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"Tuerevron being desirous of achieving victories, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, proud of his strength, began to journey over the earth in the company of the heroic Rakshasas. Whoever, amongst the Daityas, Danavas and Rakshasis was reported to him as being powerful he used to invite for battle. O king of earth, having thus traversed the whole world, the ten-necked demon saw the saint Narada returning to his own region from Brahmaloka. Like the second sun _ he was proceeding through the clouds. Ravana, with a delighted heart, neared him and addressed the celestial saint Narada with folded palms, saying :—‘‘ O thou gifted with six sorts of wealth, thou hast seen many a time all creations from Brahma down to an insect. Do thou tell me, O great one, the inhabitants of which, world are more powerful ? I wish to fight with them according to my desire.” Whereto, thinking for a moment, the celestial saint Narada replied :—“O king, there is an insular continent near the milky ocean. All the inhabitants that live there are gifted with strength—effulgent like the rays of the moon, huge-

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bodied,highly powerful and have a voice deep as the muttering of the clouds. They are all greatly beautiful, patient and have huge arms. O king of Rakshasas, I have seen in Swetadwipa such powerful men, as thou dost want to see on this earth.” Hearing the words of Narada, Ravana said :— “O celestial saint, why are the inhabitants of Swetadwipa powerful ? And how did those high-souled ones come to live there ? O lord, do thou relate to me everything at length. Thou dost observe the whole universe like a myrobalam in in thy palms.” Hearing the words of Ravana, the celestial saint said :—‘O lord of Rdakshasas, the inhabitants of Swetadwipa are perpetually devoted unto Narayana with whole-mindedness and earnestly worship Him... They have always their hearts and minds devoted unto Him and are all high-souled. Having rendered their lives and souls unto N&rayana, they have been blessed with their abode in- Swetadwipa. Those, who are slain in the encounter with his bow bent by Vishnu—the holder of discus and the preserver of the world, attain to the celestial region. Neither by sacrifice, devout penance, self-control nor excellent gifts may be ‘obtained the celestial region full. of bliss.” Hearing the words of Narada, the Ten necked demon was ‘worked up with surprise and meditating for some time said “I shall enter into conflict with him.” Thereupon inviting Narada he proceeded to Swetadwipa. Thinking for a long time and being curious to witness that wondrous encounter, Narada speedily went there. He was ever fond of sport and warfare. Filling all the quarters with dreadful leonine roars Ravana with all the Rakshasas moved towards the Swetadwipa. After Narada had reached there, the illustrious Dacgdnana went to that insular continent beyond even the reach of the celestials. Being struck by the radiant heat of that insular continent, the Puspaka car, of the mighty Ravana, could not stand there like clouds scattered by the wind. Having arrived at that dreadful insular continent the councillors of the lord of

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Rakshasas, fearfully said to Ravana. “O lord, we are all stupified and beside ourselves with fear. We cannot any how stand here ; how shall we fight?’ Saying this the Rikshasas fled away into all directions. And Dacdnana too sent away his golden car Pushpaka with them. Having thus sent away his chariot and assuming a dreadful figure he alone entered Swetadwipa. At the time of his entering he was seen by the females there. One of them holding him by the hand and smiling said “Why hast thou come hither? Who art thou ? who is thy father? and what for hast thou come here ? Do thou definitely say.” Hearing those words, O king, Ravana, in anger said :—‘I am the son of the ascetic Visrava, I am Ravana by name ; I have come hither being desirous of fighting ; but I do not behold anyone here.”’ The vicioussouled Ravana having said this all the young damsels laughed gently. But one of them, being enraged, took up R4vana, like a child, as if in sport and hurled him amongst her companions. And addressing another she said :—‘‘Behold, I have caught this black Ravana, having twenty arms and ten faces, like a small insect. Thereupon Ravana, being worn out with hurling, passed from one one hand to another. Being thus hurled the learned and powerful Ravana, in anger, severely bit the palms of that fair one. Being overwhelmed with pain that damsel let him off. Thereupon, another, taking that Rakshasa-chief, rose up in the welkin. Ravana, again waxing wroth tore her with his nails. And being left off by that damsel, the terrified night-ranger fell down into the waters of the deep. The females, inhabiting that insular continent again and again in this wise hurled Ravana. Beholding him thus distressed the highly effulgent Narada danced in joy and surprise. O thou having long arms, being apprised of this, the vicious-souled Ravana stole away Sita with a view to meet death at thy hands. Thou art Narayana, holding discus, conch and club; thou hast in thy hands the bow, a lotus, thunder-bolt and other weapons; thou art

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worshipped of all deities; thou art graced with the mystic mark Sribatsa, adored by all celestials, hast a lotus navel, art a great ascetic, and Hrishikesha declaring fearlessness unto all devotees. Thou hast assumed a human form to bring about the destruction of Ravana. Dost thou not recognise thyself as Narayana ? O great one, do not forget thyself ; do thou recollect thy real self. The Patriarch Brahma said that thou art subtler than the subtle. Thou art the the three qualities, the three Vedas and the regions—that of the celestials, of the mortals and the region under the earth. Thy work is manifest in time, past, present and future ; thou art the observer of three Vedas and the destroyer of the enemies of the celestials. With thy three steps, thou didst, in the days of yore, traverse the three worlds. Thou wert born of Aditi, as the youngest brother of Indra for binding Bali. Thou art the eternal Vishnu. To extend thy favours unto humanity thou hast been born as man. O foremost of the celestials, the work of the deities hath been accomplished. The vicious Ravana, with his sons and relatives, hath been slain. The Rishis, having piety for their wealth and all the deities have been pleased. O foremost of gods—all this hath been brought about by thy favours; and the whole universe hath been pacified. Sita is the very personation of Lakshmi, sprung from earth. It is for thee that she hath been born in the race of Janaka. Bringing her into Lank& Ravana protected her with care like his mother. Rama, I have thus related to thee the entire story. Hearing this from the Rishi Sanatkumar, the longlived Narada described this unto me. Daganana, to a letter I followed the instructions of Sanatkumar. Who ever listens to this story at the time of Sraddha, the rice, offered by him, becoming, inexhaustible, reaches his manes.” Hearing this celestial theme, the lotus-eyed Rama along with his brothers was greatly surprised. And having their eyes expanded with delight the monkeys, with Sugriva, the

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Rakshasas with Bibhishana, the kings with their councillors, and all other assembled pious Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras, delightedly espied Rama. Thereupon the highly effulgent Agastya said to Rama :—“O Rama, we have all seen thee and been honoured ; now we shall depart.” Saying this, they, being honored, repaired to their respective habitations. The sun set, Rama, the foremost of men, gave farewell to monkeys and their king and duly went through the Sandhya rite. Gradually night set in and he entered the inner appartment.