paca means noose--T.

SECTION XXVIII.

Having accepted those weapons with purity, Kakutstha while proceeding, with a complacent countenance spake these words unto Viswamitra,--"O adorable one, I have received these weapons, incapable of being repressed even by the celestials themselves. Now, O best of ascetics, I would acquire a knowledge of withdrawing them." Upon Kakutstha's representing this, Vicwamitra of high austerities, endowed with patience, of excellent vows, and pure in spirit, communicated unto him the _mantras_ for restraining the weapons. "Do thou, 0 Rama, accept Satyavat, and Sataykirti, and Dhrishta, and Rabhasa, and Pratiharatara, and Paranmukha, and Avanmukha, and Lakshya, and Alakshya, and Drihanabha, and Sunabha, Dacaksha, and Satavaktra, and Dacacirsha, and Satodara, and Padranabha, and Mahanabha, and Indunabha, and Swanabha, and Jyotisha, and Sakuna, and Nairashya, and Vimala, and Yaugandhara, and Vindra, and the two Daityapramathanas, and Suchivahu, and Mahavahu, and Nishkali, and Virucha, and Archimali, and Dhritimali, and Vrittiman, and Ruchira, and Pitrya, and Saumansa, and Vidhuta, and Makara, and Karavira, and Rati, and Dhana, and Dhanya, O Raghava, and Kamarupa, and Kamaruchi,and Moha, and Avarana,and Jrimbhaka and Sarpanatha, and Panthana, and Varuna,--these sons of Kricaswa, O Rama, effulgent, and assuming shapes at will. And, good betide thee, O descendant of Raghu, thou art worthy to receive these weapons." Thereupon, Kakutstha with a heart overflowing with delight, said,--"So be it!" And those weapons were furnished with celestial and shining persons, and endowed with visible shapes, and capable of conferring happiness. And some of them were like (live) coals; and some comparable unto smoke; and some were like unto the Sun or the Moon. And with folded hands, they spake unto Rama in honied accents,--O chief of men, here we are! Do thou command as to what we are to do on thy behalf." Then the descendant of Raghu answered, saying,--"Repair whithersoever ye will! Recurring to my memory, do ye in time of need, render me assistance!" Thereupon paying homage unto Rama, and having gone round him, they replied unto Kakutstha,--"Be it so!" and returned whence they had come. And having learnt all about those weapons, Raghava, while proceeding spake sweetly unto that mighty ascetic, Vicwamitra,--"What is yonder wood hard by the hill, appearing like clouds? Great is my curiosity. It is pleasing unto the sight, and abounds in beasts, and is exceedingly romantic, and is adorned with various birds singing sweetly. Now, O foremost of ascetics, we have come out of a wilderness capable of making one's hair stand on end. And from the pleasantness attaching to this place, I have come to a conclusion. Tell me, O reverend sir, whose hermitage is this? where, O eminent ascetic, is that hermitage where dwell those wicked-minded wretches of impious deeds, given to slaughtering Brahmanas, who disturb thy sacrifice? Where, O adorable one, is that spot, repairing unto which, O Brahmana, I am to protect thy sacrificial rites, and to slay the Rakshasas? All this, O foremost of ascetics, I desire to hear, O lord."

SECTION XXIX.

