Chapter XXIV: 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