“Thus afflicted, the deities, sages, and ascetics, wrought up with fear, sought the protection of that god of gods Maheshwara- creator and destroyer of the cosmos,- unborn, of an unmanifest form, the stay of all creatures, worthy of being adored,- and the supreme preceptor (of all). And coming to that enemy of Kama” and foe of Tripura-the three-eyed (Deity), the gods, with their voices faltering through fear, represented with joined hands,- ‘O reverend one, the creatures of the lord of creatures are being (sorely) troubled by the sons of Sukesha, given to harassing their foes,- swolen with insolence on account of the boon conferred on them by the great-father, Our asylums,- constituting our refuges,- have been divested of their power of granting shelter; and driving off the deities from the etherial regions, they are sporting there like the immortals. ‘I am Vishnu,’ ‘I am Rudra, ‘I am the king of the celestials,’ ‘I am Yama,’ ‘ ‘I am Varuna,’ ‘I am the Moon,’ ‘I am the Sun,’- flattering themselves in this fashion, Mali and Sumali and the Rakshasa- Malyavan- as well as those going before them, are annoying (the gods), breathing exhilaration of martial spirits. Therefore, O god, it behoveth thee to liberate us from fear, who have been greatly tormented by it. Do thou, assuming thy terrific form, slay the thorns of the celestials. Thus addressed by the immortals in body, that lord, Kaparddi of red-blue hue, reflecting that it would be wrong for him to destroy Sukesha (with his own hands), spoke unto the gods, - ‘I shall not slay them, ye gods; they are incapable of being slain by me. But shall unfold unto you the way in which they will be destroyed. Do ye, ye Maharshis, in the heat of this affair, seek the shelter of Vishnu. That lord will slay them.’ Thereat, saluting Maheshwara with the sounds of Jaya, (the celestials) afflicted with the fear of the night rangers, presented themselves before Vishnu. And bowing down unto the god holding the conch, discus and mace, and paying him high homage, they, greatly flurried, addressed him about the sons of Sukesha, saying,- ‘O god, by virtue of the boon (that hath been bestowed on them), resembling the three fires, Sukesha’s three sons, assailing us, have deprived us of our abode. There is city named Lanka, stationed on the top of Trikuta, (extremely) difficult of entrance. Taking up their station at that place, the night-rangers in body Pursue us. Do thou, slayer of Madhu, destroy them for our welfare. We have sought thy shelter. Become our refuge, O foremost of celestials. Do thou dedicate to Yama the lotuses of their faces, severed (in pieces) with thy discus. Save thee, we have none who can, while tormented with fright, inspire us with courage. Slay in encounter the elated Rakshasas along with their adherents; and even as the sun drieth up dew, do thou dispell this fear of ours. Thus accosted by the deities, that god of gods- Janardhana- who bringeth fear unto foes- cheering up the celestials, said unto them,- ‘I know the Rakshasa, Sukesha, as flushed with the boon bestowed by Ishana. And also know his sons, of whom Malyavan is the eldest. Those worst of Rakshasas that have over-riden your dignity will I, wrought up with wrath, slay (in battle); therefore, ye gods, be of good cheer. Thus addressed by the mighty Vishnu, the gods, highly rejoiced, went to their respective quarters, extolling Janardana.
* The Hindu Cupid. Mahadeva had burnt to ashes Kama, when he had the fool-hardiness to disturb the contemplation of the former. By the way, Kalidasa has reared his faery fabric, entitled Kumara Sambhava, on the basis of this legend. -T.
“And hearing of the activity of the celestials, the night ranger- Malyavan- addressed his heroic brothers, saying ‘The immortals and sages, going to Shankara, spake these words, desirous of our destruction,- The terrific sons of Sukesha, puffed up, and swollen on account of their strength flowing from the boon, are crossing us at every step. We have been overpowered by the Rakshasas. And, O lord of creatures, from fear of those wicked-minded ones, we cannot remain in our own homes. Therefore, to do us good, do thou, O three-eyed one, destroy them; and, O best of consuming ones, do thou with thy roars, burn them up.- Thus addressed by the deities, the slayer of Andhaka, hearing their speech, said, shaking his head and hands,- Ye gods, Sukesha’s sons are incapable of being slain by me in battle. But shall tell you the means whereby they may be slain. Do ye seek the shelter of him who holdeth the discus and mace in his hands, and who is clad in yellow attire,- of Janardana, Hari, even of the auspicious Narayana. Having received this counsel of Hara, they, rendering reverence unto that enemy of Kama, came to the abode of Narayana and communicated everything unto him. Then Narayana spoke unto the celestials with Indra at their head,- I will slay those foes of the celestials. Ye gods, cast off all fear!