Hearing those words of Rama of measureless prowess, vho had asked the question, the highly energetic Vicwamitra answered, saying,--"Here, O mighty-armed Rama, Vishnu of mighty asceticism worshipped of all the deities, for years upon years, and hundreds of _Yugas_, dwelt for carrying on his austerities and _Yoga_. This, O Rama, was formerly the hermitage of the high-souled Vamana. And this is famed as Siddhacrama, in consequence of that one of potent asceticism having attained fruition there. And it came to pass that at this time Virochana's son, king Vali, having vanquished the celestials with Indra and the Maruts, established that dominion of his, famous in the three worlds. And that mighty chief of the Asuras celebrated a sacrifice. And as Vali was performing that sacrifice, the deities with Agni at their head, coming unto Vishnu himself at this asylum, addressed him, saying.--"Virochana's son, Vali, O Vishnu, is celebrating a sacrifice. Do thou, before the ceremoney is finished, accomplish thy own end. He duly conferreth upon such as repair unto him from various quarters all those things that they ask for. And do thou thyself, O Vishuu, aided by thy power of illusion, assuming a Dwarf-form, accomplish the welfare (of the celestials.)" In the meantime, O Rama, the wonderful Kasyapa resembling fire in splendour, and flaming in energy, having in company with, and with the assistance of, the divine Aditi, O Rama, accomplished his vow, lasting for hundred years, began to hymn the destroyer of Madhu ready to confer boons. "By means of warm austerities, do I behold thee composed of penances, a mass of mortifications, and endowed with a form and a soul of austerities. And in thy person, O lord, do I behold this entire universe. And in Thee without beginning, and incapable of being pointed out, do I take refuge!" Thereupon exceedingly pleased, Hari spake unto Kacyapa, with his sins purged off saying,--"Do thou mention the boon! Good betide thee. Methinks thou deservest a boon." Hearing these words of his, Marichi's son, Kacyapa, said,--"Aditi, the gods and I myself, crave of thee this,--and, O bestower of boons, it behoveth thee well pleased to confer on us this boon, O thou of excellent vows! Do thou, O sinless one, become born as my son in Aditi, O adorable deity! Do thou become the younger brother of Sakra, O destroyer of Asuras. It behoveth thee to help the celestials afflicted with grief. And this place through thy grace will attain the name of Siddhacrama. The work, O lord of the celestials, hath been accomplished. Do thou now, O thou of the six attributes, ascend from hence!" And accordingly Vishnu of mighty energy took his birth in Aditi. And assuming the form of a dwarf, he presented himself before Virochana's son. And then asking for as much earth as could be covered by three footsteps, that one ever engaged in the welfare of all creatures, with the object of compassing the good of all, stood occupying the worlds. And having by his power restrained Vali, that one of exceeding energy, again conferred the three worlds upon the mighty Indra,--and made them subject to his control. Formerly he used to dwell in this asylum capable of removing fatigue. And through reverence for the Dwarf, I reside here. And this hermitage is infested by Rakshasas disturbing rites. And, O most puissant of men, here thou shouldst slay those ones of wicked ways. To-day, O Rama, will I repair unto this supremely excellent Siddhacrama. And this asylum, child, is as much thine as mine." Saying this, taking Rama and Lakshmana, the mighty ascetic, experiencing exceeding delight, entered that asylum, and appeared graceful, like the Moon emerged from mist in conjunction with the Punarvasu stars. And beholding Vicwamitra, the ascetics inhabiting Siddhacrama, suddenly rising in joy, worshipped that intelligent one,--and extended unto the princes the rites of hospitality. And then having reposed for while, those unreproved princes, the descendants of Raghu, with clasped hands, addressed that foremost of ascetics,--"Be thou even to-day initiated unto the ceremony. Good betide thee, O best of ascetics! Let this Siddhacrama verily attain fruition,--and let thy words be verified!" Thus addressed, that mighty saint of exceeding energy, with his mind subdued, and senses under restraint, caused himself to be initiated into the ceremony. And like unto the Kumaras,[49] Rama and Lakshamana, having passed the night pleasantly, rose in the morning; and having finished their morning worship, and with purity and self-restraint recited the prime _mantras_, paid their obeisance unto the sacrificial fire and the sacrificer, Vicwamitra, who was seated.

[49] Skanda and Visakha.--T.

SECTION XXX.

