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Havinc spent the night on the picturesque summit of the mount Meru and thinking (for some time) the powerful lord of Lank& went to the region of the moon. (And he saw a person) proceeding, seated on a car, sprinkled with heavenly unguents and attended upon by Apsaras. And worn out with the satisfaction of desire he was being kissed there. Seeing sucha person his curiosity was greatly excited. And beholding a Rishi there he said to him—“ Welcome thou art, O celestial saint. Indeed thou hast come at a proper season. Who is this shameless wight that is going seated on a car and attended by Apsaras? Does he not perceive his object of fear?” Being thus addressed by Ravana, Parvata said—“ O my child, O thou gifted with great intellect—Hear “I shall describe to thee the truth. By him all the worlds have been conquered and Brahm& hath been propitiated. And he is now proceeding to that excellent region full of bliss for obtaining final liberation. As all the worlds have been conquered by thee by virtue of thy asceticism, O lord of Rakshasas, so is he going, undoubtedly performing many pious actions and drinking Soma juice. O foremost of Rakshasas, thou art heroic, and hast truth for thy prowess. The powertul are never offended with the pious.” Thereupon he espied an excellent, huge car, filled with all radiance and effulgence and the sound of musical instruments and singing. (And Ravana said)—‘ O great Rishi, who is that person, gifted with great effulgence, who goeth surrounded by charming songsters, dancing-girls and Kinnaras?” Hearing his words Parvata, the foremost of saints, again said—‘He is heroic and a great warrior—he never returneth unsucessful from a battle-field. Having performed many heroic feats in battle, and slain many enemies, he hath been assailed with many wounds in fighting

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and hath renounced his life for his master. Having destroyed many in battle, he hath at last been slain by his enemies and is perhaps now going either to the region of Indra or to some such place. This best of men is now being entertained by these well-versed in the art of singing and dancing.” Ravana again said—‘ Who goeth there effulgent like unto the sun?’ Hearing the words of Ravana, Parvata said—" The person, resembling the full moon and wearing diverse ornaments and cloths, whom thou beholdest, O great king, in the golden car abounding in Apasaras, distributed gold. He, gifted with great effulgence, is now goingina swift-coursing car.’ Hearing the words of Parvata, Ravana said— O foremost of Rishis, do thou tell me, who, of these kings going, if prayed for, may offer me the hospitality of a battle ? For sooth thou art my father ; do thou point out (such aman to me) O thou conversant with piety.” Being thus addressed, Parvata again said to Ravana—“ O great king, all these kings wish for heayen not for battle. I shall point | out such a man, O great one, as shall enter into conflict with thee. There is a highly powerful king—the lord of seven islands, well known by the name of Mandhata; he shall enter into an encounter with thee.” Hearing the words of Parvata, Ravana again said—" Do thow tell me, O thou of great devotion, where this king resides. I shall go where lives this foremost of men.” Hearing the words of Ravana, the sage again said— The son of Yuvanaswha hath conquered the world consisting of seven islands begining with the sea; Mandhata, the foremost of kings, is just coming to meet him.” Thereupon (Ravana) having long arms, proud of the boon conferred upon him in the three worlds, beheld the heroic Mandhata, the lord of Ayodhya and the foremost of kings. Theking of sevenislands proceededin agolden and wellpainted car resplendant like that of Mahendra, shining in his beauty and sprinkled with celestial unguents. The Tennaked demon said to him—‘“ Do thou give me_ battle.”

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Being thus addressed, he, laughing, said to the t en-necked demon—“ If thy life is not dear unto thee, do thou fight with me, O R&kshasa.” Hearing the words of Mandhata, Ravana said— Ravana did not experience any affliction from Varuna Kuvera or Yama; why should he experience fear from thee, who art a man?” Having said this, the lord of Rakshasas as if burning in ire, ordered the Rakshasas irrepressible in battle. Thereupon the ministers of the vicious-souled Ravana, highly enraged and well-skilled in warfare, began to make a downpour of arrows. Thereupon the highly powerful king Mandh&ta, with sharpened shafts, assailed Prahasta, Suka, Sarana, Mahodara, Birupaksha, Akampana and other foremost heroes. Prahasta covered the king with his arrows-~-but before they had approached him, that foremost of men shattered them into pieces. Like unto fire burning down grass, the host of Rakshasas were burnt down by the king Mandhata by means of hundreds of Bhushundis, Vallas, Vindipilds and Tomaras. As Kartikeya, the son of fire, sundered the mount Krauncha with his shafts so Mandhata, enraged, pierced Prahasta with five Zomaras gifted with great velocity. Then hurling his mace again and again resembling that of Yama, he struck, vehemently, Ravana’s car therewith. That club, resembling the lightning, vehemently - descended (upon Ravana’s car)and Ravana, like Sakra’s banner, was speedily upset by that. Like unto the rising of the waters of the salt ocean on the full moon, the king Mandhata’s joy and strength were greatly increased. Thereupon the entire Rakshasa host, emitting loud cries, stood encircling on all sides the lord of Rakshasas. Thereat speedily regaining his sense, Ravana, a terror unto all people, the lord of Lanka, greatly assailed the person of Mandhata. And beholding that king in a swoon, the highly powerful night-rangers were greatly delighted and emitted leonine roars. Regaining his sense in a moment the king of Ayodhya beheld his enemy worshipped by the courtiers and night-rangers. He was

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instantly worked up with ire; and assuming a person resplendant like that of the sun and the moon he began to slay the Rakshasa host with a dreadful downpour of shafts. With his arrows and the noise thereof the entire Rakshasa army were overwhelmed like the agitated deep. Thereupon there arose a dreadful conflict between men and demons. And those two heroic, high-souled and foremost of men and Rakshasas seated on warriors’ seats and holding bow and ‘daggers entered (the field). And possessed by great anger they began to assail one another with shafts—MAndhita Ravana and he again the king. They, being assailed.by one another, were both wounded. And setting the Raudra shaft upon his bow Ravana discharged it and Mandhata baffled it by means of his fiery shafts. The Ten-necked demon took up the Gandharva weapon and the king Mandhata the Brahmaweapon stricking terror unto all. R&vana then took up the celestial Pasupata weapon, dreadful and increasing the fright of the three worlds, obtained by him from Rudra by virtue of his rigid penances. Seeing this all animals, mobile and immobile, were stricken with terror. Thereupon trembled all the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings —the celestials and all the serpents became inert. Being apprised (of this conflict) by virtue of meditation the two foremost of ascetics Pulastya and Galava remonstrated with them in many a way and _ prevented the king (Mandhata) and the foremost of Rakshasas. Thereupon that man and demon being reconciled with one another went back by the ways they had respectively come. ; 206