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RÄVAŅA'S EXPEDITION OF CONQUEST 157 Arhat, powerful from the three regal powers,126 haughty from two brothers like himself, like his arms, Rāvaņa, Lord of Lanka, sun of the family of Sukeśa. He crushed Yama and your vassal, Vaiśravana, with ease and he made a vassal of the king of the Vanaras, Sugrīva, the brother of Vālin. The younger brother 187 of him who had entered the city Durlangha with its wall of fire hard to cross bound and captured Nalakūbara. Now he is approaching you, violent as the fire at the end of the world. He must be calmed by the rain of nectar of humility, not otherwise. Offer him your beautiful daughter, Rūpavati. So you will have the best alliance because of the cotinection."
. When he had heard this speech of his father, he said angrily:
“How can one's own daughter be given to him, an enemy? Besides, the hostility with him is not recent, but inherited. Remember that my father Vijayasinha 128 was killed earlier by his adherents. What I did to his paternal grandfather, Mālin,120 I shall do to him. Let the wretch come! Do not be timid from affection. Depend on your natural fortitude. Do you not know your son's strength which you have always seen?”
As he was saying this, Daśakandhara, irresistible, came and surrounded his city, Rathanūpura, with an army. First, Daśāsya, whose strength was celebrated, sent a messenger, who approached Indra and said to him confidently:
"Whatever kings are here who are proud of their vidyās and strength of arm, Daśakandhara must be worshipped by them coming with gifts, et cetera. Through Daśakantha's forgetfulness and because of your simplicity, so long a time as this has passed. Now it is time for
126 586. See II, n. 117. 187 589. Bibhişana. 128 593. Really his uncle. 189 594. His great-uncle.
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