- O foremost of Rakshasas, Hari promised unto the frightened celestials that he would slay us. Therefore, do ye think as to what is fit. Hiranyakashipu hath met with death (at the hands of Hari), as also other enemies of the immortals. And Namuchi and Kalanemi, and that foremost of heroes,- Sanhrada- and Radheya, and Vahumayi, and the virtuous Lokapala, and Yamala, and Arjuna, and Hardikya, and Sumbha and Nishumbhaka,- Asuras and Danavas endowed with strength and possessed of terrific prowess- all these, who, having come to the field, had never been heard of as worsted, who had performed hundreds of sacrifices, who had been well skilled in illusion, who had been versed in every branch of knowledge, and who were the terrors of their foes- have by hundreds and by thousands been destroyed by Narayana. Learning this, it behoveth you to do what would conduce to the behoof of all. It is sore task to defeat Narayana, who wisheth to slay us. Thereat Sumali and Mali, hearing the words of Malyavan, said unto their eldest brother, like the Ashwins addressing Vasava,- ‘We have studied, performed sacrifices, practised charity, and obtained riches; and attaining long health and long life, we have established sterling righteousness in our path. And with arms plunging into the sea of celestials, we have conquered our unrivalled enemies. Therefore, we have no fear touching death. Even Narayana and Rudra, Shakra and Yama, ever fear to stay before us (in the field). And, O lord of Rakshasas, there is no occasion for Vishnu’s displeasure of us. The mind of Vishnu hath wavered in consequence of the evil caused by the celestials. Therefore, will we even avenge ourselves on the gods, from whom hath sprung this wrong. Having taken counsel together, those powerful ones conciliated their forces. And proclaiming (their order) that preparations were to be made, all the foremost Nairitas sallied forth for battle, like unto those led by Jamva and Vritra. And, O Rama, having thus taken counsel together, with all the preparations complete, those huge bodied and redoubtable Rakshas marched forth for conflict, mounted on cars, and elephants, and horses resembling elephants, and mules, and kine, and camels, and purpoises,* and serpents, makaras, and tortoises, and fishes, and fowls resembling Garura himself, lions and tigers and boars and Shrimaras* and Chamaras.+ And puffed up with pride of prowess, the Rakshas march, leaving Lanka, and the enemies of the celestials went to the heavenly regions for battle. And perceiving the destruction of Lanka at hand, those deities that had taken up their quarters there, everywhere were struck with fear and felt their spirits depressed. And mounting the best of cars, the Rakshasas by hundreds and thousands with intent minds swiftly sallied forth for the celestial regions. And the deities (aforementioned) followed the tract of the Rakshasas. And at the command of Kala, terrible evil omens foreshadowing the destruction of the Rakshasa chiefs began to arise on the earth well as in the sky. The clouds showered down bones and hot blood. The oceans overleapt their continents;++ and the mountains shook. And jackals of terrific forms, having voices resembling the roaring of clouds,- bursting out into horse-laugh, began to emit cries frightfully. Creatures were one after another seen to drop down; and mighty swarms of vultures, with mouths belching forth flames, began to wheel over the Rakshasa, like unto Kala himself. And blood-footed pigeons and Sarika§ darted off (around). And crows and two-legged cats began to cry in loud accents. But fast bound with the noose of Death, the Rakshasas, proud of their strength, disregarding these omens, march on, and do not stay their course,- Malyavan and Sumali possessed of prodigious strength, going before the Rakshasas, like flaming fires. And even as the gods take refuge under Dhata, the night-rangers take refuge under Malyavan resembling the mountain, Malyavan. And under the command of Mali, that host of Rakshasas, roaring like mighty clouds, inspired with the desire of victory, went to the celestial regions. And the lord Narayana, hearing of the preparations of the Rakshasas from celestial messenger, set his heart on fight. And equipped with weapons and quivers, he mounted on Vinata’s offspring.* And donning on his mail furnished with the effulgence of thousand suns, fastening his spotless quivers filled with shafts, being engirt with his waist-band and bright falchion, and equipped with his conch, discus, mace, Sharanga,+ sword, and other superior weapons, that lotus-eyed lord, seated on Vinata’s offspring like very mountain, set out speedily for compassing the destruction of the Rakshasas. And seated on Suparna’s++ back, the blue-brown Hari clad in yellow attire resembled mass of clouds on the crest of the golden mountain, with lightning playing through it. And hymned by Siddhas and celestials and sages and mighty (semi-divine) serpents and Gandharvas and Yakhas, the enemy of the Asura hosts presented himself, bearing in his hands the discus, sword, that weapon- Sharanga- and the conch. And the Rakshasa- hosts, struck by the wind produced by the wings of Suparna, with their pennons swinging to and fro and their weapons scattered about, quaked like the blue summit of mountain with its crags tossed about. Then the night-rangers, hemming in Madhava, began to pierce him with thousands of excellent sharpened weapons dyed in flesh and blood, and resembling the fire of Doomsday.”
* How purpoises could be pressed into the service passes my conception, unless Sishumara have any other meaning. -T.
* Wilson gives the meanings: (1) ‘a kind of animal,’ and (2) ‘a young deer. -T.
+ Bos Grunniens.
++ Used in the Shakespercan sense: Vide Macbeth.
§ A species of harlot.
* Garura, Narayana’s vehicle.
+ The bow of Vishnu is so named.
++ Lit. fair-feathered- a name of Garura.
§ One of the many designations of Vishnu.