“The lord of Rakshasas was installed along with his brothers. And then he thought of the giving away in marriage of his Rakshasi sister. Then that Rakshasa bestowed his sister, the Rakshasi Surpanakha, on that lord of the Danavas and king of the Kalakas- Vidyujjibha. And having given her away, the Raksha was wandering about for the purpose of hunting, when, O Rama, he happened to see Diti’s son, named Maya. And seeing him accompanied by his daughter, that night-ranger- the Ten-necked one- asked him, saying,- ‘Who art thou that (wanderest) alone in this forest devoid of men as well as deer? And art thou accompanied by this one having the eyes of young deer?’ Thereat Maya, O Rama, answered that night-ranger, when he had asked this,- ‘Listen. I shall tell thee all about this. Thou mayst ere this have heard of an Apsara named Hema. She like unto the Paulomi of Satakratu was bestowed on me by the gods. And I passed thousand years, being devoted to her. Thirteen years have passed away since she had gone on business of the celestials, as also the fourteenth year. Then I through my extraordinary skill constructed golden palace, adorned with diamonds and lapises. There I dwelt, aggrieved and sorrowful on account of her separation. From thence, taking my daughter, I have come to this wood. This, O king, is my daughter, grown in her womb. I have come hither with her, seeking for her husband. Verily being father to daughter is misery to everyone that seeketh one’s honour. A daughter, forsooth, stayeth, ever placing the two lines* in uncertainty. And on this wife of mine have also begat two sons;- the first is Mayavi and the next Dundubhi. Thus have I truly related everything unto thee that hadst asked for it. But, my child, how can I know thee now? Who art thou?’ Thus addressed, the Raksha humbly said,- ‘Ten-necked by name, I am the son of the ascetic, Paulastya, who was born as the third son of Brahma.’ Thus accosted, O Rama, by that lord of Rakshasas, that Danava and foremost of Danavas, Maya, learning that he was the son of the Maharshi, Paulastya, there desired in his heart to give away his daughter to him. And taking her hand with his own, Maya- lord of Daityas- laughing, said unto that lord of the Rakshasas,- ‘This daughter of mine, O king, borne by the Apsara, Hema, this my daughter named Mandodari do thou accept as thy wife.’ ‘Well’ thereupon the Ten-necked answered him, O Rama. And lighting fire, he took her hand. Maya, Rama, knew the curse of the sage touching him.* Knowing this, he gave away his daughter, having regard to the race of Ravana’s paternal grand-father and he also conferred on him an exceedingly wonderful dart acquired through the most rigid austerities,- by which he wounded Lakshmana. Having thus wedded, that master- Lanka’s lord- going (back) to that city, married his brothers. And Ravana married the grand-daughter of Virochana (on the maternal side) named Vajrajwala, to Kumbhakarna.- And Bibhishana obtained for his wife the righteous (damsel) named Sarama-daughter unto the high souled- Sailusha- sovereign of the Gandharvas. (Sarama) was born on the shores of the lake, Manasa. And while the lake, Manasa, was swollen with water on the arrival of the rains, her mother, hearing her cries, affectionately said,- Saromavarddhata- ‘O lake, do not swell, and from this circumstance, her name became Sarama. Having thus wedded, those Rakshasas, taking each his wife, set about sporting there, like unto Gandharvas sporting in Nandana. And then was born Mandodari’s son- Meghanada. Him ye call Indrajit. As soon as he was born, Ravana’s son, formerly crying, emitted tremendous roar resembling the rumbling of clouds. And, O Raghava, Lanka was petrified at his voice; and (accordingly) his sire himself kept his name, Meghanada. And, O Rama, remaining hidden like fire by fuel, Ravana’s son, rejoicing (the bosoms of) his father and mother, grew up in Ravana’s elegant inner apartments.’
* The lines, namely, of her father and mother. The line of mother as distinct from that of father would be impossible under the present economy of Hindu society inasmuch as, as soon as girl is married, she by that ceremony leaves her father’s line and becomes incorporated with that of her husband. But this seems to have been otherwise in ancient times. This opens up an interesting social problem for the research of orientalists. -T.
* Respecting his birth.