Chapter XXX: Section XXXI

Then Akampana bestiring himself, speedily issuing out of Janasthana, spake unto Ravana, "0 king, a great many Rakshasa living in Janasthana, have been slain, and Khara also hath been slain in battle. I alone have with much difficulty managed to come here." Thus addressed, the ten-necked one, flaming up in energy, with his eyes reddened in wrath, said this unto Akampana, "Who, having his days numbered, hath ravaged the dreadful Janasthana? Who shall no more wend the way of all beings? Doing me a bad turn, Maghavan himself, or Vaicravana, or Yama, or Vishnu, cannot attain happiness. I am the destroyer of the Destroyer himself; and I burn even very Fire. And I can bring death itself to mortality. I can by my impetus resist the force of the wind. And when enraged, I can by my energy consume the Sun and Fire." Thereat, Akampana, with joined hands, from fear replied to the ten-necked Ravana, in faltering words, beseeching courage. Thereat that foremost of Rakshasas, the ten-necked one, granted him courage. Then inspired with confidence, Akampana without fear spoke, "There is a son of Dacaratha, youthful, resembling a lion[47], named Rama of broad shoulders, and possessed of excellent beauty of long and mighty-arms. (He) is sable-hued, of high fame, and of matchless prowess and vigor. It is he that in Janasthana hath slain Khara with Dushana." Hearing Akampana's words, that lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana, breathing like a mighty serpent, said these words, "Tell me, O Akampana, hath Rama come to Janasthana, accompanied with the sovereign of the celestials and the body of the immortals? Again hearing Ravana's words, Akampana described the strength and energy of that high-souled one. (He) is named Rama, and is exceedingly energetic; the foremost of all bowmen-- furnished with celestial panoply; and is possessed of pre-eminent prowess in warfare. Like unto him in strength, of red eyes, and gifted with a voice like the sound of a kettledrum, his younger brother, Lakshmana has a countenance resembling the full-moon. He hath met with him (Rama) as the wind meeteth with a flame. He is endeued with grace, and is the foremost of monarchs. It is he who hath ravaged Janasthana. The magnanimous gods did not come there. No doubts need be entertained on this head. The feathered shafts, plated with gold near the plumed part, becoming five-mouthed serpents ate up the Rakshasas. Wherever oppressed with fear the Rakshasas go, they see Rama stationed before them. In this way, O sinless one, hath Janasthana been exterminated by him." Hearing Akampana's words, Ravana said, "I will go to Janasthana for slaying Rama with Lakshmana." When he had said this, Akampana said, "Hear, O king, the true report of Rama's prowess and manliness. Enraged, the highly famous Rama cannot by putting forth vigor be checked. And by means of his shafts, he can make river in full flood turn its course. And he can bring down from the sky its stars and planets, and that graceful one can recover the depressed Earth. And that lord can submerge all creatures by riving the continents of the sea, and with his shafts can resist the onset of the ocean, and the wind; and that illustrious one that foremost of persons by virtue of his vigor, destroying the worlds, can again create all creatures. O ten-necked one, forsooth, Rama cannot be subdued in conflict, either by thee or the world of Rakshasas, as heaven is incapable of being attained by a sinner. I deem him incapable of being slain by all the Gods and Asuras together. This alone is the means of slaying. Do thou heedfully listen to it! He has a wife of sterling worth in the world, and that slender-waisted one is known by the name of Sita. She is in the full bloom of youth, and hath a symmetrical person--a jewel among womankind embellished with jewels. And neither a goddess, nor a Gandharbi, nor yet an Apsari, nor a Pannagi is equal to her; and what is a human female? Thrashing him, do thou in the mighty forest, carry away his wife. Without Sita, Rama shall cease to exist." Thereupon, the lord of the Rakshasas, Ravana, happened to relish those words; and reflecting (a while), that mighty-armed one addressed Akampana, saying, "Excellent well. I will go there alone, accompanied by my charioteer only. I will this very morning with a glad heart bring Vaidehi to this spacious palace." Saying this, Ravana departed, lighting up all sides, on a sun-shiny car, yoked with mules. And coursing the firmament, that mighty car of that foremost of Rakshasas looked like the Moon among clouds. And proceeding far, he, approaching the asylum (of Taraka's son), presented himself before him. And Maricha entertained the king with meats and drinks passing human. And having entertained him personally with a seat and water (to wash the feet), Maricha spoke these pregnant words, "O king, O lord of the Rakshasas, is it well with the worlds? I am filled with fear: I apprehend that all is not right, since thou hast come hither (alone) in such post-haste speed." Thus addressed by Maricha, the highly energetic Ravana, versed in speech, said, "My child, the guards (of Janasthana) have been slain by Rama of untiring energy; and all Janasthana, incapable of being slain, hath (by him) been brought down in battle. Do thou, therefore, assist me in carrying away his wife." Hearing these words of the lord of Rakshasas, Maricha said, "What enemy of thine in the guise of a friend, hath spoken of Sita unto thee? And, O foremost of monarchs, who, having been, entertained by thee, doth not bear thee good will?[48] Tell me, who is it that hath told thee, 'Bring Sita hither?' Who is it that hath set his heart on severing the summit of the entire Rakshasa world? He must be thy enemy that excites thee to this. Of this there is not the least doubt. He wishes to extract through thy agency the fangs of a venomous snake. Who (intends) to lead thee astray by imposing on thee such a deed? Who, king, hath struck in the head, thee that wast slumbering in peace? Raghava in war is like a mad elephant, having an unblemished ancestry for his trunk, perspiration for his temporal exudation; and arms resting well beside him for his tusks. O Ravana, thou art not competent even to look at him. Thou ought not to rouse up the sleeping man-lion, that slayer of skillful Rakshasas resembling deer, with his sport in the field, for his joints and down; arrows for his body and sharp scimitar for his teeth. O Sovereign of the Rakshasas, thou ought not to plunge thyself into this dreadful, and abysslesss ocean, having the bow for its alligators, activity of arms for its shine, arrows for its billows, and engagement for its waters. Be propitious, O lord of Lanka! O foremost of Rakshasas, with a contented heart, thou hadst better go thy way to Lanka. Do thou ever sport with thy own wives: let Rama in company with his wife, sport in the woods." Thus addressed by Maricha, the ten-throated Ravana desisted, and entered Lanka the best of capitals.

[47] Another reading is _Viranga: rupopeta: possessed of handsome
person._

[48] Another reading is--_ko na nandati ninditi; who having been
insulted by thee, doth not rejoice (in thy prosperity)_, and,
therefore, in the garb of friend-ship, hath done thee this
wrong?--T.