Then those princes, repressors of foes, cognizant of place, and time, and words, thus spake unto Kucika's son agreeably to time and place, saying,--"O adorable one do thou tell us as to the time when we should oppose those rangers of the night! Let not that hour pass away!" Upon the two Kakutsthas' saying this, and finding them prompt for the encounter, those ascetics well-pleased, fell to extolling the sons of the king. "For six nights from to-day, ye should protect us. This ascetic hath been initiated into the sacrifice, and must therefore, observe taciturnity." Hearing these words of theirs, those illustrious princes, renouncing sleep, began to guard the hermitage six days and nights; and those heroic and mighty archers with their armours on protected that best of ascetics and subduer of enemies. And when time had thus gone by and the sixth day had arrived, Rama said unto Sumitra's son,--"Being well equipped, be thou vigilant!" When Rama, manifesting emotion, and being eager for encounter, had said this, the priests and spiritual guides lit up the altar. And along with Vicwamitra and the family priests, they lit up the altar furnished with Kuca, and Kaca, and ladles, and faggots, and flowers. And as reciting _mantras_, they were about to duly engage in that sacrifice, there arose a mighty and dreadful uproar in the sky. And as in the rains, masses of clouds appear enveloping the firmament,[50] the Rakshasas, displaying illusions in that wise, began to rush onward. And Maricha and Suvahu together with their followers coming in dreadful forms, began to shower down blood upon the altar. And on seeing the altar deluged with gore, Rama suddenly rushed forward, and beheld them in the sky. And suddenly seeing them rushing in amain, the lotus-eyed Rama fixing his gaze at Lakshmana, said,--"Behold, O Lakshmana, by means of a _Manava_ weapon, I shall, without doubt, drive away the wicked, flesh-eating Rakshasas, even as the wind driveth away clouds before it. Surely I cannot bring myself to slay such as these." Saying this, that descendant of Raghu, Rama, in vehemence fixing on his bow an exceedingly mighty and gloriously-dazzling Manava weapon, discharged it in great wrath at Maricha's chest. And wounded by that foremost of Manava weapons, Maricha carried off a sheer hundred Yojanas, dropped in the midst of the ocean. And finding Maricha senseless, and whirling, and afflicted by the might of the weapon, and overcome, Rama addressed Lakshmana, saying,--"Behold, O Lakshmana, this Manava weapon first used by Manu, depriving him of his senses, hath carried him off,--and yet hath not taken his life! But these shameless, wicked, and blood-drinking Rakshasas, addicted to wrong-doing, these disturbers of sacrifices, will I slaughter." Having said this, anon showing unto Lakshmana his lightness of hand, Raghu's descendant took out a mighty Agneya weapon, and discharged it at the breast of Suvahu. Thereat being pierced with that shaft, he fell down upon the ground. Then taking a Vayavaya weapon, the illustrious and exceedingly generous Raghava, bringing delight unto those ascetics, slew the rest. And having destroyed all those Rakshasas disturbing sacrifices, Raghu's descendant was honored by the saints, even as Indra in days of yore, after having vanquished the Asuras. And when the sacrifice had been completed, the mighty ascetic Vicwamitra, beholding all sides cleared of Rakshasas, spake unto Kakutstha, saying,--"O mighty-armed one, I have obtained my desire; and thou hast executed thy preceptor's mandate. And, O illustrious hero, thou hast truly made this a Siddhacrama." Having thus extolled Rama, he took Rama and Lakshmana, to perform his evening devotions.

[50] The text reads, _gamanam avaryya_--obstructing passage. Evidently the reading is vicious--it should run _gaganam avaryya_--enveloping the firmament.--T.

SECTION XXXI.

Those heroes, Rama and Lakshmana, their interest secured, with glad hearts passed that night there. And when the night had passed away and the morning come, they together appeared before the saint, Vicwamitra, and the rest. And having saluted that foremost of ascetics resembling flaming fire, they of honied speech spake unto him words exceedingly lofty.--"These servants of thine, O best of ascetics, have come before thee. Do thou command, O chief of anchorets, what command of thine are we to execute?" Thus addressed by them, the Maharshis with Vicwamitra at their head spake unto Rama, saying,--"A highly meritorious sacrifice, O foremost of men, is to be celebrated by Mithila's lord, Janaka. Thither shall we repair. And thou, O great among men, must accompany us, and there behold a wonderful jewel of a bow. And formerly this bow of immeasurable energy, and dreadful, and exceedingly effulgent at the sacrifice, had been conferred in court by the celestials (on king Devarata). And neither gods nor Gandharbas, neither Asuras nor Rakshasas nor men, can fix the string upon it. And desirous of being acquainted with the prowess of this bow, many kings and princes came; but they in spite of their mighty strength, failed in stringing it. There, Kakutstha, thou wilt behold that bow belonging to the high-souled king of Mithila,--as well as his exceedingly wonderful sacrifice. That rare bow, O foremost of men, furnished with an excellent device for griping it, had been solicited by Mithila's lord as the fruit of his sacrifice; and the celestials conferred it upon him. And now, O descendant of Raghu, in the residence of king, the bow is worshipped like a deity with _aguru_, _dhupa_, and various other incenses." This having been said, that foremost of ascetics, in company with Kakutstha and the saints, departed. And on the eve of setting out, he addressed the sylvan deities, saying,--"Luck! I will, with my desire obtained, go from forth this Siddhacrama unto the Himavat mountain on the north of the Jahnavi." Having said this, that tiger-like ascetic, Kucika's son, along with other anchorets having asceticism for their wealth, set out in a northerly direction. And as that best of ascetics proceeded, he was followed by Brahmanas upholding the Veda, carrying the sacrificial necessaries on an hundred cars. And birds and beasts dwelling in Siddhacrama followed the high-souled Vicwamitra having asceticism for wealth. And then followed by the body of devotees he dismissed the birds. And having proceded a longway, when the sun was sloping down, the ascetics rested on the banks of the Sona. And when the maker of day had set, having bathed and offered oblations unto the fire, those ascetics of immeasurable energy, placing Vicwamitra in their front, sat them down. And Rama also together with Sumitra's son, having paid homage unto those ascetics, sat him down before the intelligent Vicwamitra. Then Rama of exceeding energy, influenced by curiosity, asked that foremost of ascetics, Vicwamitra, having asceticism for his wealth, saying,--"O worshipful one, what country is this, graced with luxuriant woods? I am desirous of hearing this. Good betide thee, it behoveth thee to tell me this truly." Thus addressed by Rama, that one of high austerities and excellent vows began in the midst of the saints to describe the oppulence of that region.

