Then Rama spoke unto the ascetic,- “O Brahmana, how did those exceedingly mighty brothers carry on austerities in that forest; and what kind of penances was theirs?” Thereat there Agastya said unto Rama of complacent mind,- “The brothers severally observed the morality proper to each. And Kumbhakarna, putting forth his best energies, constantly abode in the path of righteousness. And remaining in the midst of five fires in summer, he practised austerities, and in the rainy season, soaked in water (poured down) by clouds, he sat in the heroic attitude.* And in winter he always remained in the water. Thus passed away ten thousand years of that one putting forth exertions in behalf of religion, and established in the path of honesty. And the virtuous Bibhishana, ever intent on virtue and pure of spirit, remained standing on one leg for five thousand years. And when he had completed (his term of restriction), swarms of Apsaras danced, and blossoms showered, and the deities hymned (him). And for five thousand years, he adored the Sun, and with his mind concentrated in the study of the Veda, remained with his head and hands raised up. In this wise Bibhishana like deity in Nandana passed away ten thousand years, observing restrictions. And the Ten-necked one passed ten thousand years without fare. On thousand years being complete, he offered his own head as sacrifice to Fire. In this way he passed away nine thousand years; and nine of his heads entered into Fire. And as in the tenth year he intended to strike off his tenth head, the Great-father presented himself at that place. And well-pleased, the Great-father came there along with the celestials. Ten-necked one,’ said (the Great-father), ‘I am well-pleased with thee. Do thou, thou cognizant of righteousness, at once ask for the boon that thou wishest to have. What wish of thine shall realize? Thy toil must not go for nothing.’ Thereat, the Ten-necked one, bowing down his head unto the deity, said with delighted heart,- his words faltering with ecstacy,- ‘O Reverend one, creatures have no other fear than (that of) death and enemy there is none that is like unto death. Therefore, immortality is even what I crave for. Thus accosted, Brahma spoke unto the Ten-necked one,- ‘Thou canst not be immortal. Do thou therefore ask of me some other boon. Thus addressed by the creator, Brahma, the Ten-necked one, O Rama, standing before him with joined hands, said,- ‘O lord of creatures, I would, O eternal one, be incapable of being slain by birds and serpents, Yakshas, Daityas, Danavas and Rakshasas, and the deities; for, O thou that art worshipped by the immortals, anxiety have none from any other beings. Indeed, deem as straw creatures such as men etc. Thus accosted by the Raksha-the Ten-necked one-that righteous-souled one, the Great-father, along with the celestials, said,- ‘O foremost of Rakshasas, what thou sayest shall come to pass. Having, O Rama, said this unto the Ten-necked one, the Great father (again spoke),- ‘Hear! I, having been gratified, will confer on thee fresh boon. O Rakshasa, O sinless one, those heads of thine which have been offered as sacrifices and which have sunk into the fire, I shall again be thine. And, O placid one, I shall also confer on thee another boon difficult of being obtained,- The form that thou shalt wish to wear, I shall instantly be thine. As soon as the Ten-necked Raksha had spoken thus, the heads that had been offered as sacrifices into the fire, rose up again. Having said this unto the Ten-necked one, the Great-sire of all creatures addressed Bibhishana, saying,- ‘O Bibhishana, gratified have I been by thee, whose intelligence is established in righteousness. Therefore, my child, O righteous-souled one, O thou of excellent vows, ask for the boon that thou wouldst have.” Thereat the virtuous Bibhishana spoke with joined hands, ‘O reverend one, since the spiritual preceptor of all creatures himself (is pleased) with me,- I (deem myself) as furnished with every perfection, even as the Moon is environed with rays. If thou wilt bestow on me boon with pleasure, then, O thou of excellent vows, hear of the boon that I would have. May my mind remain fast fixed on righteousness, even when I shall happen to fall into high peril; and may I attain Brahma knowledge without any instructions! And may every sense of mine sprung during the observance of particular modes of life, be in unison with righteousness,- so that I may practise the form of religion (in harmony with any particular mode of life!) O exceedingly noble one, this best of boons, is even what is sought for by me, for nothing in this world is incapable of being attained by those attached to righteousness.’ Then the lord of creatures, being again delighted, spoke unto Bibhishana,- ‘As thou art virtuous, so all this shall come to pass on thy behalf. And inasmuch as in spite of thy having been born in the Rakshasa race, thy thoughts, O destroyer of enemies, do not originate in sin, I confer on the immortality. Having said this, he intended to grant boons unto Kumbhakarna. Thereat the celestials in body represented to the lord of creatures with joined hands,- On Kumbhakarna thou shouldst confer no boons, since thou knowest in what manner doth this wicked-minded one frighten people. And, O Brahman, seven Apsaras in Nandana, ten attendants of Mahendra, as well as sages and human beings, I have been devoured by this one. Considering what this Rakshasa did when he had not obtained any boon whatever, if he obtain one now, he shall eat up the three worlds. Do thou then, O lord having immeasurable prowess, pretending to give him boon, give stupifaction (instead). Thereby the welfare of people would be secured, and the honor of this one too shall be maintained.’ Thus addressed by the celestials, Brahma, the Lotus- sprung one, pondered. The goddess, Saraswati, who was by his side was also agitated with anxiety. And remaining by him, Saraswati with joined hands observed,- ‘O god, have come here. What work shall accomplish?’ And the lord of creatures, on having her, spake unto Saraswati,- ‘O Vani!* be thou the goddess of speech of this foremost of Rakshasas,+ favorable unto the deities. Having said,- ‘So be it,’ she entered (within Kumbhakarna’s throat); and Prajapati said,- ‘O Kumbhakarna, O mighty-armed one, do thou ask for the boon that thou wouldst have. Hearing those words, Kumbhakarna said,- ‘O god of gods, my wish is that I may sleep for good many years. Thereupon, saying,- ‘So be it,’ Brahma along with the celestials went away; and the goddess, Saraswati, also again left the Rakshasa. And on Brahma accompanied by the deities going to the celestial regions, he was renounced by Saraswati, and then he regained his consciousness. And then the wicked-minded Kumbhakarna sorrowfully thought,- ‘What is this speech that has to-day come out from my lips? Meseems I had then been stupified by the deities that had come. Having thus obtained the boons, the brothers endowed with flaming energy, going to the Sleshmataka wood, began to dwell there peacefully.”
* Hindu Yogis practise various attitudes, which are favorable to the regulation of respiration. -T.
* Lit. word, designation of Saraswati.
+ i.e. preside over Kumbhakarna’s speech while asking for the boon, and let him, through thy power, ask for such gift as may turn out profitable to the gods. -T.
“Learning that these night-rangers had obtained boons, Sumali with his followers, casting off fear, rose up from the nether regions. And wrought up with exceeding great wrath, the counsellors of that Raksha-Maricha and Prahasta and Virupaksha and Mahodara-also rose up. And accompanied by his counsellors-foremost of Rakshasas-Sumali presenting himself before the Ten-necked one and embracing him, addressed him, saying,- ‘By good fortune it is, O child, that through thee we have had the wish that was in our heart, inasmuch as thou hast received the best of boons from him that is the foremost in all these three worlds. O mighty-armed one, that great fear arising from Vishnu, from which leaving Lanka, we had gone to the nethermost abysses, hath been removed. Full many time, brought down by that fear, we, on being pursued (by our enemies), forsaking our homes, had gone to the nether regions along with all those (related to us). This Lanka was our city, inhabited by Rakshasas. (Now) it is inhabited by thy brother-the intelligent lord of riches. O mighty-armed one, if thou canst through self-control or charity or by sudden display of prowess, repossess thyself of the same, (great) thing shall have been achieved; and then, O child, thou shouldst, without doubt, be the lord of Lanka and this Rakshasa race, which hath sunk, I shall have been raised up by thee. And, thou endowed with prodigious strength, thou shalt be the lord of all. Then the Ten-necked one addressed his maternal grand-father, who was present, saying,- ‘The lord of riches is our superior; therefore thou ought not to speak thus. On that dignified Rakshasa-chief having through moderation thus passed it by, that Raksha, understanding his intent, did not then say anything more. And it came to pass that when Ravana had resided there for a time, Prahasta addressed him in humble speech,- ‘O Ten-necked one, O long-armed (hero), it doth not behove thee to speak thus. Fraternal feeling there is none among heroes. Listen to these words of mine! There were two sisters- Aditi and Diti, And mutually attached to each other, those (damsels) endowed with surpassing beauty, became the wives of that lord of creatures- Kashyapa. And Aditi brought forth the gods, -who are the lords of the three worlds. And Diti gave birth to the Daityas,- offspring of Kashyapa. O thou cognizant of righteousness, formerly this earth, hero, having the ocean for her garment, and furnished with mountains, belonged to the Daityas; and (gradually) they grew very powerful. And then this undeteriorating triune world was brought under the dominion of the celestials. So that thou art not the only one that would act inimically (to thy brother); but this course had formerly been pursued by both the celestials and the Asuras. Therefore, do thou act in conformity with my word. Thus exhorted, the Ten-necked one, with delighted heart, reflecting for moment, said, ‘Very well.’ And wrought up with delight, the Ten-necked one endowed with prowess the very same day went to the forest, accompanied by the night-rangers. And arriving at Trikuta, that one skilled in speech-the night-ranger, Ravana -sent Prahasta in the capacity of an ambassador ‘O Prahasta, hie thee; and tell the foremost of Nairitas- the lord of riches- in my words informed with mildness,- This city of Lanka, O king, belongs to the high-souled Rakshasas; but thou hast established thyself in her. This, O sinless one, is not proper for thee. Therefore, O thou of unrivalled prowess, if thou shouldst render the same (back), I shall be highly gratified; and righteousness also thou wilt maintain.- There upon, repairing to Lanka, well-protected by the giver of riches, Prahasta communicated these words unto the highly generous ruler of riches,- ‘O thou of excellent vows, I have been sent to thee by thy brother, the Ten-necked one. long-armed one, foremost of those versed in all branches of learning, do thou listen to my words, lord of wealth,- and what the Ten-faced one says,- This beautiful city, thou furnished with expansive eyes, was formerly inhabited by Rakshasas of dreadful prowess headed by Sumali; and for that reason, son of Vishrava, he asks thee this. Do thou, my child, grant this unto him, who is humbly begging for it.’- Hearing these words from Prahasta, the god Vaishravana, best of those skilled in speech, answered the former, saying,- ‘My father had given this unto me, when it had been emptied of night rangers; and, O Raksha, I have inhabited this place, furnished with charity, honor, and other virtues. Go and tell the Ten-necked one, as this city and this kingdom are mine, so they are thine, O mighty-armed one. Do thou enjoy this kingdom without foe. May my kingdom and wealth never undergo division when thou art present!’ Having said this, the lord of riches saught the side of his sire,- and, paying him reverence, he communicated Ravana’s wish unto him ‘My father, this Ten-necked one had sent messenger to me, saying,- Give (back) the city of Lanka, which had before been inhabited by hosts of Rakshas.- Now, O thou of excellent vows, do thou tell me what should do.’ Thus accosted, that foremost of ascetics, the Brahmarshi-Vishrava- spoke unto the lord of riches (standing) with joined hands,- ‘O son, listen to my words. The mighty-armed Ten-necked one had (once) spoken in my presence (to that effect). There at greatly rebuked that wicked-minded one; and said again and again in anger,- Thou disregardest (thy religion and honor). Do thou listen to my words fraught with religion and profit. Of wicked heart, thou, with thy understanding spoilt in consequence of the granting of the boon, canst not distinguish between those deserving honor and those not; and, further, through my curse, thou hast come by fierce nature. Therefore, O mighty-armed one, go to the mountain, Kailasa. Do thou, along with thy retainers, for the purpose of dwelling there, take up thy quarters (there). There floweth the Mandakini- best of streams, with her water covered with golden lotuses resembling suns, as also with lilies and blue lotuses and various other fragrant flowers. And coming there frequently, celestials with Gandharbas and Apsaras and serpents and Kinnaras, ever sport there. O lord of riches, thou ought not to enter into hostilities with that Raksha. Thou knowest how he hath obtained great boon.’ Thus addressed, Vishravana, for the sake of his father’s dignity, with his wives and sons, with his counsellors and his vehicles and wealth went (to Kailasha). And Prahasta, going (back), joyfully spoke unto the high-souled Ten-necked one, (seated) with his counsellors and his younger brothers,- ‘The city of Lanka is (now) empty. Renouncing her, the bestower of riches hath gone out of her. (Now) entering into her, along with us, do thou there maintain thine own religion. Thus addressed by Prahasta, the redoubtable Ten-necked one entered the city of Lanka with his brothers and forces and followers. And then even as the lord of the celestials ascends heaven, that foe of the immortals ascended Lanka well-divided by highways, -which had been for saken by the lord of wealth. And having been installed, that night-ranger-the Ten-faced one-dwelt in that city; and that city teemed with night-rangers resembling dark clouds. And the lord of riches, for the sake of his father’s dignity, dwelt in palace situated on the hill bright as moon-light, graced with ornamented superb piles; even as Purandara dwells in Amaravati.”