p. 1642

"Luose two Brahmans having departed, Ravana, the tora of Rakshasas, proceeded, at first, by the aerial way, ten thousand leagues. He then went to the excellent uppper zrial region where live perpetually ganders gifted with many accomplishments. The extent thereof is also counted by ten thousand leagues and there are stationed closely three classes of clouds* namely Agneya, Pakshaja and Brahma. He,then proceeded to the third excellent zrial region where perpetually reside the high-minded Siddhas and Charanas and the extent whereof is also ten thousand leagues. O slayer of enemies, he then speedily proceeded to the fourth aerial region where perpetually dwell the goblins and Vinayakas. He quickly went to the fifth aerial region which also extends over ten thousand yoyanas where exist Ganga, the foremost of rivers, and the elephants headed by Kumuda, who pour down waters. They sport in the waters of the Ganges and pour down her holy waters. And those waters, parched by the rays of the sun and softened by the wind, pour down holy waters and dews, O Raghava. Thereupon that Rakshasa went to the sixth aerial region, O thou gifted with high radiance, which also extends over ten thousand yoyanas and where .dwells Garuda perpetually respected of his kinsmen * The three classes are (1) Agnija or produced from fire (2) Pakshaja or produced in a fortnight (3) Brdhma or produced from Brahma.

p. 1643

and friends. He then went tothe seventh aerial region which is ten thousand leagues above and where dewell the seven Rishis And again going up ten thousand leagues he reached the eighth aerial region where Ganga, known as the Ganges of the sky, having strong currents and sending high roars, and upheld by air, is situated on the sun’s way. I shall now describe the region higher than that where resides the moon, and the extent whereof is counted by eighty thousand leagues. There dwells the moon encircled by stars and planets from whom proceed hundreds and thousands of rays which light up the worlds and conduce to the pleasure of all animals. Thereupon beholding the Ten-necked demon the moon as if burnt (him) down speedily with his cold fiery rays. And stricken with the fear of those rays his councillors could not stand them. Thereupon exclaiming his victory Prahasta said to Ravana—‘O king, we are destroyed by cold, so we must gu away from here. The Rakshasas have been terrified by the rays of the moon; O foremost of kings, the cold rays of -the moon have the natural property of fire in them.” Hearing the words of Prahasta, Ravana, beside himself with wratk, having uplifted his bow and twanged it, began to assail him with. Narachas. Thereupon Brahma came speedily to the region of the moon and said—“O Ten-necked one, O thou having mighty arms, O direct son of Visravas, O gentle one, do thou repair hence speedily—do not oppress the moon—(for) this highly effulgent king of twice-born ones wisheth well-being unto all. I shall communicate to thee a mystical incantation ; He who recollects it at the time of death, does ‘not come by it.’ Being thus addressed the ten-necked demon, with folded hands, said—‘If thou art pleased with me O god! O lord of the worlds, O thou of great penances, if dost- thou wish to communicate that incantation, do thou impart it upon me, O thou of great piety ; reciting which, O great one, I may be released of the fear of the celestials. Forsooth, by thy ‘favour, O lord of the celestials, I shall

p. 1644

be invincible by alltthe Asuras, Danavas and birds.” Being thus accosted Brahma said to the ten-necked demon—‘O lord of Rakshasas, do thou recite it at the time of death and not every day. Taking a string of beads, thou shouldst recite this holy incantation, on which, thou, O lord of Rashasas, shalt be invincible, And if dost thou not recite it thou shalt not meet with success. Hear, I shall communicate to thee the incantation, O foremost of Rakshasas, reciting which thou shalt obtain victory in the en:ounter. ‘Salutation unto thee, O god, O lord of gods, O thou worshipped of the celestials and Asuras. O thou identical with past and future, O great god," O thou having red eyes—thou art a boy albeit, thou assumest the form of an old man; thou wearest tigerskin. O god, thou art worthy of being worshipped, and the ford of the three worlds. Thou art Hara, Haritanemi, Yugantadahaka and Valadeva. Thou art Ganesha, LokaSambhu, Lokapala, and of huge arms; thou art great, the holder of a huge dart, having dreadful teeth, and the greatest of gods. Thou art time, the strength and hast blue neck and a large belly ; thou art the destroyer of the celestials—the - foremost of the ascetics and the lord of all created beings. Thou art the holder of a dart and hast the bull as thy emblem, art the leader, protector, the destroyer and the preserver ; thou hast beared locks, art Mundi, Sikhandi, hast a crown, and art greatly illustrious. Thou art the lord of sprites and goblins, the soul of all, the protector of all, omniscient, the destroyer of all, the creator and the eternal preceptor. Thou art lord, carriest a Aamandalu* in thy hand, art the holder of a Pinakat and Dhurjatit; thou art, worthy * An earthen or wooden water pot used by the ascetic and religious student.. } The bow of Siva. A trident or three-pronged spear. _. % A name of Siva from dhur, a burden and ¥Yati, a collection ; who collects. er bears the burthen of the three worlds.

p. 1645

of veneration, the most excellent OM, the first chanter of Saman, the death, the element of death, Parijatra* and observant of penances. Thou art an ascetic, livest‘in a cave and carriest a Vinaft Panavat, and quiver in thy hands ; thou art immortal and art like the newly-risen sun to behold. Thou livest in a cremation ground, art the illustrious lord of Umi and above all blemishes Thou didst uproot the eyes of Vagadeva and teeth of Pusha. Thou art the destroyer of fever, holdest mace in thy hand’and art (the very) dissolution and time. Thou hast got a fire-brand in thy mouth, hast fire as thy emblem, art highly resplendent and lord of men. Thou art mad, makest people tremble, art the fourth, and most respected of men; thou art a dwarf, Vimanadeva and the dwarf who circumambulates the east. Thou art a beggar, wearest the semblance ot a beggar and art by nature crooked ; thou didst assail Indra’s hands and the Vasus. Thou art, the season, the maker of seasons, time, honey, and hast honeyed eyes. Thou art a tree bearing fruits and. blossoms, hast arrows as thy seat and worshipped by people of all conditions perpetually. Thou art the protector and the creator of the universe, the Purusha, eternal and certain ; the lord of all religions, Virupaksha, the three qualities and the protector of all beings. Thou art three-eyed, assumest many forms and brilliant as the Aju¢a suns; thou art the lord of all celestials, the foremost deity and wearest bearded locks having the impressions of the moon ; thou art connected with Brahman, worthy of being resorted to and identical with all created beings. Thou blowest all bugles, severest all ties ; thou dost charm and bind (all) and dost always bring about death. Thou hast flowery teeth, art a division, the foremost and the * The name of a mountain, apparently the central or western portion of the Vindhya chain. ; + A kind of stringed musical instrument. + A sort of musical instrument ; a small drum or tabor.

p. 1646

destroyer of all; thou .hast dreadful beards, holdest a bow, art fearful and gifted with dreadful might.’ These eight hundred holy and excellent names have been uttered by me which remove all iniquities, are holy and afford shelter to those who seek for it; if do thou recite them, O ten-necked one, thou shalt be able to destroy thy enemies.”