Afterwards Rishyasring said again to the King "I will perform another sacrificial act to secure thee a son." Then the son of Vibhándak, of subdued passions, seeking the happiness of the king, proceeded to perform the sacrifice for the accomplishment of his wishes. Hither were previously collected the gods, with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the sages, for the sake of receiving their respective shares, Brahmá too, the sovereign of the gods, with Sthánu, and Náráyana, chief of beings and the four supporters of the universe, and the divine mothers of all the celestials, met together there. To the Asvamedha, the great sacrifice of the magnanimous monarch, came also Indra the glorious one, surrounded by the Maruts. Rishyasring then supplicated the gods assembled for their share of the sacrifice (saying), "This devout king Dasaratha, who, through the desire of offspring, confiding in you, has performed sacred austerities, and who has offered to you the sacrifice called Asvamedha, is about to perform another sacrifice for the sake of obtaining sons: To him thus desirous of offspring be pleased to grant the blessing: I supplicate you all with joined hands. May he have four sons, renowned through the universe." The gods replied to the sage's son supplicating with joined hands, "Be it so: thou, O Bráhman, art ever to be regarded by us, as the king is in a peculiar manner. The lord of men by this sacrifice shall obtain the great object of his desires." Having thus said, the gods preceded by Indra, disappeared.
They all then having seen that (sacrifice) performed by the great sage according to the ordinance went to Prajápati the lord of mankind, and with joined hands addressed Brahmá the giver of blessings, "O Brahmá, the Ráksha Rávana by name, to whom a blessing was awarded by thee, through pride troubleth all of us the gods, and even the great sages, who perpetually practise sacred austerities. We, O glorious one, regarding the promise formerly granted by thy kindness that he should be invulnerable to the gods, the Dánavas and the Yakshas have born (sic) all, (his oppression); this lord of Rákshas therefore distresses the universe; and, inflated by this promise unjustly vexes the divine sages, the Yakshas, and Gandharvas, the Asuras, and men: where Rávana remains there the sun loses his force, the winds through fear of him do not blow; the fire ceases to burn; the rolling ocean, seeing him, ceases to move its waves. Visravas, distressed by his power, has abandoned Lanká and fled. O divine one save us from Rávana, who fills the world with noise and tumult. O giver of desired things, be pleased to contrive a way for his destruction."
Brahmá thus informed by the devas, reflecting, replied, "Oh! I have devised the method for slaying this outrageous tyrant. Upon his requesting, 'May I be invulnerable to the divine sages, the Gaundharvas, the Yakshas, the Rákshasas and the serpents,' I replied 'Be it so.' This Ráksha, through contempt, said nothing respecting man; therefore this wicked one shall be destroyed by man." The gods, preceded by Sakra, hearing these words spoken by Brahmá, were filled with joy.
At this time Vishnu the glorious, the lord of the world, arrayed in yellow, with hand ornaments of glowing gold, riding on Vinateya, as the sun on a cloud, arrived with his conch, his discus, and his club in his hand. Being adored by the excellent celestials, and welcomed by Brahmá, he drew near and stood before him. All the gods then addressed Vishnu, "O Madhusudana, thou art able to abolish the distress of the distressed. We intreat thee, be our sanctuary, O Vishnu." Vishnu replied, "Say, what shall I do?" The celestials hearing these his words added further. "The virtuous, the encourager of excellence, eminent for truth, the firm observer of his vows, being childless, is performing an Asvamedha for the purpose of obtaining offspring. For the sake of the good of the universe, we intreat thee, O Vishnu, to become his son. Dividing thyself into four parts, in the wombs of his three consorts equal to Hari, Srí, and Kirti, assume the sonship of king Dasaratha, the lord of Ayodhyá, eminent in the knowledge of duty, generous and illustrious, as the great sages. Thus becoming man, O Vishnu, conquer in battle Rávana, the terror of the universe, who is invulnerable to the gods. This ignorant Rákshasa Rávana, by the exertion of his power, afflicts the gods, the Gandharvaa, the Siddhas, and the most excellent sages; these sages, the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras, sporting in the forest Nandana have been destroyed by that furious one. We, with the sages, are come to thee seeking his destruction. The Siddhas, the Gandharvas, and the Yakshas betake themselves to thee, thou art our only refuge; O Deva, afflicter of enemies, regard the world of men, and destroy the enemy of the gods."
Vishnu, the sovereign of the gods, the chief of the celestials, adored by all beings, being thus supplicated, replied to all the assembled gods (standing) before Brahmá, "Abandon fear; peace be with you; for your benefit having killed Rávana the cruel, destructively active, the cause of fear to the divine sages, together with all his posterity, his courtiers and counsellors, and his relations, and friends, protecting the earth, I will remain incarnate among men for the space of eleven thousand years."
Having given this promise to the gods, the divine Vishnu, ardent in the work, sought a birth-place among men. Dividing himself into four parts, he whose eyes resemble the lotus and the pulasa, the lotus petal-eyed, chose for his father Dasaratha the sovereign of men. The divine sages then with the Gandharvas, the Rudras, and the (different sorts of) Apsaras, in the most excellent strains, praised the destroyer of Madhu, (saying) "Root up Rávana, of fervid energy, the devastator, the enemy of Indra swollen with pride. Destroy him, who causes universal lamentation, the annoyer of the holy ascetics, terrible, the terror of the devout Tapaswis. Having destroyed Rávana, tremendously powerful, who causes universal weeping, together with his army and friends, dismissing all sorrow, return to heaven, the place free from stain and sin, and protected by the sovereign of the celestial powers."
Thus far the Section, containing the plan for the death of Rávan.
CAREY AND MARSHMAN.