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6 Scene Sukega righteous and furnished with the boon, a virtuous Gandharva, named Gramani, of the effulgence of fire, who had a daughter, called Devavati, like unto a second Sri herself, famed over the three worlds, and endowed with beauty and youth,—bestowed her on Sukeca as if he had bestowed the goddess of fortune of the Rakshas. And like an indigent person on obtaining wealth, Devavati, on obtaining her beloved husband, affluent in consequence of having received the boon, was (greatly) delighted. And in her company, that night-ranger appeared graceful, even as a

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mighty elephant sprung from Anjana* doth in the company of ashe-elephant. In good time Sukega, O Raghava, begot (on her) three sons, resembling the three Fires... And that lord of Rakshasas begot (on her) three sons, resembling his three eyes—the Rakshasas, Malyavan, Sumali and that foremost of the strong—Mali ; all resembling the three worlds possessing themselves in calmness ; like unto the three Fires established ; fierce like unto the three mantras,—dreadful like three diseases springing respectively from morbid Air, Bile and Phlegm.t And the sons of Sukega, having the energy of the three Fires, grew up like a disease which hath been disregarded. And learning that their father had received a boon by virtue of his power proceeding from asceticism, the brothers, firmly resolved, went to Meru for practising penances. And adopting rigid restrictions, the Rakshasas, O best of kings, entered upon austerities, terrible, and capable of arousing the fear of all beings. And practising penances rare on earth with truth and candour and self-control, they afflicted the three worlds with gods, Asuras and human beings. Then that lord—the four-faced oné— stationed on a superb car, addressed Suke¢a’s sons, saying,— ‘I am for conferring boons (on you).’ Knowing that Brahma surrounded by Indra and the other celestials was ready to bestow boons, they, with joined hands, said, trembling like trees, ‘O god that hast been adored through asceticism, * The designation of an elephant. t The entire edifice of Hindu Pathology is based on the three-fold division of the morbid humours into Air, Bile and Phlegm. This division, albeit it may appear crude and unscientific to Europeans, taken all, in all, wonderfully answers its purpose. The tact displayed by Hindu physicians in diagnosing diseases on this method is wonderful. From feeling the Pulse alone, a Hindu physician, getting at the predominance of one or more morbid humours of the system, can accurately ascertain a patient’s health. The infallibility with which predictions of death are generally made, attests the scientific soundness of the division in question, and renders superfluous any elaborate argument in its defence—T,

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if thou dost intend to confer on us a boon, let us be invincible, capable of slaying foes, immortal, lordly, and ever devoted to each other.’ Thereat, saying ‘So be it,’ unto the sons of Sukega, the lord Brahm, (ever) cherishing Brahmanas with affection, went to the Brahma regions. O Rama, having obtained the boons, those night-rangers, rendered intrepid in consequence of having the boon conferred on them, began to disturb celestials and Asuras. And like unto men abiding in hell, the celestials, Charanas and hosts of sages, being harassed (by Rakshasas),did not find any deliverer. And then, O foremost of the Raghus, the Rakshasas, assembled together, joyfully said unto the undeteriorating Vigwakarm&a—prince of artists,—‘Thou by thy own energy art the architect of the great gods, endowed with energy and prowess and strength. Do thou, O magnanimous one, construct a fabric for us after our heart hard by Himavan, or Meru, or Mandara. And do thou erect a magnificent mansion for us resembling the mansion itself of Mahegwara.’ Thereat Vigwakarma—the mighty-arm of the Rakshasas—spoke of a building like the Amarivati of Sakra, ‘On the shore of the Southern sea is a mountain named Trikuta. A second also is there called Suvela, ye lords of Rakshasas. On the midmost peak of that mountain resembling clouds, inaccessible even to the fowls of the air, all the four quarters have been hewn with bones.* If I am desired by you, I can construct “the city of Lanka (there), having an area of thirty Yayanas, and measuring an hundred in length , surrounded with a golden wall and furnished with golden gateways. In her do ye dwell, ye irrepressible ones, ye foremost of Rakshasas ; even as do the celestials with Indra, approaching Amaravati. And occupying the citadel of Lanka, backed by innumerable Rakshasas, ye will be invincible to foes and capable of destroying them. Hearing Vi¢wakarma’s speech, those foremost of Rakshasas, accompanied by thousands of * Yanka—may also mean a hatchet or a sword.—T.

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followers, went to the palace and set up in the same, having a strong wall and a moat, abounding in hundreds of golden edifices. And obtaining Lanka, the night-rangers, exceedingly delighted, began to dwell therein. At this time, O Raghava, there lived at her pleasure a Gandharvi, named Narmada. O son of Raghu, she had three daughters, resembling Sri, Hri, and Kirti in splendour. And albeit no Rakshasi herself, she, beginning with the eldest, gladly married to the ‘Rakshasas her daughters having faces resembling the full moon. And under the influence of the star, Bhagadaivata, those three exalted daughters of a Gandharvi were respectively conferred by their mother on the three several Rakshasas of eminence. And having wedded, O Rama, Sukega’s sons began to sport with their wives, like celestials sporting with Apsaras. Malyavan’s beautiful spouse was named Sundari. On her he begot, do thou understand, whom ;—Vajramusthi, and Virupaksha, and the Rakshasa— Durmukha,—and Suptaghna, and Yajnakopa, and Matta and Unmatta ; and, O Rama, there was also born a lovely daughter of Sundari, Anala. And Sumali’s wife, of face like the full Moon, named Ketumati, was dearer to him than his life itself. O mighty king, do thou, gradually, know the offspring that were begot by Sumali on Ketumati,—Prahasta, and Kampana, and Vikata, and Kalikamukha, and Dhumraksha, and Danda, and the redoubtable Suparcwa, and Sanhradi, and Praghasa, and the Rakshasa, Bhadsakarna, and Rak4, and Pashpotkata, and Kaikasi of luminous smiles, and Kumbhinasi—these are known as the offspring of Sumili. Mali had for wife a graceful Gandharvi, having eyes resembling lotus-petals, of a lovely look, and like unto the most magnificent Yakshi of them all. Do thou, O master, listen to me as I mention to thee,O Raghava,the offspring that Sumili’s younger brother begat on her,—Anala, and Nila, and Sampati. These night-rangers—sons unto Mali—were the courtiers of Bibhisana. And those three foremost of

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Rakshasas, accompanied by hundreds of sons—night-rangers all—elated on account of their measureless prowess, began to worry the sages and serpents and Yakshas, and celestials with Indra (at their head). And incapable of being confronted (in battle), these resembling Death himself in energy,— wondrous elated in consequence of the boon having been conferred on them, ranging the world like unto the Wind, were ever engaged in disturbing the sacrifices (of the sages).”