SECTION XXXN.

Once upon a time there was a mighty son of Brahma, of high austerities, named Kuca. And he was cognizant of duty, and ever engaged in observing vows and honoring good men. And that high-souled one begat on Vaidarbhi, sprung from a respectable line, and endowed with all noble qualities, four sons like unto himself, and possessed of extraordinary prowess--Kucyamva, and Kucanabha, and Asurtarajas, and Vasu, resplendent and breathing exhaustless spirits. And with the deisre of enhancing Kshetrya merit, Kuca said unto his truthful and virtuous sons,--'Ye sons! do ye engage in the task of governing,--and thereby acquire immense merit.' Hearing Kuja's words, those four foremost of men and best of sons addressed themselves to founding seats for their government. And the highly energetic Kucamva founded the city of Kaucamvi; and the righteous Kucanabha, the metropolis of Mahodaya; and the magnanimous Asurtarajas, Dharmaranya; and king Vasu, Girivraja, best of capitals. This city with these five mighty mountains shining around (otherwise) called Vasumati belongs to the high-souled Vasu. And the river known by the name of Sumagadhi flows through the Magadhas. And in the midst of the five foremost of hills, it looks like a garland. And this Magadhi, O Rama, belongs unto the high- souled Vasu, taking, O Rama, an easterly course, and flowing through fertile fields furnished with corn. And, O descendant of Raghu, the virtuous-souled Rajarshi Kucanabha begat an hundred peerless daughters on Ghritachi. And it came to pass that they endowed with youth, beautiful, and like unto the lightning in the rainy season, decked in excellent ornaments, coming to their garden, were merrily singing and dancing and playing on musical instruments, O Raghava! And as they perfect in every limb, and unparalleled on earth in beauty, and endowed with all qualities, and furnished with youth and grace, were in the garden, like unto stars embosomed among clouds, that life of all, the air, beheld them and said,-- "I seek for ye: do ye become my wives. Do ye renounce this human guise, and attain long lives. Youth verily is unstable, specially with the human beings: do ye attaining unfading youth, become immortal:" Hearing this speech of the Air of ever fresh energy, the damsels ridiculing it, said,--"Thou rangest the hearts of all creatures, O foremost of celestials, and we also know thy influence. Wherefore, then, dost thou dishonor us? O foremost of celestials, we are the daughters of Kucanabha, O divine one. And god as thou art, we can dislodge thee from thy place; but we refrain from doing so, lest thereby we lose our ascetic merit. May, O foolish one, that time never come, when disregarding our truthful sire, we following our inclination, shall resort to self choice. Our father verily is our lord and prime god. Of him even shall we become the wives unto whom our father giveth us away." At these words of theirs, that lord and adorable one, the Air, exceedingly enraged, then entered into their bodies, and broke all their limbs. Their bodies being thus broken by Air, those damsels, exceedingly agitated and overwhelmed with shame, with tears in their eyes entered the residence of the king. And finding his supremely beautiful and favorite daughters with their limbs broken, and woe- begone, the king bewildered, spake,--'Ye daughters, what is this? Who is it that thus disregards virtue? By whom have ye all come by this crooked form? And why demonstrating your grief, do ye not answer me?' Having said this, the king heaved a deep sigh and became eager to hear all about it."

SECTION XXXIII.